My latest article and video on VST drums. I touch on similarities between VST Drum programs and the different methods used to record them. http://www.recordinghound.com/?p=397
  

Very useful article.  Thanks for sharing.  I would somewhat disagree on the cons regarding loops because it only pertains to those who limit using loops to simply using them as-is but sped up or slowed down. genres like drum and bass that have found infinite ways dissect the "amen" loop.  Even in genres known for using loops like hip-hop, loops are often chopped up into kit components instead of played straight through. Some may ask why bother to make a drum kit from a loop instead of simply making a drumkit from fresh samples? There are many reasons. Try playing a loop of James Brown's Funky Drummer and have a drummer play that same loop.  If you are lucky enough to have access to a kit that sounds close AND have a drummer create the exact same sound qualities it would be a miracle.  Anyway, in retrospect it's not so much that i disagree, since obviously, what you wrote could come to pass. I think it's more of an addendum.  Loops can be limiting, but they don't have to be.

I agree Dub...Much more could have been said about loops. In the future I hope to cover that in more detail. Like I mentioned in another thread I won't be as visible here in terms of my site...but I'll still be around :)

I look forward to future articles!

Good start Tim. I look forward to a more in-depth discussion on this topic, it's one of the things I really struggle with, putting a great drum track to an original song. I think what I'm after is a master class in creating killer drum tracks. It seems to take me hours of work to get something that only vaguely sounds like it was played by a real drummer, rather than just a few loops that only change over the chorus or middle 8. I always seem to end up with drums that sound too robotic and not enough human touch within the basic rhythm. Is it an hours long process for everyone? Are there quick, easy shortcuts you can use to make it hard for the listener to tell whether you've used software?

Thanks Rebel! 
 
One of the things that has really helped me in finding the right rhythm has been drag and drop simplicity in moving loops and having an audible browser preview.After that it comes down to midi editing. Even with those tools it can sometimes be tough to find something that works in a way that jives with a song. I'm sure some artists create songs with the bass and drums first as opposed to having a melody.This is one example of a song I did based on a rhythm https://soundcloud.com/starise/dirty-dog-2  I did this with BFD 2 and gave the drums an airy sound with the overheads mic setting sends in BFD. I varied it slightly by adding and deleting elements within the drum midi. This is jazzy, but it works with all genres that use drums. 
 
Search features go a long way toward getting a search closer, but sometimes close isn't good enough, especially if you have something in mind already and are trying to find a midi loop to match with it. I've spent hours looking and still not really found a loop I liked and other times it happens within the first 5 minutes.
 
In the programs I mentioned you can preview your song and hear the loop you choose playing along from your loop browser, so you aren't held to a decision if you decide you don't like a loop.
 
Depending on your material, it may not be easy or quick. There are companies out there that specialize in unusual drum midi patterns. Odd Grooves come to mind.I have some of their patterns in my library, but even then the beats can be too odd to fit.
 
Many drum midi loops are played by a real drummer and his emphasis in velocity is transferred to the kit fairly well...so in that case the loops are not usually mechanical sounding, but if they are you can play with the velocity in the midi....and one of the strengths of Sonar is decent midi editing. Lots of folks dread working in a piano roll though, but I think a lot of that is attributed the perception that it might get too technical. In the case of velocity....simply grabbing the velocity and dragging it up or down does the trick.
 
If I were trying to add loops to a song I already had  a melody for I would play to a click track in my chosen tempo and then look at genre specific grooves. If I couldn't find one that fit, then second my choice would be to modify an existing groove that I think is close. It can involve hours if you're picky about your drums. On the other hand, if you're not extremely picky and you are playing say, straight up rock and roll, then things can be much easier....unless you agonize over the finer nuances of a particular kit piece. 
 
If you play only one genre and you've found a drum program and kit you really like, make a template and the next time all that work is already done. Not too long ago Cakewalk had some pre made templates for free download...They might still be available, really a handy thing if you have found something you can live with across a lot of your material. 
 
Good luck Rebel, I hope you find what you're after.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nice, Tim.
I'd like to focus for a moment on what you mentioned about drum VST's accepting MIDI input.
They are generally very responsive to MIDI input. As you mentioned, a MIDI keyboard will suffice, but a MIDI drum kit is really nice for those who want to roll their own. I have assembled this kit around the fairly inexpensive Alesis DM6.
Additions include the Alesis Control Pad and a Simmons 9" kick pad( to accommodate the double kicker pedals).
This is really just a glorified controller, as it sends the same MIDI notes as a keyboard. But it is much more satisfying.

Thanks Tim, there was great information in your post and it kind of confirms my suspicions of creating "just the right" drum track.
My preferred method of producing a song is almost always creating the melody and lyrics first. Either I have a melody that comes to me while I'm playing notes or chords on the piano/keyboard, or I get a lyric that suggests a melody/chord pattern. The rhythm may suggest itself, but it is just that, a rhythm, not a drum track per se. So I always seem find myself hunting through midi tracks, trying to find a pattern that matches a song that already has quite a defined rhythm.
I've found Addictive Drums to be a great asset, the patterns are realistic and it's an interesting exercise hunting through those patterns for a match. The options of varying the patterns is a real plus, as I can change drum tones, individual drum patterns, and single drum accents, very simply while playing the song.
 
The negative is, it's never "just right", and you've confirmed my suspicion that I will have to spend a deal of time editing to get it exactly the way it needs to be. I have no problem getting my hands on the PRV, and the more I use it the quicker I am finding the work flow needed. I just thought (hoped) there might be some magic method that other users have that makes this process a little simpler.
I guess there is nothing that replaces hard work. Songs sometimes write themselves, but mostly they require perseverance and attention to detail.
My alternative method is to play in the basic kick, snare and HH pattern on a midi keyboard, and then add in the cymbals and toms via the PRV later and this sometimes works well.
 
Thanks again for starting this thread, I do look forward to any tips or tricks that make this particular part of my songwriting effort a little simpler and less of a chore. (Although it's not really a chore, I enjoy working and attaining that end product)

Robert, I wish I had the room for a midi drum kit in my space.
 
That looks like a bangin' setup there! You are a few steps ahead if you play drums and have a setup like that. I'd take that over midi loops any day IF I could drum. The fact that it's an old Alesis kit probably doesn't matter,especially if you aren't using the Alesis sounds. 
 
Rebel...I wish there was an easier way. I would much rather find what I want right from the start. Drums seem uncomplicated on the surface....a bass drum holding everything down and usually a share and a cymbal, after that it depends on how elaborate you want it to be in adding the rest. I know people who can program killer loops in minutes or play in a nice loop faster than I can think about it. The nice thing about it is, there are so many different ways to get there :) Good luck!

I currently use the Roland TD 11 kit and usually use AD for sounds.  The drummers that come over love the mesh pads.  If I could only find great sounding cymbal samples....