ADrpg : Addictive Drums random preset generator*

NOTICE: This is a legacy product and no longer receiving updates.

• ADrpg Live is temporarily offline but I hope to make the source code available soon, so watch this space!
• The ADrpg Windows executable may still function on newer versions of Windows, with or without compatibility mode, but this has not been tested.
• I am working on an RPG for Addictive Keys and eventually for Addictive Drums 2, but cannot yet say whether these will be made available to the public or in what format.

ADrpg generates user presets with randomized kit and console parameters for XLN Audio's Addictive Drums. By generating these values randomly, ADrpg creates drum sounds you'd be hard-pressed to come up with manually, from oddly interesting to absolutely insane, and in just seconds!

ADrpg arms you with fresh, unique drum sounds and faster production time. That can really kick down some doors for your music, especially if you write electronica, hip-hop, or experimental. The best part is that it's completely free to download and use (although I wouldn't mind hearing how you put it to use, and a plug is always nice too :D). ADrpg contains no spyware, malware, ads, or any of that crap.

ADrpg does not modify your existing presets (unless you save as/overwrite one) and it does not access or alter the settings in Addictive Drums directly. Using ADrpg has the same effect as opening an Addictive Drums preset file in a text editor and changing the stored parameter values (except it's automated).

App screenshot

ADrpg is available in the following flavors: (see notice above!)

Windows Executable

The quickest, most convenient way to create randomized presets

Current Version: 1.00.0000

• System Requirements
• Installation
• Unistalling
• Using ADrpg
• Version History

Live! Web Application

An alternative for non-Windows computers, still just as easy to use

Current Version: 1.00.0000

• Using ADrpg
• Version History

ADrpg Sample Presets!
(try these for fun or if you just want to make sure ADrpg presets will work on your system)

right-click and choose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As...", then save to your Addictive Drums User Preset folder

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

ADrpg for Windows 2000/XP

System Requirements

• Windows 2000/XP (may work under other versions, but has not been tested with them)
• Addictive Drums 1.0.0* (ADrpg doesn't require it to be present but it'd be kinda pointless without it)
    * Has not been tested with the Addictive Drums 1.1 Update. It shouldn't have any trouble with
        the update or the Addictive Drums Retro Pak, it just won't "know" if there are any extra kit voices to choose from.

Installing ADrpg

1. Download and run the ADrpg setup program.
2. Follow the prompts. Setup will install and create a desktop shortcut for ADrpg.
3. ADrpg will open when setup is complete.

Uninstalling ADrpg

1. Browse to and delete the folder where you installed ADrpg (default is C:\Program Files\Future Primal\ADrpg)
2. Delete the desktop shortcut.

Using ADrpg

• ADrpg does not require Addictive Drums to be open, or even installed on the system. However, the recommended way to use it is to have both programs running so you can quickly switch between the two.

View the Tutorial

Quick-n-Dirty Instructions >>

1. Open both ADrpg and your recording program (with Addictive Drums loaded).
2. In ADrpg, generate a preset file (see Detailed Instructions below).
3. Leaving ADrpg open, switch to your recording program and select your preset from the Addictive Drums presets menu.
4. Test the preset by playing a drum loop in Addictive Drums.
5. If you're not happy with the drum sounds, switch back to ADrpg and repeat the above steps until you get something you like (or tweak it to your liking in the Addictive Drums interface as you would normally).

Detailed Instructions >>

To create a randomized preset:

1. Open ADrpg.
2. Under Randomization Settings, select the appropriate options (settings are saved automatically):
   • Randomize kit voices only: select this option to only generate random drum kit voices (models). All other parameters will be left unchanged. This setting is mostly useful after a randomized preset has already been generated and you want to hear the same settings with different kit pieces.
   • Lock kit piece & fader levels: select this option to prevent kit piece levels and channel fader levels from being changed. This setting is useful for preventing kit piece and channel volumes from being too loud or too quiet.
   • Lock pan settings: select this option to prevent kit piece and channel panning from being changed. This setting is useful for preventing unwanted 'lopsided' drum kits.
   • Force SingleSample on/off: select this option if you want Single Sample to always be on or off for all kit pieces. If this option is not checked, ADrpg will choose randomly whether or not a kit piece uses the same sample for each note. If this option is checked and is set to on, then Addictive Drums will be instructed to always use the same sample for each note. If set to off, Addictive Drums will be instructed to always choose from multiple samples for each note.
   • AD Version 1.1.1 Update installed: This setting is not currently implemented. It is there for future versions.
   • AD Retro Pak installed: This setting is not currently implemented. It is there for future versions.
3. Click the Randomize & Save button. ADrpg will then generate the randomized parameters.
4. When prompted, choose your Addictive Drums User Preset folder and enter the filename you want to save the preset to (eg "random01". file is automatically saved with the .ADPreset extension). By default, the location of the User Preset folder is: C:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\My Documents\Addictive Drums\User Presets (if you don't save your preset here, it will not show up in the Addictive Drums preset menu.
5. To view details of the operation, click the button to the left of Status at the bottom of ADrpg

To re-randomize your preset:

1. Click the Randomize & Save button again. You will not be prompted to enter a filename this time as the data will be written to the same preset file.

To create a new preset:

1. Click the New from Defaults button if you want to reset the parameters to default values for the new preset, or click New from Previous to retain the previous parameters (this is akin to creating a copy of the last preset).
   • The difference in how these two buttons operate depends on the options you have chosen. It's a little tricky to explain but if, for example the Lock pan settings option is checked and you click New from Defaults, then the pan parameters will be locked at their default "centered" value. If, on the other hand, you choose New from Previous, the pan parameters will be locked at whatever values they were assigned on the last randomization.
2. Click the Randomize & Save button to generate the new preset data.
3. When prompted, save the preset to a new filename in the User Presets folder.

To use your preset:

1. Switch to or open your recording program and, if necessary, load an instance of Addictive Drums.
2. Click on the Addictive Drums presets menu and go to the User sub-menu. You should see the name of your preset file in the list (if not, locate the preset file and ensure it is in the correct folder).
3. Click on your preset to load it.

Version History

1.00.0000 - First release version, released 08/21/2008.

ADrpg Live! Web Application

Using ADrpg Live!

ADrpg Live! works identically to the Windows executable version with the following exceptions:

• It does not display the generated parameter values in the Status region. For this reason, the Status region cannot be toggled open (expanded).
• It only allows the following characters in your preset filenames: letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores, periods, and parentheses.

ADrpg Live! has been tested in Mozilla Firefox 2.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 & 7. The following items are noted:

• In Firefox, generated preset files are handled as downloadable files. Upon generation, you will be prompted to open or save the file. Click Save to Disk and save the file to your Addictive Drums User Preset folder.
• Internet Explorer on the other hand, wants to treat the preset as a text file by displaying its contents in the browser window. Therefore, after you generate a preset, right-click the link containing your preset filename in the Status region at the bottom of ADrpg and choose Save Target As.... Then save the file to your Addictive Drums User Preset folder.
• Internet Explorer 7 may nag you when generating a new preset by displaying the following message: "This website is using a scripted window to ask you for information. If you trust this website, click here to allow scripted windows...". This message is displayed because ADrpg is trying to prompt you for the preset filename, click on the message and select "Temporarily Allow Scripted Windows" and then try again to generate the preset. I will resolve this issue in the next version.
  • While not recommended, there is a way to disable this annoying message. When it is displayed, click the "More Information" option and, in the help window, click the topic labelled, "Which messages are displayed in the information bar?". Scroll down to the message and read the description for it.

Version History

1.00.0000 - First release version, released 08/21/2008.

Tutorial: How To Use ADrpg

1/14: Open Addictive Drums and ADrpg. In ADrpg, select your desired settings and click Randomize & Save.

2/14: Select the Addictive Drums User Presets folder.

3/14: Enter a filename for your new preset and click Save.

4/14: ADrpg will create the randomized preset and display the parameters.

5/14: Switch to Addictive Drums and load your preset from the Presets > User menu.

6/14: Test your preset by playing a drum beat.

7/14: To re-randomize your preset, switch back to ADrpg and click Randomize & Save.

8/14: Switch to Addictive Drums and reload your preset from the Presets > User menu. Test it by playing a drum beat.

9/14: To create a new preset based on the default settings, switch to ADrpg and click New from Defaults.

10/14: Enter a name for the new preset and click Save.

11/14: Switch to Addictive Drums and load your preset from the Presets > User menu. Test it by playing a drum beat.

12/14: To create a preset based on the last one generated, switch to ADrpg and click New from Previous.

13/14: Enter a filename for the new preset and click Save.

14/14: Switch to Addictive Drums and load your preset from the Presets > User menu. Test it by playing a drum beat.