• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Just downloaded Virtual Drummer 2 Solid

tothemax

tothemax

Nov 1, 2013
1,465
1,702
Annapolis Area
#1
I'm pretty much a newbie with VST's and with all the sales this Black Friday, this one seemed to have a lot of positive reviews. Before actually purchasing the software I decided on the 30 day trial. It's seems pretty cool but after searching for a decent tutorial I'm not finding much out there on the Virtual Drummer 2 products. Just wondering if anyone has some suggestions for coming up to speed with drum VST's. My goal is creating fairly basic practice loops - primarily R&B, classic rock, and blues. I've got an old Zoom RT-223 Rhythm Track that I've been using for drum tracks. The RT-223 has about 300 beats and I use about 7 of them... I'm thinking a VST might provide better options.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DirtDog
#3
you will want to study up on how your DAW deals with MIDI. do you have a midi input device to tap out drum parts? i use an old m-audio trigger finger, it works fine. alternatively, you can create drum parts with a mouse...
 
#4
tothemax said:
I'm pretty much a newbie with VST's and with all the sales this Black Friday, this one seemed to have a lot of positive reviews. Before actually purchasing the software I decided on the 30 day trial. It's seems pretty cool but after searching for a decent tutorial I'm not finding much out there on the Virtual Drummer 2 products. Just wondering if anyone has some suggestions for coming up to speed with drum VST's. My goal is creating fairly basic practice loops - primarily R&B, classic rock, and blues. I've got an old Zoom RT-223 Rhythm Track that I've been using for drum tracks. The RT-223 has about 300 beats and I use about 7 of them... I'm thinking a VST might provide better options.
Click to expand...
You know you can create your own beats and patterns with the Zoom RT-223 Rhythm Track right? This gives you a lot of flexibility in my mind. I have one and this is what I do with mine, it is a great tool to practice with.
 
#5
What was interesting about the Virtual Drummer demo was that the selection of beats is pretty cool, a little limited timing wise as each selection seems to be recorded at a specific time signature. But the rhythm tracks really sound great. I've got an Impact LX 25+ control surface I'm learning my way around, what I was hoping for was VD2 tutorial to go through the steps to create a simple beat. I can get my controller to operate the VST, still working out the midi / recording process.

FBQC - I've had the RT-223 for a long time and copying patterns and building beats with the interface works but it is pretty time consuming. I'm not that adept at creating beats with the finger pads. I guess my biggest beef with it is the amount of searching required using the canned rhythms, even when you end up copying them to user section. I was hoping for a drag an drop solution that can be easily edited with intros, fills, and endings. RT-223 will do that but it's a lot of work. It's looking like these drum VST's have a pretty steep learning curve as well. The beauty of the RT-223 is that you pick a beat set the tempo and hit the foot pedal and your playing, that's hard to beat.
 
#6
Had the time to play around with the SW, still not fully clear how VST's write to the DAW. More learning is needed, but I actually got a drum beat to record in Cakewalk by creating an Instrument track and selecting the VD2 as the instrument and using the Impact controller as the source. My brain says there is a midi track being written somewhere, just need more time on the DAW. Ouch, my head hurts... well the RT-223 isn't going anywhere for awhile. Thought I would share.
 
#7
I downloaded the free version of JamStix and was up and going with some sweet grooves and beats and a complete 'song' in less than hour. It's extremely powerful and I've only scratched the surface of what it can do over the past couple of weeks, but I can knock a basic drum track in literally minutes, then tweak it as much or as little as I want.

Basically, you set up a song structure by selecting parts (i. e. intro/verse/chorus/bridge, etc..), then tell it how many measures in each section and how many times to repeat and BPM. Pretty much everything else is driven by defaults. Boom, done with a basic track From there you can tweak time signature, drummer style, genre style, grooves, fills, accents, drum kits...the list goes on and on. Crazy all the things you can customize. I focus on maybe ten basic things, leave the rest.

This is my first experience with any drum software and very pleased. It's a rabbit hole, if you want it to be, but also a 10 minute effort, if that's what you want. Recommend googling it. BTW, it's a VST you load into your DAW.
 
Last edited:
#8
MT Power Drumkit 2 might also be worth looking into. They also offer a free version that should be plenty powerful enough for basic tracks. TBH, it's even more straightforward and easier to knock out a track out quickly than JamStix, but not as customizable.
 
Last edited:
#11
RL,
Thanks for push on MT Power DK2 - downloaded it and played with it tonight. Put together two nice loops in about a 1/2 hour. I love the drag and drop feature, it is very intuitive. At this point this is about the level I was looking for, I've got other priorities and was just looking for simple tool to build practice loops with. Also the drum kits sound pretty decent for the price.

Cheers
 
#12
tothemax said:
RL,
Thanks for push on MT Power DK2 - downloaded it and played with it tonight. Put together two nice loops in about a 1/2 hour. I love the drag and drop feature, it is very intuitive. At this point this is about the level I was looking for, I've got other priorities and was just looking for simple tool to build practice loops with. Also the drum kits sound pretty decent for the price.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Good to hear. Next ones will only take a fraction of that time. JamStix down the road when you're ready to spice it up a few notches.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tothemax

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back