Drum Beats in Audacity

This Instructable will show you how to generate a sequence of drum beats in Audacity which can be mixed with other instruments.

Step 1: What You Will Need

You will need:
A computer capable of running Audacity (Linux, Windows, or Mac)


Audacity


Audio Selection Sequencer 2 Audacity Plug-in (Download from http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Download_Nyquist_Plug-ins)


A set of drum sounds (Included as ZIP file with this Instructable)

Step 2: Installing

Make sure Audacity is installed. Then extract seq2.zip which you have downloaded from (http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Download_Nyquist_Plug-ins) and copy seq2.ny into /usr/share/audacity/plug-ins/  if you use Linux
OR
C:/Program Files/Audacity/Plug-Ins if you use Windows

Extract 17-29_TicTacShutUp_Studio_Drums_1.zip . It does not matter where the drum sound files are placed as long as you can remember where they are.

Step 3: Import Drums

Open Audacity. Under Effect... Plugins 1 to ? "Audio Selection Sequencer Two" should appear. Next, Import the drums you would like to use by clicking on File...Import...Audio. Each drum should be a different layer/track. You may wish to label the tracks by clicking on the down arrow beside the track, then name, then type the name of the drum (eg. bass drum) All tracks should be mono. Double click the track to select it and then click Tracks...Stereo Track to mono. Do this with all the tracks. Remove any unwanted audio by highlighting and then pressing Delete but be careful not to remove too much.

TIP:Be safe, save often.

Step 4: Sequence

Double-click to select the first drum track. Then go to Effect... Plugins 1 to ? ...Audio Selection Sequencer Two. Enter a tempo. Beats per sequence should be "4". Overall Transpose Value, then for successive measures should be "0". Sequences to generate should be "1". Type in the semi-tone volume pan (SVP)values, these will be the drum pattern.

(0 1 0) is a hit
() is a rest
therefore "(0 1 0) (0 1 0) (0 1 0) (0 1 0)" is constant hitting

Create patterns for the other drum layers.

Step 5: Finishing Up

Adjust the volume levels of the individual tracks if needed by clicking on  Effect...Amplify. Negative amplification will lower volume levels. Positive amplification levels will raise volume levels. Avoid clipping. That's it, have fun!


I have attached MP3, OGG and Audacity versions of a drum sequence I have generated. The OGG version will play directly in Firefox.