Funkybot


In terms of best practices I have three drives I use:

C:\ Program files/Operating System
D:\ Cakewalk Audio Files
E:\ Samples

This way, no one drive is getting overtaxed regardless of what I"m doing.

John, the above is how I have mine also. I would say this above ^ is definitely one of the best tips for BFD 2 and any other sampler you may be using. The other thing is, if you are using BFD in 24 bit mode, you can switch to 16 bit mode by ticking the box on your options. There is no sound difference and your sample loads will be cut in half. I've done extensive testing in both 24 and 16 bit modes with it....if the difference is there somewhere, my ears sure can't pick it up. :)
 
-Danny

jkleban


if BFD2 is missing one thing that I find required is that they don't have many articulations for their kit pieces (I hope that they address this in BFD3).



Jim

Interesting. In my opinion, this is where BFD shines the most.

Hi Hats alone have 12 articulations, most cymbals have 2 or 3, even some toms have 2 or 3, snares can have as many as 5 or 6

Compare the articulations in BFD to say Addictive Drums or Abbey Road drums... then you will see many articulations and that's what I am talking about.  For TOM fills, there is NO off center hits (you know, the hits that have that POP sound of a TOM fill. The ones that give the accent... not there in BFD2... but is in the other mentioned programs.  This isn't the only example of where more articulations are lacking... but like I said, the approach was limited by RAM management of the day... these more modern programs don't have the same design limitations and BFD chose to have very many velocities which sounds very realistic.  It was a trade off IMHO.

But, being a BFD2 fan, like it has been said, one drum program over another drum program is where you need to use the right tool for the job.  Example, in Abbey Road drums, I can't do a realistic snare drum roll that starts with soft hits and works it way to loud hits because there isn't enough velocity layers as compared to BFD2.

But if you like the number of articulations in BFD2, then great... I wish that there were more.

Jim

It'll be interesting to see what BFD3 brings to the table

Hmm
The only articulations you don't get with the stock BFD2 kits are for the toms as you pointed out. 
And as jonesy pointed out, hats have up to 12, and snares have 5 or 6, kicks have 2 and most cymbals have 2 while some have 3. (I think)

I agree with regards to the toms lacking in that department, you'd think with 10 complete kits at least a couple of tom sets would have rim and rim click articulations. The expansion packs do have them but that's not how it should be.


Steve

I think the Dunnetts have 3, if you're still on the fence..................

Bristol_Jonesey


I think the Dunnetts have 3, if you're still on the fence..................

You mean me sitting on the fence? I've listened to the demo and I like it but what I heard didn't sound too versatile? 
All the demo's, and there are only 3" are using the amp channel, would be nice to hear the kit without it. 
I wish they wouldn't have music in the demo's 

I'll get the dunnett kit if you get the cocktail, apart from the 8 bit kit it's one of my favourite expansions as it very versatile especially for it's size. + it's one of the cheapest

Steve

Glad to hear it Jbow Just as a word of warning, BFD2 like superior drummer isn't really for people that want drums that sound polished out of the box, it's for people who want to do their own polishing. Having said that there are presets included that come in different genres but there aren't as many as addictive drums but many more than ezdrummer. I'm only saying this because some people have complained that it doesn't sound like the drums they here on the records they like which to my mind is probably a good thing Steve

 
They do have some presets that are already polished (which have compression, gates etc already applied).  Great starting point!  It is an amazing program.
 
A few vids to check out if you are not familiar with BFD2
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzgA6HVtu10
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0oEN3P73pk
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eYk-BZNnR4

Twaddle,

Just trying to point out what I think the weak points of BFD2 are (which are nothing more than my opinion) but with that said, when you go an MAP a kit piece articulation to a note, you may find that the articulation is listed as an option but there is NONE to load. Don't remember if it is greyed out or just doesn't load for it has been awhile since I have created custom drum maps for BFD2.

But for me, the toms (and maybe some cymbal hits) are very important for my work to have many realistic variations... check out all the artics for the hihats in Abbey Road if you want to see a huge potential list.... but even with all these, I still miss a tight closed hi hat HIT with a loose closed hi hat HIT... they sound totally different and yet most sets don't give you both options.

With all this said, todays options are a huge advance for drum sample programs as compared to only a few years ago.

So, I use BFD2 for drum tracks but not all the time and not for all kit pieces.... works for me.  Like I said, the GEN 16 packs are tops and the best cymbal samples I have every heard or used.

Jim

@Jim, you could try layering a closed hat with a 1/4  or 1/2 closed tip (or shank) - that should give you what you want.

@Steve - I might just have a look at the Cocktail kit, you can never have too many drums!!