This is not really a tutorial but just a pointer to get people started. It obviously helps if you are familiar with cubase.
I use Native Instruments Battery VSTi (Virtual Studio Technology Instrument) for the sound generation for the drums but you can do this using your soundcard (if it has a midi wave table) or by soundfonts or other VSTi programs such as drumkit from hell 2, Groove agent, BFD, Kontact, Super Quartet etc.
First things first, open up a midi track Project > Add Track > Midi. Then set the left and right indicators to ive you a work space. The easiest way to do this is to click on the white triangle highlighted in the image below and drag it to the right.
This effectively creates a work space, which is highlighted by the cyan area. The positions of the left and right triangle markers dictate what will actually be played in midi. Rename the midi track by clicking on the “Midi 01” and call it drums (it makes things easier in the long run). Then insert a blank midi track by double clicking on the cyan area to the right of the track info box. So you should end up with something like this…
At this point you may wish to insert a VSTi drum package (if you have one). Press the F11 button to bring up the VST Instrument panel and insert your desired VSTi y clicking in one of the empty slots. I am going to use Battery. Note some VSTi’s like Battery requires the sounds to be loaded in, be sure to do this or you won’t hear anything.
Now set up the midi track for drums. The easiest way to do this is to use the Inspector panel (click on the button if it is not in view)
Click on the output combo box and select your drum sound generator. I am using Battery but you may wish to use your soundcard’s midi option, ie audigy.
Change the Channel output to 10; this is the midi default drum channel (it is not always necessary to set this to 10 but some packages still need it).
Set the Map to GM Map. Note: Not all VSTi drum packages are GM compatible but they all share the same basic drum settings kick, snare, toms, hats and possibly cymbals.
After you have completed this you should have something like I have below:
Threaded Mode