How to create a custom drum map + notation with Apple Logic

Learn how to enter notes into Apple Logic and have it appear as drum notation. This technique works with any sample library such as Kontakt or BFD. For this article I will use Tapspace Virtual Drumline

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apple Logic
• MIDI keyboard (optional)
• MIDI file (optional)

1. 
   tracks

   Start Logic and create a new multi-timbral software instrument. Choose "3"instead of the default 16 for now.

2. 

   Load an instance of Kontakt Player 2. Click the I/O button and navigate to the player.

3. 

   Load 3 instruments: SnareLine Manual Lite, TenorLine Manual Lite, and BassLine Manual Lite.

4. 

   Go to the Piano Roll window and enter notes for all three instruments- something simple for now. You can also record your MIDI instrument or import a MIDI file. Refer to your manual for the keymaps.
   
   For this article I only used RH and LH hit and shots.

5. 

   Switch to score view. Your drum parts will look like pitched music in Treble clef.

6. 

   Press command + 8 to open the Environment window. Choose New > Mapped Instrument. Drag the small arrow to assign it to an instrument track. Repeat for the other two tracks.
   
   Optional: change the icon for each mapped instrument so it's easy to keep track of.

7. 

   Drag each mapped icon to the corresponding track in the main Arrange window. You will see the track icons change to the mapped instrument icon.

8. 

   If yo lose track of a window, double-click the mapped instrument icon in the Environment window.
   
   Now here's the tedious part. Each note needs to have the notehead, relative position, and group changed. Create a new group called "Snare" for each note. For this article I only change the RH/LH hits and shots.
   
   Choose down 1.5 for "C" space and 2.5 for "A" space on the staff.

9. 

   Now we need to assign this drum map to the notation.
   
   Double-click the snare track in the main Arrange window. This will open the Piano Roll. Switch to Score view.
   
   Double-click the Style: #Treble, then a new window appears. Create New > Mapped Style.

10. 

    Rename the new style to SnareStyle. Choose a Clef and Drum Group. The mapped instrument group name you created earlier will appear here. Finally go back to the Score view and change the Style to SnareStyle. You score will instantly change from pitched treble-clef to correct snare drum notation.

11. Repeat the process for your other instruments. You only have to do it once because you can import it to a new project later. I recommend practicing it a few times because there are many steps to remember.
    
    You're done!

Tips & Warnings

• You can get great results by recording a MIDI instrument (keyboard or drums) by turning the tempo down.

Resources

• Virtual Drumline