Hi all
tough question I know so let me try to narrow it down a little. By Best I mean........

1. sounds great
2. easy to use
3. easy to programme quickly for a non drummer
4. has the ability to closely approximate a human drummer

I am a fan of SD3 - sort of meets the criteria above but some of the subtleties (did i really just say subtleties) of a drumming type person are difficult to emulate (stick bounce, tempo variation (unintentional, minimal ), etc.)


I think a good proportion of respondents might say prv but i am a guitarist so inherently lazy if it doesn't involve guitars :-) and take the view that life is too short. In my world prv is for laser surgery to fix problems not a creation tool.

so, having (probably) insulted drummers, guitarists and uncle tom cobley and all, does anyone have any suggestions please

thank you

C

Hi chudson,
I´m using toontrack´s Superior drummer and session drummer 3.
  Really like the natural sound of the Superioir drummer.It´s really easy to create natural sounding drums with it.The session drummer`s  
Old Zep kit and Andy Johns kits are a gift. 
Good luck
Pragi

Given your criteria I'd say either BFD2 or Superior Drummer would NOT be what you need.
Both involve a lot of time and effort and have steep learning curves for a non drummer.

You haven't said what type of music you are trying to create and that can be a major factor but you do say you're a guitarist so it could be jazz, jazz funk, punk, post punk, indie, reggae, ska, folk, blues and erm.....whatever.

I just spent the morning listening to Steven Slates SSD4 and have to say that for out of the box sounds that are mostly of the rock and metal variety I've not heard anything better.
He claims to cover hundreds of genres in his video but having listened to all 87 of his demo's on line I say that's just bollox.

Still you can pick up his essential collection (light version) for $20 from Audiomidi which I just did so you're not really losing much if you decide it's not for you.

Steve

I'm a newbie, and I'm liking EZ drummer. It was also easy for my real drummer to hook up his Octapad and use it for a midi controller. Sounds great and has a small learning curve.

There's a bunch of discussion in a current thread here, for more perspective - http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2638283 I think EZ Drummer or Session Drummer might make the most sense for you, I know EZD more than SD3, and it provides good sounds that have already been processed enough to sit in a lot lot mixes without too much more tweaking. I really like superior drummer, but it is much more complex in terms of what you can do, and you do have to mix what amounts to the raw drum mics from a full kit to get your final sound.

Also keep in mind the possibility of purchasing midi tracks that you can drop into a midi channel that activates the drums. This might be worth checking out as well;-) @clintmartin: seen the pics of the new A.D. episodes coming up? Excitiiiing!!!

I use Addictive drums mainly but I suppliment with either BFD eco or Session drummer that came with X1PE.

It really doesn't matter what we think because it's all subjective. You have to go with what you think sounds good.

Guitarpima


     It really doesn't matter what we think because it's all subjective. You have to go with what you think sounds good.

With all due respect I'd say you were kind of right but if what we thought didn't matter then the OP wouldn't be asking so it matters to him/her.


Steve

NI Battery 3.  You chose your own samples.  ;>

Try smartloops in session...very easy sampled drumlits and loops,
www.smartloops.com and they will provide live drummers for your songs if needed.