Old 03-02-2017, 12:01 PM   #1
DongleHater
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Default Free new drum to MIDI converter plugin

After searching for a free drum to MIDI converter plugin for my needs with no real luck (yes, I know Stillwell's drumtrigger JSFX, see below), I finally decided to write my own. In the good tradition of all the other JSFXs, it's a freebie. In the even better tradition of other open source initiatives, it's also GPLed, so you have full freedom of also changing it for your own needs.

So what's wrong with the other drum to MIDI solutions available? There are three classic solutions for doing this:

1. Dynamic split -> only usable for recorded drums, but not for live trigger, no velocity
2. ReaGate -> live triggering possible, but still no velocity support
3. Stillwell's drumtrigger JSFX -> allows both live triggering and velocity extraction, but the generated velocities need additional treatment because they are typically much too low and the velocity curve is strictly 1:1 which rarely fits

To have an easy solution for both drum replacement/triggering on the basis of recorded drum tracks as well as for live drum triggering, and all that with very good velocity support and tweakability (without losing velocity resolution as with the Stillwell's drumtrigger + post-processing approach), I created drum2midi which you find in the attachment. Installation is as usual: unzip it and copy it to the Effects folder in Reaper's installation directory -> re-scan for new plugins and you're ready to go.

Due to drum2midi's tweakability based on well-documented parameters (all in the drum2midi JSFX file itself, together with the extensively documented source code), it is very well suited as an input FX together with a real drum pad. This couple is an incredible input device for recording drum sounds! Once tried, you never want to go back to keyboard-based drum recording and also not to the usual drum pads, not even MPC's. Used together with not too rubbish hardware, e.g. cheap from ebay, or as the luxury edition with a mesh-head pad like e.g. Roland PDX-100 plugged directly into one of Reaper's audio inputs, you can also record playing techniques not possible to capture with keyboard or trigger pads such as flams or rolls. Even just recording hand tapping on the table, recorded with a microphone, works great as a fun way of recording drum parts! With drum2midi's velocity gain and shape controls (the latter works as a velocity expander/compressor), it is easy to use the full velocity range of the triggered drum sound source with almost any percussive audio source.

Just try it out and have fun! And it would be great to hear from your experience with it in this thread.
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File Type: zip drum2midi.zip (3.9 KB, 1846 views)
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Old 03-02-2017, 02:36 PM   #2
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Haven't tried it. Can't even look at it at the moment cause of work firewall. The velocity response of the Stillwell thing has always been a big hindrance for me, and if you've solved that problem, I'm going to owe you a whole lot of thanks and probably some other stuff, too.
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Old 03-02-2017, 02:43 PM   #3
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Thanks, I'll try this out. I agree with you on the JS drum trigger setbacks.
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Old 03-02-2017, 03:01 PM   #4
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Thanks!
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Old 03-02-2017, 03:27 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DongleHater View Post
After searching for a free drum to MIDI converter plugin for my needs with no real luck (yes, I know Stillwell's drumtrigger JSFX, see below), I finally decided to write my own. In the good tradition of all the other JSFXs, it's a freebie. In the even better tradition of other open source initiatives, it's also GPLed, so you have full freedom of also changing it for your own needs.

So what's wrong with the other drum to MIDI solutions available? There are three classic solutions for doing this:

1. Dynamic split -> only usable for recorded drums, but not for live trigger, no velocity
2. ReaGate -> live triggering possible, but still no velocity support
3. Stillwell's drumtrigger JSFX -> allows both live triggering and velocity extraction, but the generated velocities need additional treatment because they are typically much too low and the velocity curve is strictly 1:1 which rarely fits

To have an easy solution for both drum replacement/triggering on the basis of recorded drum tracks as well as for live drum triggering, and all that with very good velocity support and tweakability (without losing velocity resolution as with the Stillwell's drumtrigger + post-processing approach), I created drum2midi which you find in the attachment. Installation is as usual: unzip it and copy it to the Effects folder in Reaper's installation directory -> re-scan for new plugins and you're ready to go.

Due to drum2midi's tweakability based on well-documented parameters (all in the drum2midi JSFX file itself, together with the extensively documented source code), it is very well suited as an input FX together with a real drum pad. This couple is an incredible input device for recording drum sounds! Once tried, you never want to go back to keyboard-based drum recording and also not to the usual drum pads, not even MPC's. Used together with not too rubbish hardware, e.g. cheap from ebay, or as the luxury edition with a mesh-head pad like e.g. Roland PDX-100 plugged directly into one of Reaper's audio inputs, you can also record playing techniques not possible to capture with keyboard or trigger pads such as flams or rolls. Even just recording hand tapping on the table, recorded with a microphone, works great as a fun way of recording drum parts! With drum2midi's velocity gain and shape controls (the latter works as a velocity expander/compressor), it is easy to use the full velocity range of the triggered drum sound source with almost any percussive audio source.

Just try it out and have fun! And it would be great to hear from your experience with it in this thread.
Hey Thanks DongleHater!

I'm trying to install it and I have unzipped the file and put it in the FX folder, the Effects folder and the Effects folder in roaming and it isn't showing up; I did downloaded it twice too....Anyone else having that issue? Am I putting it in the right place?
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Old 03-02-2017, 03:30 PM   #6
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Hey Thanks DongleHater!

I'm trying to install it and I have unzipped the file and put it in the FX folder, the Effects folder and the Effects folder in roaming and it isn't showing up; I did downloaded it twice too....Anyone else having that issue? Am I putting it in the right place?
OOPs, I found it...it is still a JS file....aaaah I see...sorry 'bout that! (-;
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Old 03-02-2017, 09:06 PM   #7
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Wow! I will be trying this
Thanks
I hate dongles too although some of us are stuck with them if you take my meaning sir
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Old 03-02-2017, 11:14 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DongleHater View Post
1. Dynamic split -> only usable for recorded drums, but not for live trigger, no velocity
Dynamic split does feature velocity, but in fact it did not work decently for me (see mail in the bugs forum).
Quote:
Originally Posted by DongleHater View Post
Just try it out and have fun! And it would be great to hear from your experience with it in this thread.
Great !!!
please do provide it via ReaPack, so that it easily can be found and installed.

-Michael
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Old 03-03-2017, 03:00 AM   #9
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Thanks for sharing !

Any video demo of the results ?
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Old 03-07-2017, 10:06 AM   #10
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Anybody give this a go yet?

I'm hoping to have a chance to take it for a spin within the next week or so.
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Old 03-08-2017, 10:47 AM   #11
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I played with it a bit yesterday, and while I'm not sure I understand what everything is doing (haven't pushed the Edit button yet), I was able to get some really usable results.

My use is a bit different in that I'm feeding it a guitar signal and listening for the way it retriggers and follows the envelope of that audio. I found that by using PM to change the hold-off time based on the audio input (very small strength, negative direction, from a fairly low baseline) and triggering a kick sound through some distortion I could get a very convincing approximation of something like an engine revving along with my guitar. B)

I figure from as well as it seems to work for this, it's probably pretty great for actual drums!
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Old 03-08-2017, 02:38 PM   #12
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Here is the result of a quick test I did. (It took a lot longer to get the image uploaded than it did to do the test. Ha ha.) I had to play with a few of the settings in order to get this and I'll post a pic or link to the settings shortly.

All in all, it looks to have done a bang up job. A pretty good looking velocity replication. Nice work, Don.

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 03-08-2017, 02:42 PM   #13
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Here are the settings I used. Note that they will differ depending on your project. If you open the effect and hit the "edit" button, there's a description of what the various parameters do.

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 07-25-2017, 08:34 AM   #14
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I don't understand what the problem is. I have latency for first hit after rendering.
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Old 07-25-2017, 11:55 PM   #15
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I think that my old plugin will always work much better.
He is looking for transients. This works perfectly for the drums.
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=182188
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Old 07-26-2017, 03:44 AM   #16
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Sorry but I'got this error.

Import : can't find file "res\WaveDisplay3.txt"

Download from site and paste text file but eel or lua, which ?
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Old 07-26-2017, 06:18 AM   #17
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Sorry, fixed now!
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Old 07-26-2017, 09:30 AM   #18
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Thanks. Cool script. But if you add midi export feature would be nice. What's your suggestion using this version, I added fx chain, setting is ok and after.. Freeze track or another way ?
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Old 01-06-2018, 05:02 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eugen2777 View Post
I think that my old plugin will always work much better.
He is looking for transients. This works perfectly for the drums.
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=182188
Hi Eugen:

Any updates on this?
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Old 01-07-2018, 10:43 PM   #20
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Yes, I plan a big update.
The old version is only a test version.
Please write in my topic.
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Old 01-07-2018, 11:08 PM   #21
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That's great news, can't wait !
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Old 01-04-2019, 09:03 PM   #22
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After downloading and unzipping, I notice the filetype is simply listed as "file." I placed it in my VST folder, but Reaper does not recognize it. I tried "Clear cache/rescan," still no luck.

Any suggestions?

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Old 01-04-2019, 09:38 PM   #23
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After downloading and unzipping, I notice the filetype is simply listed as "file." I placed it in my VST folder, but Reaper does not recognize it. I tried "Clear cache/rescan," still no luck.

Any suggestions?
I Exit REAPER, put file in reaper "Effects" folder,
e.g., 'C:\Users\Ed\AppData\Roaming\REAPER\Effects'
Start REAPER.

Oddly it didn't show up as new fx in fx browser, so searched for 'Drum To MIDI' and found it.
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Old 01-04-2019, 10:05 PM   #24
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Any suggestions?
It's not a VST, it's JSFX so that's why you need to install it as Edgemeal advised.
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Old 01-04-2019, 11:54 PM   #25
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Still not in ReaPack ???

-Michael
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Old 02-16-2019, 04:01 PM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eugen2777 View Post
I think that my old plugin will always work much better.
He is looking for transients. This works perfectly for the drums.
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=182188
Well, this anyone can put to a test, just trying both, and see where each have pro and contra. So ReaBlog(TM) could update its list from 4 solutions to 6 I guess.
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Old 06-15-2019, 03:06 AM   #27
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Originally Posted by Edgemeal View Post
I Exit REAPER, put file in reaper "Effects" folder,
e.g., 'C:\Users\Ed\AppData\Roaming\REAPER\Effects'
Start REAPER.

Oddly it didn't show up as new fx in fx browser, so searched for 'Drum To MIDI' and found it.

I can't find this folder even if I have hidden items turned on in my browser... :S
Any help?
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Old 06-15-2019, 03:23 AM   #28
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In Reaper, Use "Options>Show Reaper resource path in explorer/finder" and that should take you to the location of all of Reaper's data folders.
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Old 06-19-2019, 12:53 AM   #29
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In Reaper, Use "Options>Show Reaper resource path in explorer/finder" and that should take you to the location of all of Reaper's data folders.
Got it!
Thanks

I've got it to trigger midi BUT I can't seem to record the midi notes...?
Sorry I'm still a complete noob with Reaper :S
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Old 06-19-2019, 06:20 AM   #30
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Do you want to convert your live audio input and record the Midi stream ? Do you wabt ti record the original audio additionally, or do you want to convert an existing audio item to a Midi item ?

-Michael
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Old 06-23-2019, 01:32 PM   #31
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Do you want to convert your live audio input and record the Midi stream ? Do you wabt ti record the original audio additionally, or do you want to convert an existing audio item to a Midi item ?

-Michael
All of the above actually for different situations
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Old 06-23-2019, 11:24 PM   #32
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This way can only record one key at a time, right?
The drummer doesn't play Sn, Kick and Hihat separately.
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Old 06-24-2019, 06:42 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boi Social View Post
All of the above actually for different situations
You will desperately fail unless you don't concentrate on one of these option to start with.

-Michael

Last edited by mschnell; 06-24-2019 at 12:40 PM.
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Old 06-24-2019, 10:12 AM   #34
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Quote:
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This way can only record one key at a time, right?
The drummer doesn't play Sn, Kick and Hihat separately.
You’d need multiple microphones, tracks, and instances of the plugin, but it definitely can be done.

I can’t think of a compelling reason to bother recording the midi. You can always generate it later. Of course you can have a track recording the audio, sending to a track generating the midi and set to record output midi, but why?

Remember that you can put any plugin you think you need before this thing in order to help it work better. Filters, expander/gates, compressors, all can help to clean up and condition the signal to give the trigger plugin a better chance of giving you what you actually want.

Last edited by ashcat_lt; 06-24-2019 at 10:24 AM.
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Old 06-26-2019, 06:36 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dug dog View Post
Here is the result of a quick test I did. (It took a lot longer to get the image uploaded than it did to do the test. Ha ha.) I had to play with a few of the settings in order to get this and I'll post a pic or link to the settings shortly.

All in all, it looks to have done a bang up job. A pretty good looking velocity replication. Nice work, Don.

[IMG][/IMG]
Please please PLEASE tell me how you recorded these notes into the piano roll?!?!
I can get the drums2midi plug to trigger notes in (insert VSTi) but it doesn't light up any notes in the same piano roll nor does it record the notes ((
Please help :O I'm a super noob still with reaper and i need this baaaaaaad (too broke for addictive trigger )
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Old 06-26-2019, 07:10 PM   #36
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Please please PLEASE tell me how you recorded these notes into the piano roll?!?!
Usually fastest to right click the audio item and do Apply Track FX...(midi output)
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Old 06-27-2019, 08:04 AM   #37
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Usually fastest to right click the audio item and do Apply Track FX...(midi output)
Got it sorted!
Thanks
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Old 10-17-2019, 09:54 AM   #38
Mojitov
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Default How do I actually use this?

It's been a while since I touched MIDI and I forgot how to set it all up. I have downloaded and installed drum2midi. Can anyone show me how to actually I get it to trigger and record MIDI? Smth. like "for dummies"

I have drum2midi selected as InputFX on track 1 (also with a short audio from mic recorded) and shortcircuit with a drumkit on track 2. What do I do for track 1 to trigger track 2 and also record the results on track 2?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 10-17-2019, 10:42 AM   #39
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So far I've managed to have track 2 triggered by the recorded audio on track 1 (by creating a 1>2 send, MIDI only). For some reason, I cannot record MIDI on track 2, even though it's armed for recording and set to "Record: input (force MIDI)".

By applying track FX as new take to track 1, I can get midi notes as a separate take on that track. But I'd like to record MIDI notes directly to track 2 instead.
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Old 10-17-2019, 10:57 AM   #40
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A receive is not an input.


Use Record Output (midi) and hope your drum synth isn't eating the midi notes.
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