Xpand 2 drum plugins/ specific sound help!

[smb_makemusic]

Hello,

I'm a complete noob when it comes to creating and mixing drum beats. I've at least moved on to a point where I can get a pretty basic beat going, however, I'm having a major headache trying to get it to sound more realistic. I'm also trying to make this sound as Metalcore as possible (crashing symbols, double-kick, etc). So, my questions are...

1. What preset in the drums section of Xpand 2 should I use? (currently using "Hardcore")

2. How do I shape the beats to get the most realist sound?

3. How do I get the double-kick pedal sound?

and serously...I'll take any advice and tips to sharpen my skills, so please do not hesitate to incorporate anything that wasn't mentioned in my post regarding to Xpand 2 drum plugins.

thank you!