Section 12 · Samples
Drum Rack (16 pads)
What it is for
Build a drum kit with 16 pads, each with a sample and a MIDI note, and play it from your MIDI keyboard or the DAW piano roll.
Video
T12 · ≈ 4 min
Video coming soon
This video tutorial is still being recorded. Until then, the steps below cover everything.
Video script
- The Drum Rack is in the right side bar.
- Drag samples onto the pads.
- Play with the mouse or with your MIDI keyboard.
- Choose the note layout: Ableton, chromatic or General MIDI.
- Save the kit with a name.
- Clear it and load it back.
- Even without saving the kit, it comes back with the project: that is the session kit.
Where it is
In the right side bar of the Samples tab. When no synth is loaded in the Plugin Host, the Drum Rack is Sonora’s instrument.
Step by step
- Drag a sample from the list onto a pad. The name shows on the pad.
- Repeat for the other pads.
- Choose the Mapping preset (note layout): see the layouts below.
- Play the pads with the mouse or by MIDI (the note depends on the layout).
- To save the kit: type a name, click Save. It shows up in the kit list.
- To load a kit: choose it from the list. If there are unsaved changes, the plugin asks before discarding.
- Clear empties the 16 pads. The delete icon deletes the saved kit (asks for confirmation).
Note layouts
| Layout | Pad notes |
|---|---|
| Ableton Layout | Note layout in the style of Ableton’s Drum Rack. The note of each pad is written on it |
| Chromatic C1–D#2 | From C1 to D#2 in order |
| General MIDI | GM drum names: Kick, Snare, HH Cl, HH Op, Tom Lo… Taiko |
Session kit
Even without saving it by name, the kit you built is saved in the DAW project. When you reopen the project, the pads come back as they were. Below the selector you see “Session kit (not saved)” or the name of the kit.
Tips
- Save named kits to use across several projects.
- Duplicating the track with Sonora in the DAW duplicates the kit too.
If something goes wrong
- The pads make no sound.
- Make sure no plugin is loaded in the Plugin Host (if there is a synth, it takes the MIDI) and that the track receives MIDI.
- The kit disappeared.
- If you did not save the DAW project or the named kit, it does not come back. Save the project (session kit) and/or the named kit.
Still stuck? See Section 23 or talk to Support.
Questions about this section
I changed the layout and the notes in my song did not change. Why?
Pads have fixed notes per layout. Switch the layout or remap the MIDI in the DAW.
What happens with invalid characters in the kit name?
Characters that are invalid in a file name are adjusted automatically when saving.