Looking for drum software

[sturdystrutter]

I'm looking for a drum software program that I can use with my Roland TD12 kit.
The main thing is to have individual track recording capability and great drum sound selection.
The TD12 only has stereo outs making individual tracking impossible.

Many thanks for any suggestions.

[getz76]

Impossible? Not really. You need to record the MIDI out into an Instrument track. You can then use the TD12 as the sound module or a software package as a virtual instrument.

Personally, I am using Propellerhead's Reason (the redrum module).

[albee1952]

I "play" ezdrummer and Superior Drummer from my TD10 kit and it works almost perfectly. The only hurdle I haven't figure is how to play a choked crash(so I just move the midi note after I record the performance). I also use real cymbals and hat most of the time, and that puts it over the top for me. The microphones for the hat and overheads adds just the right amount of "air".

[Dism]

BFD2 all the way. :)

It's pretty much the only drums I use anymore, because they sound better than many live drum tracks I've heard, and you don't have to go through the hassle of mic'ing a drum kit.

EZDrummer seems like a fairly popular choice as well, though I've never used it personally. You shouldn't have any problems syncing a good digital kit with a VI, however, which is the only way to do it as far as I'm concerned.

[BlueThursday]

I use my TD-12 in my home studio and make individual tracks of each sound, takes a little more time but there are cases where it's worth it. I usually replace my kick sound and use a certain one on my TD-12 for that. Other times I'll do the whole kit, especially if I'm just writing a song. Just have each drum sound on its own MIDI track, or record a kit and then break out the MIDI to individual tracks for each sound.

For other software, I like BFD2.

[musicalavtech]

Strike works well with midi drums needing individual tracks per drum, and sounds awesome.

[j20056]

BFD2 as well, except that the samples are only so so. But then if you spend another $250 to get the Platinum Samples, then it really shines. I use the Andy Johns, although I hear that the Barresi ones sound even better. Off course, you can setup BFD2 with individual PT tracks for full bus processing. BFD2 also has its own sub-mixer with a bus for FX, but I don't see the point given that PT can do so much more.

[j20056]

Although keep in mind that using the TD12 as a mere MIDI trigger (which is what I do with BFD2) will lose a little bit of the precision that the TD12 sound module has. For instance, there is more nuance on snare hits and rim shots on the TD12. But it's a minor thing to give up versus the full power of having a fine-tuned mixed kit with all FX in PT live with no noticeable latency. Make sure you have at least a dual processor machine so one processor at least can be allocated to the core PT, and all others to the RTAS engine.

[Dism]

Originally Posted by j20056

Although keep in mind that using the TD12 as a mere MIDI trigger (which is what I do with BFD2) will lose a little bit of the precision that the TD12 sound module has. For instance, there is more nuance on snare hits and rim shots on the TD12. But it's a minor thing to give up versus the full power of having a fine-tuned mixed kit with all FX in PT live with no noticeable latency. Make sure you have at least a dual processor machine so one processor at least can be allocated to the core PT, and all others to the RTAS engine.

I've found that a good kit can make all the difference in a VI session, particularly BFD2. A crappy brain can provide a lot of latency into the mix, and the quality of triggers will make a big difference as well in terms of a dummer's playing style. Having pads with separate triggers, for rimshots, chokes, etc, can make mapping a lot easier as well.

[Obsidian Dragon]

Originally Posted by Dism

A crappy brain can provide a lot of latency.

Ain't that the truth.