Steinberg Groove Agent 3 Operation Manual

Groove Agent 3
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You may prefer sending Program Change commands from your MIDI 
keyboard to select memory locations. If so, use normal MIDI recording, 
since automation will not be involved. If you play live drums on your key-
board while recording, those notes will also be recorded.
In Dual Mode, please note that the Upper module listens only to MIDI 
channel 1, and the Lower module listens only to MIDI channel 2
In Cubase SX, the MIDI SysEx filter must be turned OFF for parameter 
automation...

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About the Groove Agent Styles
Here’s a short description of each style, as expressed by the musi-
cians themselves. As you can see, we’ve had to abandon the idea of 
sorting styles chronologically. We have so many styles now that a new 
sorting method became necessary. We hope that the introduction of 
genres (categories) will prove helpful.
Those styles that were new in Groove Agent 2 are marked with an as-
terisk (*) and the new Groove Agent 3 styles have two asterisks...

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Tom-Toms (T)
This style is used in many different situations. With its origin in the 
1920’s, when Duke Ellington played “jungle music” in Harlem and 
then made totally unforgettable by Gene Krupa with the Benny Good-
man Orchestra at Carnegie Hall playing “Sing, Sing, Sing” in 1938, 
this type of drumming is heard in almost every movie made reflecting 
the 30’s and 40’s. RB 
* Bop (T)
This busy jazzy style could easily be used in a small jazz combo, like 
piano, bass, drums and...

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Rumba
This is the Afro-Cuban version of the Rumba, not to be confused with 
the Rhumba (with an “h”) that can often be heard in older drum ma-
chines. MEB 
Bossa Nova
The traditional Bossa Nova style is played with the sidestick on the 
snare drum. Activate the sidestick button for that authentic feel. MEB 
Songo
Songo was created in the late sixties by drummer Chanquito of the 
group Los Van Van. This style has inspired many of today’s jazz and 
fusion drummers. Songo...

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* Ominous
This style is a non-rhythmic sound-fx journey through different moods 
and places, preferably unpleasant ones… Heartbeats, scary noises, 
chimes and many more noises merge into a melting pot of suggestive 
impressions. It ranges from the simple to the complex but in a non-lin-
ear fashion, beyond the boundaries of standard pattern playing. Still 
the Fill, Sidestick and Half tempo functions will vary the contents. Also 
try using the Random function a lot. So, imagine...

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** Storm
Look what the Storm brought us: a blend of different styles from dif-
ferent cultures. There is a soft latin touch to it, as well as marching 
drums and a nice R'n'B djembe groove in the higher levels, all interact-
ing beautifully. Try adding reverberation to get a more pompous feel-
ing or go to half speed. Eh... that would be a moderate gale, right? NE
Blues
12/8 (T)
This style is a hybrid. The original idea was to create a slow 12/8 feel, 
similar to...

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Country
Shuffle (T)
An uncomplicated style which can give you, as a drummer, a lot of 
possibilities if you are creative. Instead of just playing backbeats on 
the snare drum, you can play the whole pattern along with the hihat or 
ride cymbal, which will give you a “fat” sound in what you’re produc-
ing. It’s harder for your left hand (if you play an ordinary drum set) but 
a lot more fun! RB 
Fox (T)
This is one style that has been around for longer than anyone cares to...

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Pop
High energy pop drumming at your service! Fave tempo is 146 BPM. 
These rhythms were created to inspire all the other boys in the band. 
Pop drumming is the motor to a popcycle, with fill-ins from corny to 
rocket fuel. Can you find the two-bar fill going from A to Z and back 
again? Happy ride! DB 
Backbeat (T)
This is the perfect up-tempo style. The drumming is pretty intense and 
it doesn’t stop to catch its breath, and maybe that is why it’s very easy 
to create...

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** Wonderland (T)
The inspiration to this style comes from some of the best Stevie Won-
der songs. It's a mixture of some of his classic grooves that have be-
come part of many good drummer's “musical libraries”. This one is 
played with a 16th note triplet feeling. MEB
Dance Floor
Tamla
For this style I was inspired by the rock classic “Pretty Woman”. This 
rhythm was also frequently used by artists on the legendary Tamla 
Motown label. There can’t be a better way to...

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** Jillie Bean
This style is inspired by the two world famous pop songs Billie Jean 
and Thriller by Michael Jackson. It features a cool, straight pop groove 
with a 8th feel that begins Jacko and ends Whacko. FvW
** Mad:ish
The grooves in this style come from some of the most captivating Ma-
donna songs. The beats are very basic with some small variations in 
the grooves that makes the style so “floory”. After a couple of days 
with Madonna tunes in my headphones, I...