Should I upgrade from Steven Slate Platinum 3.5 to 4.0?

OK, it is that time of year and with the discount code I can get SSD Platinum 4.0. I love the sound of the drums and have the 3.5 version which runs in Kontakt. When SSD 4.0 was first out last year it had a lot of problems. Since then, I sort of haven't followed things to know how people are liking it.

I already have and regularly use Superior Drummer 2.0 with several SDX's. Do you folks who have SSD 4 and especially who also have SD 2 think I should get the SSD 4 upgrade? Is it worth it for $100? I am not a huge fan of the Kontakt interface but I have the SSD 3.5 stuff under Kontakt under control although I don't use it very much because the way it is structured I have to have a gazillion instruments active it seems to cover different articulations of the drums. I tend to go with SD 2 cause it is powerful and easy for me.

Lots of good midi loops also matter to me since I am not a great beatmaster.

I went from 3.5 to 4 and have not regretted the move.  The loops are "busy" but can be tamed down nicely (via editing) to fit with your material.

The idea of Slate drums is that they were the finished article - no need to add anything (or subtract anyhting) for that matter. Kontakt really should only been a player for them anyway - in theory. Of course, in practise, people have their own ways of doing stuff.

Did you not fancy the SSD4 EX promotion not long ago? It would have given you an insight and was very cheap. It may also be enough - depending if you need a lot of finished drum kits or not.

And don't forget the Slate presets for SD2. They are pretty close to his signature sound/approach he uses on his own stuff.