I'm having some trouble understanding what exactly is included in SONAR Platinum's version of Addictive Drums 2. I've read in some places that it comes with your choice of 3 ADPaks (e.g. Metal, Indie, Reel Machines), and I've also read in some places that it already comes with Studio Rock, Studio Pop, and Studio Prog. Which one is correct? Do you get these 3 studio paks, as well as 3 additional ADPaks? Is it one or the other?

You get to choose 3 ADPaks. When AD2 first came to Sonar, you were given the 3 studio kits automatically with no choices.

Hello,
I had the same question to XLN when I was having error messages. I had also upgraded earlier and when I  up graded I guess I must have gotten the extra paks then. So when I upgraded to Splat I already had my extra paks. I'm thinking that they gave me all the studio paks. I think that because I had the first Pak they just finished off the two other paks in the set along with the extra Pak I chose. I wish I could have chosen other paks so I could have a wider variety of styles and sounds. But, what's done is done. I'll have to demo others and then put out more dough to get something else. Good marketing on their part I guess. Hope this helps. You can always shoot a message to them to get a clearer response. It takes a couple of days since they're in Stockholm Sweden. They will respond. That's a plus.
MJ

The studio kits were part of the original Addictive Drums. With AD2 all the kits including the studio kits from the original AD are separate purchases. Platinum includes a voucher for 3 kits, 3 midi packs and 3 kit pieces of your choice. The only restriction I know of, is the studio kits cannot be added to AD2 if the user already has the original Addictive Drums. In this case, the only way to get the studio kits is to purchase the upgrade from AD to AD2.

The studio kits that were offered in AD (Studio Rock, Studio Pop , Studio Prog)
all work inside AD2. I believe I did have to do a software update on these through the XLN Online Installer
The AD2 included with Platinum allows you your choice of three AdPaks ( basically three drumkits) , three MidiPaks , and three additional single kit pieces. 
 
EDIT: SHould also mention I have both AD and AD2 installed.
 
XLN have an online installer and this I find does an extremely good job at managing your XLN products. 

I have AD1, still running Sonar X3. Bought Splat lifetime updates last week, but haven't installed yet. A while back, I bought the Indie Adpack for AD1. Will that work with AD2, or were there separate Adpacks that worked with AD1 that don't work with AD2?

mrpippy2
I have AD1, still running Sonar X3. Bought Splat lifetime updates last week, but haven't installed yet. A while back, I bought the Indie Adpack for AD1. Will that work with AD2, or were there separate Adpacks that worked with AD1 that don't work with AD2?

Yes. See here https://www.xlnaudio.com/support 

This has already been described but maybe this will help folks understand a bit better (it is a little confusing).
 
Also I am basing this on my previous knowledge of included AD1/2 packages that have been included with Sonar. Somathing MAY have changed since but I think this infor is still current.
 
Addictive Drums (version 1) was a standalone package that included 3 built in kits (AFAIK). You could BUY extra kits and expansion packs called ADPaks (sample libraries for other kits) and MIDIPaks (genre specific MIDI loop libraries... some of which were designed/recorded to complimet specific kits but can be used however the user wishes).
 
Addictive Drums 2 (the current version included in Sonar Pro and Platinum) does NOT include any kits on it's own. AFAIK you cannot even own the AD2 engine on it's own. What you do now is you BUY one of the ADpaks (sample library of a specific kit) and the AD2 engine comes with it. Not sure if it comes with an accompanying MIDIPak but you can buy MIDIaks separately as well.
 
So previously you bought Addictive Drums and it came with 3 kits. Now you buy the kits and you get Addictive Drums.
 
In the Sonar AD1 packages you just got AD1 with the included kits.
 
Now what you get is essentially is a redemption code/coupon with your Sonar Platinum purchase for 3 ADpaks and 3 MIDIpaks and the AD2 engine comes free with those "Paks".
 
Any extra packs you bought for Addictive Drums 1 will not load in Addictive Drums 2 (AFAIK) nor will the kits that were included with AD1. TO make those previous kits/purchases work in AD2 you need to pay a fee to "upgrade" those kits so they work in AD2 (but it will migrate ALL your kits for one price IIRC... including the original AD1 kits).
 
Otherwise you would have to buy each kit individually again to use in AD2 (at more expense) including the original AD1 kits (which are now also for sale separately for AD2).
 
So in your scenario you would (again only AFAIK) have to PAY to upgrade your INDIE kit Pak to work in AD2... but it would migrate any other AD1 kits you have as well.
 
Otherwise you could use one of your Sonar included AD2 ADpak rebates to redeem the AD2 version of the INDIE kit if you don't want to pay the all out AD1 kit upgrade fee.
 
It's really quite a twisted and convoluted upgrade logic but whatever. It's a decent program and nothing stops you from using AD1 and the older kits whenever you want. You just can't run them through the new engine which isn't, IMO, a huge deal. That's why I focused on getting more unique kits with my redemption codes.
 
What I'm wondering now thoug is since I've upgraded again (to lifetime) whether I get an EXTRA 3 AD2 codes for this purchase?
 
I haven't checked yet but that would be wicked cool. Then I could get my grubby paws on those Jazz packs I was ont he fence about last time.
 
Cheers.

Beepster, I think you are on the money.
I apologise if I steered anyone in the wrong direction.
I got fooled up because I purchased AD shortly before the release of AD2, and XLN offered the free upgrade in my case.
Sorry folks. 

StuH
Beepster, I think you are on the money.
I apologise if I steered anyone in the wrong direction.
I got fooled up because I purchased AD shortly before the release of AD2, and XLN offered the free upgrade in my case.
Sorry folks. 

It really is quite confusing. Not sure what the heck XLN were thinking when they came up with it but I guess it gets infinitely less confusing for those who NEVER had (nor ever will have) AD1. Then it's just "Pick your kits and go".
 
I guess AD2 is kind of like IK amp sims or Kontakt player stuff... or something like that. You buy the content, not the platform.
 
Meh.
 
Cheers.