Hey all,
 
Glad to be back here. Although, I never left. I stayed the course and my SPLAT has been running solid.
 
Anyway......my question is, do you guys use parallel compression on your E-drums? I'm using EZ Drummer.
 
Any tips on doing so, or what compressor to use would be greatly appreciated. I have all the compressors that come with SPLAT. And.......Should I use an Aux track/send, or a separate bus?
 
Thanks.
 
~Jeff

I use parallel compression all the time with VSTi drums. They are after all mostly just samples of real drums. The pro-channel compressors have a mix knob on them so you can do parallel compression without even having to make another buss or aux track.
 
As far as what compressor to use, I think that is down to a matter of taste.

"The pro-channel compressors have a mix knob on them so you can do parallel compression without even having to make another buss or aux track." 
 
+1    That's what I do. 
If you have Addictive Drums it also has compression built in. 
 
 

Anyway......my question is, do you guys use parallel compression on your E-drums? I'm using EZ Drummer.
 
Any tips on doing so, or what compressor to use would be greatly appreciated. I have all the compressors that come with SPLAT. And.......Should I use an Aux track/send, or a separate bus?

Yes, its used when deemed necessary for the sound/dynamics you want for that particular song you are currently working on. 
Any compressor will do, just pick your favorite one and use that one

Should I use an Aux track/send, or a separate bus?

Isn't this the same. You need to use a send to get to a bus. But anyways, Parallel compression uses a compressor set up on a bus and you mix the wet and dry signal to your liking.
 
CJ

More discussion...
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Making-EZDrummer-sound-better-m1403068.aspx
 

I personally have one Drum Bus and one Drum Compression Bus. I route all the drums to the Drum Bus and then I use an Aux send from the Drum Bus to the Drum Compression bus. You can use individual aux sends to send to the Drum Compression bus if you only want certain drums (just drums, no cymbals etc.) I like the convenience of just using a single Aux send from the Drum bus. I personally like to use the SSL Bus compressor on the Drum Compression bus.

I recommend NOT using an LA2A type as its too slow.  Almost anything else will work.  Fast attack and release and  pretty heavy compression, sometimes even int distortion.  I personally send Kick, snr toms and OH separately to the compressor as I limit the amount of cymbals that go in.  K, S and T are equal amounts.  Then I mix in maybe 25% max of the parallel into the normal drum mix and it gives the extra fatness I like 

Best practice is to separate drums on different tracks.
I typically send only the Kick, Snare and Toms to the parallel compression Bus.
 
Put your compressor in a Bus named "Parallel Compression".
Create a send for Kick, Snare and Toms. Feed the Send to the PC Bus.
Use the Buses Track Fader to achieve desired results.
 
This video shows how to do it with Aux tracks, but a Bus will do the same.

 
 

Great stuff guys! Thanks so much for the help. 
 
As always, this board rules!
 
~Jeff

I have been using less and less compression on EZ 2 and AD2 as they are so heavily processed already.
 
I still use a drum buss with a buss compressor, but to try to avoid squashing I avoid additional compressors on individual drums.  Seems to work pretty well so far.  YMMV