Best VI/Library for Natural-Sounding Drums in DP?

[Brian Middleton]

So far I've been able to avoid using VI's, soft samplers etc. in DP, recording almost all straight audio with occasional MIDI tracks from hardware modules. But pretty soon I'm going to be starting some projects of my own where I think I won't be able to avoid using drum samples.

I'm looking for an instrument that meets the following criteria:

1) natural sound--a lot of this stuff is pretty sparse, rootsy etc., and I want sounds that will not jump out and yell "Sample!".

2) not too hard on the CPU, since I'm working on a dual 1.25 G4. I will probably bump up my 1.25 GB of RAM to 2GB, but I can't afford a G5 right now.

3) plays nicely with DP 4.5

4) doesn't require the programming chops of the gods to get good results...however, I do want something fully programmable rather than a bag-o-loops.

Seems like the main candidates for my needs would be BFD or the Custom & Vintage version of DFH...any opinions about which is better? Any other options I should be considering?

Thanks!...

<small>[ May 10, 2005, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Brian Middleton ]</small>

[midilance]

You might want to check out Reason 3.0. Their newly revised library sports some pretty nice drum kits and Reason tends to be pretty easy on the CPU. Plus, there are a lot of other good additions to the 3.0 library.

[logo80]

I don't know which software you can use with this samples... but they are free and I like a lot them, here you can find samples and programs (akai and other formats) for those:
http://www.naturalstudio.co.uk/
regards, Lorenzo

[BigEcat]

Check out this article on Electronic Musician's back issue page.

http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_beat_generation/index.html

Lot's of great reviews of VI drums.

[visiblecow]

I use BFD on a regular basis, and wholheartedly recommend it plus the XFL and 8-bit kit add-ons.
If you haven't already heard anything head over to the FXPansion website and listen to the audio examples, they certainly don't scream 'sample' to me! Good luck anyway...
http://www.fxpansion.com/home.php

[Brian Middleton]

Hi Lorenzo, thanks for the link. I like the sound of the demos at the Natural Studio site--that is definitely the vibe I'm after. But it's difficult to find any information there about how to use their samples in a DAW (not just DP, any DAW). There's a forum with some discussions that seem relevant, but no clear, "this is what you need" kind of info. (Maybe these products are aimed at more experienced users who don't need the kind of information I'm looking for.)

[Labonza]

I've had good results from NI Battery. Easy to figure out, easy on your CPU.

Also, check out BFD and DFHS.They sound pretty awesome.

[chrispick]

I'll throw in another vote for BFD. It sounds like a studio-recorded kit with natural ambience, it's flexible, it's customizable, and has a simple, intuitive interface.

[Labonza]

Originally posted by Brian Middleton:
Hi Lorenzo, thanks for the link. I like the sound of the demos at the Natural Studio site--that is definitely the vibe I'm after.

The Natural Studio drums can be loaded and used in Battery. They sound very nice.

[midilance]

I use the Natural Sound kit in both Reason NNXT Sampler and in Native Instruments Kontakt. It works well in both.

[sevenone]

DFHS fo' sure

[wonder]

duuude, i did the same thing you did....sufffice to say i bought RMX, BFD, Soundtrack, and many others.....

I like them. LIKE! Suffice to say, nothing beats a REAL drummer when you have a beat in your head and spend 37minutes trying to find the loop thats ALMOST like it. Its a SERIOUS inspiration killer.
BFD is nice, great sounds, but unless you KNOW how a drummer really plays, one can make REAL drum sounds sound like MIDI programmed drums real quick.

[larhinds]

Brian, check out the reason Drum Kit's disc. I love em. Very real. They went all the way. Each drum with many velocity levels. Left and right samples for all snares and toms. Transparent cymbals. When you fire a sound for a drum such as the kick it fires the sample for the kick mike as well as the kick in the overheads and room mikes if your using em. They just sound real. Just more great steff from them {Propellerheads]. And for a third of the cost of the BFD stuff. Love em, Love em, Love em.

[amplite]

Check out Drumcore!

[Seattle Pete]

Heya.

I'll be the third-or-so person to recommend the Reason Drum Kits Refill (add-on) for Reason (version 2.5 or higher).

It retails for only $100, and it sounds kickass. They've set up the samplers so it's virtually impossible to hear the same hit twice ... very realistic.

Next, they give you both 16- and 24-bit versions of the multiple kits, as well as 2-track and multiple-mike versions of the kits -- This allows you to work lightweight when tracking, then pull out the CPU-killing equivalent at mix time.

Finally, they include good MIDI files with A/B variations and fills to provide starting points.

I also have the free Natural Kit, Groove Agent, and iDrum. They all have their strengths too, but for me the the Reason Kits are the best all around value for realistic-sounding, easy-to use drums that work great with DP -- Unlike AU plugins, Reason hooks to DP with ReWire, so you can drive 16+ separate channels to DP from one sampled drum set.

<small>[ May 10, 2005, 10:44 PM: Message edited by: Seattle Pete ]</small>