Drum Software Options

[kpgalligan]

I'm looking for drum software. Something fairly simple. I'd like to just drag types of tracks onto a sheet and jam along to them. Basic stuff to work out ideas on and bring to the real drummer. Not looking for anything of recording quality. Any suggesstions? I keep seeing EZ Drummer and Addictive Drums as suggestions. EZ Drummer works standalone, I think, so that would probably be first choice. Seems a little over the top for what I need, though.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[Fran]

There's beatcraft too, I use it sometimes, although in a very simplistic manner. The program seems to be quite powerful though if you spend some time with it.

[Ramiro Delforte]

I know that Band in a Box has some drum tracks to play along. It could be an option to use Fruity Loops, but I think the best way is to check some drum fills from a magazine like Drum Magazine or something else and make your own drum tracks. In that way you can learn a lot too. And you could use for that a good drum sound like the new BDF.
I hope it was useful.

[Ivan Milenkovic]

EZ Drummer is quite good for what you need. That's actually pretty basic VST drum, not over the top at all. You have grooves, and a simple mixer and that's pretty much it.

Addictive has more options, and it is not that straightforward (at least for me mate). Also I find drum sounding a bit fuller with EZD.

[kpgalligan]

Usually the way I do things is turn to my drummer and say (occasionally with a little drunken slur)

"Dude. Boom boom, tst, boom. Like that Sabbath song, but more 'us'. And a little faster. Then a little fill into the cool part"

I want that, but drag and drop.

EZ looks pretty good. You can watch the demo, but I don't think you can try it out, which always freaks me out a little. We have band practice tomorrow, so if I remember when I get home (after drinks), I'll probably be pumped up enough to pull the trigger (ie. buy the drums. Not the other trigger).

Downloaded beatcraft. Will play with that for a bit.

Thanks again

[USAMAN]

fruityloops....
stand alone...
does drums and so much more
free trial available
I will help you to figure it out if you need help
simple
49.00 usd for a basic copy

[Tjchep]

Ez drums is terrible imho, get Addictive drums.

[matto]

I would check out the new superior 2.0, looks awesome!

[Kuba Szafran]

I've been using Acoustica Beatcraft for exercising for a long time, and it did its job pretty well. In ezdrummer I don't like waiting by startup. But it has lots of really nice grooves which would be hard to make with Beatcraft.

[MickeM]

I don't want to make too much efforts learning a drum software, I simply want to use it without reading a manual. That's why I'd got one of these in the first place.

My friend got a Addictive drums in his pro studio, he says he prefers the drum sounds before EZdrummer. It was not simple as that to use and I want a program I can just sit down to work with without further explanation, a no brainer.

So I got EZdrummer instead. Great drum sounds and I could use it rightway without reading any manuals. It's intiutive and easy to use. Being a guitarist and not the least interested in drums and I'm highly unwilling to learn - so EZD was and is the perfect package for me.

[Chris Evans]

EZ Drummer is brilliant, I prefer it over addictive drums although I think the "tweaking" of the drums you are able to do in AD is a good feature, other than that I find it takes me half the time to add drums with EZ.

I believe also that the Superior 2.0 is supposed to be pretty outstanding, just ask Mr Cockburn for his verdict on that

[MickeM]

EZ Drummer is brilliant, I prefer it over addictive drums although I think the "tweaking" of the drums you are able to do in AD is a good feature, other than that I find it takes me half the time to add drums with EZ.

I believe also that the Superior 2.0 is supposed to be pretty outstanding, just ask Mr Cockburn for his verdict on that

I checked the demo video over att Toontrack.com, seems pretty cool especially if you're the tweaking sort

[Marcus Siepen]

I am using Sample Tank for my drums, but since this is a full sampler software that can play ANY sample, not just drums, this might be a bit over the top for your needs. If you are thinking about using more sounds than only drums you might want to check it out though, I love it.

[Ivan Milenkovic]

I use Superior Drummer 2 , I recently bought it, and it is the last word in drummer VST technology. It has a big sample database (18GB), and advance randomize algorithms, so that it plays many different samples, instead of few just like a real drummer. They sampled quite a lot of hits, 25+25+25 for each component if I'm not mistaken, and every sample range is dispersed over velocity range, and randomized.
Superior is nevertheless a bit harder to use straight from the box, and it doesn't come with a MIDI groove library. It is compatible with all other Toontrack products, and it can use EZD banks no problem, as well as any GM mapping.

Why I suggested EZD is because of it's "no-brainer" as MickeM nicely put it. Simple plug, no hidden features and levels, one level down and that's all - to a small mixer and to groove library straight from a front interface.

This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Aug 29 2008, 01:35 PM

[Nemanja Filipovi...]

I work with Addictive,and I am pretty happy with him.But,I will make transition to BFD for shore in the next month.
Siggum haw it,and he uploaded some samples while a go,and that VST sounds the best to me.