Diki, people are different. What works for you isn't necessarily the best approach for everyone else. What YOU think is more difficiult, I may find more intuitive. Does that mean I should abandon MY approach and adopt YOURS. Of the 20 odd years I've been on this forum, I don't recall ANYONE ever trying to tell YOU how to do something. Let's take your statement " I have never been at my best playing to a click", yet pro musicians do it all the time - probably wouldn't get a studio call if they couldn't. BUT, I don't consider playing to a fully developed drum track the same as playing to a 'click' or click track. In fact, to me playing to a drum track that I developed from a conputer program is exactly like playing to a physical drum machine (or BK7m) live. In fact it's easier for me since I constructed it and don't have to worry about triggering breaks, etc. in real time. Sure, I would always prefer to play with a GOOD drummer where we'd rehearsed the tune several times but that's a different story. I'll just say, you do what works for YOU and I'll do what works for me. That way, good or bad, it's our own creation.

On the drum machines, aside from the BK7m I have often (in the past) used drum tracks from one of my arrangers (usually the PA1x pro) or one of several drum programs (Drumbit, Beat Factory, MDrummer, and MT Power Drum Kit 2). Even though it's a freebie, I use MT Power Drum Kit 2 a lot because it's so easy to use and the sounds are just fine for the type of music I play.

chas

This was your original reaction chas. Not really sure what turned it around into a diatribe against constructive criticism.

Let me address a couple of things you just said. Studio musicians rarely play to the click with no drums at all. The drummer plays to the click, the rest (if being tracked at the same time) monitor the drummer. Maybe the drummer and the click. But I’ve never had a pro call with just a click unless the track wasn’t going to have any drums. I can play just fine to a click alone, but like most musicians, it’s not our BEST. Context is everything. It’s the stuff inside the click that sets the groove. Have YOU ever done a pro session where you played to a click before they brought the drummer in?

At home, it’s a different story. Sure, you can play to a barebones placeholder drum beat, but it gets very difficult to find a beat after the fact that exactly matches your inside groove, as it’s likely to drift a bit if there’s no inside stuff with the beat. All I was bringing up is, whether with the BK or software, a groove that really works with how you want to play saves you either a lot of work after the fact, or forces you to post it as is. I’m just trying to help by pointing out that a little extra work before the fact (and, to be honest, I find the BK drums usually adequate with zero work at all) is worth the effort.

Perhaps no one has told me how to make my demos because I actually do this tiny bit of work to start with… and anyone that feels like there’s something that could be improved, I’m all too happy to try it and see. I don’t take criticism personally, and I’m not invested in one workflow or path to a good recording.

Apparently, the taunt to me at the start of this thread to find something to criticize was not serious. My apologies for misunderstanding its satirical bent. I guarantee, you will receive no more.

So how many 'smiley face' emoji's does it take before someone recognizes when a taunt is not a taunt?

chas