From BFD2 mixer to Sonar mixer

This should be easy.

In the BFD UI Mixer page, at the bottom of the screen there's a dropdown which shows where each track is currently routed to. It'll say something like "Master", "Aux 1" etc.

I would start by assigning your kick to Mono 1, Snare to Mono 2, Hat to Mono 3 etc
Route your Overheads to Stereo 2, Room to Stereo 3, Am3 to Stereo 4 (You can't use Stereo 1 - this is reserved for BFD's Master out)


Then, in Sonar, if you've already got your audio tracks mapped out, just change the Input of the Kick to BFD Left Mono 1, Snare to Right Mono 2 etc.

Make sure the interleaves are all mono apart from OH/Room/Amb3

OH/Room/Amb will go to Stereo tracks, not mono

That's about it.

The only complication can arise if you're like me and sometimes use up more than the available 16 Mono inputs. *

What I do then is just use one side of one of the available Stereo outs, but you must remember to reset the track interleave in sonar to Mono, otherwise you get panning problems

* this can easily happen if you want complete control over the tracks that BFD exposes. For instance, all Kick Drums have at least 2 channels - Out & In (some even have a 3rd for sub), Snares have 3 channels (Top 1, Top2, Bottom)

It make sense to get these mapped properly as you can then blend the various combinations of all the mic positions (all of which are accurately phase-aligned)

Chuck, I don't have the expansion packs for SD, and the BFD2 drums sound better than the SD3 sounds I have. Don't get me wrong, SD3 sounds good, but I prefer BFD2. Just my preference.

chuckebaby


ya that does sound easy.
in session drummer its one button.hows that for easy.?

How is it one button in session drummer?  The process of routing tracks from session drummer is identical to that of BFD2, it's just that BFD2 gives an abundance of options that you don't get in session drummer. 
To route a track in session drummer you still have to go to the mixer and choose from the drop down list at the bottom of each kit piece/channel, just like you do in BFD2.

What's the difference?


Steve

chuckebaby


its actually pretty easy,when you set all your audio outputs to stereo when adding a soft synth,its one button.
the ssd interface.click each drum on the gui ,with one button kick goes to 1(one button)
snare to 2(one button)

i can only inagine your bedroom must be littered with BFD posters.
your helpful to bfd lovers but the second someone speaks out about its complicity in routing,you tear them down...lol

Posters in my room? What a vivid imagination you must have. I'm helpful to anyone I feel able to help but my knowledge of BFD2 & Eco is far greater than other drum vsti's so naturally I'm more able to help BFD users.
I have session drummer but hardly ever use it, I also have EZdrummer and Addictive drums and the same goes for those too.


I wasn't tearing you down, just pointing out what I thought was glaringly obvious, click each output in the BFD2 mixer with one button and choose where you want it to go (with the same button)
I'd say that was still one click, obviously you'll need more clicks overall but that's because there are more channels and more options.


Steve

BFD2 is complicated that is what makes such a great drum VST. There are ways to use in a less complicated way by using presets but that is useful if you only want a very quick usable sound. I don't believe BFD2 is for everyone. I think it is great for very advanced users that are looking for a versatile great sounding drum synth. Session Drummer 3 is ideal for quick use. Its good for those that are just getting started too amd can be used by all users with good results. But BFD2 is completely customizable as far as the sound you get. But it takes a little bit of work.

As to the mixer to me its rather simple and not unlike most other mixers on other drum synths except what you route and where can have a big impact on the sound you get. 

Unlike other mixers its not just directing drum to a track but how the mics for example get routed too. With that kind of versatility comes complications. 

Think about this the manual is a full 200 pages long. 

BTW did tell you guys its a great drum vst?

John


BFD2 is complicated that is what makes such a great drum VST. There are ways to use in a less complicated way by using presets but that is useful if you only want a very quick usable sound. I don't believe BFD2 is for everyone. I think it is great for very advanced users that are looking for a versatile great sounding drum synth. Session Drummer 3 is ideal for quick use. Its good for those that are just getting started too amd can be used by all users with good results. But BFD2 is completely customizable as far as the sound you get. But it takes a little bit of work.

Exactly, well said!
 
BFD does become easy to work with after you've spent some time with it. I recently watched a Groove3 tutorial on it and picked up a few little tricks. If you've got the free pass, take a peek!