How to hold multiple drum kits in RAM for live performance

[Kevin Bryan]

Clearly VSTs in general, and SD3 in particular provide much better sounds than most drum modules. And when configured properly, can also provide a dynamic and realistic playing experience when used with responsive pads in a live situation. However, one thing that a module can do better than my MacBook Pro is instant loading of new kits from one song to the next. When I perform live, its nice to use different kits for different songs. When I try to change my kits in SD3 with my MacBook Pro I have no choice but to wait for the new kit to load into RAM. I can’t afford the time to wait for the kit to load between songs. I need a solution that allows a quick instantaneous drum kit load.

So one possibility is for me to start multiple copies of SD3 to run on my laptop with a different kit pre-loaded on each copy. This way I can switch between the different kits with no delay. But I can’t seem to figure any way to run multiple copies of SD3 simultaneously.

Is there a way to do this? Or, failing that, is there another way to pre-load multiple kits and switch between them instantaneously while on stage?

Thanks,

 

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

Topic

[Shootie]

If you’re willing to hit 2 buttons in between each song, use a DAW. Have as many instances as your computer can handle. Simply, un-solo once instance and solo the next between songs.

I couldn’t imagine figuring this out in Standalone mode.

EZD3 Tutorials | EZBass Tutorials | Toontrack themed FB Group | Toontrack themed Discord Group

[Brad]

For live performance, look at Gig Performer, it should do exactly what you need.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Big Sur (11)

Mac Studio M1 Max, RAM 64 GB, 1TB Drive, OSX 12.x/13.x and Windows 10 (VM)
DAW: Studio One Pro (always up to date)
DTX Express III (Extreme triggers), Nektar LX88
OWC Thunderbay Mini (4 X 1TB Sata SSD), Express 4M2 (4 X 2TB M.2 SSD), Envoy Express (1TB M.2 SSD)
Presonus Quantum, Faderport & Faderport 8
Black Lion Sparrow Mk2 A/D, FMR-RNP-RNC, MIDI Xpress 128, BM5A, KRK VXT4, Equator D5
2020 Macbook Pro 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Audio(mobile rig)

[Ilja Körrer]

Hi, my tip is to use gigperformer. I use it and you are able to load several instances which ca be recalled by midi if you like. You can set up complete shows if you like. Great tool!!!! And it is really quick, no boting loading times. Just give it a try.  As far as i know you can check it for a short period for free.

Cheers, Ilja

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.4
Operating system: macOS Mojave (10.14)

[MulletOver80s]

I have GP4 and SD3, but the SD3 plug-in still takes a few seconds to load the new drum kit when changing songs. It worked fine with AmpliTube but not SD3.

Operating system: macOS Big Sur (11)

[Lobstafari]

I have a gig performer file with only one rackspaces because I run so much shit in there, when I start to copy this madness into another rackspace it can take forever to load.  I run 3 instances of SD3(trap kit 32 out, trap kit 2 out, roland spd-sx), two singers with fx, backing tracks, and then a ton of routing from SD3 to all sorts of delays and reverb, etc. most the effects are mapped to my Akai midi controller so I can get real nuts in real time.

I save the “snapshot” of this one rackpsace for each song in my setlist, but if I have to change kits, I have SD3 open and I manually change to a different user preset.  I wish there was a way to set a macro so that you could cycle through user kits, then I could map the macro to a widget and set that widget to the preset of the song and it would change. Otherwise I’m sort of stuck, I don’t like changing manually changing kits, but when I duplicate this rackspace 4 times, the project takes 1:07 to load on a M1 with 64GB RAM vs. 0:16 with only 1 rackspace.

I get that the ideal scenario is 1 rackspace per each unique drumset, so maybe the approach is do that for now and use global rackspace where possible to reduce the quantity of plugins…

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

TD50 > Midi cable > Motu Mk4 > M1max Macbook Pro 64GB ram > Mac OS Monterey > SD3
SPD-SX, PD14-DS, VH14, CY-18DR, KD-80, Roland Pads/Cymbals

[Ilja Körrer]

Hi,

you could use several instances of GigPerformer 😉

https://gigperformer.com/how-to-use-multiple-instances-in-gig-performer-4/

Cheers!!!

• This post was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Ilja Körrer.

[MJWoeb1962]

I’m just curious how and why you are jumping through all these hoops? If you are live with a front house mixer constantly changing drum sets will have them constantly chasing a good mix. The benefit you hear in your monitors is probably not improving the main house sound but detracting from it… unless you are automating every nuance of the drum mix… but that still creates a mess with every room sounding different and your drums will be booms, hollow, thin and thick with every kit change.

SD3, EZBass, EZKeys, Roland TD-50X, Tama Starclassic.

[Lobstafari]

I get that with a front of house sound, changing kits on the fly the sound won’t not work and the soundman gonna be like wtf, whats happening. Absoloutley right, bad mix probably guaranteed.

But in my case, I have a zoom L20 mixer. It allows me to save my presets, and then I have a good soundsystem. I play through that all the time so I’m developing good mixes for these different kits. I even have a welded stage that allows me to forklift my whole setup one time, so I literally move everything at once. my insta is @lobstafari

But the problem is not the mix, its switching kits in SD3.

TD50 > Midi cable > Motu Mk4 > M1max Macbook Pro 64GB ram > Mac OS Monterey > SD3
SPD-SX, PD14-DS, VH14, CY-18DR, KD-80, Roland Pads/Cymbals

[Rod Simpson]

Maybe this will work and maybe not but it does for me. I have 16 separate VST drumsets set up in Ableton Live and have set up a feature called auto-arm.  I also mapped each of the Ableton using the midi map function.  Youi just send a midi note through a free program called LoopMidi into Ableton and it automatically selects the drumset and arms the clip (which has an associated SD3 VST). and your ready to play.

 

Hope that helps?

…Rod

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: Windows 11

[Bearster]

Yes. This is what I do, too. I load four or five kits in Ableton Live (separate channels and SD3 plugins) so that everything is loaded and just switch the arming when I change kits. I haven’t connected a footswitch, but I could. The trick is having a laptop with enough power and RAM. I use an M1 MacBook pro with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.4.0
Operating system: macOS Sonoma (14)

Muzzio Element 2 with Jobeky cymbals. Roland TD-30, SD3, Ableton, FocusRight Scarlett i4i, Alesis Strike 12 amps.

[Author]

Replies