Superior Drummer 3/Home studio tips?

[maddnotez]

Random help me thread:

Going to finally pull the trigger on SD3. I am becoming less involved in an actual band so I want to start building up to be able to produce some halfway decent sounding recordings.

Planning to finish my basement soon and do some poor mans acoustic treatment. I will get some decent monitors and a new interface, maybe a preamp of some sort. I figured SD3 would be the best way to get pro sounding drums.

I just wanted to see if anyone had any tips for all of these random things. Anything I need to know about SD3 (have only used EZ drummer and Addictive Drums)? Any specific expansions that may be a good deal or to suit my sound (Hardcore and metal)?

As far as the room, I have an idea of what monitors I would like but what about the room treatment, interface or Mic Pre? Any specific things I should know?

Mic pre will be very last I would imagine (if I even get one) and just keep in mind this is a very low budget basement studio. I am not even going to call it a studio.

 

[JerEvil]

Congrats in advance brother! SD3 is simple amazing. Best drum software I have used to date.

As far as studio stuffs, I really like the Clarett line from Focusrite. Not sure how much you are looking to spend but the UAD stuff is nice and comes with some really good plug-ins. If you go with Focusrite, Persons, etc I'd highly recommend the Slate Digital Bundle for $14 a month. You get EVERYTHING from them and the stuff sounds killer.

If your place is square, then go ahead an set up on any wall you like. If it is more rectangular, set up on one of the shorter walls. For treatment, you can go to Sweetwaters site and Aurelex has a free room planner which can help a lot. I was looking at some fancy pants treatment but then saw Glenn Fricker's vid on building bass traps so might just do that.

I also have some 8" monitors that are like-new I am about to list...

 

[JerEvil]

Congrats in advance brother! SD3 is simple amazing. Best drum software I have used to date.

As far as studio stuffs, I really like the Clarett line from Focusrite. Not sure how much you are looking to spend but the UAD stuff is nice and comes with some really good plug-ins. If you go with Focusrite, Persons, etc I'd highly recommend the Slate Digital Bundle for $14 a month. You get EVERYTHING from them and the stuff sounds killer.

If your place is square, then go ahead an set up on any wall you like. If it is more rectangular, set up on one of the shorter walls. For treatment, you can go to Sweetwaters site and Aurelex has a free room planner which can help a lot. I was looking at some fancy pants treatment but then saw Glenn Fricker's vid on building bass traps so might just do that.

I also have some 8" monitors that are like-new I am about to list...

 

[slyym]

I just bought Sd3 and bought the progressive foundry along with it. Been using Sd2 for a long time with Metal machine I love the sounds I was getting but OMG the progressive foundry is the sound I've been trying to get and have not been able to get with anything else. Needs very minimal processing to sound good. Couldn't recommend it enough. Haven't gotten into the Sd3 sounds just yet but the new interface is really really cool.

 

[maddnotez]

Congrats in advance brother! SD3 is simple amazing. Best drum software I have used to date.

As far as studio stuffs, I really like the Clarett line from Focusrite. Not sure how much you are looking to spend but the UAD stuff is nice and comes with some really good plug-ins. If you go with Focusrite, Persons, etc I'd highly recommend the Slate Digital Bundle for $14 a month. You get EVERYTHING from them and the stuff sounds killer.

If your place is square, then go ahead an set up on any wall you like. If it is more rectangular, set up on one of the shorter walls. For treatment, you can go to Sweetwaters site and Aurelex has a free room planner which can help a lot. I was looking at some fancy pants treatment but then saw Glenn Fricker's vid on building bass traps so might just do that.

I also have some 8" monitors that are like-new I am about to list...

Thanks man, good info.

I made the order but am at work RN so that will wait until later. I need to measure the room and finalize planning before I decide what size monitors but I will look into that soon. If I decide to go bigger than 5'' I may hit you up, not sure yet.

I just bought Sd3 and bought the progressive foundry along with it. Been using Sd2 for a long time with Metal machine I love the sounds I was getting but OMG the progressive foundry is the sound I've been trying to get and have not been able to get with anything else. Needs very minimal processing to sound good. Couldn't recommend it enough. Haven't gotten into the Sd3 sounds just yet but the new interface is really really cool.

I just got the base program for right now. I have some research to do but even the stock kit sounds pretty good to me.

 

[slyym]

Oh you will be fine for the next 100 years with what Sd3 gives you. Endless possibilities. Grab some of there midi packs though. I use those a lot to get songs going.

 

[JerEvil]

I just bought Sd3 and bought the progressive foundry along with it. Been using Sd2 for a long time with Metal machine I love the sounds I was getting but OMG the progressive foundry is the sound I've been trying to get and have not been able to get with anything else. Needs very minimal processing to sound good. Couldn't recommend it enough. Haven't gotten into the Sd3 sounds just yet but the new interface is really really cool.

Yeah I have Progressive Foundry and grabbed Metal Machinery when it was on sale for $49! Too good a deal for the SDX to pass up.

Just saw that Slate 5 is coming out. I used Slate Drums forever but could care less about the new one. SD3 just kills for my needs.

 

[maddnotez]

Can you elaborate on the Midi packs? I have no idea what those are.

 

[JerEvil]

Can you elaborate on the Midi packs? I have no idea what those are.

Here's an overview of them:

And HERE is how you can try before you buy!

Something I learned AFTER making the "try before you buy" vid is that you can click the button in the SD3 Groove Browser that lets you listen in the assigned tempo.

 

[slyym]

I just bought Sd3 and bought the progressive foundry along with it. Been using Sd2 for a long time with Metal machine I love the sounds I was getting but OMG the progressive foundry is the sound I've been trying to get and have not been able to get with anything else. Needs very minimal processing to sound good. Couldn't recommend it enough. Haven't gotten into the Sd3 sounds just yet but the new interface is really really cool.

Yeah I have Progressive Foundry and grabbed Metal Machinery when it was on sale for $49! Too good a deal for the SDX to pass up.

Just saw that Slate 5 is coming out. I used Slate Drums forever but could care less about the new one. SD3 just kills for my needs.

I got Metal machinery too but after playing with the Progressive foundry it might be a while before I even touch it. With Sd3 its just so awesome how you can pull up anything from anywhere and stack it anywhere you want so I'll probably use a little bit here and there.

 

[JTyson]

Honestly, Id worry about the room treatment last if your gonna be close-miking a guitar cab. The Progressive Foundry midi pack is mind boggling good, but there are some killer metal and hard rock kits in SD3 that are absolutely massive sounding all by themselves. The Bob Rock 1 (I think its that one) is huge with about as good a bass drum as I have heard if you like focused with a big helping of beef, and the snare is great too. The decay rates on the cymbals are so close we are recording them instead of using live cymbals, just because we have 0 bleedover and can get them exactly where we want them without affecting other things by using overhead mikes. I think my drummer changed the high toms in that kit to some from a different kit (there are a ton of them) Toontrack does have a sale going for midi packs at the moment. If you dont have any electronic pads and dont want to click on a mouse, Korg has a Nanopad that you can plug in and do finger drums to your hearts content for 60.00.-https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/nanoPAD2bk--korg-nanopad2-black
Its a cheap, killer means to get to all those sounds with something you can actually hammer with your fingers (most people can use their fingers more accurately than they can click a mouse) If you want to do your own tracks without using something thats already in the drag/drop menu
What a frigging killer drum program that is, I honestly can't think of anything to add to it that would make it better, you can do anything you need to and then a whole lot more, and it sounds amazing.
We are triggering the program with V Drums, and my drummer docent really care for electronic drums, but he loves the sounds he gets from that program. Best we ever had..
We have a massive main system in the studio we run them through and it will literally crush you in there when its cranked

 

[romanianreaper]

I used to have Superior Drummer and was awesome! I use EZDrummer 2 now and even bought a Roland TD-25KV drumset to trigger it so I can play the parts myself.

 

[romanianreaper]

Hey BTW, how easy is Superior Drummer 3 to use?

 

[JerEvil]

Hey BTW, how easy is Superior Drummer 3 to use?

Really easy! I’m a moron and I’m pretty effective with it.

 

[JTyson]

Hey BTW, how easy is Superior Drummer 3 to use?

Really easy! I’m a moron and I’m pretty effective with it.

I resemble that remark sir!

 

[amiller]

... bought a Roland TD-25KV drumset to trigger it so I can play the parts myself.

I can't stress enough how great SD3 and using a TD-25KV to trigger it real time is. Not only do you get the killer sounds of SD3 but you also get the ability to write and record drum parts that are SPECIFIC to your song. Add a "real" drummer and you're off and running, and on top of that, you can bring the recorded drum tracks up in midi and modify any of the hits...timing, kit piece, volume ... etc. Awesome!

SD3 is light years beyound SD2. So many options and SO easy to use. I absolutely love it!

 

[romanianreaper]

... bought a Roland TD-25KV drumset to trigger it so I can play the parts myself.

I can't stress enough how great SD3 and using a TD-25KV to trigger it real time is. Not only do you get the killer sounds of SD3 but you also get the ability to write and record drum parts that are SPECIFIC to your song. Add a "real" drummer and you're off and running, and on top of that, you can bring the recorded drum tracks up in midi and modify any of the hits...timing, kit piece, volume ... etc. Awesome!

SD3 is light years beyound SD2. So many options and SO easy to use. I absolutely love it!

Don't take this the wrong way but.......THANKS ALOT A**HOLE!!!!!! You just had to come and write that post and send me into G.A.S. central. Between you and the other guys I knew I was screwed. I was hoping someone would say "oh you don't want that, it is useless".

 

[maddnotez]

... bought a Roland TD-25KV drumset to trigger it so I can play the parts myself.

I can't stress enough how great SD3 and using a TD-25KV to trigger it real time is. Not only do you get the killer sounds of SD3 but you also get the ability to write and record drum parts that are SPECIFIC to your song. Add a "real" drummer and you're off and running, and on top of that, you can bring the recorded drum tracks up in midi and modify any of the hits...timing, kit piece, volume ... etc. Awesome!

SD3 is light years beyound SD2. So many options and SO easy to use. I absolutely love it!

Don't take this the wrong way but.......THANKS ALOT A**HOLE!!!!!! You just had to come and write that post and send me into G.A.S. central. Between you and the other guys I knew I was screwed. I was hoping someone would say "oh you don't want that, it is useless".

Ive been looking at SD3 forever and telling myself no way...Way too much money. Then you have to buy expansions and all of that but TBH I am glad I got it. With my situation right now this is going to be the best thing.

 

[romanianreaper]

... bought a Roland TD-25KV drumset to trigger it so I can play the parts myself.

I can't stress enough how great SD3 and using a TD-25KV to trigger it real time is. Not only do you get the killer sounds of SD3 but you also get the ability to write and record drum parts that are SPECIFIC to your song. Add a "real" drummer and you're off and running, and on top of that, you can bring the recorded drum tracks up in midi and modify any of the hits...timing, kit piece, volume ... etc. Awesome!

SD3 is light years beyound SD2. So many options and SO easy to use. I absolutely love it!

Don't take this the wrong way but.......THANKS ALOT A**HOLE!!!!!! You just had to come and write that post and send me into G.A.S. central. Between you and the other guys I knew I was screwed. I was hoping someone would say "oh you don't want that, it is useless".

Ive been looking at SD3 forever and telling myself no way...Way too much money. Then you have to buy expansions and all of that but TBH I am glad I got it. With my situation right now this is going to be the best thing.

Yeah I saw the demos and was like "I'll sell a kidney to get that". LOL. I had been looking at keyboards for recording and I don't think I need that. The SD3 is more bang for the buck and better for what I do. I don't mind getting things that are expensive if they are worth the money. Plus I can save $100 by going from EZDrummer2 which I own.

 

[maddnotez]

Korg has a Nanopad that you can plug in and do finger drums to your hearts content for 60.00.-https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/nanoPAD2bk--korg-nanopad2-black
Its a cheap, killer means to get to all those sounds with something you can actually hammer with your fingers (most people can use their fingers more accurately than they can click a mouse) If you want to do your own tracks without using something thats already in the drag/drop menu

Any latency with this? I can program each hit but it takes forever.

I would love to buy an E-Kit but I can't spend that much money right now so for now that pad looks legit. I just worry about latency, when I click the mouse there is a fair amount of latency before the hit registers (or is that my steup?)