Pad layout/ workflow question/poll/suggestions

I'm designing some kits other people will be using. I've got a formula for my kits. Typically, I put kicks on the right hand side and snares on the left. Hats on the right. Toms across the third row (9-13) and cymbals along the top. Banks B&C are typically the same sans the cymbals. Generally, they are kick/snare centric and complimentary to the ABank. I generally reserve the D Bank for FX or loops.

I usually build my kits with performance in mind and will use velocity layers so the booms are on the higher layer (127 velocity) and the tighter ones are 0-126. I'll occasionally layer different samples on the same pad, but typically just velocity triggering different samples.

Another layout was kicks and snares on bank A then hats on B, cymbals on C, loops and FX on D.

The only consensus seems to be to lay them out so they're comfortable to play. You lose the groove if you have to contort yourself to hit the pad.

I read somewhere on the forum a while back where step entering guys have kicks along the bottom, then snares then hats etc. This workflow keeps similar drums together in a pianoroll.

So the question is, how do you work? Similar? Totally different? I look forward to your feedback. Maybe you even got something out of this yourself!

depends on the track totally but as a rule i tend to have my drums at bottom then snare then hats then toms then next bank samples and pads etc.

think it stems from the origional set up sounds but now i`m trying to use differant pads as often as possible so not to knacker one pad by usin it as a kick or snare all the time gonna try and keep the agony of pad replacement off as long as possible!

i tend to use my midi keyboard a lot to rather than hittin the pads

Thanks for the tips as I am still trying to get the hang of this.

The Way I like to set my pads up, usually goes like this... good for one handed drum beats, throw in the other hand for bass rolls, snare rolls, and them quick hi-hats...



Crash Misc. Misc. Misc.

OpenHat Ride Bell Misc.

HiHat HiHat Misc. Misc.

Bass Snare misc. Misc.



I would also like to hear how other people lay their stuff out, and the benefits of those layouts...

I read somewhere on the forum a while back where step entering guys have kicks along the bottom, then snares then hats etc. This workflow keeps similar drums together in a pianoroll.

that was me. i used to do this, but now i feel like i have a better, more playable technique that makes heavy use of simult.

kick on A12, softer kick on A09
snare on A13, softer snare on A10
open and closed hi hat (tap for closed, hold for open) on both A14 and A11
crash on A08 so i can hit it w/ my thumb while hitting hard kick
rides on A03 and A07

rest is misc, tamborines, percussion sounds, toms, whatever is not the core essential of my kit.

as for keeping similar items together on the grid, i program in midi grid edit, where this is currently impossible due to the MIDI NOTE ASSIGN bug which i believe to be a symptom of track type MIDI

however when this bug is fixed, you will be able to do this:

rearrange the chromatic order so instead of going from note 35 + horizontally, it does it vertically

35 39 43 47
36 40 44 48
37 41 45 49
38 42 46 50

since my current pad setup utilizes vertical grouping rather than horizontal grouping this will keep the grouping together in midi grid (but not 16grid)

From top left:

Kick1 , snare1 , hihat1 , rolls/other1
kick2 , snare2 , hihat2 , roll/whatever2
etc etc

This is pretty good for playing the drums live.

Wow, It's wild to see the different styles cats use w/ this box. Yo Nym, I was checking out some of your drum programs "Fall Not Autumn" etc. and the layout felt really strange to me. Almost random, (I know it isn't) but would you mind dropping some insight as to why you laid them out the way you did?

i use my mpc for live improvisations gigs.
so i have a full program for drums (called zzzz so i'm shure to find it quickly):
1/kick 2/snare 3/rim shots and short sounds(glitches) 4/hihat/ride
6/kick etc...

i do have another program called 000 for pads, synths, basses...:
each pad has a different sound assigned to it and i use 16levels a lot to create pitch variations(melody, basslines, riffs, harmony...)

Thanks for the replies gents. I stupidly forgot to notify myself on replies. I'm going to try to keep this particular project fairly universal so older MP users and our MV cousins can get down on the kits. Keep the feedback coming.