Which Midi Drum program do you recommend? Battery3, Addictive Drums, EZDrummer?

[PlatinumSamples]

Perhaps you want to listen to some of our demos:

https://www.platinumsamples.com/JoeBarresi.html

or customers' songs:

https://www.platinumsamples.com/Customer_Tunes.html

Rail

[LimeMusic]

I use EZ Drummer, and I use the basic grooves for tracking a basic song, and then go back and trigger the actual track. The grooves are great for quick and easy work, just to get the groove. The sounds are good. Not amazing, but definitely workable and they aren't very processed so you can add your own flavor. I think it's a great tool for getting ideas down, and it also provides some very usable kit sounds.

I've been very satisfied with EZ Drummer, and I plan on getting Superior 2.0 as soon as I can afford it. It seems to be much more versatile...

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by dacart

Well sorry but this thread isn't about loops. It's about sample libraries that you can program or play yourself AND/OR use with midi files. MIDI files are NOT loops and they are treated in a completely different way. If you don't understand the difference then you need to stop commenting in a thread that you don't fully understand. The OP wanted to know about sample libraries/players. BFD, Addictive Drums, Superior and Battery do NOT contain loops. A loop is a pre recorded stereo file of a drum performance in a given style. If all you want to do is work with loops then nothing in this thread has any bearing on your needs.

Dan Carter

Well don't I feel stupid. I am new ..and I am the OP. and I guess I was wanting to find a program that contains drum sample sounds that I can both trigger on a midi controller. But the idea of find loops that I can use that have great sounds would be equally helpful.
Please forgive my ignorance. Your comment certainly clarified that drum samples are sounds I can attribute to a midi control pad and trigger from there. Right?

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Your comment certainly clarified that drum samples are sounds I can attribute to a midi control pad and trigger from there. Right?

Yep. thumbsup

And don't worry about your first post, it was absolutely normal and an interesting question.
Some worthy comment and debate has ensued.
Keep it coming.

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

I did a bunch of poking arounf and research befroe getting addictive drums.

I edit velocities like a mo-fo and to me, THAT is the key to organic. He loved the sounds and only picked on the high hat.

I know there is better but if you can't do it with AD, it aint the software.


MHO
Rob

100% agreed on all these!

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by hello people

Haha..I listened to the first 'country' example...lol...it sounded like an out of control machine gun....just pumpin lead into anything that moved or didn't move!

See I think all these ez type things they are really marketed for people who can't play...but just want to select good midi loops...but most of their midi loops are too amped...too pumped...too convoluted and complicated...they got nothing for laid back country with deft fills...they just got all this shit that goes 'kaBANG!!! and BOOM!!! and WOW!!! and man that movies got so many radical EXPLOSIONS..."

I know you can tweak it...but if you're looking to use it with the oodles and oodles and oodles of premade samples and loops (it's main selling point) ...well then...it won't cut it. The ones they included are really to make people go 'awww wow mannnnn that's so AAAAwwwesome those beatz sound insane' But really, when the chickens come home to roost you'll be left barfing in a bucket and walking in circles around the house...clawing and scratching at the walls

I just listened to the Kenny Aronoff blues example and the Denny Weston stuff

I know what you're saying bout those Addictive Drums examples - Machine guns and explosions :-)

BUT - That's just the default "startup" kit set to "stun" lol

and with some quick velocity twaeking you can make it sound much more natural

Also sound like the compression on the room sound channnel is set to nuke

[rhizomeman]

I have been working with Battery a lot recently and think the samples sound great and it's easy to use. Haven't listened to other programs out there however, so I can't compare. If you're just looking to trigger samples with a midi keyboard Battery is pretty straight forward and very flexible.

[dkelley]

the ez drummer stuff (and it's later incarnations for rock drums etc) is amazing.

My personal taste in playing real drums matches the sound of the default ez drummer kit pretty closely so I use it for a lot of my real playing (using triggers and midi to record my playing so I can edit it in the mix and alter tones if/when needed easily).

I love ez drummer.

amazing kit

I also multisampled it's main drum samples into my hardware sampler for latency-free real time playing, way more natural. I hate playing through plugins wiht latency..

cheers
Don

[kellyjford1]

I am currently using BFD2. I've used EZdrummer in the past.
What I find nice about BFD2 is that all of the samples are naked. You are required to put your own compression, Eq, etc. on each piece and to mix the kit as if you actually did the recording in a studio.
So, if audio engineering is your thing, BFD2 is the perfect piece of drum software. If you want drums/loops that are all in place sounding pretty, I'd go with a different software.
In my opinion, BFD2 is amazing.

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by dacart

Well sorry but this thread isn't about loops. It's about sample libraries that you can program or play yourself AND/OR use with midi files. MIDI files are NOT loops and they are treated in a completely different way. If you don't understand the difference then you need to stop commenting in a thread that you don't fully understand. The OP wanted to know about sample libraries/players. BFD, Addictive Drums, Superior and Battery do NOT contain loops. A loop is a pre recorded stereo file of a drum performance in a given style. If all you want to do is work with loops then nothing in this thread has any bearing on your needs.

Dan Carter

Hey Dan, I AM the Original poster and clearly you are correct. I didn't understand the difference between Midi file samples and loops. I was however interested in using a touch pad or midi keyboard controller to create my own drum tracks. But I also thought maybe these programs had loops too. I thought I could find some midi file samples that also contained usable loops. Hence my confusion. I am new to this aspect, so I posted, I asked, and clearly I displayed the fact that I didn't know the difference between Midi sample programs versus drum "loops." I kept commenting (in my own thread) as I wanted and needed to learn. Color me a newbie who didn't understand the difference.

I thought maybe I might find great drum programs that had great sounds that I could trigger manually with a midi controller, but also .... and "LOOPS". I didn't know the difference when I started the thread. Maybe this commentary will be helpful to make that distinction to others. Please forgive my ignorance. I'm just here to learn bro.

Are there Midi drum programs that have loops, or do I need to create them myself with the program?

[cooker]

Here's a very nice freeware MeldaProduction MDrummer Virtual Drummer, free drum VST plug-in, VST/Standalone

I guess the payware vers. is the most advance thing out there currently (not sure about the sounds though). The features are limited on the freeware but its very usable.

[ohmicide]

i vote on superior drummer 2.0

[Lorddiagram]

BFD2

Killer, amazing sounds. Awesome tweak-ability and great for live performance.

lD

[Dr.Wu]

i have EZdrummer, Superior and Addictive and while i like all the tweaking possibilities in the later two i mostly end up using EZdrummer especially when it comes to trigggering thru V-Drums.
It just sounds the best out of the box with no tweaking which makes it perfect for sessions. Fast and easy. I am using the Nashville and the Jazz Expansion most of the time. The Funk kits are fiun too.

using the onboard audio of my macbook pro i can dial in a latency of 64 samples-better than MIDI.
Drummers love it.

[Heartfelt]

I love the flexibility of splitting the outs on AD and treating it like real drum tracks, including smashing the room mic.

[Fiast]

BFD 2 ..love it ..ehhe

[Groberts]

I've realized that my needs for now are best served with some decent loops that I can drag and drop into Logic Pro to help establish a basic groove to work from.

At some point, I'll want to use a midi controller to trigger drum samples. And while it might be nice to apply EQ, compression etc, I prefer a program with drum sounds where that is already done and in place.

From what I've been reading, EZ Drummer, or maybe Superior might best suit my basic groove Loop needs.

[sheepforwheat]

i use battery 3.
i tried BFD 1 but i found the cymbals and hi-hats to not be aggressive enough. haven't tried 2.

[ohmicide]

if you want EASY to use then i'm not sure if superior drummer would be good for you. i think it's great personally but you have to know how to mix a real set. same thing goes to addictive drummer although it comes with a lot of useable kit presets.

i use battery the most but with my sample libraries for electronic music. i think their acoustic drum sounds pretty much suck if you want it to sound like real drums though

[David C.]

Loops are recorded bits and can be stretched but you can't change the content. Midi loops are recorded but you can go in and edit them to your heart's desire. If the roll is too complicated, go in and take out every other note or whatever.

I like EZ drummer. It sounds finished but you can still edit the mix of the drums if you want. I hardly ever use the included midi loops and bits, I use a Roland 8-pad thing to record my drum parts.

[badhorsie777]

I use "Infinite Player" kits, which I got for great deals through esoundz.com. The "iMap" lets you play the nuances that are often lost in battery-style samplers.

My second recommendation is definitely Kitcore deluxe - amazing deal and great tones.

Next price point up, I'd go infinite player or superior. BFD always seems too wooly and uncontrollable - user error, I'd wager, as I've heard decent stuff from other users.

Hope that helps,
Matt

[bluemix]

I don't know if you use Pro Tools or not but if you do you should consider Strike. No one has mentioned it yet but it's pretty intuitive and you can get some really realistic sounds out of it. Like BFD2 you can use dry samples, and add/remove compression,eq, etc. The stock kits are premixed with compression/eq etc. but you can shut all of that off in the mixer window. Strike also allows you to assign loops/parts/fills (stock or self-created) to midi pads/keys and trigger them in real time (eg. Verse A, Chorus, Bridge, etc.). Takes a bit of getting used to and the manual is pretty much useless but once you get the hang of it it's pretty powerful.

[disconnected]

I have Battery 3 , EZ Drummer with the Nashville Pack,Vintage Drum pak and DKFH Pack, and I have Session Drummer 2 (Sonar)..I tend to use EZ Drummer more than the others. I like the EZ Drummer sounds better and its easier to work with than the others..I plan on upgrading it to Superior..

[fallforward]

I purchased AD when it was on sale at Guitar Center for $99 dollars. If they ever run that deal again it is the best drum for your dollar...

Even at full price it is half of the price of BFD2 (which I also own and has a lot more samples than AD). But if you are just wanting something more bare bones at a better price I would suggest AD.

[FireMoon]

Originally Posted by hello people

Except they suck unless you like things that are over complicated with fills that are the equivalent of big cool explosions in movies that all the dumb people like.

They got nothing...even in the Nashville kit that can do normal, deft, country tracks...even their brushes sound like the kit's being hit with a sledge hammer.

They go from fills that do/ change up virtually not at all...to these insane fills that sound like they are being played by an octopus on speed...with nothing in between.

It's all just big dumb explosions in ez...and train beats and all this crap that makes dumb people go 'wow...that sure is cool'.

There's nothing really too artful there...but then again...it is a machine so...

I'm sorry, but is something i can't just sit here and let pass... This track is 100% Superior drummer using the basic kit. The idea it's all big hits and * explosive style playing and samples* is simply totally and utterly wrong..

I wouldn't usually plug something I've done, but in this case i feel it's the best way of making the point i want to and you know that it is exactly as described..

Star City.mp3

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by FireMoon

I'm sorry, but is something i can't just sit here and let pass... This track is 100% Superior drummer using the basic kit. The idea it's all big hits and * explosive style playing and samples* is simply totally and utterly wrong..

I wouldn't usually plug something I've done, but in this case i feel it's the best way of making the point i want to and you know that it is exactly as described..

Star City.mp3

Those sounded like drums to me and not a program. ..did you have to modify velocities, eq, compression etc?

[FireMoon]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Those sounded like drums to me and not a program. ..did you have to modify velocities, eq, compression etc?

Its working the balance between the room mics and the dry drums... Which Superior Drummer allows you to do.... Aside from some parallel compression and juggling the relative levels of the individual parts to suit ..

As for velocities , yes, but that's part of the basic programming of the drum parts...

I didn't use it on that track but sometimes i layer a couple of teh snares together, one for the body of the sound, pretty dry and the other, more snap at the top end and roomy...

Just checked the project... snare top has a little roll off from 8khz and a cut at 1khz
The room stems have a little cut around 800-1khz.. the toms and snare have a UAD plate reverb on them. Parallel compression is a UAD 1176. The room stem has an Abbey Road TG plug-in compressor giving is a bit of push. That is it however...

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by FireMoon

Its working the balance between the room mics and the dry drums... Which Superior Drummer allows you to do.... Aside from some parallel compression and juggling the relative levels of the individual parts to suit ..

As for velocities , yes, but that's part of the basic programming of the drum parts...

I didn't use it on that track but sometimes i layer a couple of teh snares together, one for the body of the sound, pretty dry and the other, more snap at the top end and roomy...

Just checked the project... snare top has a little roll off from 8khz and a cut at 1khz
The room stems have a little cut around 800-1khz.. the toms and snare have a UAD plate reverb on them. Parallel compression is a UAD 1176. The room stem has an Abbey Road TG plug-in compressor giving is a bit of push. That is it however...

Well that just sounded awesome man! Real drums. and good sounding ones. That's what I heard in your recording. Nice job Thanks for sharing!

[3rdpath]

Originally Posted by Blast9

I just listened to the Kenny Aronoff blues example and the Denny Weston stuff

I know what you're saying bout those Addictive Drums examples - Machine guns and explosions :-)

BUT - That's just the default "startup" kit set to "stun" lol

and with some quick velocity twaeking you can make it sound much more natural

Also sound like the compression on the room sound channnel is set to nuke

i appreciate the positive comments!

those are indeed factory drum patches..and yes, they lack some velocity sensitivity. i chose those patches intentionally to showcase the Knock Out Groove midi files so as to bypass the possibility of people feeling mislead by demos using really tweaked kits.

many of the kit presets that were created with the input of Kenny Aronoff, Denny Weston Jr and Mitch Marine are available as a free download on our site.

i'm an old school gearslutz member from way back in 2002...i joined long before i ever dreamed of starting Knock Out Grooves. i haven't posted much because i don't want to seem like i'm pimpin my product (and i'm freakin busy doing what pretty much everyone else here does-writing, recording and producing music...). i just felt like a bit of additional input might be useful to clarify some of the previous comments.

if you'd like to know more-feel free to ask. if my post seems inappropriate or violates gearslutz policy-feel free to delete....no worries there.

thx,

3rdpath

[ravenosa]

My vote between Addictive and Superior would be Addictive.

Superior sounds great but is a bit of a system hog and when I'm starting to create a song, messing around with Superior ends up killing my creative mojo. With Addictive (just using the Addictive demo at the moment) I find myself not having to stop/think/mess around with stuff (never mind figuring out how to get started with Superior and having to contact support just to get a serial number so I could download/install a MIDI file player).

In Addictive: just choose a kit, find a beat if you'd like and take it from there. Never even had to check any sort of documentation. Also, for the amount of files installed for Superior, I was sad to have only one kit. Especially considering for half the price EZ Drummer comes with several.

I also like having the groove player/dragger-dropper within Addictive and I find it much snappier on my 2.66 Ghz w/ 4MB RAM. Having to open one instrument as a "player" to audition/drag/drop beats and another as the kit for Superior just adds another step and more plug-ins to slow things down.

The way I write I've pretty much had to avoid using Superior, which makes me sad, considering the amount of money I dropped for it, but so far it hasn't been a helpful tool for writing/composing for me ~ pretty much has brought me to a halt several every time and I go from writing to head-scratching. I may work it into my music once everything is done ~ but when I have some cash I'll be getting the full Addictive ~ just sad that they don't seem to have a lot of other kits and expansions in the making...