BFD2 or Superior Drummer

Loptec


i haven't tried both (i use superior drummer)..
but what i've heard is that the main difference (except for obvious things like UI) is that the sounds in BFD are more processed than the sounds in Superioud Drummer.

I can't confirm this, though..
But if this is the case I'm guessing BFD could be nice if you just want to get great sounding drums real fast and superior drummer is better if you want to shape the sounds more yourself.

In terms of realism I think you can get awesome results with any of them.

Bristol_Jonesey

Loptec


i haven't tried both (i use superior drummer)..
but what i've heard is that the main difference (except for obvious things like UI) is that the sounds in BFD are more processed than the sounds in Superioud Drummer.

I can't confirm this, though..
But if this is the case I'm guessing BFD could be nice if you just want to get great sounding drums real fast and superior drummer is better if you want to shape the sounds more yourself.

In terms of realism I think you can get awesome results with any of them.

You've heard wrong!

All BFD samples are recorded in pristine clean quality with NO PROCESSING

cclarry

Bristol_Jonesey

Loptec


i haven't tried both (i use superior drummer)..
but what i've heard is that the main difference (except for obvious things like UI) is that the sounds in BFD are more processed than the sounds in Superioud Drummer.

I can't confirm this, though..
But if this is the case I'm guessing BFD could be nice if you just want to get great sounding drums real fast and superior drummer is better if you want to shape the sounds more yourself.

In terms of realism I think you can get awesome results with any of them.

You've heard wrong!

All BFD samples are recorded in pristine clean quality with NO PROCESSING

+1

cclarry

Loptec

cclarry

Bristol_Jonesey

Loptec


i haven't tried both (i use superior drummer)..
but what i've heard is that the main difference (except for obvious things like UI) is that the sounds in BFD are more processed than the sounds in Superioud Drummer.

I can't confirm this, though..
But if this is the case I'm guessing BFD could be nice if you just want to get great sounding drums real fast and superior drummer is better if you want to shape the sounds more yourself.

In terms of realism I think you can get awesome results with any of them.

You've heard wrong!

All BFD samples are recorded in pristine clean quality with NO PROCESSING

+1

Haha.. Well ok. :)
As i said, it was just what i've heard..    

You've heard wrong as well though, since the samples in superior drummer aren't pre-processed either.
The cheeper expansions for EZ-Drummer are processed, but the ones you get for Superior drummer are clean.. :)

You get all mics on separate channels.. and with this I don't mean just the different drums on different channels.. 
You get all microphones on different channels.. so if they recorded the kick-drum with three microphones you get
them all on separate tracks. And you often get several room-mics to choose from as well plus (in their latest expansion "Roots")  
an extra channel where they've recorded everything in a special reverb-room, so you get a "real" recorded reverb that you
can apply to any of the drums.

..and to be able to control the hihat-pedal with a MIDI-controller (default being 1 (mod-wheel)) wich gives you total real-time control over the hihat's position and also being able to control where on the drumhead you want to hit (also with MIDI-controllers) gives you a rediculous amount of expression in your drum sound 

The thing you should do is to visit their websites and check their vidios and listen to their
audio-samples and then decide wich one you like the most.

These kinds of threds won't help you at all, since people just will praise the one they use them selves...
as you may have noticed.. :P

I praised them BOTH.


I just feel, that to MY ears, SD is a little more "processed" sounding..

They BOTH are GREAT programs.
As I said, to MY EARS, BFD is "cleaner" and can do those things also...


Cheers!!!

twaddle

 My preference for BFD2 & Eco was ultimately the sound.  Whether superior is less, or more processed is one thing but what affects the sound isn't just down to one being more processed than the other.
It's down to the studio/room and the equipment used to record the drums. The drum sound of BFD2 is big, very big and loud but very warm too.

twaddle

Loptec

twaddle

My preference for BFD2 & Eco was ultimately the sound.  Whether superior is less, or more processed is one thing but what affects the sound isn't just down to one being more processed than the other.
It's down to the studio/room and the equipment used to record the drums. The drum sound of BFD2 is big, very big and loud but very warm too.

Haha.. Ohyeah.. Unlike SD that was recorded under my bed.. (forgot to mention that before) :P

What do you mean, "like sd was recorded under your bed"? Obviously they were recorded in different studios using different consoles and different mics and this is ultimately what determines their sound. 

I have no idea where SD was recorded but having just listened to their demo's to refresh my mind they may well have been recorded under your bed.  

I do know that BFD2 was recorded at air studios in London and that the mixing console was designed by George Martin and there is only one of them in the world. 
But that means little to me and until I heard them I couldn't have told you whether or not that was going to make them sound as good as they do sound so yeah, like you say....use your ears but also the bit in between them too 


Steve

twaddle

I'm sorry.. I'm just very good at making very bad jokes..
Didn't mean to confuse anyone..
Statement: SD was NOT recorded under my bed!

What I meant was just that; of course both libraries were recorded in awesome studio rooms with the best technicians and gear available.. :)

I'm a big fan of bad jokes. 

I guess my statement was pretty obvious but what I meant by it was that to me BFD2 sounds much bigger and warmer to my ears and that's because of where and how it was recorded.


Steve

Razorwit


Hi PTheory,
I actually own both along with several expansions for each. I also own NI's multi-out kits and a few other titles. From a purely functional standpoint I think BFD and Superior are very similar and both have good, usable sounds. In my view the differences are largely a matter of taste. I find that I'll go with SD over BFD most of the time, but again, that's a matter of taste.

Some functional differences:
BFD ships with a larger library of drums (IIRC), so you have more choices out of the box.

SD has a larger mic selection. Most of the SD libs have the usual mics, but also multiple room/ambient mics as well as special effect mics like trash mics or mic's that were run through classic compressers. These mic choices are mostly helpful if you're getting really into super-unique artistic creation with your drum sounds. If, like me, you're going more for usable acoustic kits in a reasonably short time frame these will see less use.

SD has a Multihit control that changes the way drum hits that occur during the ring period of of a previous hit on the same drum occur. That is, if I hit a cymbal, and while it's still ringing, hit it again this control changes the attack on the second hit. I've found this VERY useful in cymbal rolls.

Both BFD and SD have minor UI differences that I prefer. Sometimes I find myself saying "damn, I wish SD did <x> the say BFD does" and sometimes it's just the opposite.


These practical differences are really minor though. It's an aesthetic preference for me. I just like the sounds better in SD. Others like BFD. For me the BFD snare drums are almost all too tonal and ringy and the cymbals are somehow different. Some folks will disagree with me....and that's really OK, they like different stuff than me. Best bet: listen to both.

Also, as long as your shopping for good multi-mic acoustic drum libs, you should really have a look at NI's Abbey Road and Studio drummer kits. I like those a ton. And be sure to check out our own Jim Roseberry's Jet City kit if you own NI's Kontakt. It has a sound that none of the others do and he handles hit position on the snare drum in a way that no one else does and everyone else should steal. It's a super cool product with a great price point.


Good luck
Dean

jb101


Does the BFD demo do it justice?
 
I downloaded it last night and can't say I was impressed.  Am I missing something?  The Toontrack stuff I have just sounded SO much more realistic.  The included BFD snare and  toms sound dreadful.
 
Is it just that the demo doesn't sound anywhere near as good as the full product?  If so, it's not a very good demo.
 
I was thinking about purchasing Eco or the full version (thanks Bristol J for the links) as so many people here rate it so highly, but this demo has not sold it to me.