Drum Software/Machine Recommendations

Smallmouth_Bass · #1 07-08-2008, 08:02 PM

What is the best/easiest drum looping software or machine to use?

I'd like to be able create realistic drum beats with a certain amount of advanced subtleties to use to record and develop some original ideas. I am currently using GarageBand (Mac) and have the Rhythm Section Jam Pack. Many of the tracks are very good, however they are just that: pre-made tracks. I'd like to be able to program my own.

What are you using and what would you recommend? I'd prefer not to have to spend thousands of dollars on something (I really don't know how much this type of stuff is worth), but any suggestions are welcome.

This looks pretty cool:
http://www.propellerheads.se/products/refills/rdk/

D.Don · #2 07-08-2008, 08:06 PM

Addictive Drums, every day of the week.

There's a reason for that name...

Though you'll need a host to run that.

D.Don

adammazza · #3 07-08-2008, 08:07 PM

I use BFD2 from FXpansion and EZdrummer from Toontrack. BFD2 seems a bit more customizable, and it's what I prefer. I mostly use it to trigger samples from an electronic drumset but you can create grooves with either. I have a crappy sample up here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thACwWhtpgU

Adam

Smallmouth_Bass · #4 07-08-2008, 10:16 PM

Does anyone use the Reason drums?

jayarroz · #5 07-08-2008, 10:18 PM

I think reason is one of the best out there. But there is a learning curve to it! You can also take your Garage Band drum tracks and expand them and move the hits around, and sounds. If you get a Midi controller you can write your own drum loops in Garage Band.

Smallmouth_Bass · #6 07-08-2008, 10:22 PM

How about things like rolls, flams, and the in-between (open and closed) area of high-hats? Is it easy to programs stuff like that (in Reason)?

jayarroz · #7 07-08-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

How about things like rolls, flams, and the in-between (open and closed) area of high-hats? Is it easy to programs stuff like that in (in Reason)?

Yup reason will give you all those options, go to http://www.myspace.com/jonathanaltmanmusic thats someone I play with that we used reason drums.

Andrew.Glose · #8 07-12-2008, 03:29 AM

I use this: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/

It's the shiz. Of course, you'll have to spend some time working with it to learn the software, but that's with anything. I play drums and take notice to include subtleties.

For flams, I set the resolution to 32th notes or 64ths and put an inner beat before the target note. You can set the individual volume of each note, set the eq of each instrument (layer instruments, too), make it any tempo you like, any meter, metronome on/off, mixer...it's loaded. You can download different kits, as well.

The best part: It's free.

Andrew

**bassybill** · #9 07-12-2008, 06:09 AM

Jamstix is absolutely the best drum software I have ever come across, by a country mile. It's fantastic what you can do with this program - just amazing. BUT it does take a while to learn how to get the best out of it.

Fletch · #10 07-13-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Jamstix is absolutely the best drum software I have ever come across, by a country mile. It's fantastic what you can do with this program - just amazing. BUT it does take a while to learn how to get the best out of it.

+1 Very affordable too; one of those "best bang for your $$" kind of products.

chicago_mike · #11 07-13-2008, 09:21 AM

I know a lot of cats also like to control their drum vsti with Jamstyx. I dont have it, but the demos are pretty cool.

Addictive Drums, the sound files are compressed format, but nowhere near as bad as mp3's

BFD 1 or 2, DKFH Superior, and the other toontrack products are good.

Battery 3 which I have and like, I used to use DR-008 back in the days of vintage plugins..=\ built a massive library for that, but thankfully Kontakt 3 recognizes the format.

Other drum vsti's include and the ones I mention are worth mentioning, other wise.....

Guru
D16 Nepheton

I was, still am trying to develop a new drum / sampler vsti for Magix Samplitude and Sequoia, but I keep getting distracted.

DeathDancer · #12 07-14-2008, 02:52 AM

I've been happy with NI's Battery, especially Battery 3. Comes with some decent samples too if you don't already have a library built.

On the super cheap side you could always use Fruityloops

jamesblue · #13 07-14-2008, 12:44 PM

Jamstix 2 by Rayzoon. It's about $100 and great. Easy work flow and I think it has very good samples. I have the Bonzo pack which is amazing. I can lay down a basic song quickly and then tweak until I'm satisfied.

**bassybill** · #14 07-16-2008, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesblue

Jamstix 2 by Rayzoon. It's about $100 and great. Easy work flow and I think it has very good samples. I have the Bonzo pack which is amazing. I can lay down a basic song quickly and then tweak until I'm satisfied.

+1 on the BonzoPak, it's just tremendous. Like having John Bonham round to your house for a session, but without the drinks bill.

http://www.rayzoon.com/bonzopak.html

McThumpin · #15 07-16-2008, 03:14 AM

+1 on Reason. Huge range of great sounding samples/kits, with lots of tweaking/flexibilty (especially reason drums 2.0). And easy as pie.

51m0n · #16 07-16-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew.Glose

I use this: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/

It's the shiz. Of course, you'll have to spend some time working with it to learn the software, but that's with anything. I play drums and take notice to include subtleties.

For flams, I set the resolution to 32th notes or 64ths and put an inner beat before the target note. You can set the individual volume of each note, set the eq of each instrument (layer instruments, too), make it any tempo you like, any meter, metronome on/off, mixer...it's loaded. You can download different kits, as well.

The best part: It's free.

Andrew

BIg +1 to hydrogen, its a great proggie, in fact its remarkable for the price - and I've written drum machines before, so I feel vaguely in a position ot comment

manicbassman · #17 07-16-2008, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew.Glose

I use this: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/

It's the shiz. Of course, you'll have to spend some time working with it to learn the software, but that's with anything. I play drums and take notice to include subtleties.

For flams, I set the resolution to 32th notes or 64ths and put an inner beat before the target note. You can set the individual volume of each note, set the eq of each instrument (layer instruments, too), make it any tempo you like, any meter, metronome on/off, mixer...it's loaded. You can download different kits, as well.

The best part: It's free.

Andrew

I know it... and here's a link to a set of blues patterns I modified to sound a little better than the original someone else provided...

http://www.hydrogen-music.org/forum/...box.h2song.zip

and the thread is here:
http://www.hydrogen-music.org/forum/...2&fid=8&page=1

mind you, your tip on doing flams may require me to completely rework my bluesbox pattern set...

Spikeh · #18 07-16-2008, 05:44 AM

+1 for reason - briliant piece of software. I use it in my studio quite often.

There are some nice Roland drum machines if you need something simple and an all-in-one. Using Reason will no doubt improve your productivity in the long run though.

keb · #19 07-18-2008, 07:49 AM

I use Addictive Drums. It sounds great and it's flexible and tweakable enough if you wanna tweak it. Another good one is Toontrack's EZdrummer. Somewhat similar in presentation (and price) and also sounds great, but not quite as tweakable.

**WillPlay4Food** · #20 07-18-2008, 12:31 PM

I know someone who took a drum track they liked in GarageBand, then made a copy for each sound in the track they wanted. Then they shrunk the loop down to the kick, snare, ride, hihat, etc. Then just copy/paste those where needed to create your own drum line.