Tips on getting similar snare sounds in SDX expansions and SD3

[Andrew Payne]

Hi,

I have developed some user snare sounds in both SDX (Progressive Foundry) and SD3 core library but struggle to get the same sounds and attack if I try and use as different instruments. ie bitnign and SDX snare into SD3 or vice versa is not giving me a good sound.

Is there a suggested way to get an SD3 snare to sound similar in SDX (and vice versa) without having to change all the mixer channels, bleeds and all the other parameters that affect the final snare sound.

Even if I take a standard snare from SD3 and use it in SDX it sounds terrible (no attack, volume or presence) – I have tried changing mic routing and this alone doesn’t do much. I realise that SDX has 2 top and one bottom mic whereas SD3 only has one top and one bottom so I route accordingly. I dont really want to change the other ambience and room channels as this will affect the sound for the rest of the kit.

Am I better to just play with snare bleed in the ambience and room channels until I get a similar sound in both. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I also intend getting the EZX Kicks and snares so I will want to abe able to get similar snare sounds in both SD3 and SDX. thanks 🙂

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: Windows 10

Dell Precision 7730, i7 6 Core 2.6 GHz, 128GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 3 x 2TB SSD, Cubase Pro 13, SD3 plus a variety of SDX's and EZX's, Orchestral Percussion, EZBASS, RME BabyFace Pro FS and KRK V4 monitors. Modified Yamaha DTX900, DTXPRESS4 and Edrumin10 triggering SD3. Yamaha pads/cymbals and Roland VH-10 HiHat.

Topic

[Bear-Faced Cow]

BEST ANSWER

Routings and ambient channels are only a part of it. Carving out the boxy areas and adding some compression while emphasizing the dynamics will also be in order.

Simply put however, if you want it to sound like Progressive Foundry, then you need to process it like Forrester Savill and play it like Steve Judd. This is why there are all of these, dare I say, great SDX expansions. Guys like Forrester Savill and Bob Rock have all ready done the hard work to gear the recorded kits to their genres. The Core Library is meant to be a raw as possible in order to fill the need of all genres.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[Andrew Payne]

Thanks for the feedback. I actually spent a couple of hours playing around and got a pretty close result. I had to change a lot of things including, routings, bleeds, ambience channels, EQ, compression etc. Having done it once I now have an SDX user setup that can bring in an SD3 snare with similar sound to original SDs snare sound and same for SD3 that can now bring in an SDX snare with similar sound to the original SDX snare. I was pleased to see your response and realise there was no “quick and easy solution”. I have achieved what I wanted and also learnt a lot more about the incredible flexibility of Superior Drummer 3 in the process.

I enjoy reading your various responses and clearly you have a lot of experience with SD3 and offer some very helpful advice to those of us who are less experienced.

thanks again, Andrew

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: Windows 10

Dell Precision 7730, i7 6 Core 2.6 GHz, 128GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 3 x 2TB SSD, Cubase Pro 13, SD3 plus a variety of SDX's and EZX's, Orchestral Percussion, EZBASS, RME BabyFace Pro FS and KRK V4 monitors. Modified Yamaha DTX900, DTXPRESS4 and Edrumin10 triggering SD3. Yamaha pads/cymbals and Roland VH-10 HiHat.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Thanx. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means. I’m always learning, and there are plenty of recording and mixing tutorials these days that can readily be applied to SD3. While you are right in that there is no quick and easy solution, it becomes quicker and easier with practice and application. Despite having found myself negatively affected by the entire COVID situation, I spent part of my down time practicing what I learned from videos from Warren Huart, Charles Dye, Mark Needham, etc., on SD3, as it’s mixing capabilities is not any different than any DAW. I would say, now that you have done it once, do it again. Get yourself to a point where you can take a kit piece suitable for the song you are working on and shape it so that it sits in the mix and yet cuts through. Also, save everything from your EQ curves and compressor settings to  the entire channel strip. Depending on the mix, I will find myself using a familiar starting point and in many cases, I can have a drum mix going in as little as 15 minutes because of not having to redo all my settings.

With all that said an done, however, I am also of the old-school belief of recording things right at the source. This is more of the reason why I enjoy SDXs like the Foundry and the New York Studios bundles. I can find a recorded kit suitable to the song and shape it from there. Not to mention, the player used on the kit may also have an effect on the song. I had two songs where Nir Z was more suitable along with the Allaire Studio recording of it. Anything else would have been needless work.

Of course, all of this is nothing more than my opinion, which along with $2 will get you a coffee and donut. 😀

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[Andrew Payne]

I am thinking about SDX Death and Darkness. Have you had any experience with this one ?

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: Windows 10

Dell Precision 7730, i7 6 Core 2.6 GHz, 128GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 3 x 2TB SSD, Cubase Pro 13, SD3 plus a variety of SDX's and EZX's, Orchestral Percussion, EZBASS, RME BabyFace Pro FS and KRK V4 monitors. Modified Yamaha DTX900, DTXPRESS4 and Edrumin10 triggering SD3. Yamaha pads/cymbals and Roland VH-10 HiHat.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

At the moment, it’s one of SDXs on my wish list. However, from all of the videos and demos that have featured it, it sounds awesome.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[Andrew Payne]

I am in Aus (Victoria) and we are locked down with COVID at the moment so I just got Death and Darkness as a “lockdown present”. Early days but so far it is AWESOME !! Just thought i’d give you the direct feedback. cheers, Andrew

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: Windows 10

Dell Precision 7730, i7 6 Core 2.6 GHz, 128GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 3 x 2TB SSD, Cubase Pro 13, SD3 plus a variety of SDX's and EZX's, Orchestral Percussion, EZBASS, RME BabyFace Pro FS and KRK V4 monitors. Modified Yamaha DTX900, DTXPRESS4 and Edrumin10 triggering SD3. Yamaha pads/cymbals and Roland VH-10 HiHat.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Gives me something to look forward to. COVID wasn’t nice to us financially, but on the bright side, what I have in SDXs are awesome and have been able to use them on many songs.

When the time comes, Death & Darkness as well as Rooms of Hansa will be waiting for me. For now, I’m  not suffering without it  🙂

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[Andrew Payne]

Hi Jord,

Just a bit more feedback. I am actually a drummer so probably more fussy than most when it comes to a desire for realism in e-drum sounds. I have to say that D&D is SOO GOOD !! – especially the Darkness. i have spent a lot of time with it now and there is something magic in the sound “in the pool”. It is going to sound strange but the natural resonance in the darkness toms translates directly to the feel in the sticks/hands when I am playing these via e-drums. I can almost feel the sticks sinking in to the tom “skins” as they are played – probably need to be a drummer to fully understand but it is unreal !

When you get to D&D you will love it !! cheers, Andrew

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: Windows 10

Dell Precision 7730, i7 6 Core 2.6 GHz, 128GB RAM, 1TB SSD and 3 x 2TB SSD, Cubase Pro 13, SD3 plus a variety of SDX's and EZX's, Orchestral Percussion, EZBASS, RME BabyFace Pro FS and KRK V4 monitors. Modified Yamaha DTX900, DTXPRESS4 and Edrumin10 triggering SD3. Yamaha pads/cymbals and Roland VH-10 HiHat.

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