Cubase 15: Drum programming with Groove Agent and Pattern Editor

Cubase 15 Try it →Watch full video →Cubase · Apr 2026

Demo summary

The producer loads the 'Night Calls' library in Groove Agent, tunes the drum samples to the song's key, and sequences a beat using the Cubase Pattern Editor.

Step-by-step

Open Groove Agent and select a library such as 'Night Calls'
Select drum samples including a kick and snare
Tune the drum samples to the key of the song by adjusting semitones
Shorten the sample length if necessary
Create a new Pattern Event in the instrument track
Load the samples into the Pattern Editor
Sequence the drum hits within the Pattern Editor grid

Options

Use 'Lofi Dreams' library instead of 'Night Calls'
Extend the pattern length to create longer drum lines

Tips

Tune your drum samples to the specific key of your song for better cohesion
Shorten sample tails to clean up the sound of the kit

Highlights

“That can be our main little drum line. I'm fine with that for now.”

All demos from “Produce a Full Song in Cubase 15 – Step by Step | From Idea to Finished Song”

0:292:15Compose chords with HALion Sonic in CubaseThe producer selects a brass patch in HALion Sonic, sets the project tempo to 98 BPM, and records a MIDI chord progression in C# major.Cubase 15· AI Melody & MIDI Generator
6:402:20Drum programming with Groove Agent and Pattern EditorCurrentThe producer loads the 'Night Calls' library in Groove Agent, tunes the drum samples to the song's key, and sequences a beat using the Cubase Pattern Editor.Cubase 15· AI Beat Generator
9:002:44Adding percussion and Effects ModulatorThe user imports percussion loops, uses the 'ret-time' tool to match the tempo, and applies the Effects Modulator to create a rhythmic ramp-up on a hi-hat loop.Cubase 15· AI Audio Editor
12:263:35Recording and processing guitar with VST Amp RackThe producer records live guitar through the Steinberg Amp Rack, applies auto-quantize to the audio, and adds chorus, delay, and shimmer reverb to create a guitar pad.Cubase 15· AI Audio Editor
Watch “Produce a Full Song in Cubase 15 – Step by Step | From Idea to Finished Song” →

AI Beat Generator

19:040:26Pattern sequencing in Groove Agent SC6The host shows how to turn a groove into a pattern within Groove Agent SC6 and drag it into the Cubase project as a MIDI file.Dom Sigalas
6:341:56Creating drum patterns in the Pattern EditorThe creator demonstrates building a drum loop by selecting a kit from the library and clicking notes into the Cubase 15 Pattern Editor.Reid Stefan
8:371:35Build a drum pattern with claps and hatsThe instructor demonstrates dragging in clap and hi-hat samples and placing them on specific beats to build a standard house music rhythm.Born To Produce
9:484:09Design drum sounds with the Drum Machine and SynthThe creator demonstrates building a custom drum kit by loading synthesized kick and snare modules, tuning them to specific notes, and applying built-in effects like bitcrushing and reverb.WaveBits
6:402:20Drum programming with Groove Agent and Pattern EditorCurrentThe producer loads the 'Night Calls' library in Groove Agent, tunes the drum samples to the song's key, and sequences a beat using the Cubase Pattern Editor.Cubase
0:260:47Auditioning Drum Machine presets in Cubase 15The narrator demonstrates how to navigate to the Media Bay to find and audition the new Drum Machine Volume 2 presets and patterns.Cubase
4:000:47Creating grooves with Groove Agent SE 6 Pattern ModeThe user demonstrates switching to the new pattern mode in Groove Agent SE 6, applying randomization and swing, and dragging the resulting groove into the Cubase project.Cubase
5:501:30Create drum patterns in Groove Agent SE6The user loads a kit in Groove Agent SE6 and demonstrates how to use the new player and pattern creation pads to trigger and program drum sequences.EcstasyTunes