I’m really surprised to read the amount of people not loving this SDX. I believe that this is the only SDX that could fool me into thinking it’s a live drummer. Yes, it’s raw and very aggressive sounding, but those ringing tom bleeds and buzzing snare wires are perfect. Very untamed but amazingly natural!
Picked this up last black Friday with SD3. I love it to death, but I would definitely recommend something else if you want something mix-ready. A couple of examples of some annoying things about these presets: -On the default kit the snare clearly has some sort of limiting or peak control, yet the toms still have these big transients on the attack. Not sure why they would HW limit the snare but leave the toms dry. -When they have presets on kits with a ton of dynamics controls on the mixer (Such as the super-carved "underground" setting) they leave the velocity curve as the default 1:1 line! This pisses me off because for all the work that went into this amazing SDX, this comes off as lazy preset design. The consequence is that if you have a bunch of old midi drum tracks, you can't just straight swap this SDX without scaling your velocities to the exact values needed for the tone shaping to occur from the compressors. They could have just made a custom velocity curve to account for this and force 'humanized' drum tracks to be within the range of the dynamics to kick in. Now, if you don't use the presets: 10/10 pack. Absolutely amazing, but will need some hands-on work.
Death and Darkness is a very polished SDX. My only criticism is that it is a bit too ‘perfect’, a little ‘generic’. It’ll drop into a metal mix beautifully, but it will sound like every other metal production since 2015. I like A33 and A33 origin more, even though they’re harder work, because they sound slightly unique.
I feel pretty conflicted about this one, it's good but it's really difficult to mix. With libraries like Fields of Rock, Decades or Death & Darkness, I can mix things with ease - not so much with this one. I feel like the best way to describe it is it's wild, and takes extra effort to tame.
I instantly bought it. Awesome review as always man. I really enjoy this SDX, it has so many shells and cymbals options, you'll get tones for days. Also it seems to me more 80s-90s (even 00s) metal oriented than focused on modern metal overprocessed sound, that's definitely a plus for me.
If only they could get Thomas Lang to do some midi on these monster kits.😁 After weeks of youtube research on what drum software I should get. GGD and Superior drummer were the finalists. Thankfully when I checked to see what I had in my DAW, Superior Drummer 3, was already there with NY and metal foundry. I forgot that I updated from Superior Drummer 2 and haven’t been writing in awhile. When the world went nuts, I stayed busy by buying a 9 piece double bass DW kit, started learning drums and stayed drunk and off the computer. 🤪Now I’m a year sober and having a blast with music again since I don’t have to buy Superior Drummer 3 I have the money for this expansion pack and Death and Darkness. 😂
@@ThompaThelin I see. My plan is for EZD to be my main focus here, but I want to do some SD3 stuff as well, so maybe by the time SD4 comes out, it won't be a shock that I change focus to it... and hopefully by that time, there will be no more EZD3 stuff for me to cover. I still personally use EZD3 more often.
I don't want to uninstall to tell you the specifics. But every SDX I can remember, especially the newer ones all have options for the size of the install.
I got this one and it isn’t for me. It’s very 90’s/ European metal sounding, which is an acquired taste. I feel darkness from D&D does a similar job but with more punch. I’m going to play with it a little bit more but most probably listing it on the second hand market
Grooves take up a tiny amount of space. The sounds take up a lot of space. This SDX has many drums and many extra microphones, hence the larger file size.
@@ShootieSchool got it thanks, any recommendation, I am a guitar player..just needs lots of grooves to play along to and possible use them for a final drum song? any other manufacture that has lots of grooves ? thanks your videos are so helpful just subscribed ! not to good in programming drums
@@shaner36 Check out the Ultimate bundle from Groovemonkee.com. You can watch me work with GrooveMonkee Midi here: czcams.com/video/HmamgTuZnWc/video.html Also on the Grooves Tab in SD3, check out the SHowWebshop Midi Button. More info here: czcams.com/video/o7swbx8XlEo/video.html
Everything sounds great minus the bass drums imo- Sounds so flat and dead. I guess this is the classic metal sound though. This is what makes this sdx purely a metal selection for me. If they had a few other bass options I'd give it a go.
I would guess your sample rate. In SD3 Standalone... Menu>Settings>AudioMidiSetup>AudioDevice>BufferSize>Make this number a bigger number. The idea of the Buffer Size is to make it the smallest number possible without errors (audio glitches and such). So you keep increasing it until the errors go away. If you're using a DAW, adjust the buffer in your DAW.
@@ShootieSchool Thanks. Will this increase latency running it through an audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre when triggering it from my Roland TD-50?
@@Rushfan74 Yes. This number is where it all matters. It's a balancing act, latency vs. performance. A high spec CPU will let you get that number down low.
@@JesusLordOfLords455Not crunch, Crack, its in the attack, tuning, snare head choice, and recording...if done proper. It is where all the energy is in the snare, sure it needs body to support it, but a snare not on "crack" is weak and dismal.....this from a drummer...and just an opinion as its the artist's choice of what their instruments tone delivers. Seek it experiment with it, you will see what i mean about the ENERGY it delivers.
I want to like this SDX, but yeah. This has been a problem with Superior Drummer for as long as I recall. Snares don’t sound like they’re being hit hard. Compare with Getgood Drums, it’s a big difference. Just weird that even in a Thordendal SDX they don’t sound that great…
I truly don't like the snare sounds right there. How could Fredrik be oblivious about such a thing. He's an 8 string guitar man. He should have saw it coming.
!!! Hear the new Presets from a major Area 33 update here: czcams.com/video/z7w5Qx2H3ug/video.html
I’m really surprised to read the amount of people not loving this SDX.
I believe that this is the only SDX that could fool me into thinking it’s a live drummer.
Yes, it’s raw and very aggressive sounding, but those ringing tom bleeds and buzzing snare wires are perfect.
Very untamed but amazingly natural!
Picked this up last black Friday with SD3. I love it to death, but I would definitely recommend something else if you want something mix-ready.
A couple of examples of some annoying things about these presets:
-On the default kit the snare clearly has some sort of limiting or peak control, yet the toms still have these big transients on the attack. Not sure why they would HW limit the snare but leave the toms dry.
-When they have presets on kits with a ton of dynamics controls on the mixer (Such as the super-carved "underground" setting) they leave the velocity curve as the default 1:1 line! This pisses me off because for all the work that went into this amazing SDX, this comes off as lazy preset design. The consequence is that if you have a bunch of old midi drum tracks, you can't just straight swap this SDX without scaling your velocities to the exact values needed for the tone shaping to occur from the compressors. They could have just made a custom velocity curve to account for this and force 'humanized' drum tracks to be within the range of the dynamics to kick in.
Now, if you don't use the presets: 10/10 pack. Absolutely amazing, but will need some hands-on work.
@@greggodonnell6938 any recommendations for a good mix-ready vst or expansion?
Death and Darkness is a very polished SDX.
My only criticism is that it is a bit too ‘perfect’, a little ‘generic’.
It’ll drop into a metal mix beautifully, but it will sound like every other metal production since 2015.
I like A33 and A33 origin more, even though they’re harder work, because they sound slightly unique.
I feel pretty conflicted about this one, it's good but it's really difficult to mix. With libraries like Fields of Rock, Decades or Death & Darkness, I can mix things with ease - not so much with this one. I feel like the best way to describe it is it's wild, and takes extra effort to tame.
I've been with you from the beginning of your channel. I always love and appreciate the effort you put into each video.
I love hearing that! Most of my original subs are stagnant on my channel. Thanks for visiting and commenting!!
Wow - when listening to the presets the toms have perfect deep tone! Thanks for taking the time to preview this.
Thank you, Intimo!
Grabbed this yesterday!! Had a quick play around today and love it!!
I instantly bought it. Awesome review as always man. I really enjoy this SDX, it has so many shells and cymbals options, you'll get tones for days. Also it seems to me more 80s-90s (even 00s) metal oriented than focused on modern metal overprocessed sound, that's definitely a plus for me.
Option galore!
If only they could get Thomas Lang to do some midi on these monster kits.😁 After weeks of youtube research on what drum software I should get. GGD and Superior drummer were the finalists. Thankfully when I checked to see what I had in my DAW, Superior Drummer 3, was already there with NY and metal foundry. I forgot that I updated from Superior Drummer 2 and haven’t been writing in awhile. When the world went nuts, I stayed busy by buying a 9 piece double bass DW kit, started learning drums and stayed drunk and off the computer. 🤪Now I’m a year sober and having a blast with music again since I don’t have to buy Superior Drummer 3 I have the money for this expansion pack and Death and Darkness. 😂
Awesome, enjoy it!
Love this review. Awesome!!!
Thank you so much for the support, Rick!!!!
Excellent stuff. I love your channel. Thanks.
Thank you for saying, Kurt!
damn !! this sounds soooo gooood !!! that black Beauty snare wow !!!!! just adjusting my studio monitors and this sounds ridiculous ... good !!!
Thompa, are you on Superior as well? Or just checking it out?
@@ShootieSchool checking it out, I came over a cracked version looong time ago but used Addictive drums instead but this looks really interesting.
right now I am using EZ drums b because of all the videos you have out there ;)
@@ThompaThelin I see. My plan is for EZD to be my main focus here, but I want to do some SD3 stuff as well, so maybe by the time SD4 comes out, it won't be a shock that I change focus to it... and hopefully by that time, there will be no more EZD3 stuff for me to cover. I still personally use EZD3 more often.
Thanks!
This one is Killa 🤘
FLOYD
It's a phenomenal package but I'm just not feeling it. Sticking with Rock Foundry
A great SDX.
They make a Awesome product but the 1 thing they lack is GOOD radio ready mixed presets ...
Hi Music. Is there a product besides Toontrack that does in your experience? Or might you say the EZdrummer kits are more radio ready? Thanks!
Maravilha que top show show
Does it have a partial installation?
I don't want to uninstall to tell you the specifics. But every SDX I can remember, especially the newer ones all have options for the size of the install.
I got this one and it isn’t for me. It’s very 90’s/ European metal sounding, which is an acquired taste. I feel darkness from D&D does a similar job but with more punch. I’m going to play with it a little bit more but most probably listing it on the second hand market
Almost seems like this is the sequel to metal foundry and drum kit from hell
It is the creators from Drumkit from Hell.
Please please show us how to dial in the hihat with atv hats or any ehats please
From an edrumming POV?
The only mistakes i see that toontrack makes is they don’t offer a truly damped snare.
Have you tried EZdrummer's Tight Room Library yet? Would you consider that a well damped snare?
@@ShootieSchool Never tried it. I will look for it though. It’s funny EZ drummer has some better offerings than Supoeior when it comes to funky drums
@@christopherpederson1021 That kit is based around towel dampening, fyi.
@@ShootieSchool You ever checked out Sun drums by sonic couture?
does the expansion work standalone without having bought superior drummer 3?
It does not. Must first own SD3.
180gb but not a lot of grooves? Why is it 180Gb. New to sdx expansion
Grooves take up a tiny amount of space. The sounds take up a lot of space. This SDX has many drums and many extra microphones, hence the larger file size.
@@ShootieSchool got it thanks, any recommendation, I am a guitar player..just needs lots of grooves to play along to and possible use them for a final drum song? any other manufacture that has lots of grooves ? thanks your videos are so helpful just subscribed ! not to good in programming drums
@@shaner36 Check out the Ultimate bundle from Groovemonkee.com. You can watch me work with GrooveMonkee Midi here: czcams.com/video/HmamgTuZnWc/video.html
Also on the Grooves Tab in SD3, check out the SHowWebshop Midi Button. More info here: czcams.com/video/o7swbx8XlEo/video.html
Everything sounds great minus the bass drums imo- Sounds so flat and dead. I guess this is the classic metal sound though. This is what makes this sdx purely a metal selection for me. If they had a few other bass options I'd give it a go.
I have a Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB with 2TB storage. Just audtioning gives me cracking sometimes. Do you know what would be causing that?
I would guess your sample rate. In SD3 Standalone... Menu>Settings>AudioMidiSetup>AudioDevice>BufferSize>Make this number a bigger number.
The idea of the Buffer Size is to make it the smallest number possible without errors (audio glitches and such). So you keep increasing it until the errors go away.
If you're using a DAW, adjust the buffer in your DAW.
@@ShootieSchool Thanks. Will this increase latency running it through an audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre when triggering it from my Roland TD-50?
@@Rushfan74 Yes. This number is where it all matters. It's a balancing act, latency vs. performance. A high spec CPU will let you get that number down low.
@@ShootieSchool I appreciate your candid feedback brother. 🤘🏼
@@Rushfan74 You got it! Make sure the correct audio interface is selected on that same settings page.
A bit of overkill even for me and I have a bunch of their stuff. They need to get to work on updating EZK. Jus' sayin'.
Been a bit since you been around. Hope you're well. TT will make EZkeys 2.
@@ShootieSchool I’ve been checking your stuff man. Not so much during metal month, not really my thing.
Good work!
@@ReginaldKSon Cheers!
No "Crack" in any of them snares tho
Crack?
Guessing that's the same as crunch
@@JesusLordOfLords455Not crunch, Crack, its in the attack, tuning, snare head choice, and recording...if done proper. It is where all the energy is in the snare, sure it needs body to support it, but a snare not on "crack" is weak and dismal.....this from a drummer...and just an opinion as its the artist's choice of what their instruments tone delivers. Seek it experiment with it, you will see what i mean about the ENERGY it delivers.
@@JesusLordOfLords455 czcams.com/video/rOn82IUav_Q/video.html....5:38...but that is even weak crack imo...at least a reference.
I want to like this SDX, but yeah. This has been a problem with Superior Drummer for as long as I recall. Snares don’t sound like they’re being hit hard. Compare with Getgood Drums, it’s a big difference. Just weird that even in a Thordendal SDX they don’t sound that great…
I truly don't like the snare sounds right there. How could Fredrik be oblivious about such a thing. He's an 8 string guitar man. He should have saw it coming.
You didn't mark the time?!?! Was it the St. Anger ringy snare?