Superior Drummer 2.0

[MikeTSH]

Is it worth buying? I was thinking of purchasing it to replace ezDrummer; because all the expansion packs I've bought for ezDrummer just don't have that special something, especially the snare. Also, are there any presets on there, how many, and are they any good?

Thanks
Mike

[skiltrip]

Go to the Toontrack forum and sign up if you haven't already...

Toontrack Support Forum

There's a ton of regular users of all the Toontrack stuff and tons of threads (as you can imagine) on S2.0.

From what I've read on there S2.0 is awesome, and comes with lots of useful presets. I too am considering upgrading from EZdrummer, but for the moment, money is tight, and the Vintage Kit mixed with a little bit of Nashville works pretty well for me for now. There are two new EZX packs coming out the end of this year as well. Jazz Kit and Funky Drummer.

[dacart]

As someone who has been using DFHS for several years (though not EZDrummer) I can only tell you that S2 is "da bomb" The mixer alone is worth the price of admission and the Avatar drums sound awesome. OTOH I also have all the old DFHS samples to mess around with as well but I believe EZDrummer packs interface with tS2 jsut as well as the old DFHS samples do.

I personally can't recommend it high enough. The guys at Toontrack really did their homework and came out with something that really works the way it should

Dan Carter

[dijon]

One nice thing about superior is that you can access all your old ezdrummer stuff (midi files and samples) from 2.0. Even cooler is you can mix and match drumkits from your old ezxs. Like the nashville snare on the vintage kit.

The mixer is cool although I don't use any effects as I multi-out to the DAW and effect the tracks there. Some people say the sounds are too glitzy and big but I've managed to dirty them up when I need to. I'd say it was a no brainer of an upgrade especially for an ezdrummer user who doesn't want to say adios to that investment. (I STILL use ezdrummer sometimes instead of 2.0 - depending on what I'm working on)

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by MikeTSH

all the expansion packs I've bought for ezDrummer just don't have that special something, especially the snare.

I saw you say on another thread you didn't like the sounds.
To my ears the various snares in the EZX's are so different I couldn't confidently say a snare in S2 would fit the bill. It's all a matter of personal taste.
On the upside, yes you can still use all your EZX's inside S2.
I believe you can buy S2 for an upgrade price too (as a current EZdrummer owner).
And Superior 2 has a ton more flexibility and processing power.
More sound sets for S2 are also on the way.

[boobus]

thank you for this thread and all the opinions.

[hello people]

No problem.

Does anyone believe that all these drum plugins/ software really mean that you can never produce a decent song? You know just because it's really just loops.

[MikeTSH]

For me it's not, I play it all in real time on the keyboard over and over until I get it damn near close, then do a touch of light quantizing to get it in shape

[Rufuss Sewell]

Here's a song I wrote recently and recorded using Superior 2.0. I think it's decent.

[MikeTSH]

I so badly need an example on a pop rock style song with vocals etc, cos while it's nice hearing songs (and yours was great) the only way to truly know if it's worth buying is hearing the style. How would I make the drums sound like this (you may not like them but it's the sound I'm after) http://thebrokenminor.com/sga.mp3

[Rufuss Sewell]

Here's another... this is just one guitar track and Superior 2.0.

[Rufuss Sewell]

I don't do much straight pop. But I'd say you can definitely get close to that sound with Superior 2.0.

[smy1]

Hey Rufuss! Cool guitar playing on "Rust"!

Respect!

[Rufuss Sewell]

I just remembered a pop song I did recently. This guy's name is Niel Nasset. The song is called "Crook."

I played all of the instruments including the drums which are of course S2.0.

I'm starting to consider myself an actual drummer... it's just that I play with my fingers... and on a keyboard instead of a drumset! haha.

[hello people]

I think it's kind of like conceiving a child but you're not the real father...where's the satisfaction in that?

[MikeTSH]

It's hardly the same; when you can't afford something you have to take the cheaper option. Oh, and by the by, I consider myself a "keyboard drummer" to cos I play thru a keyboard too

[JCBitB]

I'm running it with a yamaha e-kit and I like it quite a bit, although the sensitivity I saw in the Namm video's isn't quite there. Maybe I need to keep looking under the hood and tweak, I've only spent a week with it.

I'd be careful if you're used to EZ Drummer, the point of EZ Drummer was to strip it down so someone who didn't need the extra's could be as productive as possible. You might wanna look for a way to try it out, to make sure you don't get the "drowning in a sea of knobs and features" feeling. Good luck tho

[wildpark]

just goo too the next music shop and take a mid file from you fav recording with you then led them play every drumssimulation they offer .

personally i like too pay 300 more and buy mixosaurus or ocean way drums

without paying companys like ez-bfd... for a uncompleted product.

Originally Posted by MikeTSH

Is it worth buying? I was thinking of purchasing it to replace ezDrummer; because all the expansion packs I've bought for ezDrummer just don't have that special something, especially the snare. Also, are there any presets on there, how many, and are they any good?

Thanks
Mike

[ProducerBoy]

Superior 2.0 can be sculpted to sound like a glossy pop song, to metal, to sufjan stevens. I've done slammin country, inspirational, coldplay esque, beatle esque, and straight LA rock with it. It has fooled (with a little finesse and literal slide of hand) every professional session drummer who has heard my tracks.
Buy it... buy it... buy it.
Forget EZDrummer. Been there, not nearly in the same league.

[MikeTSH]

As I've heard. Unfortunately I can't get it at the upgrade price becuase it was my mate who let me install with his installation discs, so I have to pay the full out 189 - this is going to take a lot of temping for a christmas present =P I'm probably only gonna get 2 things this year, an external HD and Superior Drummer 2 - better be worth it

[hello people]

Does Superior Drummer 2.0 have any grooves ah la like how ezdrummer had/ has...Nashville, Latin etc?

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by JCBitB

I'd be careful if you're used to EZ Drummer, the point of EZ Drummer was to strip it down so someone who didn't need the extra's could be as productive as possible. You might wanna look for a way to try it out, to make sure you don't get the "drowning in a sea of knobs and features" feeling. Good luck tho

Agreed.

[Jamzone]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

Superior 2.0 can be sculpted to sound like a glossy pop song, to metal, to sufjan stevens. I've done slammin country, inspirational, coldplay esque, beatle esque, and straight LA rock with it. It has fooled (with a little finesse and literal slide of hand) every professional session drummer who has heard my tracks.
Buy it... buy it... buy it.
Forget EZDrummer. Been there, not nearly in the same league.

Dead on!

Ezdrummer: Borderline unusable

Superior 2.0: Fullblown and larger than life!

Recommended!!

//Jamzone

[Stiff]

Originally Posted by Jamzone

Ezdrummer: Borderline unusable

Superior 2.0: Fullblown and larger than life!

I wouldn't really put them in the same genre. I think they're aimed for different things.

[MikeTSH]

The problem with ezDrummer for me is that you're restricted to a very set number of sounds. Superior seems to have the ability to change everything.

[79_Limited]

EZ and Superior 2.0 user here. I use them both. 2.0 is a league above EZ but I still use EZ from time to time because of the different sounding rooms.

Both good tools to have.

[79_Limited]

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

I just remembered a pop song I did recently. This guy's name is Niel Nasset. The song is called "Crook."

I played all of the instruments including the drums which are of course S2.0.

I'm starting to consider myself an actual drummer... it's just that I play with my fingers... and on a keyboard instead of a drumset! haha.

Rufus sounds great!

Details on the guitar sounds??? You got that Chris Isaak "Wicked Game" vibe going on the clean guitars. Details, details???

Greg

[Rufuss Sewell]

Thanks!

The guitar chain was:

Parker Fly Deluxe guitar
Mesa Mark IV amp on rhythm channel 1
Ampeg 4X12 cab
Blue Bottle tube mic w/B6 cap about 3" on axis
Daking pre/EQ from my console
Original Teletronix LA-2A compressor
Rosetta 800 converter clocked with Big Ben
Tracked and mixed in Logic 8

I think the whammy bar vibrato may be giving it the Wickid Game/Bruce Kaphan sound.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

Thanks!

The guitar chain was:

Parker Fly Deluxe guitar
Mesa Mark IV amp on rhythm channel 1
Ampeg 4X12 cab
Blue Bottle tube mic w/B6 cap about 3" on axis
Daking pre/EQ from my console
Original Teletronix LA-2A compressor
Rosetta 800 converter clocked with Big Ben
Tracked and mixed in Logic 8

I think the whammy bar vibrato may be giving it the Wickid Game/Bruce Kaphan sound.

What kind of speakers do you have in the Ampeg cab?

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by MikeTSH

Unfortunately I can't get it at the upgrade price becuase it was my mate who let me install with his installation discs, so I have to pay the full out 189 -

What a shame. You'll actually have to pay this time instead of nicking the sounds. tutt