David Kennedy
Hi everyone
Ive been using SD3 with Pro Tools for around 3 years and am very happy with it. Im a strong musician but not a strong producer/engineer. I had engaged an engineer to teach me the basics and have since released a double CD using SD3 and have had every song played on free community radio, which has been a great testing space.
However, Im sure there’s more I could done to make my drums sound better, even though i took the finals into a studio for some basic mastering. I still only ran them onto one track in PT and didn’t buss them out but they seemed to sound ok to my ears.
I have a few questions: (sorry)
WhenI purchased SD3, what bundles (if any) came with it? I don’t want to double up if I buy new bundles?
When I listen to the drum bundles on the website (Rock Foundry for example) they sound amazing. Is that how we get them or do they have to be produced to sound like that?
When I purchased SD3, it took almost 5 days to download. These bundles are huge too, is it another case of a massive download?
Lastly will they automatically go into my drum files?
Although I love the massive choice available, there’s really only a couple of kits that I would use that will cover all music for me. I took the Beatles approach. In other words, that wrote great songs and were very versatile using on kit, bass and a couple of amps. It was more trying to capture the moment and make the band sound live and together, not fantastic production skills. Not disrespecting Mr Martin either btw lol )
Thank you and sorry for the multiple questions.
Cheers
Dave
Hi everyone
Ive been using SD3 with Pro Tools for around 3 years and am very happy with it. Im a strong musician but not a strong producer/engineer. I had engaged an engineer to teach me the basics and have since released a double CD using SD3 and have had every song played on free community radio, which has been a great testing space.
However, Im sure there’s more I could done to make my drums sound better, even though i took the finals into a studio for some basic mastering. I still only ran them onto one track in PT and didn’t buss them out but they seemed to sound ok to my ears.
I have a few questions: (sorry)
WhenI purchased SD3, what bundles (if any) came with it? I don’t want to double up if I buy new bundles?
When I listen to the drum bundles on the website (Rock Foundry for example) they sound amazing. Is that how we get them or do they have to be produced to sound like that?
When I purchased SD3, it took almost 5 days to download. These bundles are huge too, is it another case of a massive download?
Lastly will they automatically go into my drum files?
Although I love the massive choice available, there’s really only a couple of kits that I would use that will cover all music for me. I took the Beatles approach. In other words, that wrote great songs and were very versatile using on kit, bass and a couple of amps. It was more trying to capture the moment and make the band sound live and together, not fantastic production skills. Not disrespecting Mr Martin either btw lol )
Thank you and sorry for the multiple questions.
Cheers
Dave
drumjack52Hi Jordan
Ive managed to send a couple of tracks to you through FB Messenger. They are pre mastering and went to a studio to be mastered prior to pressing. I realise they sound ‘dull’ and that’s the point I’m trying to make.
I’m looking at buying some bundles to hopefully get a better result as i have limited production and mastering skills.
Cheers
David
You’re looking at this in the wrong way and putting it on the drums when it may not be that. You really need to learn production skills. To help with that take a look at courses offered by Groove 3. They’re not free but worth the time and money. Another source to look at is David Gnozzi’s channel (MixBus TV) on YouTube. He has mixing and mastering courses available for purchase. Being what they call a ‘one man band’ is never easy. Not everyone is a Prince or a Paul McCartney.
Something you haven’t mentioned is what genre you’re working in. It could be the library/SDX doesn’t easily line-up sound-wise with the genre. For example I would not use Area 33 on a jazz track or rock track.
Jack
aka musicman691 on other forums
Superior Drummer 3.4.1
Area 33 1.0.0
Death and Darkness 1.0.1
PT 2021.6
OSX 10.13.6
3.46 GHz hex core 2012 MacPro 48 gig ram
1
Thanked by: Bear-Faced CowDavid KennedyHi Jack
Thanks for the advice and help. I will take a look.
It might be a bit of a glum response, but i have a few other issues as well. I have fibromyalgia and a few other things, so I don’t retain knowledge very well anymore. (Brain Fog/Cognitive Thinking etc). I used to be prolific at self learning, but now it’s much harder.
Still, ill give it a good shot.
In terms of genre…. I tend to write in the vein of Muse, Radiohead, Coldplay to Nine Inch Nails. Anything that has a good melody and a catchy chorus lol
Cheers
David
Bear-Faced CowIt doesn’t really matter how the end result is reached in my opinion.
Other than the fact that it does matter, you really didn’t answer the questions. No matter… it tells me more in this case.
Unfortunately, I have to work within the skill set I have and using the piano roll is the way I do it. I’m not a dummer, so it’s all I can do.
That’s more of an excuse than anything else. I’ve played guitar for 50+ years. Any semblance of drum playing would probably have someone dialling 911. However, I’ve learned to think like a drummer and why they do what they do when it comes to putting together drum tracks. There are plenty of references… DVD, online, etc. for drummer’s insights as well as drum programming. Look into a couple of courses by both Eli Krantzberg and Luke Oswald (both on Groove3).
With all due respect, I’m fairly sure that the feedback I received, the CD sales and the high radio rotation cant be that bad, but that’s just me defending my work I guess.
Despite the irrelevancy here, no one implied that it was. There is obviously something they like about it. However, it seems you are making it into a barrier.
Anyway, its the sound and production of the drums I’m really keen on improving.
Buying a library believing that it will improve production is like buying an expensive set of golf clubs believing that they will improve your game. Yes, they can add to (or take away from, for that matter) a song. However, they aren’t the song. Buy a library because you like where and how they were recorded. Buy it because you can hear it fitting into a song. Get it because it gives you new ideas. Or get it because it’s one of your favorite producers.
Whatever reason you buy it, it does not replace a solid arrangement and a decent overall audio production.
jord
1
Thanked by: drumjack52No products in the cart.
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