what exactly do you get when you get AD2?

I am downloading X3 tonight to take advantage of the upgrade goodies like Addictive Drums 2 Melodyne and the Blue plugs.
What exactly do you get when you get "the full version" of addictive Drums 2? Are there "a lot" of patterns and kits, or do you just get a taste and need to buy add on packs right out of the gate in order to really utilize it?
Not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there is nothing more irritating than getting a "freebie" that you have to sink money into as soon as you get it  in order to REALLY decide if you like it. I want to download and start playing around with it right away.

orangesporanges
I am downloading X3 tonight to take advantage of the upgrade goodies like Addictive Drums 2 Melodyne and the Blue plugs.
What exactly do you get when you get "the full version" of addictive Drums 2? Are there "a lot" of patterns and kits, or do you just get a taste and need to buy add on packs right out of the gate in order to really utilize it?
Not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but there is nothing more irritating than getting a "freebie" that you have to sink money into as soon as you get it  in order to REALLY decide if you like it. I want to download and start playing around with it right away.

Dont worry, its confusing.  I spent alot of time reading over the xlnaudio site and the problem is that its not clear which version of AD2 ships with Sonar.
 
The AD2 line has: solo (1 adpak), artist (2 adpaks), and producer (3 adpaks).
 
No where on the xln site does it say that the pop/rock/prog kits are standard with all of them, but it may be.  So either the Cakewalk AD2 is:
 
1) A lower tier without any adpaks (lower than solo).
2) The producer tier with 3 adpaks that you dont get to choose, or
3) The producer tier with 3 "trial" adpaks that will go away at some point and render the plugin useless.
 
My guess is that it appears to be "2" above - a version of Producer that ships with 3 adpaks that you don't get to pick.

I owned AD1 before X3... saw the promo, went to the site and still can't figure out what changed from AD1 to AD2?
 
Just some more effects and new MIDI files?  If so, not for me... now, if they have added some more drum samples or new kits, I might be interested.  I simply love the JAZZ kit with sticks.
 
Jim

Thanks all,
So it gives you some things to work with, then you can get more on your own dime, right?
 Well I'm a "funky jazz" kind of guy, so I will inevitably have to go out there and browse. At least I get something to cut my teeth on. I was leery because I got Sampletank with BIAB and it barely had any instruments in it. It's like handing you a shiny, empty beer bottle. "We'll sell you beer to put in it though". Thanks

orangesporanges
Thanks all,
So it gives you some things to work with, then you can get more on your own dime, right?
 Well I'm a "funky jazz" kind of guy, so I will inevitably have to go out there and browse. At least I get something to cut my teeth on. I was leery because I got Sampletank with BIAB and it barely had any instruments in it. It's like handing you a shiny, empty beer bottle. "We'll sell you beer to put in it though". Thanks

There are two great programs recently released.  EZDrummer2 and Addictive Drums 2.  
 
I have been working with EZD2 more and its strengths are its clip modification tools. 
 
Addictive Drums 2 strength seems to be its kit modification tools.  Its like AD2 went in the direction of Superior and EZD2 went in a new direction.  
 
EZD2 Bridges the gap between playing your own grooves and having them played by a professional.  You tap out or import the groove you have worked out and EZD2 suggests similar patterns played by pro drummers, with all the articulations, etc.  This is the missing link.  Everyone cna hear the basic beat in their head but don't have the creativity or talent to really make their ideas sing.  Once you replace your midi clips with the pro clips you can make slight adjustments to them to fit the song.
 
 
My Demo expires in the next hour;  I'm going to have to buy it.  Hopefully I can map the EZD midi clips into AD2 so I can swap out the kits.
 

jkleban
Well... just for your complete research, I will say that BFD3's new kits are absolutely the most realistic drum kits released to date (I have a ton of them).  The vintage GRETSCH kit (purple) that comes with BFD3 is a super "live" sounding kit with all kinds of articulations and room mics.  Very realistic MIDI drum tracks possible.
 
Like I mentioned earlier, the AD PAK of the modern JAZZ kit (sticks) are also very, very good.

FYI - John Emmerich was half of the team that worked on the BFD samples. His work is always excellent; however I particularly like what he did with Zildjian's Gen16 Digital Vault of cymbal samples. My father was a jazz drummer, so I grew up knowing what cymbals sound like and John's are the best I've heard. To my ears, his sampled cymbals capture the openness and air of real cymbals.

jkleban
 is it worth the upgrade to AD2 (down to the wire on price timing for the update)?
 

It is not like it won't go on sale or maybe be bundled with a future version of SONAR.