dlesaux
Okay, I'm going to be the oddball here and say I've never even installed Addictive Drums. I use EZdrummer and didn't see the need to learn yet another program.  But it looks like I'm in the minority here!

It's just another synth that makes sounds... For me that's a bit like saying.... as I've learned upright piano I'm not going to play the grand piano  :) Fair enough though 

Before AD2 came out, I picked up the Retro pack (which is now Blue Oyster, Black Oyster, and Retroplex) and Vintage Dry on sales.  I had just bought the upgrade (which upgrades the original content to Studio Pop/Rock/Prog and had a bonus pack of Black Velvet) and the Fairfax bundle before the new Sonar came out.
 
At this point I don't really feel the need for another drum pack.  I will probably get three of the following four:  Jazz Sticks, Jazz Drums, Session Percussion, Indie.  Although I like funk, the Funk drumset doesn't appeal to me that much.  Metal sounds like it would be good for mainstream rock as well, but I think I would be more likely to use Fairfax or Black Velvet.  I have enough drum machines, so Reel Machines doesn't call to me either.
 
Of the ones I have, the Fairfax drums are my favorites.  I haven't spent as much time with Black Velvet yet.  Behind that I like the Studio series, followed by Vintage Dry, then the Retro pack.  If I were to go for 60s drums, I would probably choose the NI Abbey Road 60s drums for Kontakt over Black Oyster.

I'm still undecided, I have the Studio Trio, Fairfax pair, Brush and Dry. Since going for the Platinum I can't decide which two to go for. I want to keep one in the bank, incase something comes up this year that looks bang on.
 
Session Percussion - Looks most likely, to compliment the above.
Black Oyster -  Seems to be good for a motown sound, but I wonder I can't get that with a fairfax I own.
Reel Machines - Reeled me in for a while. I had the Drumstation for about 15 years. But then it dawned on me that none of the music I listen to nowadays uses drum machines. Even the West Coast Hip Hop I like which has both, it the sampled kits than the drum machine tracks I like most.
Jazz Sticks - Everytime St Germain or Cinematic Orchestra comes on my iPod, I swing round to getting this jazz kit.
 
I think I'll just get the Percussion and leave 2 in the bank until I'm really decided. Enquiries with XLN about a month ago, they responded saying they have more drums planned for this year.
 
 

mumpcake
  Although I like funk, the Funk drumset doesn't appeal to me that much. 

Me too, it seemed as though it's an 80's Jazz Funk type sound, rather than an old school sound that I prefer to listen too. fair enough though as they have plenty of kits covering the old school

Metal, Black Velvet and Reel.

Can you "leave one in the bank"? I couldn't complete the download until I checked off all three.

I wish they'd expand their kit piece option too. I don't know why they added a Pandiero when it's in Session Percussion, but have none of the shaker family.
 
They have 17 Kits, but just 14 kitpieces, meaning if you purchase through their bundles where for each kit you get a kit piece and midi pak, you end up with some credits on your account. The kit pieces should outnumber the kits in my mind, creating more options for personalising AD" you your tastes. I'd like to have one main percussion source, but looks like I'm going to re-install Dim Pro just to get some triangle and shaker sounds.  
 
 
 

fairfax 1, 2 and reel machines for me, happy with all three :)

DoctorCalabria

declan
I went with Fairfax1, Indie & Studio Pop.  I'd have definitely preferred Vintage Dry over Studio Pop, but I wanted to be able to use it in AD2 with the midi packs.
 
 
 
 

 
Are the ADpacks tied in some way to the MIDI packs, or is it just how you saw fit to use them, as not to mix genres?  Now that I look back at the choices, I think I answered my own question:  I see the for some ie Jazz, there are corresponding kits and MIDI packs. I guess since I already have the percussion pack, I should get the MIDI pack then.  As usual, I'll probably end up figuring out a way to justify buying them all;)

My final answer is:
Kits: Fairfax1, Indie, Jazz Brushes
MIDI: 60's, Indie, Percussion.
 
I appreciate the info and advice- I definitely would have otherwise made choices I would have later regretted.
 

The midi packs are, of course just midi, and they're recommended for various kits.  I had the luxury of checking things out at my friend's place (he has everything) and I realized that, in totality, I "heard" more about the kit pieces in context than I did listening to them individually - hence the reference to the midi packs.  This is all about starting points.
 
I chose the American Rock, Alternative Rock for the midi packs because they seemed to jump start the Fairfax, Indie & Pop kits. 
 
The Writer's Block was recommended, and I think it should be on everybody's list who's not a drummer - it's scant, but that's by far the most valuable to me, 'cos everything is in the editing. 
 
  

Hi-
 
I decided to go with:
 
Kits:
Modern Jazz Sticks
Modern Jazz Brushes
Session Percussion
 
MIDI:
Percussion Beats
Latin Afro
Jazz Brushes Grooves
 
Kit pieces:
Latino Bongos
Cajon
Djembe
 
So you'd think I do lots of Latin stuff, but it's really because I have tons of "standard" kits with Superior Drummer, etc. and "standard" MIDI grooves up the wazoo.  I'm looking forward to checking out the AD2 brushes, though.
 
[OT: BTW, I've played a bit with AD2's "Transform" feature, and IMO, it's very cool! A bit like Jamstix's "brain"-- less powerful, but also a lot simpler and with a more intuitive interface.]
 
-Susan