My turn to ask a NEWB question - drum software

[Armistice]

Ok, so I'm thinking with new found largesse (work bonus) it's about time I moved into the 21st century, gifted my Boss Dr Rhythm to someone less fortunate... and got a better set up happening.

What would you recommend I do?

There are constraints of course - unlike most people here, I do not record on a PC, although obviously I have one - I use a (now antiquated) Yamaha AW4416 that I'm quite fond of and have no intention of replacing. This machine does not interface with PCs other than via CD (ie. no USB), and that is a royal pain - so I need to know not only what software I need, but how to get it out of the PC onto my AW4416, which can import wav files but not much else (from memory...) - alternatively, given what I do, I could just run it in as audio...

I can probably live with dumping two tracks at a time and submixing if I need to from accumulated drum tracks... like I do with the good Dr...

I'm not going to go the other way and try to get my AW4416 tracks onto my PC and go the Reaper route, BTW... maybe next time...

So I don't have any of the normal stuff that PC recorders have, such as interfaces etc. as everything is in the AW4416.

I'm aware of programs like EZ Drummer but don't really know how it works - is it just a sound library that needs some form of sequencing software, or is it all in one? Are there better / other options?

And because I'm the person who always asks this question (What's yer budget?) in the newbies forum.... money isn't particularly an object here.

Knock me out guys...

 

[alfailen]

EZ drummer, Addictive drummer , BFD, etc not only contains a sample ...
all software as it has hosted for the setting up of existing samples ..

like EZ drummer, he has a good mixer for setting volume and reverb

but the Addictive drummer and BFD more cool ... in this software you can be setting the mic placement, equalizing, reverb, compressor, distortion, etc.

for EZ drummer and Addictive drummer you need DAW or sequencer to make a midi pattern .. but in BFD2, you can immediately make a midi pattern on its host

sorry for my bad english

 

[Armistice]

... bump ...

 

[Chili]

EZDrummer does offer a means to use it without a host. They have a free download called EZ Solo (or something similar). Not sure how much versatility it provides.

You could buy a set of edrums, then run them into a sampler like EZD for better sounds. But then, you'd have to learn to play the drums.

You could toss the yamaha, buy an interface and record with your PC. Okay, so you're fond of the yamaha, maybe keep it and supplement it with an interface.

 

[kcearl]

superior drummer 2 is EZ's big brother and more of a competitor to BFD and Addictive..EZ is great for a budget but pretty restricted compared to the others

I dont think you can go far wrong with any of the big players here...and you could always download Reaper to host the drum tracks pretty easy as well


If hardware is still in your mind you'll find that the older Boss has been well superseded by todays modern drum machines..Zoom have a brilliant affordable range out and even the cheapest is way beyond what was available years ago sample wise...then theres hardware like NIs Machine which is an all in one software and hardware drum machine...admittedly geared towards the urban artist but with plenty to offer traditional players as well, has a great cutdown version of Abbey Road drums on it (I have the full version for Kontakt)

I use an MPD24 and SD2 for acoustic stuff...which is rarely lol, I havent bought any of the expansions but I hear theyre pretty good as well, if rather pricey