'Real' drums VSTi - I just haven't found what I'm looking for....

I use Addictive Drums, Superior Drummer, Ezdrummer and sometimes even Kitcore, depending on what I am trying to achieve - I think most of the time we get a pretty realistic drum sound but I do quite a lot on the actual programming  - I think that this might be the most important part of getting them sounding real (well sort of real or as real as can be).
I think now after quite a few years of drum programs (started with Groove Agent and Battery - obviously still have these but never use them any more for finished work - with regard to Groove Agent this was a great idea I think, it just never worked properly  and was highly susceptible to massive crashes unfortunately - I use it rarely now as an ideas thing, but once I've identified something that I like, I go do it in something else!) I could really just use one package now and if I had to choose I would probably choose either Superior or Addictive Drums.
Hope this is helpful
Nigel

I'm with bit on this.  I started out with EZD and crossgraded to Superior.  I absolutely love the flexibility.

for bongos, congas, shakers, etc I use the EZD expansion Twisted Kit.  it works in superior.  the only problem is that the samples are already "processed" unlike those for superior's samples.  but they work great and I don't have to use a different softsynth - I just use the superior interface which still gives me the routing flexibilities of superior.

I have to ask this question out of curiousity. With Battery are you making your own samples or using just one shot samples, Ex.=Snare Drum is one sample making the sound for all velocity hits.
Or, are you using a velocity layered sample kit, Snare is made of several samples so that the softer hits trigger the soft samples and the harder hits trigger the loud samples. The sound changes by velocity.
Sorry I went into detail but this seems to be a very sticky point with drum programming.
The reason I ask is I have built a library of velocity layered kits over the years using Battery 3. I have actually had clients ask who the drummer was on that track. They really love the kit he uses and they want to contact him about doing some more work for them. Hee-Hee.
I believe even though it is somewhat dated Battery can deliver what you want. I still use it as my go to now.

bitflipper


Another limitation of Superior is no percussion beyond the standard kit instruments. If you want bongos, congas, shakers, tambourines and such you'll have to augment it with something else.

For these duties I turn to Jamstix. Rayzoon offers a lot of kits that are very reasonably priced, so I have a bunch of them. Even though the basic kit instruments (snare, kick, rides, etc.) aren't as good as Superior's and the system isn't as tweakable, there is still a lot of variety in there. Multiple types of tambourines and shakers, for example.

Just get the ezDrummer Latin Percussion expansion library and use it in Superior Drummer. In the US, ezx Latin Percussion is going for $39 USD at some retailers at the moment (and it's on sale every other month at this price somewhere). 

For realism and tweakability, I think Superior Drummer is the best product on the market. I also own ezDrummer and expansions, Battery, Drum Masters, Ocean Way Drums, Addictive Drums and two expansions, BFD Eco, Abbey Road 60s Drums, Waves Factory Tea Towel Drums (for $9.95 USD, I recommend everyone should pick this up -- it's useful for much more than emulating Ringo Star's sound) and others. I think each of these VSTs/libraries has something very good and different about it that makes it worthy of a recommendation. But if you want the most realistic sounding acoustic drum library and a great deal of tweakability, Superior Drummer is the best choice, imo.  It's also 64 bit native, which BFD and AD aren't. That's a big deal for any mega sized sample library. 

bitflipper

Vibraslap, Mark tree, Cabasa, Claves ... All of which i am prepared to mic when necessary

I'm impressed that you actually own a vibraslap, twig!

But seriously, are you saying you can make music without a cowbell? Everyone says we need more of it.

+1

@Twigman I noticed that you are located in the UK. I'd strongly recommend, if you're not in a hurry, wait for your local retailers to have a sale. Toontrack has heavily discounted Superior Drummer in Europe and elsewhere a number of times over the past year. If you are patient, I'm certain you can get a great deal.

edrummist


@Twigman I noticed that you are located in the UK. I'd strongly recommend, if you're not in a hurry, wait for your local retailers to have a sale. Toontrack has heavily discounted Superior Drummer in Europe and elsewhere a number of times over the past year. If you are patient, I'm certain you can get a great deal.

On Superior Drummer 2.0 is 199.00 a good deal or is that what it normally sells for? I see some places sell it for 299.00

I found Jamstix to be a decent "AI" drummer... since it creates it's own tracks. You can also import and use the Battery kits and kits from other "drummers" as well.

bitflipper

Vibraslap, Mark tree, Cabasa, Claves ... All of which i am prepared to mic when necessary

I'm impressed that you actually own a vibraslap, twig!

But seriously, are you saying you can make music without a cowbell? Everyone says we need more of it.

You left out the part where he said that those were the only nonstandard pieces of percussion he used.  Cowbell is of course standard.  Even my crummy Boss drum machine has it.

Twigman

found Superior Drummer 2.0 @  £142 inc delivery ....I think we're close to a deal...

Great! That price sounds very good. As I and others have said, Superior Drummer is an excellent program with great sounding drums and expansions that will let you tweak to your heart's content. 

You left out the part where he said that those were the only nonstandard pieces of percussion he used.  Cowbell is of course standard.  Even my crummy Boss drum machine has it.

Standard Equipment for Bovines ....

Anyone care to elaborate on their experiences using EZDrummer kits in Superior Drummer? How does that work? How well does that work?

I am thinking that Superior kits must include more samples per instrument, to support the advanced bleed features. Don't you lose that with an EZD kit?

Myolpal,

Care to share a hybrid kit via PM? I'm interested in seeing how you set one up.

Bit, you get the ambient room mic and compressed room mic when you bring EZ drums into Superior. It works the same from a mic and control perspective, only in the Superior interface. The samples are 16 vs 24 bits however. The native Superior drum kits have much more control of the room with the extra overhead, near and far mics. So it works fine by the way.

The bleed mics can be found in the EZ samples that come into Superior, at least with the Nashville set. I didn't check to see if they actually work but they are available.