If switching to Steven Slate Drums, where to start?

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I currently use SPARK by Arturia, and I love it, but I find the import samples function on it to be beyond my efficient workflow preferences, and I've always been impressed with what I've seen by Steven Slate, and in particular his collaborations with Chris Lord Alge.

Any recommendations?

 

[aarontunes]

I use Steve Slate Platinum. Here is my opinion, in a nutshell:


Best samples ever.
Worst UI ever.


Long version:


SS drums sit in a mix better than anything else I've ever used (Addictive Drums, ToonTrack, et al). Unfortunately, the UI was apparently designed by a drummer. In 180 degree contrast, the UI for Addictive Drums is beautiful, but I can never get them to sound like they belong in a recording.

 

[Cagey]

Is it possible to move the samples around, or get different ones? Or, are the drum sounds synthesized?

 

[aarontunes]

Is it possible to move the samples around, or get different ones? Or, are the drum sounds synthesized?

They're samples. In Steve Slate you can mix and match pieces to make a "kit". You can stack 'em, or change certain parameters, like decay or pitch. It's pretty limited, and the UI is very difficult to understand.

In Addictive Drums the sky's the limit. You can change all kinds of parameters, add effects...pretty much create exactly what you want. It's a really great UI. Unfortunately the sounds have never clicked for me.

With both, you can buy new kits and samples as add-on packs.

 

[Cagey]

If they're samples, you should be able to move them around. Take the drum samples you like from the package you don't like and install them in the package you do. With samples, you can often feed the system whatever turns you on. Got a batch of banjo sounds you like? Assign 'em to the floor toms, and put an accordion and a harmonica on the rides. Have the cymbals trigger harpsichord notes. Snare's just a snare, of course. But, add a gated reverb to it and you get Phil Collins. Now how much would you pay?

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I like a simple, efficient workflow.  I am also considering changing my template from just using the mixer in the application to submix the drums to stereo, to having each drum go to a discreet pro tools channel, as I would for realz in a live situation or on an analog console.

 

[stratamania]

You might want to check out Superior Drummer, it has a really good Mixer built into the plugin.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

You might want to check out Superior Drummer, it has a really good Mixer built into the plugin.

I just want great sounding drums, but I want them into Pro Tools overall template, not just a stereo submix of them.  I can do this in Arturia Spark just fine, but I want better samples, and I want access to some of the VMR plugins to use within Pro Tools.

 

[stratamania]

Is this what you mean Tony?

This is an older version but it gives the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TV5Mybc0zY

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Is this what you mean Tony?

This is an older version but it gives the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TV5Mybc0zY

Yup, Multi Out.  If Slate does this, and I can use the plugins in the Pro Tools channels, then I'm totally in.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Sweetwater wants to lean me to Superior Drummer 3, & when I looked it up on their site, I can see why, it's $399 compared to $149 for Steven Slate Platinum 4.  I still prefer the sounds that I hear on Steven Slate, and the Terry Date library is of particular interest to me.

I'm leaning toward Slate.
Any GUI has to be better than SPARK, which pains me to say as I am a beta tester for their synth apps.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Flicked the Switch.

SSD 4 with a free upgrade to #5 when it comes out shortly.

OMG, Deftones Kit, where have you been all my life!!!

The Old Zep kit is pretty spectacular too, but takes up a touch more space than I need.

 

[ThePhilosopher]

We await samples using the Deftones Kit.

 

[stratamania]

Does it do the multi-out like?

Interested to hear what you think of it further.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Yup, in fact, they have a vid on the site on how to set up the multi out.
Still getting everything installed, just been busy the past few days.
When I'm up and running, all comfy like, I'll post a before & after clip.

 

[stratamania]

Cool...

 

[swarfrat]

This was my answer to the pain of programming drums with a mouse:

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I actually don't mind doing it with the mouse, as I disect quite a few nuances of the performing relationship between the drums & bass, and I've gotten rather quick & efficient at using the midi editor.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Beyond is the title of the song. I wrote it in 1984, there's a previous version that we recorded in 1995.

Last year, for my own band, WÖR Party, I decided to re-record it.
Here's that version so far, with drums from the Beta Monkey Library: Double Bass Mania, that I got from Spike 10 years ago when I worked for the turtle.  These are pumped through Arturia's SPARK drum/sampler plugin.
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13630516

Here's the updated one from today, same midi files for the drums, just re-key-mapped, and a level or two here or there touched up, but no other comp/eq at all, this is all straight from Steven Slate Drums Platinum 4 using the Deftones Kit.
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13722616

I auditioned some other kits, but this one just sits in the mix wonderfully between my guitar, my bass players bass, & all my synth work.
This is my favorite snare drum ever, sampled from the snare used on White Pony by the Deftones.

I can't wait for my bass player to track his parts so all the cool stuff like fret noise & the other natural artifacts of a bass player playing with his fingers produces.  This bass is midi that I did.