You can of course down load the BFD3 demo if you haven't already.
 
It's on the BFD3 info page on the right hand side.
 
It does, "as you would expect" have some major limitations with regards to velocity layers, 16bit and very much reduced articulations on snare and hi-hat in particular but it still gives you a good idea of the power of it's features.
 
I haven't bought any expansion since using BFD3 but since I already had quite a few as well as BFD2 I'm pretty good for a while.
 
As for Superior Drummer 3, one of the Toontrack guys was on the KVR forum last year saying there were no plans whatsoever for a Superior Drummer 3 which I found very baffling.
 
I'll see if I can find the thread
 
Steve

Have used BFD3 in other studios. I have BFD Eco. AD2 gets some use here and there. Hardly ever use it. My main goto always seems to be SD2! I, too, have purchased many of the EZ kits and they work seamlessly in SD2 with more features to control to boot. IMO, the cymbals sound better in a mix with SD2 than BFD but everyone hears differently. Your choice also should be based on what type of music your doing as well. In my project studio I work very closely with songwriters of every genre. I have to have as many options as I can because we never know what will come along. I have AD2 and occasionally there will be a project where nothing else sounds better for the song than AD2. The niggle that I have with BFD is the samples seem a little top harsh sometimes. I almost picked up the Steven Slate when it went on sell a while back but I have so many drum kits now I feel it would be redundant as far as sounds and spending more money. SD2 has served me fantastically over the last 5 or 6 years and I will patiently wait to pounce on SD3 when it comes along!

Superior Drummer 3 should come with a  new version of EZ Player Pro and it should have the great browsing and song building functions of EZ Drummer 2. I will be looking for the blowout prices on SD 2 then buy the SD 3 uppdate/upgrade.

BassDaddy
Superior Drummer 3 should come with a  new version of EZ Player Pro and it should have the great browsing and song building functions of EZ Drummer 2. I will be looking for the blowout prices on SD 2 then buy the SD 3 uppdate/upgrade.

What info do you have that Superior drummer 3 is even being planned let alone imminent?
Have done a google search and all I can see is speculation, most of which is last year and older.
 
 
Steve

gmon72
If you are going with BFD and like rock music get the platinum samples evil drums if still 56 at musiciansfriend if you can.
Stock bfd3 kits sound great too.

Thanks for the tip - just picked up that expansion at what appears to be a HUGE bargain! :)

I'm trying to think of anything that SD2 lacks that a version 3 might address. It already gives you a ridiculous amount of control over bleeds and mic positions, and it has outstanding built-in effects. I'd like to be able to hide unused mixer channels, but that's about the only missing feature I can think of asking for.
 
The biggest downside to SD2 versus BFD and Slate is that the samples are minimally processed, meaning it's more like mixing real drum recordings and takes a bit more time. Slate just sounds great out of the box with no fuss. But what some may consider a downside, I consider a big plus. Maybe I'm just a control freak, I dunno.

A lot to think about. I plan on keeping EZD2 and AD2...In a lot of ways SD2 makes a lot of since. I'm not sure how well EZD2 works with BFD3? Being able to drag and drop the midi patterns back and forth would be nice.

clintmartin
A lot to think about. I plan on keeping EZD2 and AD2...In a lot of ways SD2 makes a lot of since. I'm not sure how well EZD2 works with BFD3? Being able to drag and drop the midi patterns back and forth would be nice.

Try the demo before deciding, it won't cost you anything and there are plenty of people here who can help and loads of on line tutorials so it shouldn't be too hard to get your head around.
 
I'm not a fan of SD2 whatsoever, don't like the mixer/interface and the sounds are thin clicky and insipid to my ears but that's just me.

clintmartin
A lot to think about. I plan on keeping EZD2 and AD2...In a lot of ways SD2 makes a lot of since. I'm not sure how well EZD2 works with BFD3? Being able to drag and drop the midi patterns back and forth would be nice.

As long as you have the right maps it's no problem...

cclarry

clintmartin
A lot to think about. I plan on keeping EZD2 and AD2...In a lot of ways SD2 makes a lot of since. I'm not sure how well EZD2 works with BFD3? Being able to drag and drop the midi patterns back and forth would be nice.

As long as you have the right maps it's no problem...

Not if the velocity layers are vastly different between the two. IIRC many BFD3 kits have up to far greater velocity layers than EZD2 and so MID that recorded for EZD2 may not com across the same in BFD3.
 
OBO (Only Bapu's Opinion).