ptheisen
Just thought I'd mention for those considering the Studio Prog AdPak as part of the package that comes with Platinum, if you already have AD1, you already have Studio Prog, Studio Pop and Studio Rock, and all three (plus any others you may have previously purchased for AD1) can be updated to AD2 status for one "upgrade" price.
 
This upgrade is not included with Platinum , but it is only $80 from XLN and sometimes they put it on sale. So, if you think you might also go the XLN upgrade route at some point, you probably do not want to choose any of the AD1 AdPaks you already have as part of the package you get with Platinum. That way, you'll have six (or more) different AdPaks and the only additional expense is the price of the XLN upgrade.
 
That's my plan, and I'm trying to be patient enough to wait for XLN to put the AD1 to AD2 upgrade on sale.

Okay... I think I'm starting to get this. I already have the Prog pak for AD1 but would have to pay to use it in AD2. Is that right?
 
If that is the case... once I upgrade to AD2 will I still be able to use AD1 as a separate VST (as in it shows up in my Instruments Browser as a completely different synth)? Or does the upgrade to AD2 wipe out/conflict with AD1 thus making the Prog kit unuseable?
 
I'm sure that has been covered multiple times but I haven't been paying much attention to the many AD threads since the update.
 
And just to clarify what I mean is... I would just use AD1 for the Prog kit when I needed it then AD2 for whatever else.

ptheisen
Just thought I'd mention for those considering the Studio Prog AdPak as part of the package that comes with Platinum, if you already have AD1, you already have Studio Prog, Studio Pop and Studio Rock, and all three (plus any others you may have previously purchased for AD1) can be updated to AD2 status for one "upgrade" price.
 
This upgrade is not included with Platinum , but it is only $80 from XLN and sometimes they put it on sale. So, if you think you might also go the XLN upgrade route at some point, you probably do not want to choose any of the AD1 AdPaks you already have as part of the package you get with Platinum. That way, you'll have six (or more) different AdPaks and the only additional expense is the price of the XLN upgrade.
 
That's my plan, and I'm trying to be patient enough to wait for XLN to put the AD1 to AD2 upgrade on sale.

ptheisen where did you see the upgrade at the store? I was just there and did not see it. And you are going at this smart, I believe. If you get anything off that $80.00 that will be a very good deal.

Okay... I think I'm starting to get this. I already have the Prog pak for AD1 but would have to pay to use it in AD2. Is that right?
 
If that is the case... once I upgrade to AD2 will I still be able to use AD1 as a separate VST (as in it shows up in my Instruments Browser as a completely different synth)? Or does the upgrade to AD2 wipe out/conflict with AD1 thus making the Prog kit unuseable?
 
I'm sure that has been covered multiple times but I haven't been paying much attention to the many AD threads since the update.
 
And just to clarify what I mean is... I would just use AD1 for the Prog kit when I needed it then AD2 for whatever else.
 
 
 
 
Beep you are correct on all of it. AD1 is still there and has no restrictions. Prog Pop and Rock will be able to be used whenever you want. Notice how the pictures of those kits at the XLN store are all blue and look the same as in AD1.
You have 6 Addictive Drums kits between the two of them. The Studio Prog Pop and Rock kits are the same but the names are new for AD2.
 

BassDaddy
The Prog kit is DW Collectors with Sabian and Paiste if I recall. Pop is the Sonor and Rock is the Tama.

Okay, under... 
 
AD > Clean > DW Kit
 
I'm seeing the DW Collectors/Paiste/etc kit. It does sound good but it's dry and I'm not seeing any "Prog" presets or references anywhere in any of the sub menus. Perhaps what the Studio Prog pack does is takes those samples and makes them more useful. I tried cruising around some of the other style presets with that kit loaded but it changes the kit. What I figured was with the Studio Prog pack I'd have a whole submenu just for that stuff and a new kit but maybe it does that but I would not get a new kit. Maybe later adopters of AD1 got some Prog settings or something. I'm also looking in my store account to make sure I did not miss any additional adpaks from back then and there are none so either they were not provided or were removed upon the release of AD2.
 
Whatever is going on this does factor in heavily to whatever decisions are going to be made in regards to the AdPaks I choose. I'll have to learn more about what's up with that Studio Prog thing and may email XLN to find out what's up. They have indeed made things rather strange and confusing and I'm not digging the updated website (which I've already wrestled with after getting X3... the old site was much simpler to use).
 
It is now down to a decision based on whether it's worth it to me to snag the update/adpack for the Studio Prog/DW Collector kit or whether I want to try to tweak it myself. Playing around with it briefly it does seem to be a very useable sound but I was kind of hoping for some lazy "set it and forget it" action which I don't think this provides as is and I'm not sure whether the upgrade will even give me that luxury.
 
Thank you for pointing it out though.
 
I think the current plan will remain the same as far as snagging the Fairfax Vol 1 (after I do some other tests with Platinum) and try to gather more info on this Studio Prog business and how XLN are creating these adpaks. If they are merely recycling existing samples with different FX presets applied and charging money for it... well that's not very cool IMO. It's a great sounding program though so whatever. If it works and saves time then I guess that's the point.
 
I am also happy to hear that I will be able to access AD1 and AD2 separately so I can make a decent comparison between the two. I was worried about wiping out the original version. I was going to create a restore point to reverse the AD2 install if it did wipe out AD1 (and still will anyway just in case).
 
Cheers.

Beepster,
 
I'm not speaking from experience (yet), but I tend to read things very carefully, and my understanding confirms what BassDaddy said: AD1 and AD2 will be completely separate VSTs. Whatever you had for AD1 will still be useable in AD1 under the AD1 conditions. Whatever AD2 kits you get in the future, as well as any AD1 kits you pay to upgrade to AD2, will be useable in AD2 under the AD2 conditions, which includes new names for the AD1 kits and probably new presets, so this hopefully justifies the charge for the upgrade of the AD1 kits. XLN has to stay in business too.
 
BassDaddy,
 
It's possible that XLN's website is smart enough to know, based your login, whether you've already purchased the AD1 to AD2 upgrade. I haven't, and I see it offered when I go to http://www.xlnaudio.com/addictivedrums. I've noticed that it is aware of what I already have when I go to the pages for individual kits and pieces.
 

Thanks ptheisen, I think you are right. It took me a while to figure out exactly what we had with AD1 and AD2 upgrades and all. When you explained it to someone they thought you had to be wrong, but...I think they really had to offer the three Kits in AD1 because if you didn't have AD1 there was no way to get them.

One final question... I do not have to get all three Paks at once, do I? Can I snag the Fairfax Vol 1 then after more research snag the other two or do I need to get them all at once?
You can get them separately but if they come out with a new kit (say in a month or so)you can't use the coupon for it.
Also worth mentioning if you sign in to your XLN acct it shows you what you already have.

Okay, so this is weird... and hopefully someone can explain.
 
I just went through the rigamarole of getting the XLN installer to work again. THe plan was to snag the Fairfax Vol 1 kit using the  freebie adpaks.
 
It's is showing me that Fairfax Vol 1 is actually a freebie demo (without using up my adpaks I think) and there is also the Studio Grand piano thing listed as a freebie.
 
Huh? Is this the full Fairfax Vol 1? The site claims it is.
 
Anyway... if it is that's cool. Confusing... but cool... I think. :-/

Yeah, it ain't. I'm now listening to all the demos through my reference cans and am rather conflicted at this point. I think the Fairfax 1 kit is still a fer sure as is the Metal kit. Now however there is a massive battle going on between the Jazz Brushes, Fairfax 2 kit and (gawd help me) the Indie kit. I'm even still considering the Studio Prog kit but should probably put that out of my mind.
 
The Jazz kit for the reasons I stated earlier. I just have plans for it. The Fairfax 2 kit sounds a lot better through my good cans and would complimet the FF 1 kit. The Indie kit is not what I like out of a kit but the production is amazing and it would be extremely useful if I needed that sound.
 
Oh woe is me. Decisions decisions. A pretty predicament to be in though I guess.

Alright. Fudge it.
 
Fairfax 1
Metal
Indie
 
That way I can cover the skinny jeans crowd as well which is likely to be needed and that sound seems to be in high demand for film/TV work. Constantly hearing good reviews on that kit too and I'm assuming I can tune it to be more to my liking.
 
Thanks, guys.

Great products! Marketing and website? Counter intuitive maybe?

Now that the smoke has cleared-Which ADpacks did you get? 
None. I already owned them all.

harmony gardens

bapu
Now that the smoke has cleared-Which ADpacks did you get?
 
None. I already owned them all.

I'm not sure the smoke as completely cleared,,, lol
 
 
Ok, let me approach this a different way,,,  
I have a kits called Startup, Machine, Live on Stage, Chemical House, 70's Kit, and Vintage Years, (but only an entry labeled Addictive drums on my XLN page) and midi Paks Funky Groove and Pop Rock....  if I were to upgrade my current stuff from AD1 to AD2,,, what would I be getting??  (I want to avoid duplication if possible) 

It sounds like you just have the basic AD1 package.  When you upgrade that will convert to the Studio Pop/Rock/Prog sets.

mumpcake
The smoke hasn't cleared for me yet.  What I don't have is 

• Indie - I don't think it sounds bad, but I'm not sure that FF2 doesn't make it redundant.
• Funk - Not the sound I want.
• Metal - I think it sounds good, but again I would probably go with FF1 or BV for harder stuff.
• Jazz Sticks - Maybe.  This might be good for chillout stuff.
• Jazz Brushes - I'm sure I have some brush kits around somewhere and haven't used them.  That makes this hard to say that I really need them.
• Session Percussion - maybe.
• Reel Machines - I think I might just have enough drum machine samples.

Then I would have to decide on which kit pieces and MIDI packs to add...
 
 
 

Except for the Metal & Jazz adpaks, I now have all of them. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with any of these adpaks.....they're all veryy good and super easy to tweak the sounds anyway you choose to do so.
 
Initially when I first had the choices with the Producer Bundle, I went for the rock drums........then I went for variety (Session Percussion, Reel Machines etc....as those add a lot of flavour to the other drums AND you can mix/match kits to get very cool rhythms).
 
The Session Percussion is very good for variety (the accompanying midi pak is really good too) and another thing to keep in mind is the Metal (my next purchase) has the most toms of all these drum adpaks......easy to swap these kits as well (you can have Cajon as a tom.....if you wish).
 
I got them on some really good deals on two Producer Bundles over at KVR (much less than 50% off the current prices)......1 more Producer bundle, and my addiction (drum) should be fixed.   

I already had Fairfax 1 and Black Velvet, along with the three Studio kits from the AD1-AD2 upgrade.  So, I went with Black Oyster, Metal and Retroplex for a nice variety of options to choose from.