Opinions on best drum software

Just curious what your opinions on drum software are. I'm using Toontrack EZdrummer, which I like, but I'm wondering if there are better sounding ones out there. I connect via VDrums and actually try to play the drums on my tunes (yeah, I'm not great, but 80 bazillion takes can be edited to a decent drum track!). The Cake drums are okay, but kind of lifeless to me.
Opinions?

I've heard Superior is... well Superior! What did you like about it that EZD doesn't have?

By the way, I upgraded to Windows7 last weekend. My laptop is working great for recording. No stutters or anything. WAY happy about it.

Yeah, it's so much better! Working on a tune now and I recorded about 12 drum tracks (midi) because I have to paste the drums together to make a decent track, A Bass part, and 5 guitars and I haven't had a single hiccup. It's been really cool actually.

I need to get more variety in my parts though. The guitars are all doing the same thing and I need to add some other things, but I can't seem to figure anything out for it. That's another post...

Jamstix, plus the bonus is that Ralph the designer is readily available for help!

 
Hey Beagle,
 
I'm a bit confused and maybe you can help me sort things out.
 
For Christmas I have asked for EZ Drummer.
 
On you above post you mentioned getting:
 
EZDrummer                                         =     149.00
Superior Drummer 2.0 Crossgrade      =       99.00
 
                                            TOTAL      =    248.00
 
But I noticed that I can get Superior Drummer 2.0 for 149.00 at Sweetwater.
Here's the link:  http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SupDrum2/
 
Would there be any benefit to buying EZ Drummer plus the SuperiorDrummer 2.0 Crossgrade over just buying the Superior Drummer 2.0?
 
If Superior Drummer 2.0 contains all the patterns included in SD plus the additonal ones created for Superior Drummer, then it would make sense to just buy Superior Drummer 2.0 at 149.00 instead of paying 248.00 for both SD and the SuperiorD Crossgrade.
 
If I get more by buying both programs then I might do that, but if not then I'll just get the one Superior Drummer 2.0 program.
 
I can't really tell by the information on the website.
 
Here's a link to Toontrack's website. If you scroll down a little and click on the Compatability tab and then scroll down again in that window, it shows a comparison between EZ Drummer and Superior Drummer 2.0. It looks to me that by buying Superior Drummer 2.0 you get everything that EZ Drummer has plus a whole lot more. Am I reading this correctly or would I be missing out on something by not getting EZ Drummer plus the Superior Drummer Crossgrade?
 
Here's their link: http://www.toontrack.com/products.asp?item=30#4
 
Something just seems strange here. I mean...if you had to pay 169.00 for the Crossgrade how can they be selling Superior Drummer for 149.00?  And I also notice that Sweetwater is also selling EZ Drummer for 149.00. How can Superior Drummer 2.0 be the same price as EZ Drummer? There's got to be a catch or something that I'm missing.  
Thanks,
Pete

Hey, Pete!  I must have missed the reply earlier, sorry!

If I did not already have EZD, then I probably would not go the route of EZD + SD2.0 because of the low cost of SD2.0 now.  when I bought it originally, EZD was $149 and SD2.0 was $299! and there was no crossgrade available!  but I ended up getting the crossgrade for $165.

anyway - what you would be missing if you got SD2.0 and didn't get EZD:
* an additional drum kit
* a kit that has already processed samples which makes it easy to throw a quick project together without much tweaking.
* the MIDI loops that come with EZD (you still get a LOT) 

edited - found that info. 

that's the way I see it.  so if those things in particular aren't important to you, then I'd just go straight to SD2.0!

 
Thanks Beag,
 
I think I may just get the Superior Drummer 2.0
 
Toontrack also has three extra Midi Packs available for additional midi drum loops for 20 bucks each.
 
But I remember a thread in this forum a few months ago where someone was giving advice about purchasing packs of drum loops but I don't think it was the packs from Toontrack. I think it was a different company that had a large and very nice collection of drum loops but I can't remember the name of the company/product.
 
Do you remember what that might be? If I heard the name I think I'd probably remember.
 
Thanks,
 
Pete

 
Yes! Thanks Reece!
 
It was groovemonkee that I was trying to remember.
 
However it looks like Smartloops is having a pretty good deal. Buy all 5 volumes of their midi loops for only 59 bucks.
It looks pretty good to me and better than the price for the 3 packs from Toontrack. What do you think?
 
Here's the link.
http://www.smartloops.com/products/mididrumloops/
 
Pete

Are most of you guys using the drum loops or are you playing the drums via a midi drumkit or something? I tend to grab the loops as I'm mapping out the song and then play them myself to get the fills in and stuff. Usually takes me about 40 friggin' takes, but it's nice to be able to say I played the drums on the track... no matter how lame they are.
:)

Have fun!

And I like writing my own drum tracks. Seems quicker than searching the thousands of loops for the right one.
But not as quick as using Jamstix or Band in a Box to write them!

 
OK, I just placed my order for Superior Drums 2.0 through Musician's Friend at a price of 149.00.
 
They're currently out of stock and expect them to be in within 23 days.
 
However I get 2 free gifts with my purchase. A get 10 free songs for download and I also get a midi controller.
Here's the midi controller I'm getting for free.
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/product/Akai-Professional-MPD-18-USB-MIDI-Pad-Controller?sku=620023
 
The only other place the had SD for 149.00 was Sweetwater. They have them in stock but there's no free gifts with the purchase.
 
I don't mind waiting the extra 23 days if I can get a free midi pad controller and 10 free song downloads.
 
Now I'm off to order my 5 Smart Loops midi drum loops CD's.
 
Pete

 
I know! It's awesome!
 
I can program the pad to trigger drum sounds from the Superior Drummer 2.0 and then pound out my own patterns if I can't find any midi patterns that will fit my song.
 
A 99.00 piece of hardware they're giving me for FREE!
 
I couldn't be happier!
 
Thanks again for all your help Beag. I would never have stumbled accross this deal had it not been for you pointing the way for me.
 
Pete

Send? Shoot, he could drive it up!

RobertB


Reece,
Have you considered some kind of V-drums?
Aside from the musical aspects, drums are among the most fun workouts you can get.
If Beverly asks, you can blame it on me

LOL!  Yes, I've considered it many times, but just have not considered it enough to purchase them.  they're quite expensive.
 
and...you've lived with us, so you know her...do you REALLY want to put yourself in jeopardy like that???