How to use Groove AI in SSD5.5

The new SSD5.5 update introduces a new feature called Groove AI which gives users a new range of possibilities for customising MIDI grooves.

Users can access Groove AI by clicking the "Grooves" tab in the SSD5.5 plug-in. 

Users will notice that Groove AI features two different modes: Step AI and Drop AI. We will go over these modes and how to use them in this article. 

     NOTE: Users who wish to still use the older grooves menu for loading MIDI grooves can do so by           going to the "Grooves tab", then clicking the "Browse" button. 

How to use Step AI

Step AI utilizes a drum sequencer to find grooves that match your input sequence/pattern. So if you already have a drum pattern in mind, you can write that pattern in the step sequencer and then below, you will see a list of grooves that match your input sequence, with percentages on the left side of the groove to show you how close they match your sequence.

Users can click the play button on the left size of each groove to listen to the groove with whatever kit is currently loaded. Alternatively, you can also click the "Autoplay" button to automatically play whatever groove is selected. Users can also browse grooves by song section (verse, chorus, etc.), to the right of the play button. Select the desired groove then use the “Morph" tool knobs, to match the chosen groove more or less to the input sequence. 

Once the groove is finished either drag the selected groove straight into the SSD5.5 track in the DAW or drag it to the timeline at the bottom of the plugin. 

With the Timeline, users can create an arrangement of different grooves and audition this arrangement using the "Play" button below the timeline before committing this to MIDI track in the DAW. Using the "Follow Host" button, users can sync the timeline start point with the DAW's playhead. 

Finally, once happy with the drum arrangement, click and hold the "Drag to Host" button, and drag the entire arrangement to the DAW to get the MIDI data for arrangement onto the desired track. 

NOTE: Once users have dragged the MIDI to the DAW, make sure to de-select the "Follow Host" and "Play" buttons below the Groove AI Timeline, otherwise there will be double playback from SSD5.5 audition area and the MIDI groove in the DAW.  

How to use Drop AI

Drop AI takes things a step further by letting users to use real audio files to match to the SSD5.5 MIDI grooves. To get started, click the folder icon button and select the desired audio file from the computer's directory. Alternatively, users can drag your audio file to where it says "Drop Audio here".

     NOTE: Once users have loaded an audio file, make sure to set the DAW's BPM to the BPM of the           audio file. 

Once the audio file is loaded the groove browser will find grooves that match the audio file and show percentages on the left side of the groove to how the groove match the audio file.

Now users can use the Morph and Timeline functions (that we went over in the "Step AI" section) to modify your grooves, and create an arrangement from multiple grooves.