Good Software Drum Kit for VS-20

Hello
 
Can anyone recomend a good soft drum kit to use with the vs-20?
 
The loops are fun but I'd like more control. I have a xiosynth that can act as a controller (apparantly) but i have no idea how these things plug together.
 
If i upgraded to Guitar Tracks Pro, would the drum kit in there be editable - ie, create measures and build songs up - the site isn't too clear (to my mind).
 
any help much appreciated - I'm such a noob :-)!!
 

 
Adrian, Barry - hi there guys.
 
GT4 is a neat program, but as you've both found out, a little limiting on what you can do with regard to MIDI editing.
 
Both GTPro4 and Home Studio 7 (or the newer SONAR X1 Essentials) will allow you to completely edit your drum tracks, and also allow you to quickly create drum loops and tracks of your own.
 
Personally, I'd also suggest you take a very serious look at Cakewalk's excellent Music Creator 5 software. It will allow you to use and fully edit MIDI (i.e. all software synthesizers - aka 'softsynths' - not just your drums) and record audio.
 
It's an absolute bargain at the price (I'd suggest getting the boxed version though, there's more sample content than the download) and once you get used to the workings of MIDI, you can decide if you want to step up to one of Cakewalk's more sophisticated programs.
 
The only limiting factor with MC5 is that it only allows two simultaneous (or one mono) input at a time. If that's going to be a problem, you will need a higher spec program.
 
All in all though, at just $39.99 (£35 in the UK) for the boxed version, it's a great way to start messing around with MIDI.
 
Incidentally, your VS-20 will act as a Controller for MC5 and any other Cakewalk product, and you'll be able to use the Boss COSM effects exactly the same as in GT4.
 
As far as decent softsynth drums go, I'd highly recommend purchasing Cakewalk's Session Drummer 2 - it's a great program with some really nice sounding kits, and a large sample set of loops and fills. It also has one major improvement over the Studio Instruments Drums in that you can send each part of the kit to a separate track in your project.
 
To explain, with SI Drums, you only end up with a single stereo track - with Session Drummer you can, for example route the snare to one track, the kick drum to another, the ride cymbal to another and so on. The benefit is that each instrument can have it's own separate EQ/compression/effects etc - a real help in making your drum tracks sound great. Taken a step further, you can then send all your separate drum tracks to their own bus, allowing you to add effects (maybe some reverb) to the whole kit, before routing that final drum mix to your Master Bus.
 
Although there are other softsynth drum programs which will allow multichannel recording (e.g. EZ Drummer, which is a brilliant piece of software if you wanted to splash out a bit more!), Cakewalk have recently added Session Drummer 3 to their SONAR programs, so Session Drummer 2 is currently at the download sale price of just $9.99 (or £8.99 in the UK) instead of $70!
 
With full MIDI editing (in whichever Cakewalk product you choose), a great kit in Session Drummer 2, and the VS-20 you'll have a very powerful set up for creating really top quality songs.
 
Click on these links to check out the items I've mentioned above:
 
* Music Creator 5
 
* Guitar Tracks Pro 4
 
* SONAR Home Studio 7
 
* SONAR Home Studio XL
 
* SONAR X1 Essentials
 
* Session Drummer 2: Information & $9.99/£8.99 Download
 
* Toontrack EZ Drummer
 
 
I hope that helps guys, and if you need any further help and advice, or want me to explain anything in more detail, just let me know.
 
 
Steve 
 

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Edit (6/1/11) to add:
 
 
@ Adrian
 
Since putting this post together, I did a bit more research for you guys (Barry contacted me by PM so he already has the details) and I think I've found the perfect solution for your needs. 
 
Check out THIS PAGE on the Cakewalk website.
 
If you purchase SONAR Home Studio 7XL direct from Cakewalk as a registered customer for £69, you qualify for a free download upgrade to SONAR X1 Essentials!
 
X1 features Cake's brand new 'Skylight' interface so if you're thinking of staying with them, it would make sense to get used to the newer features. I'm still awaiting my delivery of X1 Producer Edition so we'll be learning the new interface together!
 
The beauty of purchasing HS7 and getting the free upgrade is that you'll get all the plug-ins and effects from both programs which will all be available to use in X1, as well as the effects from GT4. In fact, whichever program you use, these effects will be available in each - it's just the features (e.g. the Step Sequencer) that are program specific.
 
To me, it's a complete no-brainer at that price, although there will be a small delivery charge of a fiver on top for the HS7 box.
 
 

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No problem Barry - did you get my PM OK?
 
Just one thing - I'm afraid it's only X1 Producer that comes with Session Drummer 3 - so you might still want to shell out the extra £8.99 for Session Drummer 2 as per my original suggestions.

 
Nice one Barry
 
 
 

After following this and a couple of related threads, general hunting around the web, not to mention buying/installing Session Drummer 2, I am getting the impression that the short answer to this topic is: NO, there's not a plug-in drum synth for the V-Studio 20 package.  

All of the answers involve buying additional software, doing the drum work there, then integrating that new work with your VS-20 work. Is that the idea or did I miss something?
Personally, it looks like the smallest next step upward in that direction would be Music Maker 5, which I'm getting ready to order. But I'm still holding my breath in case somebody in one of these forums explains to one of us noobers who are starting to pile in, how to make something like Session Drummer work with the stock VS-20 Guitar Tracks workstation.

 
@ Charlie - check out my reply to your thread in the Guitar Tracks forum before you decide; I'd advise you take a serious look at the Home Studio 7/X1 Essentials package I advocate there, and in this thread.

SteveStrummerUK

roomservice


Hello there chaps
 
Sorry for tardiness - work got pretty full on from 8am on Tuesday and kept me busy through the weekend - so much for easing myself into 2011
 
First of all - Barry. Absolutely no problem you joining in (I'm sure your question was rhetorical but a nice gesture all the same old chap) and it looks like you've got what you were after.
 
Secondly - Steve. Thanks for all the advice and run through of the options.
 
After much deliberation I've also gone for the Sonar HS7 XL. I'd already purchased Session Drummer 2 (I'm impatient) and got myself into a bit of a tangle with midi but with your help I think I'm back on track.
 
You're right about it being a no brainer - the jury is out if I have a brain that can cope with it though!
 
Many thanks again for the advice and, even though I've now spent almost as much again as I did on the VS-20 (Sonar + FS-6+ cable + EV-5) I'm hoping I'm going to be pretty much future proofed for a few years ;-)
 
 
All the best
 
Ade
 
 
 
 

 
Nice one Ade - you wont regret following this path I'm sure
 
Looking further down the line, Cakewalk offer its 'loyal' registered customers great price incentives as you follow their upgrade paths - both to newer versions of software you already use and also to crossgrade to their more pro-orientated software.
 
I started many years ago with Guitar Tracks 2 and worked my way up through GTPro2, GTPro3, Home Studio 6 & 7, SONAR 8 Studio, SONAR 8 & 8.5 Producer and now the new SONAR X1 Producer! Bearing in mind X1 Producer retails at £399, my upgrade from 8.5 only cost me £89
 
So when you say you are 'future-proofed' - you're right on more than one level.
 
 
Steve

Ahh thats good to see - I always like it when you bump into someone who has stuck with a manufacturer through a few upgrades (and I dare say one or two dissapointments along the way).
 
ade
 
ps - how on earth do you manage to post 14,000 times and still make music :-)