Drum software recs...? General Recording setup advice.

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skullfxr

skullfxr

Well-known member
I am looking for drum software, but I have no idea where to start or look.

I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, a Korg Synth (MIDI), and the guitar will be going through my Suhr RLIR, and I use a Tech 21 Sansamp for the bass. I also have a few Radial Engineering Reampers and DI's around, as well as a few cheap common microphones (sm57 sm58).

I am using Reaper and have a broad selection of plug-ins. The computer is solid. I have a pair of NS-10's and KRK Rockitt 5's and Sennheiser 280pro headphones.

Any and all guidance is welcome all around regardless of it being software or setup or drums.

Let's keep the software under or near $150.
 
I really dig ez drummer! You can create drum tracks in the software and drag them into a session. It can be used as a stand alone or as a plug-in .

I forget what it’s going for but isn’t super expensive.
 
With that price restriction SSD5 is a no-brainer. I bought SSD4 platinum for $89 back in the day. The upgrade a few years later to SSD5 was $79. I scored the 4 expansions for $49 each, a price they go on sale for often.

The expansions aren't necessary, but it's nice to have 'em. Buying all expansions for, say, BFD or SD3, will cost thousands.

The great bonus for me is that IMHO and that of many others is that SSD sounds the best. Has more mojo and analogue / organic warmth than all the competition. I'd have bought it anyway based on this, regardless of price.

There's a permanent-licenced, free version with just one great kit if you want to try before you buy:

SSD5 Free
 
I love the layout and how easy EZ is but I’ve been having trouble getting most of the cymbals to sound good in a mix. It could definitely be user error but they seem to sound a bit “trashy” and brash and chew up a lot of the upper frequencies in the mix even when I bury them. I might give that free SSD5 kit a try. Thanks Monkey Man!
 
glassjaw7 said:
I love the layout and how easy EZ is but I’ve been having trouble getting most of the cymbals to sound good in a mix. It could definitely be user error but they seem to sound a bit “trashy” and brash and chew up a lot of the upper frequencies in the mix even when I bury them. I might give that free SSD5 kit a try. Thanks Monkey Man!
Click to expand...
That has always been the weakness of programmed drums besides the snare and hi hats. I recently upgraded to SD3 because I prefer to have a nice easy way to edit within the program vs the piano roll classical midi interface in the DAW. Still, with all its amazing features like replacement and tracking etc.. the cymbal sounds are also the weak spot. I don't know if it is an after thought or if they want you to buy more expansion packs, but the cymbals are the give away. Then the hats and snare. As I am also a drummer and really picky about how "fake" sounds, my solution is going to be to find raw sample packs of cymbals you like and mix in 2-3 diff velocities of hits in with what Ez drummer/ other has. For the hats it will be trickier but you could tinker and find ways or diff software to allow you to trigger on top of what EZ puts out. The cymbals in these programs just never hit the mark for me.
 
As a guitar player, and a guy that crawls up my drummer's ass for decades....

Fuck the 'natural' cymbals because that's not how recordings work. If you want to sound like Weather Report from the early 80s, then worry about natural cymbals.

Grab the latest Slate VST and rock on.
 
Slate SSD5 all the way, sounds great. Agreed the expansions are necessary, but if you want some nice natural options the Blackbird pack is awesome.
 
Zen meant to say (agreeing with me) that the packs aren't necessary, of course.

If you see them on special 'though, for $50 a pop (or less) they're no-brainers.
 
I use Addictive Drums 2 and I think it sounds pretty good but I think I am in the minority by using it. I only went down that path cause I was using Sonar software that had addictive drums 1 and just upgraded. Eventually I heard about Toontracks Ezdrummer and Superior Drummer but by that time I already invested in a few kits n stuff and just stuck with it. I never tried the Toontrack stuff but if I had to do it over again I probably would have went that way.
 
I think EZDrummer 2 is the easiest to get up and running and create with.

I think Slate still has a free kit in the SSD5 that you can just download and use right away
 
I have both EZ drummer 2 and Addictive Drums 2. I use Addictive 2 more these days. I just like how everything is setup in the program and how smooth it runs with my DAW. They are both great programs regardless.
 
squealie said:
As a guitar player, and a guy that crawls up my drummer's ass for decades....

Fuck the 'natural' cymbals because that's not how recordings work. If you want to sound like Weather Report from the early 80s, then worry about natural cymbals.

Grab the latest Slate VST and rock on.
Click to expand...
The point is, a lot of the cymbals that come standard with said programs sound like glass shattering or hitting a trash can lid. All versions of a china cymbal.. they also have no character when everyone uses the same few. Cymbals are things your peripherals listen to..at least mine do anyway. So it will matter for some. If you want to sound like everyone else though, sure. These days everyone is using the same samples anyway so no biggie.
 
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