Topic: Real to Reel SDX

Participant

I was hoping someone else would make a more detailed review of the SDX that I could just tack on a few quick thoughts to, but oh well.

At first I thought I was going to be a bit disappointed with this SDX and was expecting to have to go looking for my closest SDX Addicts Anonymous and sort myself out, but have actually really enjoyed my time with it so far.

I’ve never heard of Kevin Killen and am not particularly a fan of any of the artists in his or the studio’s discography (they are mostly just before my time), although I do have respect for many of them. Firstly, what I don’t like.

Usually having only 1 set of cymbals per room would be a deal breaker for me unless it was an Area 33 type deal with 57 already setup to choose from. Yet this SDX even only has 2 normal crashes for the 2 bigger sets. While I find them to be a bit restrictive, I would like some options between the bright and dark choices, they sound good and are well recorded etc.

I’d also usually like some more and creative presets. The included ones are good, but not very varied. I do like using presets as starting points for creative inspiration. And no Toontrack presets? Have they ever been added in a later update?

Otherwise, the drum kits sound great with one of the best varieties I’ve heard in that I find them all rather distinct but usable. Except for the ye olde/whacky/goofy/creative kits, but thats on me for not getting out of my comfort zone and I’m still glad they’re included. The inclusions of some percussion with most SDX’s lately is also appreciated. The cowbells and tambourines etc fit so much nicer/easier in with kits.

But the snares… wow. They are mostly tuned up higher like I like (I still like the Big Softie and Gretsch Brooklyn though), and again the variety yet usability of them all awesome. But mainly the sampling seem next level. In that it sounds the closest yet to having 127 actually different velocity hits. Doing a slow crescendo roll has never sounded so smooth. No hint of samples changing velocity levels that I could hear. And the capture of lightest to hardest hits also seem perfect to me. Sometimes I’ve found the softest samples too loud for ghost notes and the hardest either too soft (eg. core library) or too hard (eg.Rock Foundry). Probably appropriate for whatever genre of SDX but not universally useful.

But this, ghost notes and ruffs sound great. Buzz rolls probably would if I could do them better. And the hardest hits sound like I would expect. The rimshots also sound more natural to me. Perhaps previously they tended to be a bit shallow? Having those as seperate articulations is a nice addition. I’ve just never enjoyed noodling around on a virtual snare as much as this. If this is a benefit from less cymbal samples, I get their length takes more space, I can kind of get behind it.

In general I’ve never had such a frictionless experience getting a nice sound going on a new SDX, having a few beers and playing along to some random drumless songs on youtube. Just some compression on each multi out and the choice of room mics *chefs kiss*. Not that it sounded like whatever songs drums would have, but it still sounded good. I did get and used the LED compressor from Purafied’s crazy bundle giveaway/discount at the same time but as good as those plugins are, it’s not what makes this SDX so nice sounding.

My ears aren’t good enough to wax lyrical about the qualities of the tape samples but I think it’s a good idea and differentiator from other SDX’s and will probably default to them. I could almost say in general it’s too dry. But the the further ambient mics give enough to me and I’d rather add reverb or room sim/IR’s than try to take it away.

Well I’ve had the beers now but not the playing. Great job on this one TT team. The snares are a particular highlight but everything else is up to the usual great standard.

Cheers.

SD3 with Real to Reel, Fields of Rock, Drum Factory, Death and Darkness, Legacy of Rock, Hitmaker, Stories, State of the Art, Decades, Stockholm, Jazz Sessions, Hansa, Rock Foundry, Area 33 (in order of preference). Plus a few older SDX's and EZX's.
Into: Reaper with Ryzen 5700x, 32GB RAM and assorted SSD's.
Through: Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 Gen2 USB Audio Interface
From: eDRUMin 10 + eDRUMin 8 with assorted Roland and Yamaha pads.

Thanked by: tgfoyl1472_1, Korken and rixa

Real to Reel SDX

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