Hi folks, I hope you're doing great. I've been eyeing Toontrack's EZDrummer 3 for a while. It's about 200 bucks, so it's a decision to weigh in on carefully. I'd like to pick your brain on a few things:

• What I Need:

Realistic ride cymbals. I own SSD, MODO, and Addictive Drums. The three of them can have great sounding hihats, but they lack terribly on the ride cymbals. I find that EZDrummer 3 has the best, most natural sounding ride cymbals. On the online demos, I find that Glenn Fricker's ELE is also spot on the ride cymbal sound, but since there's no demo to test it out, I don't really know. Am I missing something in the process?

• The Investment:

Given the fact that Superior Drummer is twice as expensive, I'd like you guys to tell me if it's twice the goodies. I know Superior Drummer is fully tweakable and the samples are far bigger (more round robins, more detailed sampling?) However, I already have a lot of processing options if I take EZDrummer as any recorded drum kit and mix it my own way. Do you think it's worth paying twice? BTW, I'm a lazy fuck who doesn't like fiddling with controls unless absolutely necessary.

What I fear is paying 200 bucks for an EZDrummer 3 license to then realize that I was better off buying Superior. Instead of spending 400, I'd end up spending 600 bucks. If this ever happened to you and you are reading this, I might be interested in buying a second-hand EZDrummer license.

 

I know my first suggestion is to head to the sister site, and that many people who are in your position choose to buy rather than use that option , BUT in your case, as someone who is seriously looking to purchase providing it is exactly what you need, I'm sorry but I think rather than relying on other people here,you should try both out for yourself.

Back to your initial question though? SD3 in theory is great before you have it, once you do? then it for me at least it is total overkill. 9 times out of 10 I look at Easy Drummer first... Between me and you though? AD2 is still my favourite!


Oh and this bit?

"BTW, I'm a lazy fuck who doesn't like fiddling with controls unless absolutely necessary."

tells me you shouldn't bother with SD3

 

You kind of answered your own question. Although the EZD3 kits sound much better compared to EZD2, SD3 has more detail & options per kit piece. Kind of like comparing Softube British Class A Native to Lindell 80 Series. The 80 Series is just better overall.

Having said all that, EZD3 will serve you well if you are willing to put in the extra work that may be needed to get sounds where you need them.
I have said here in this forum, that SD3 always needs a little help. Think of the kits & pieces as preset starting points ready to be tweaked to taste.

I personally use mostly the Close & OH mic positions on separate outs. Especially if adding parallel processing & reverb.

 

the best advice.

 

Thank you, guys. In all honesty. I've used both SD3 and EZD3 from the site site, but because I'm, a Pro Tools user, the implementation has never been so comfortable. For instance, in Patchwork, the menus act weirdly. I love the sound of AD drums. My only issue is the unrealistic sound of ride cymbals. For the most part, I believe they blend well with real, records drums. I also use SSD for flavor, but I've just downloaded the demo for EZD3 from Toontrack, and it feels so comfy that I get to be more productive. Besides, I'm on a quest of owning what I use. I charge for work, so it's only fair.

Thank you for your replies. I guess I'll just jump the gun and buy EZDrummer 3.

 

This might sound batcrap crazy, but if you like the AD2 Sound and Gui, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a few REAL ride cymbals, and merely use those instead of actually paying out for EZD3 ?

<<< Tends to think out of the box

 

I have a beautifully sounding cymbal kit, Zildjian A Custom. However, I don't play drums at all, and sometimes it's just more practical to sequence drums.

 

I tracked an album in 2000 with an Alesis D5 drum module. Then I decided the hi-hats were too fake and I retracked just live hats. Then the cymbals sounded bad and I tracked them live. Then the toms. Then the snare. I ended up with an album with all live drums apart from the kick, all tracked separately. It was a nightmare to get tight and I swore NEVER to do that again. But it worked. I was anal about it, nothing anywhere hit where it couldn't or typically wouldn't, like a hat hitting with a tom fill which takes a lot of thinking for complex music. For just ride, yeah, I'd do it but beware where it might lead.

 

If you want the real-drummer/real kit sound it doesn't get any better than Superior Drummer (3.xx) (as far as sampled drums go at least) - It can load both types of libraries (EZX's and SDX's) and plays them both equally well. That way if there are EZX's you want to get you dont have to have two samplers installed to play them or vice versa... EZ drummer will load and play EZX's (EZ drummer libraries) only. EZ drummer wont load SDX's (superior drummer libraries)... Personally unless you REALLY need the ai stuff present in EZ drummer 3, SD3 is worth more down the road.

 

Last edited: Apr 24, 2023

I get how that goes, I have put that kind of commitment in to projects before . in fact take note @mercurysoto THAT ^^^^ is the kind of commitment that warrants choosing SD3 over EZD3.

Honestly? I wouldn't do it again though.

 

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. I guess one already has the answer, but it's great that the community has your back. I'll buy EZDrummer 3. If I ever need any better than that, I can get a drummer.

Truly thank you, people.

 

You're very welcome.