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The drum software thread

BassyBill

BassyBill

Gold Supporting Member
In Memoriam
Mar 12, 2005
18,174
4,621
West Midlands UK
#1
Any other drum software addicts on here? What do you use and how do you get what you want out of it?

I'm a big fan of Jamstix for getting the actual performance right and the sounds are first rate (especially some of the add-ons like the incredible Bonzo pack). But I decided I wanted a bigger, more detailed sample library and more flexible mixing options, especially with regard to the mic arrangements.

So, I just got myself a copy of Superior Drummer 2 (great deal at Sweetwater this month, btw - $149.99). I'm planning on running the Jamstix MIDI through this to get a much wider range of sounds, especially if I go a bit further with the GAS and get some of the expansion packs that Toontrack have for sale. The Custom and Vintage library and the New York Studios Vol. II look awesome.

The capability of having such a wide range of drums and cymbals, recorded with a variety of great mics in different ways, in some of the best studios by the best technicians... I could just play around with this sort of setup for all eternity and not bother recording anything else, ever... :eek:

Sounds like great fun, yes? Tell us about your "drumming" passions in your studio setup, then.
 
#3
chicago_mike said:
You can also use the EZ expansion kits with Superior.

I use BFD2 / Superior 2 / Guru / RMX / Battery 3 depending on session, etc.

Im also looking at Motu's drum vsti with possible glee.

And dont forget the power of drumagog.:)
Click to expand...
Yeah, Toontrack have something along the lines of drumagog, I think - not useful to me as I never record live drums to replace with samples.

If I spent more time on my actual kit (nice old Slingerland set up I inherited from my Dad) instead of playing with Jamstix, then a drum replacer gadget could be of some use, I suppose. I stopped trying to be Steve Gadd a while back, though, 'cos my drumming sucks even more than my bass playing. :D
 
#5
chicago_mike said:
Well...its not stopping you from playing like his lesser known brother Gary Gadd now is it?
Click to expand...
I'll check that out. :D

Instrumentally, I decided to focus on bass a loooooong time ago and that's always been my main thing (in other words, I get paid). On keyboards I get by, on drums I suck and on guitar I'm even more disastrous - almost as bad as my singing.

I don't think anyone could call me an all-rounder. Now, where did I put my bass... ?
 
#7
I'm using Superior Drummer 2.0 too.

I usually modify the settings on the mixer to get a little bit more overhead. I'm also using different outputs for the kick, snare, toms, hihat, cymbals/overhead.

I like boosting and eqing a little more cymbals and overhead. I sometimes use a compressor to have a squashing sound when needed.

The only gripe I have about Superior Drummer is the hihat sound... I don't think it sounds really good. It really needs more samples/variation...
 
#9
I'm addicted to plugins and samples. All keyboard players are.
I've been using Superior 1 since it came out, and recently added Superior 2 to my collection. I LOVE it, except for the kickdrums. The ones in 1 sound more right for me.

Of course, I bounce all drums to separate tracks and work with them like the old days. Saves some RAM and makes it more natural.

I just love all the room mics. No need to add crappy snare reverb anymore.
 
#10
Animal Mother said:
I'm using Superior Drummer 2.0 too.

I usually modify the settings on the mixer to get a little bit more overhead. I'm also using different outputs for the kick, snare, toms, hihat, cymbals/overhead.

I like boosting and eqing a little more cymbals and overhead. I sometimes use a compressor to have a squashing sound when needed.

The only gripe I have about Superior Drummer is the hihat sound... I don't think it sounds really good. It really needs more samples/variation...
Click to expand...

Trapezius said:
I'm addicted to plugins and samples. All keyboard players are.
I've been using Superior 1 since it came out, and recently added Superior 2 to my collection. I LOVE it, except for the kickdrums. The ones in 1 sound more right for me.

Of course, I bounce all drums to separate tracks and work with them like the old days. Saves some RAM and makes it more natural.

I just love all the room mics. No need to add crappy snare reverb anymore.
Click to expand...

One of the main reasons I switched to Reaper from Cubase LE4 was the ability to use multiple outs for VSTis.

"Animal Mother" - is that a Short Timers (book) / Full Metal Jacket (film) reference?
 
#11
So I have long been seeking a good software drum solution that's A) Easy to use and B) sounds better than ACID...

This thread intrigues me... I looked up EZDrummer and it looks pretty much like what I want, but it's the same price as the pro version, which reviews are saying is great but MUCH more difficult to use....

Now, I'm not dumb - heck, I'm a software engineer... but when I'm doing music, I play BASS - I don't want to have to dig in and spend hours to learn technical details of a software package - I want stuff that just *works*... And based on the demos/tutorials I've seen on line, EZ-Drummer would to the trick...

So is there somewhere to get that where it isn't full price? And are there other packages that folks like?
 
#14
kesslari said:
Gonna watch this thread. I have been doing fine with Hammerhead, but more capability, especially around longer patterns and odd meters, would be groovy.
Click to expand...



Dude I hear ya. If I can find loos in 7/8, 9/8 etc. I'd be thrilled. Looking for that '70's style Peart, Bruford/White, Collins, Bozio stuff or today's Portnoy, Harrison, Carey method.

I remember seeing something involving Alan White with odd meters though a while back involving loops.
 
#15
Rush Fan said:
Dude I hear ya. If I can find loos in 7/8, 9/8 etc. I'd be thrilled. Looking for that '70's style Peart, Bruford/White, Collins, Bozio stuff or today's Portnoy, Harrison, Carey method.

I remember seeing something involving Alan White with odd meters though a while back involving loops.
Click to expand...

Hell, how about software that just does 4/4 without being hours of work or sounding like crap??
 
#16
The big thing just maybe 2 to 3 years ago was using RMX with BFD together. Wich reminds me to update my RMX library.

I used to "build drum kits in Acid", a common term way back in the day. This meant actually placing the hits in the timeline where they should go. No snapping or anything to help you out. It was actually a lot of fun..kinda.

Now you see a lot that look like an MPC3000, wich is okay, but its gettin overdone now. Guru, Maschine, Groove Agent One, BPM..I think Im missing a few. Although RMV is really nice if you can get around some parts of the gui.
 
#18
BigOldHarry said:
So I have long been seeking a good software drum solution that's A) Easy to use and B) sounds better than ACID...

This thread intrigues me... I looked up EZDrummer and it looks pretty much like what I want, but it's the same price as the pro version, which reviews are saying is great but MUCH more difficult to use....

Now, I'm not dumb - heck, I'm a software engineer... but when I'm doing music, I play BASS - I don't want to have to dig in and spend hours to learn technical details of a software package - I want stuff that just *works*... And based on the demos/tutorials I've seen on line, EZ-Drummer would to the trick...

So is there somewhere to get that where it isn't full price? And are there other packages that folks like?
Click to expand...

Superior 2 is just as easy as EZ-Drummer IMO. It just has a lot more samples and stuff. But if you want lots of presets for grooves etc, try EZ.

The full Superior 1 is much more tricky to use, but you can load it in Superior 2.
 

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