Drums On Demand


	How They Work Our patent-pending naming and organization system includes Song Sets™ organized by BPM and style. Each folder includes quickly identifiable Master Loops™, variations and alternates, plus multiple matching fill, break and bridge loops, etc. Song Sets™ feature as many as 50 loops and segments, ranging from a half measure to five measures in length. The loop types provide a great deal of variation and depth so you can build a pro-level, live-sounding drum track quickly and easily. Don't take the names too literally. Just because a loop is named “Bridge” doesn’t mean you have to use it in a bridge. Names are there to create an organized palette for you to work from. You may find that the bridge loop is the verse loop for your project. You can also change the basic structure and feels of loops by adding or removing (or moving) a kick or a snare. For example, it is easy to add another kick or snare within a measure, by copying and pasting an 1/8 note segment from another spot in that loop, or a completely different loop. Or, you can totally delete a kick (or sometimes a snare) by pasting in a 1/8 note hi-hat from another spot in that loop or another loop in the Song Set. You can also replace a 1/8th note snare hit with a rim hit from another Song Set.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Format Should I Buy?
There are several different loop formats and many different programs (and versions of those programs). Some programs support multiple formats. Some people work on multiple platforms and programs. Each format has advantages and disadvantages. For example, Quint uses WAV files in Ableton Live and Pro Tools most of the time because the programs and the WAV format are quick and easy. But eventually he purchased and now uses Logic Express at times because for some situations he prefers REX files. (At some tempos you can slow then down farther than WAVs.)

All of our stereo WAV files have been "Acidized." This is a format that allows tempo matching in programs that support the format. Programs that don't support Acidization just read them as normal WAV files, as if there were no time compression-expansion (TCE) tags in them. ("Acid" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.)

So here are some basic recommendations.

Ableton Live: 16- or 24-bit WAV depending on your sound card. Live creates its own time-compression/expansion tags when you drag and drop the loops.

Acid and other Sony/Sonic Foundry Programs: Unless you are already recording in 24-bit, we recommend 16-bit WAV. (The default is 16-bit, so you would know if you are using 24-bit already.)

Adobe Audition: 16-bit WAV unless you know your soundcard supports 24-bit. Again, the program default is 16-bit so you would know if you had changed it or not. According to this article in Keyboard Magazine, AA does interpret Acid format for tempo changes.

Cakewalk Products: Unless you are already recording in 24-bit, we recommend 16-bit WAV. (The default is 16-bit, so you would know if you would know if you are using 24-bit.) Most new Cakewalk products read the TCE tags in Acid files, called "Groove Clips" in Cakewalk materials.

Cubase, Nuendo: Cubase SL/SX supports Acidized WAV files as well as REX files (Earlier version ony REX). We recommend the WAVs because there are less technical glitches. We recommend WAV format for Cubase LE and SE. The LE and SE editions don't support REX/RX2 files or any type of "tempo shifting." Note: Cubase SL/SX 3.1 supports REX/RX2 automatically as part of the software update. Pre 3.1 and Cubase VST 5.1 versions will need the free "REX Shared Library" update. Click here for the link.

Digital Performer: For many people the preferred format for DP is REX files. However, in recent years DP has added Acid file support (3.1 and above) and Apple Loops (4.5 and above). We recommend the WAV or Apple Loops as because REX files sometimes present technical glitches.

Fruity Loops: 16-bit WAV, unless you are already using 24-bit.

GarageBand: Apple Loops or 24-bit Acidized WAVs. Apple Loops are AIF audio files with the TCE tags we've put in them. While GB2 does support Acid files, you have to drag and drop them from the desktop; you don't find them in the Apple Loops Browser. (You can't preview them very quickly.) If you use multiple platforms then you might go with the WAVs. If you really like the Apple Loops Browser or are a basic user then go with the Apple Loops format. Note also that even though Garageband only outputs 16-bit, you can use 24-bit files within the program. So if you do go with the WAV format you might as well go 24-bit in case later on you work in another program and want the highest quality.

Logic: While you can use REX files, recent versions of Logic do support Acid WAVs and Apple Loops. Unless you are an advanced, multiplatform user we recommend the Acid WAVs or Apple Loops. REX files can sometimes create software glitches that are frustrating to resolve.

Propellerheads Programs: REX. Propellerheads is the creator and licensor of the REX format in the first place. So this is an easy one!

Pro Tools 6x and Lower: For Mac-based systems we recommend 24-Bit WAV. For PC-based systems, it depends on whether your sound card supports 16-bit or 24-bit WAV files. Most sound cards made in the last couple of years support 24-bit. We also recommend you use the lite version of Ableton Live that has been shipping with Pro Tools since fall, 2003. Live is made specifically for loops; this is why Digi has partnered with them. Note: For Pro Tools 7, we recommend REX2 at this time.

DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS: (Roland, Yamaha, etc.): Unless you know your DAW supports 24-bit, then we recommend the 16-bit WAV. Pretty much any DAW made in recent years will read 16-bit WAV files.

If you don't see your system here or are still unsure, please email us (see contact page) and we'll make a recommendation.

So what's the difference between 16- or 24-bit WAV?
If you are unsure of which bit-depth to order, chances are you are recording at 16-bit. This is the standard resolution of a CD (16-bit, 44.1khz) and is the default for most audio applications. Along with 16-bit loops, we offer a 24-bit version for our customers who have the setup to take advantage of this higher resolution format. Whether or not this is right for you depends on the capabilities of your sound card, software application and the requirements of your projects. We can't answer the question, "Does my sound card support 24-bit audio?" Because we don't know. But email us and we'll send you a file for you to test. Our general recommendation is that if you're not already using 24-bit, then you order the 16-bit version. You may want to read the following articles or check out the Cakewalk link in the next FAQ as well. Tweakheadz, 24BitFaq.org

Vol. 1 REX version is working fine, but why can't I get Vol. 2 or later volumes REX format working?
To use the new 24-bit REX2 files of DOD Vol. 2 and later volumes (as opposed to the 16-bit REX2 files of Vol. 1), you need to download the latest "Rex Shared Library" extension from Propellerheads. This is true for all programs (Cubase, DP, etc.), not just those from Propellerheads. Before installing the new Rex Shared Library, you must remove ALL older versions of the Rex Shared Library from your computer. For some software applications there are multiple copies in various places on your computer. So in addition to doing a search on the hard drive, you should look through the main application folder as well. If you don't remove ALL older versions before installing the latest Rex Shared Library, then the update won't take effect and the files won't play. For more help, go to the URL indicated on your DOD disk.

I'm using Cakewalk/Sonar and I can't get the 24-bit WAV version working.
16-bit is the default setting for Sonar and other Cakewalk programs. You must go in and change your audio preference settings. For directions visit the Cakewalk site.

I'm an international customer and my order hasn't arrived yet?
International orders are shipped USPS Air Mail. It takes an average of 10-15 BUSINESS DAYS (do not count Saturdays or Sundays) for orders outside the U.S. to arrive. Take the day you ordered and start counting on the following business day and see where you are at. Email us if you have not received it by the 15th business day. Sometimes it takes longer because the order must clear customs.