BFD 2...What's the performance like?

HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:35 pm

I'll pile on, having just upgraded form BFD 1.5 to 2. When I installed BFD and pluggged in my M-Audio Trigger Finger, I realized I was playing an expressive drum instrument as opposed to a wannabe toy. BFD2 is even more of a pleasure to use, sets up way easier, and sounds great. It is a perfect compliment to the synthetic sounds of Stylus.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:50 pm

wylie1 wrote: When you click it DP launches with BFD right after you can do the same thing with Reason its a setting in DP somewhere.

There is a Clippings window where apps or files can be dragged into and they'll launch when DP is launched.
Is that what you mean?

I only use BFD2 as a plug-in, as I have different kits for each project that I like to have load automatically.

Tritonemusic · Post by **Tritonemusic** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:39 pm

Well, it looks like I will have to wait (or pay for the upgrade now and use it later).

I'm using a G4 Dual 1.25 MDD. Unfortunately, it's not supported.

From FXpansion's website:

Does BFD2 run on G4 CPUs or MacOSX before 10.4.x?

A G5 processor is the lowest we will support on Mac, but highly recommend that you use an Intel machine. The G4 is an incredibly old processor, with a very slow memory bus. BFD2 may work on a G4, but it is not officially supported. Even when using heavily reduced detail settings, usage of BFD2 (especially in a resource-hungry host like Pro Tools) will be very frustrating.

Oh, well. Thanks to all of you who responded. I really appreciate your input.

zed · Post by **zed** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:58 pm

666 wrote:Well, it looks like I will have to wait (or pay for the upgrade now and use it later).

I'm using a G4 Dual 1.25 MDD. Unfortunately, it's not supported.

From FXpansion's website:

Does BFD2 run on G4 CPUs or MacOSX before 10.4.x?

A G5 processor is the lowest we will support on Mac, but highly recommend that you use an Intel machine. The G4 is an incredibly old processor, with a very slow memory bus. BFD2 may work on a G4, but it is not officially supported. Even when using heavily reduced detail settings, usage of BFD2 (especially in a resource-hungry host like Pro Tools) will be very frustrating.

They say that... but I am willing to bet that if you are happy with the way BFD 1.x is currently working on your system, things wouldn't get any worse with the upgrade.

zed · Post by **zed** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:25 pm

Apparently Submersible Music and Sonic Reality are doing some drum projects together. Esoundz.com is even selling DrumCore. If you are a member, you can buy DrumCore for only $159.20:

http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=1496

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:15 pm

Tim wrote:
wylie1 wrote: When you click it DP launches with BFD right after you can do the same thing with Reason its a setting in DP somewhere.

There is a Clippings window where apps or files can be dragged into and they'll launch when DP is launched.
Is that what you mean?

I only use BFD2 as a plug-in, as I have different kits for each project that I like to have load automatically.

I think thats it I've seen it somewhere in DP's manual.
I've never used it as a plug I have used it quite a bit with trigger for replacing live kick and snares it works really well.

666: I've got the same dual G4 I'm going to try it on I'll let you know how it goes.

David Polich · Post by **David Polich** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:34 am

BFD 2 is the best drum VI on the planet. 1.5 was beginning to get competition from DFH and EZ Drummer and DrumCore, and possibly Mixosaurus, but version 2 trumps them all now. Not only do you get improved sound quality, new drums, and better behavior, but you get the built in mixer and effects, the drum groove library, audio export, the guru-style beat programming grid, and you can even import your own drum samples (and pics to go with them) into BFD 2. I honestly can't think of anything lacking - and to further sweeten things, the next upgrade of BFD 2, which will be free to registered owners, includes a special version of Overloud's Breverb reverb for the mixer effects.

I'll never forget how great it was to hear someone say, after listening to a track I recorded with BFD, "that's a great drummer, who is he?" The drum sounds are better than the sounds I could get myself at most recording studios, and I certainly couldn't get that quality setting up a kit at my house.
BFD totally transformed the quality of rhythm tracks in my recordings.
A must-have, in my opinion.

midilance · Post by **midilance** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:19 am

wylie1 wrote:Hi Zed, ya there is a DP template on their site you might want to try it.

Hi Wylie1,

Where is this template? I've looked on both the Motu and Fxpansion sites and couldn't find it.

Spikey Horse · Post by **Spikey Horse** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:21 am

David Polich wrote:......... and to further sweeten things, the next upgrade of BFD 2, which will be free to registered owners, includes a special version of Overloud's Breverb reverb for the mixer effects..

... and something else derived from PSP's range of plugs too I believe.

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 4:38 pm

midilance wrote:
wylie1 wrote:Hi Zed, ya there is a DP template on their site you might want to try it.
Hi Wylie1,

Where is this template? I've looked on both the Motu and Fxpansion sites and couldn't find it.

Hi midlance: login to www.fxpansion.com goto support/downloads
scroll down to Host Project Examples you'll see one there for DP4.61

Tritonemusic · Post by **Tritonemusic** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:42 pm

wylie1 wrote:666: I've got the same dual G4 I'm going to try it on I'll let you know how it goes.

Right on, Wylie1. Thanks.

midilance · Post by **midilance** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:21 pm

Thanks Wylie. I had a hard time finding it because I was looking in the BFD2 support/download section and it was under the BFD area.

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:42 pm

Sorry about that I had to poke around to find it as well its in a different spot than it was when I downloaded it.
finally got Leopard loaded DP and BFD are next.

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:20 am

OK I've got BFD2 running on my dual G4 and I agree about the overall app and sound quality are a huge improvement.
The first thing I noticed was the latency was almost nil compared to BFD1.
Well worth the upgrade price a printed manual would be nice though.
What I'm trying to complete and maybe some here can help before I have to cancel a session tomorrow.
I pulled the old drives out of my DualG4 installed two new drives did a clean install of Leapord/DP5.13 and BFD2.
DP5.13 setup and working fine BFD2 working in standalone OK.
But when I try to launch my old DP5 template it tries to launch BFD1 and of course that fails.
Does anybody know where in DP its setup to auto launch a second program?
I need to change it to point to BFD2.
Also I put the old drives in the second internal bay but Leopard doesn't see them I'm assuming this is an issue with the jumpers on the drives.
Does that sound correct?

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:07 am

I found how to auto launch.
Manual page = 664
Project Menu/Clipping/New Startup Clipping.
Now I just have to get my HDs online once I do that I'll do some more BFD2 testing to see how the G4 holds up.