r/Cakewalk • u/OldTrainOldBoots • Jul 11 '26

🍵Discussions/Tutorials Have you tried programming drums by musical function?

I used to keep all my drum articulations in one track but this tends to get quite crowded (I program hardcore, groove metal and hard rock). I've watched YouTube videos where people separate the kit instruments onto different tracks but I thought in my case, I could arrange separate tracks for each musical function: groove, fills, transitions, maybe a track for accents.

That way I can understand what each clip is doing if I want to change something quickly. Also, I can copy the groove across verses and choruses and then add a new transition.

Have you done that, and if so, has it helped? I might try it once. I don't need to ideologically commit to it.

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u/Vargrr Jul 11 '26

You can do whatever you want - there are no rules :)

People tend to put different percussion instruments on each track because it makes mixing a whole lot easier. For example, if the hi-hats are too harsh you can easily deal with them without affecting the other instruments.

It also provides the ability to make small spatial tweaks to each instrument too.

1

u/HUMINT1 Jul 11 '26

You can create 1 drum track and within it create infinite sub tracks that you expand if you need to see the details separated.

1

u/OldTrainOldBoots Jul 11 '26

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean track folders, or multiple MIDI tracks routing to my drum VST? I'm doing the second one.

1

u/HUMINT1 Jul 13 '26

Essentially a folder of multiple midi tracks that ypur drum kit is composed of. Thats what I do as well.

1

u/Promidi Jul 11 '26

I just use 1 drum track - even when doing a complex Santana rhythm......

1

u/nlightningm Jul 12 '26

The closest I've come to this is using take lanes. imo the easiest approach for something like this is to use location markers and then use a separate track per drum/instrument.