Jay Postones // Toontrack Superior Drummer & Roland TD50kv - E-drum deep-dive!

In this informative and engaging live stream, Jay Postones, a musician known for his work with the band Tesseract, offers a deep-dive into his electronic drum (e-drum) setup, specifically using the Roland TD50kv and Toontrack Superior Drummer software. Jay shares his years of experience, insights, and tips on how to get the most out of an e-drum setup, including how to connect and configure the Roland module with Superior Drummer. He addresses common issues such as calibrating the hi-hat for realistic sound and adjusting the sensitivity of the drum pads. Jay also demonstrates how to layer and stack different drum sounds for a richer, more customized sound. Additionally, he previews his new MIDI pack, 'Grooves Progressive Metal 2,' which features over 500 drum performances that can be used with any Toontrack library, showcasing the versatility and creativity that e-drums and Superior Drummer offer to musicians.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The stream is a deep-dive into Jay Postones' e-drum setup, showcasing his experience and tips for using Toontrack Superior Drummer software with a Roland TD50kv e-drum kit.
• 🔍 Jay demonstrates how to customize the e-drum sounds by changing settings within the Superior Drummer software, allowing for a more personalized and realistic drumming experience.
• 💻 Jay explains the importance of connecting the Roland module to a computer and using a MIDI cable to integrate the e-drum kit with the Superior Drummer software.
• 🎵 He discusses the process of calibrating the hi-hat for better sound accuracy and the new features introduced by Toontrack that help emulate the feel of an acoustic hi-hat.
• 📈 Jay shares his method for adjusting the velocity sensitivity of the e-drum pads to achieve a more dynamic and realistic sound when playing.
• 🔧 The stream provides insights into fixing a broken symbol by using the aftertouch feature and adjusting the sensitivity settings on the Roland module.
• 🎧 Jay talks about his approach to recording and streaming audio, emphasizing the importance of managing latency and audio levels for a professional sound.
• 🚀 He announces an upcoming live mixing session with Ackel, where they will use Toontrack's mixer and plugins to create a live mix over the internet.
• 🔄 Jay explores the new Duality drum kits from Toontrack, discussing their sound and potential applications for different music styles.
• 📚 He also mentions the release of his own MIDI pack, which contains over 500 drum performances that can be used with any Toontrack sound library.
• 🤝 Jay encourages viewers to reach out if they have any questions about e-drum setup or Superior Drummer, offering help and sharing his knowledge.

Q & A

What software does Jay Postones use with his electronic drum kit?

Jay Postones uses Superior Drummer as the software for his electronic drum setup.

How does Jay Postones configure his electronic drums to work with different drum sounds in Superior Drummer?

Jay configures his drums by selecting the appropriate drum kit model in the settings of Superior Drummer. This automatically loads the default settings for the selected model, ensuring compatibility with his electronic drum kit.

What specific challenges does Jay face with the hi-hat in his electronic drum setup?

Jay faces challenges with the hi-hat triggering incorrect sounds due to its many moving parts. It can mistakenly trigger various articulations, which does not mimic the behavior of an acoustic hi-hat accurately.

What solution did Jay Postones find for managing the sensitivity of the hi-hat in his setup?

Jay found a solution in Superior Drummer's recent update that includes a feature to dial down the sensitivity of the hi-hat splash, allowing him to minimize unwanted splash noises and get a more realistic hi-hat sound.

How does Jay adjust individual drum components in Superior Drummer to his preference?

Jay adjusts drum components like the hi-hat, snare, and toms by calibrating and customizing settings directly in the software, using features such as MIDI mapping and velocity adjustments.

What is the purpose of the 'midi cable' mentioned in Jay's setup, and where does it connect?

The midi cable in Jay's setup is used to connect the electronic drum module (Roland TD50) to his sound interface. This cable transmits MIDI data from the drum kit to the computer for sound processing in Superior Drummer.

How does Jay use the velocity curve feature in Superior Drummer?

Jay uses the velocity curve feature to adjust the sensitivity and response of his drums to his playing dynamics. He modifies the curve to ensure that the drums respond more realistically to different playing intensities.

Can Jay connect additional cymbals or pads to his electronic drum kit, and how?

Yes, Jay can connect additional cymbals or pads to his electronic drum kit. He mentions having extra inputs on his drum module and discusses the possibility of adding more instruments through additional MIDI connectors.

What unique challenges does Jay mention about the physical setup of his electronic drum kit?

Jay talks about the challenges of managing cables and hardware settings, ensuring that each component is calibrated correctly, and modifying his setup to handle additional pads or broken parts.

What approach does Jay recommend for troubleshooting and optimizing the sound of an electronic drum kit?

Jay recommends starting with calibrating and adjusting settings on the drum module first before moving to software adjustments. He emphasizes the importance of fine-tuning settings to match personal playing style and the physical setup of the kit.

Outlines

00:00

🥁 Introduction to Electronic Drum Setup

The speaker introduces their electronic drum (edrum) setup, explaining the modifications and settings they've worked on over the years. They mention using Superior Drummer software for their edrum and express an intention to share tips and answer questions about setting up and optimizing an edrum kit. They begin by adjusting some settings live, demonstrating how they customize their drum sounds for different drum parts like the ride and crash cymbals.

05:12

🎵 Live Drumming and Audience Interaction

During a live drumming session, the speaker plays a favorite song to demonstrate the drum kit's sound. They engage with the audience, calling out to drummers and greeting viewers in the chat. As they share more about their drum setup, they mention using a Roland TD50 drum module and a Superior Drummer software, highlighting how these tools replicate high-quality drum sounds. They emphasize the ease and impressive results of integrating top-tier studio drum sounds into a home setup.

10:13

🔧 Technical Setup and Software Configuration

The speaker dives into the technical details of connecting and configuring their edrum setup. They explain how they connect the Roland module to their computer using MIDI, and how to configure the Superior Drummer software to recognize and adapt to their specific drum kit model. They also discuss customizing individual drum components within the software, like adjusting MIDI settings for additional drum pads and symbols to align with personal preferences and setup.

15:14

🛠️ Advanced Configuration and Personalization Tips

The speaker continues with advanced customization tips for their edrum setup. They talk about adjusting settings for individual drum components, such as making a tom trigger a splash sound and manipulating velocity curves to enhance dynamic response. They also share insights into troubleshooting common issues like hi-hat sensitivity and provide practical solutions like modifying settings in both the software and the drum module to achieve the desired sound and responsiveness.

20:16

📊 Fine-Tuning and Professional Tweaking

Moving onto fine-tuning, the speaker shares detailed steps for calibrating and optimizing the hi-hat, including both software-side and hardware-side adjustments to ensure precise sound triggers. They also delve into advanced configuration like tweaking sensitivity and gain settings for different drum components to match real-life drumming dynamics. The talk illustrates how to integrate various modifications to closely mimic acoustic drumming feel and sound on an edrum kit.

25:16

🎚️ Software Insights and Live Setup Demonstration

The speaker provides a comprehensive overview of using Superior Drummer to achieve professional drum sounds. They walk through creating and customizing drum kits within the software, demonstrating live how to layer snare sounds for richer audio and adjust individual drum mic settings. The practical demo includes playing along with music tracks to test and fine-tune the drum kit sounds, showcasing the powerful capabilities of the software for both studio recording and live performance.

30:19

🎤 Mixing Session Announcement and Drum Kit Enhancement

The speaker announces an upcoming live mixing session with their bandmate to further refine their drum sounds using the Superior Drummer mixer and plugins. They share excitement about the session's potential to explore new sounds and mixing techniques. Additionally, they demonstrate more drum kit enhancements, like adjusting drum sounds and exploring pre-mixed drum kit presets, further illustrating the depth of customization available in their software.

35:19

🔍 Exploring New Drum Sounds and Kit Customization

The speaker explores new drum kits and sounds available in the Superior Drummer software, testing different snare, tom, and cymbal options to customize their drum kit. They tweak various elements like the kick drum depth and ride cymbal volume, aiming to match the kit's sound to their personal playing style. The session is interactive, with the speaker seeking real-time feedback from the audience to refine the drum sounds.

40:22

📅 Recap and Interactive Q&A Session

The speaker recaps the session, summarizing the key points covered and the techniques demonstrated. They open the floor for questions, offering to help viewers with specific issues or curiosities about edrums or music production. The interactive Q&A serves as an opportunity for viewers to engage directly with the speaker and gain further insights into electronic drumming and sound engineering.

Keywords

💡E-drum setup

An e-drum setup refers to the configuration of electronic drum kits, which are designed to mimic the sound and feel of acoustic drums. In the video, the speaker discusses his personal e-drum setup, which includes the Roland TD50kv, and how he has spent years refining it to suit his needs. The setup is central to the video's theme as it forms the basis for the discussion on electronic drumming and the integration with Superior Drummer software.

💡Superior Drummer

Superior Drummer is a software drum module developed by Toontrack that provides a wide range of high-quality drum sounds and loops for musicians and producers. It is mentioned extensively in the video as the software the speaker uses in conjunction with his e-drum setup to achieve professional-sounding drum tracks. The speaker shares his experiences and tips on how to best use Superior Drummer with an e-drum kit.

💡MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol for communicating musical information between devices. In the context of the video, MIDI is used to connect the Roland TD50kv e-drum kit to a computer running Superior Drummer. The MIDI connection allows the e-drum kit to trigger sounds within the software, which is a crucial aspect of creating electronic drum music.

💡Hi-hat control

Hi-hat control refers to the management of the hi-hat pedal and cymbal within a drum setup to achieve different sounds, such as open, closed, or foot splash. The video discusses the challenges and solutions related to hi-hat control when using an e-drum kit with Superior Drummer. The speaker highlights the importance of calibrating the hi-hat and adjusting its sensitivity to achieve a realistic sound.

💡Latency

Latency in the context of digital audio refers to the delay between when a sound is produced and when it is heard through speakers or headphones. The video addresses the issue of latency when setting up an e-drum kit with Superior Drummer. The speaker explains how to adjust settings to minimize latency, which is essential for a responsive and realistic drumming experience.

💡Audio interface

An audio interface is a device that connects an electronic drum kit or other instruments to a computer, converting analog signals to digital for recording or processing. In the video, the speaker mentions using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface to connect his e-drum kit to the computer running Superior Drummer, emphasizing its role in the overall setup.

💡MIDI mapping

MIDI mapping is the process of assigning specific MIDI commands to different sounds or functions within a digital audio workstation or software. The video script includes a discussion on MIDI mapping as the speaker describes how he customizes the response of his e-drum kit within Superior Drummer, allowing for个性化 (personalized) sound and feel.

💡Drum kit calibration

Drum kit calibration is the process of adjusting and setting up an electronic drum kit to ensure that each drum pad or cymbal triggers the correct sound in the connected software. The video provides a detailed walkthrough of calibrating a Roland TD50kv e-drum kit with Superior Drummer, which is essential for achieving accurate and realistic drum sounds.

💡Aftertouch

Aftertouch is a feature on some electronic drum pads and cymbals that allows for additional sound control based on the pressure applied to the pad after an initial strike. The speaker in the video discusses using aftertouch to adjust the sound of a broken cymbal in the e-drum setup, demonstrating a practical use of this feature.

💡Mixing drums

Mixing drums involves adjusting the balance and levels of individual drum sounds within a track to create a cohesive and balanced drum mix. The video script includes a discussion on mixing drums using Superior Drummer's mixer, where the speaker shares his preferences for adjusting levels and creating a natural, room-like sound.

💡MIDI pack

A MIDI pack is a collection of MIDI files containing drum patterns, grooves, and beats that can be used in music production. The speaker introduces a MIDI pack he created, which contains over 500 drum performances that can be used with various Toontrack libraries. This pack is significant as it allows users to incorporate professional drumming patterns into their music using Superior Drummer.

Highlights

Jay Postones shares his experience with his e-drum setup, which he has been perfecting for a couple of years.

He discusses using Toontrack Superior Drummer software with his Roland TD50kv e-drum kit.

Postones demonstrates how to change settings in Superior Drummer to customize the sound of individual drum hits.

He emphasizes the importance of connecting the Roland module to a computer for enhanced sound quality.

Jay explains the process of mapping the e-drum kit to the Superior Drummer software for optimal performance.

He showcases the Modern Metal EZX pack, which he uses for its out-of-the-box sounds.

Postones provides tips for adjusting the hi-hat settings to mimic an acoustic drum kit's feel.

He shares a trick to fix a broken symbol by using aftertouch sensitivity adjustments.

Jay discusses an upcoming live mixing session with Ackel, where they will use only Toontrack's mixer and plugins.

He explores the option to stack different snare sounds for a more customized and layered drum performance.

Postones explains how to adjust latency settings for recording MIDI and streaming to ensure optimal audio quality.

He provides insights on controlling audio levels for the stream mix using Focusrite Control.

Jay introduces a new MIDI pack he has been working on, containing over 500 drum performances.

He previews new drum sounds from the Duality series by Toontrack and collaborates with viewers to select and customize a new drum kit.

Postones highlights the ability to fine-tune each drum piece's sensitivity and sound to match personal preferences.

He demonstrates the use of presets in Superior Drummer 3 to quickly adjust the entire drum kit's sound.

Jay concludes by expressing gratitude for the interaction and looking forward to future streams and sessions with his audience.