> Step by step
6. Use our ZebraCM synth plugin to create your own drum sounds
1 Begin by loading your DAW, and then load our ZebraCM plugin onto an instrument channel. We’ll start by creating a kick drum sound, but to ensure we start from a default, select Init from the dropdown menu, located via the Display at the top.
2 This sound will be relatively loud, so we recommend reducing the master pot to the value of 50. We won’t need OSC1 for this sound, so reduce the volume of OSC1 to 0, but increase the level of White Noise to a value of 100.
3 Move over to the filter section, which is located on the top righthand side of the plugin. Click on the filter type display, to select the filter called LP Allround. The LP stands for low-pass filter. Next, alter the value of the Cutoff pot to 30.
4 Remaining within the filter section, turn up the Resonance pot to its fullest level of 100, and using the pot which is immediately below, and labelled Env2, increase the pot’s value to 48. This will generate a sine wave which we will quickly sweep when we play a note.
5 ENV2 is assigned to control the filter cutoff, but we need to make some alterations to the envelope phase values. Set the Attack pot to 0, the Decay pot to 30, Sustain pot to 0 and Release pot to 25.
6 ENV1 Controls the volume of our kick drum, and we need to make some similar alterations. Set the Attack pot to 0, Decay to 38, Sustain to 80 and Release to 25. Remember, you can make tweaks to all of these envelope settings, to make the sound work for your track. Altering the decay and release phases makes the biggest differences.
7 Next, we need to create a second instrument channel, and load a second incarnation of our ZebraCM plugin. Now we’ll make a snare sound, using a similar process, but with a slightly different approach. Once again, reduce the master level to a value of 50.
8 To create our snare sound, we are going to use a triangle wave via OSC1. Leaving the volume of the oscillator set to 100, change the Waveform to reflect a value of 3.00. This element will be the tuned pitch of our snare drum.
9 Move over to the right of the plugin window, and increase the volume of the Noise to a value of 120. We also need to change our filter type, to the filter called HP 12dB. This is a high-pass filter, and ideal for creating a brighter snare sound.
10 Remaining within the filter section, set the Cutoff pot to a value of 57, and the user assigned ENV2 pot, to a value of -118. Note that this is a negative value, which requires a movement of the pot to the left.
11 Next we need to shape the volume contour of our snare, using ENV1. Set the Attack pot to 0, the Decay pot to 35, Sustain pot to 0 and Release pot to 30.
12 Finally, we need to make similar alterations to ENV2, controlling the filter cutoff. Set the Attack pot to 0, Decay to 22, Sustain to 0 and Release to 20. Much like the envelope settings for our kick sound, altering the decay and release phases of both envelopes can shorten and elongate the overall sound, so adjust to suit your track.