So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack?

Author
mixmkr
Max Output Level: -43.5 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 3169
  • Joined: 2007/03/05 22:23:43
  • Status: offline
2014/07/08 22:12:27 (permalink)

So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack?

The 3 kits that come with Sonar sound eh....plain for a lack of words.  Like they're on their way to sounding good...and maybe it's just the presets.  But I'd hope the presets would have been better.
Then the Fairfax seems like they started to get it right.  Also,....the OH mics seem like they're 6 inch from all the crash cymbals.
I only say that because creating beats with Toontrack Superior sets....and then playing the MIDI back with Addictive Drums...the OH volumes blow you out of your chair.
I'm trying hard to like AD, but dang, the new kits in EZD2 sound better to me. 
Btw...talking just contemporary pop/rock/classic, etc..

some tunes: --->        www.masonharwoodproject.bandcamp.com 
StudioCat i7 4770k 3.5gHz, 16 RAM,  Sonar Platinum, CD Arch 5.2, Steinberg UR-44
videos--->https://www.youtube.com/user/mixmkr
 
#1

12 Replies Related Threads

    Glyn Barnes
    Max Output Level: -0.3 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7564
    • Joined: 2009/06/10 05:12:31
    • Location: A Stone's Throw from the Line
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 00:52:26 (permalink)
    I was a bit underwhelmed by AD1, but in fairness I did upgrade to X3 around the same time as I got BFD3.
     
    I would not put too much score on different kit piece volumes between applications. Thats what the mixer is for. Also when using Midi for one drum application in another you need to check the mapping to ensure you are getting the appropriate articulations.

    Intel i7 3770K @4.4GHz, 32GB RAM, 240GB SSD System disk, 2 x 2TB and 1 x 1TB (with SSD Cache) HDD. Windows 10,  Sonar Platinum. Roland Quad Capture. 
    Music - Switchwater on Soundclick
    Music - Goldry Bluszco on Soundcloud
    #2
    gmon72
    Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1052
    • Joined: 2006/10/31 19:24:15
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 06:21:32 (permalink)
    The only AD kits I can use are the fairfax and velvet. I don't like any of the crashes though. The new AD2 engine isn't bad, but without the sounds to back it up BFD 3 and EZD2/SD2 are better overall choices IMHO as they have great engines and many great sounding expansions.
    #3
    cclarry
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 20964
    • Joined: 2012/02/07 09:42:07
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 08:08:02 (permalink)
    IMO, AD2 is far better soundwise then EZ2.  EZ2 uses the exact same samples
    that EZ1 did, you just get updated MIDI and Graphics.  Where EZ2 excels is
    in Song Writing...

    What you have to remember is, with AD2 you are free to add or take away 
    whatever effects are applied to the presets. In EZ2 you are not...nor are
    you free to make adjustments across the board in EZ2.  However they processed
    it is what you get, with minor adjustments on whatever effects THEY want you
    to be able to adjust.

    The Fairfax is quite nice...and ALL the samples in AD2 were updated.  


    I use EZ2 for song writing...then switch out to the drum sampler that fits bests.

    Nothing at the moment compares to BFD3....it is now in a league all on it's own.
    We'll see if Superior 3 or Slate 5 can catch up or exceed it...


    #4
    dcumpian
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4124
    • Joined: 2005/11/03 15:50:51
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 08:18:13 (permalink)
    I find that the AD kits are not as "record ready" as some others. In a way, that leaves me more mixing options.
     
    Regards,
    Dan

    Mixing is all about control.
     
    My music:
    http://dancumpian.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/dcumpian Studiocat Advanced Studio DAW (Intel i5 3550 @ 3.7GHz, Z77 motherboard, 16GB Ram, lots of HDDs), Sonar Plat, Mackie 1604, PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL, ESI 4x4 Midi Interface, Ibanez Bass, Custom Fender Mexi-Strat, NI S88, Roland JV-2080 & MDB-1, Komplete, Omnisphere, Lots o' plugins.    
    #5
    Guitarpima
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4125
    • Joined: 2005/11/19 23:53:59
    • Location: Terra 3
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 15:59:28 (permalink)
    I don't understand the comment about the OH mics making the cymbals to loud. That would be the case if you recorded real drums. You do realize you have complete control over every volume aspect, inside AD 1 and 2, for the individual pieces, the room mics and the overheads. I don't use the FX bus in AD but I'm pretty sure you can there as well.

    Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy.
     
     Win 7 x64  X2  Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3  ASUS ATI EAH5750  650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb  DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
    #6
    mixmkr
    Max Output Level: -43.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3169
    • Joined: 2007/03/05 22:23:43
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 22:31:08 (permalink)
    Guitarpima
    I don't understand the comment about the OH mics making the cymbals to loud. That would be the case if you recorded real drums. You do realize you have complete control over every volume aspect, inside AD 1 and 2, for the individual pieces, the room mics and the overheads. I don't use the FX bus in AD but I'm pretty sure you can there as well.


    I was finding the OH channel almost needed to be taken out of the mix, because of the excessive cymbal volume.  Therefore, they weren't really *available* to pick up any of the rest of the kit...like the mics were right on the cymbals and THAT was the focus totally, unlike having a split pair up a couple of feet, as an example.
    However, yes...pulling faders back is an easy task.  But the overall sound of AD was stopping me first, before small issues like this.

    some tunes: --->        www.masonharwoodproject.bandcamp.com 
    StudioCat i7 4770k 3.5gHz, 16 RAM,  Sonar Platinum, CD Arch 5.2, Steinberg UR-44
    videos--->https://www.youtube.com/user/mixmkr
     
    #7
    Guitarpima
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4125
    • Joined: 2005/11/19 23:53:59
    • Location: Terra 3
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 23:09:44 (permalink)
    You can adjust the cymbal level for the OHs as well as the room.

    Notation, the original DAW. Everything else is just rote. We are who we are and no more than another. Humans, you people are crazy.
     
     Win 7 x64  X2  Intel DX58SO, Intel i7 920 2.66ghz 12gb DDR3  ASUS ATI EAH5750  650w PSU 4x WD HDs 320gb  DVD, DVD RW Eleven Rack, KRK Rokit 8s and 10s sub
    #8
    michaelhanson
    Max Output Level: -40 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3529
    • Joined: 2008/10/31 15:19:56
    • Location: Mesquite, Texas
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 23:28:56 (permalink)
    "IMO, AD2 is far better soundwise then EZ2. EZ2 uses the exact same samples
    that EZ1 did, you just get updated MIDI and Graphics. Where EZ2 excels is
    in Song Writing..."

    I would actually like to see a more detailed explanation of this from Toontrack. In the May issue of SOS it states that the sound files are now 18 bit instead of the original 16 bit, and that 24 bit was considered. "The Designers considered using 24 bit libraries, but found no advantage over using 18 bit samples, which are dithered by the natural noise floor."

    Mike

    https://soundcloud.com/michaeljhanson
    https://www.facebook.com/michaeljhanson.music
    iTunes:
    https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/scandalous-grace/id1180730765
     
    Platinum Lifetime, Focusrite 8i6 & 2i4, Gibson LP, ES335, Fender Strat, 4003 Rickenbacker
    BMI
    #9
    Glyn Barnes
    Max Output Level: -0.3 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7564
    • Joined: 2009/06/10 05:12:31
    • Location: A Stone's Throw from the Line
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/09 23:48:25 (permalink)
    The kits supplied with EZ2 are new.

    Intel i7 3770K @4.4GHz, 32GB RAM, 240GB SSD System disk, 2 x 2TB and 1 x 1TB (with SSD Cache) HDD. Windows 10,  Sonar Platinum. Roland Quad Capture. 
    Music - Switchwater on Soundclick
    Music - Goldry Bluszco on Soundcloud
    #10
    cclarry
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 20964
    • Joined: 2012/02/07 09:42:07
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/10 06:47:35 (permalink)
    Glyn Barnes
    The kits supplied with EZ2 are new.



    While the STOCK kits that came with EZ2 are new, and may be 18 bit, all the others only
    received new MIDI and new graphics and are still 16 bit, and had their "info" changed so
    they would run in EZ2...but they are NOT new kits.


    #11
    cclarry
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 20964
    • Joined: 2012/02/07 09:42:07
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/10 08:47:04 (permalink)
    MakeShift
    "IMO, AD2 is far better soundwise then EZ2. EZ2 uses the exact same samples
    that EZ1 did, you just get updated MIDI and Graphics. Where EZ2 excels is
    in Song Writing..."

    I would actually like to see a more detailed explanation of this from Toontrack. In the May issue of SOS it states that the sound files are now 18 bit instead of the original 16 bit, and that 24 bit was considered. "The Designers considered using 24 bit libraries, but found no advantage over using 18 bit samples, which are dithered by the natural noise floor."


    Just to be clear, the update files that were supplied for my existing EZX's are just MIDI and UPDATE, which contains 
    the new Graphics and data to allow them to run in EZ2 Interface and engine...there are no new download files for the actual library that I'm aware of...at least I didn't have any, which, by the process of elimination, means that they are still using the same existing library samples @ 16 bit.

    So, if the EZ Libraries are new, I, too, would like to know how they did it with just an "Update" file that is 
    about 1/10th the size of the actual Library file...


    I could be seriously mistaken...but then, why wouldn't there be new downloads for the library itself?


    With AD2 I had to download entirely new Library files.  



    post edited by cclarry - 2014/07/10 08:49:54


    #12
    SvenArne
    Max Output Level: -48 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2719
    • Joined: 2007/01/31 12:51:29
    • Location: Trondheim, Norway
    • Status: offline
    Re: So...did AD drums start getting good with the Fairfax Vol 1 ad pack? 2014/07/10 10:00:33 (permalink)
    cclarry
    MakeShift
    "IMO, AD2 is far better soundwise then EZ2. EZ2 uses the exact same samples
    that EZ1 did, you just get updated MIDI and Graphics. Where EZ2 excels is
    in Song Writing..."

    I would actually like to see a more detailed explanation of this from Toontrack. In the May issue of SOS it states that the sound files are now 18 bit instead of the original 16 bit, and that 24 bit was considered. "The Designers considered using 24 bit libraries, but found no advantage over using 18 bit samples, which are dithered by the natural noise floor."


    Just to be clear, the update files that were supplied for my existing EZX's are just MIDI and UPDATE, which contains 
    the new Graphics and data to allow them to run in EZ2 Interface and engine...there are no new download files for the actual library that I'm aware of...at least I didn't have any, which, by the process of elimination, means that they are still using the same existing library samples @ 16 bit.

    So, if the EZ Libraries are new, I, too, would like to know how they did it with just an "Update" file that is 
    about 1/10th the size of the actual Library file...


    I could be seriously mistaken...but then, why wouldn't there be new downloads for the library itself?


    With AD2 I had to download entirely new Library files.  






    Yes, the EZX's samples are the same. The "basic" kits (Modern and Vintage) are new though, and IMHO better sounding and more accomplished than any EZX made so far.





    #13
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1