Using Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0 with an Electronic Kit

Nick D Virgilio introduces Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0, a software that elevates the drum recording experience with its vast selection of high-quality sounds. The program, recorded by renowned engineer George Massenburg at Galaxy Studios in Belgium, offers seven different drum kits and over 20 snares, providing a versatile sound palette. Users can easily customize their drum kits and sounds to fit their music, with the software pre-mapped for compatibility with a wide range of electronic drum kits. Superior Drummer 3.0 also includes a comprehensive mixer page with 35 new effects, allowing for extensive sound manipulation. The software is not only for drummers but also beneficial for other musicians and music creators, offering an easy-to-use and powerful tool for drum production.

Takeaways

• 🎶 Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0 is a highly advanced drum program with sounds recorded by master engineer George Massenburg.
• 🎙️ The drums were recorded at Galaxy Studios in Belgium, known for its exceptional acoustics and microphone selection.
• 🥁 Seven different drum kits are available, with over 20 snares and the ability to record in 11.1 surround sound.
• 🔄 Users can easily change sounds on the virtual drum kit to fit the style of their music.
• 🏎 The Pearl Master Works default kit comes with a 24-inch kick drum for a big, beefy sound.
• 🌏 Superior Drummer 3 includes 35 new effects, allowing for a wide range of sound manipulation.
• 🧩 The software is pre-mapped with most electronic drum kit brains, making it easy to use with various hardware.
• 🎹 Superior Drummer 3 is not only for drummers; it's a valuable tool for all music creators, including keyboardists and guitarists.
• 🎛 The mixer page provides detailed control over each microphone recorded with the kit, with options to mute, solo, and adjust levels.
• 🛠️ Users can edit the electronic kit setup, including tuning, velocity curves, and envelope settings for fine-tuning playability.
• 📈 The MIDI monitor feature shows real-time CC values, helping users understand and tweak their playing dynamics.

Q & A

What is the name of the software discussed in the video?

The software discussed in the video is Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0.

Who is the master engineer that recorded the sounds for Superior Drummer 3.0?

The master engineer who recorded the sounds for Superior Drummer 3.0 is George Massenburg.

In which country were the drums recorded for Superior Drummer 3.0?

The drums were recorded at Galaxy Studios in Belgium.

How many different drum kits are included in Superior Drummer 3.0?

Superior Drummer 3.0 includes seven different drum kits.

What is the benefit of having drums recorded in 11.1 surround sound?

Even if a user does not have an 11.1 surround system, they can still utilize all the different ambient and room microphones recorded for 11.1, providing a rich and detailed drum sound.

How easy is it to change sounds on the default kits in Superior Drummer 3.0?

Changing sounds on the default kits is very quick and easy, as demonstrated by the ability to select and change individual drums directly from the interface.

What is the name of the drum company from Canada that is featured in one of the default kits?

Ayotte is the drum company from Canada featured in one of the default kits.

How does Superior Drummer 3.0 handle electronic drum kits with fewer pads than the visual kit representation?

Superior Drummer 3.0 can be configured to match the number of pads on the user's electronic drum kit, allowing any MIDI note number to trigger the corresponding drum in the program.

What is the name of the feature in Superior Drummer 3.0 that allows users to search for specific drum sounds?

The feature is called 'Search for Instrument' and it allows users to search for sounds within their libraries using specific criteria.

How does Superior Drummer 3.0 assist users with different electronic drum kits?

Superior Drummer 3.0 comes pre-mapped with nearly every electronic drum kit brain on the market, allowing users to easily select their drum brain and start playing without extensive setup.

What additional feature does Superior Drummer 3.0 provide for users to fine-tune their drum sounds?

Superior Drummer 3.0 provides a detailed MIDI editing feature, allowing users to adjust articulations, tuning, velocity curves, and envelope settings for each drum pad.

What is the purpose of the mixer page in Superior Drummer 3.0?

The mixer page allows users to manipulate the sound of each drum and microphone individually, with options to mute, solo, and adjust levels, as well as apply effects and compression to specific drums or the entire kit.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Superior Drummer 3 Overview

Nick D Virgilio introduces the video on using Superior Drummer 3 with an electronic drum kit. He praises the program's upgrade from version 2.0 to 3.0, highlighting the high-quality sounds recorded by master engineer George Massenburg at Galaxy Studios in Belgium. The program offers seven different drum kits with over 20 snares, recorded in 11.1 surround sound, providing a variety of microphone options. The video demonstrates how easy it is to change drum sounds to fit different music styles and emphasizes the realistic sound quality of the drums and cymbals.

05:03

🥁 Exploring Default Kits and Customization

The video showcases the sounds of various default drum kits available in Superior Drummer 3, including the Pearl Master Works, Ayotte, Gretsch round badge vintage, Ludwig classic 70s, Ludwig concert Tom, and Premier drum kits. It also discusses the ease of creating custom kits and changing individual drum sounds, such as the snare drum, using the program's search functionality. The video mentions the inclusion of 35 new effects and the ability to use sounds from other Toontrack libraries, providing limitless sound options.

10:05

🎚️ MIDI Mapping and Electronic Kit Integration

The presenter explains how Superior Drummer 3 is pre-mapped with almost every electronic drum kit on the market, making it easy to use with any MIDI interface. The video demonstrates how to remove unwanted drums from the visual setup and create a custom kit with a selection of different drums and cymbals. It also touches on the use of Superior Drummer 3 for music creation, not just by drummers, and mentions an upcoming video by Mitch Gallagher focusing on its use for non-drummers.

15:05

🎛️ Mixer Page and Sound Manipulation

The video explores the mixer page in Superior Drummer 3, which allows users to control the levels of each microphone recorded with the drum kits. It discusses the ability to mute, solo, and adjust the levels of individual drums and ambient mics. The presenter also covers the 35 new effects available for sound manipulation and the option to apply effects to bus channels, providing extensive sound customization possibilities.

20:05

🛠️ Editing and Tweaking Electronic Kit Settings

The final part of the video focuses on the editing features of Superior Drummer 3, which allow users to adjust the articulations of their hi-hat pedal, tune drums, and modify velocity curves and envelope settings. It also includes a MIDI monitor for real-time tracking of CC values and note on/off events. The presenter emphasizes the program's utility for music producers, songwriters, and non-drummers, and encourages viewers to reach out to Sweetwater sales engineers for more information on Toontrack products.

Keywords

Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0

Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0 is a software program designed to emulate the sound and feel of playing a real drum kit. It is renowned for its high-quality sound library, recorded by master engineer George Massenburg, and offers a wide range of drum kits and customization options. In the video, it is used to demonstrate how to integrate the software with an electronic drum kit, allowing users to have a realistic drumming experience with a variety of sounds and setups.

Electronic Drum Kit

An electronic drum kit is a modern alternative to traditional acoustic drum kits, consisting of pads that trigger sound samples when struck. These kits are often used for practice, recording, or live performances where volume control is necessary. In the context of the video, the electronic drum kit is interfaced with Superior Drummer 3.0 to provide a diverse set of drum sounds and playing experiences.

George Massenburg

George Massenburg is a highly respected and sought-after recording engineer known for his work in the music industry. In the video, it is mentioned that he recorded the sounds for Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0, contributing to the program's high-quality sound library. His involvement signifies the professional standard of the software's audio content.

Galaxy Studios

Galaxy Studios is a world-class recording studio located in Belgium, known for its exceptional acoustics and state-of-the-art equipment. The video script mentions that all the drums for Superior Drummer 3.0 were recorded at Galaxy Studios, emphasizing the high production value and the quality of the sound recordings.

Microphone Selection

The microphone selection refers to the variety of microphones used to capture the sound of the drums during recording sessions. In the context of the video, it highlights the meticulous approach taken by George Massenburg in recording the drum sounds for Superior Drummer 3.0, ensuring a rich and authentic sound palette.

11.1 Surround Sound

11.1 Surround Sound is a multi-channel audio system that provides an immersive listening experience by utilizing eleven speakers and one subwoofer. The video explains that the drum sounds in Superior Drummer 3.0 were recorded in this format, allowing users to experience a three-dimensional soundstage even without an actual surround sound system.

MIDI Mapping

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) mapping is the process of assigning specific MIDI messages to control different parameters of a digital instrument or software. In the video, it is mentioned that Superior Drummer 3.0 has pre-mapped settings for almost every electronic drum kit brain on the market, simplifying the process of integrating the software with various electronic drum kits.

Custom Kits

Custom Kits in the context of Superior Drummer 3.0 refer to user-created drum setups that can be tailored to individual preferences or specific music genres. The video demonstrates how users can easily change the sound of individual drums within a kit or create entirely new kits using the software's vast sound library.

Effects

Effects in music production are audio processing techniques used to alter the sound of an instrument or a sound recording. The video mentions that Superior Drummer 3.0 comes with 35 new effects, allowing users to further shape and customize the sound of their drum kit with options like reverb, compression, and gating.

Mixer Page

The Mixer Page in Superior Drummer 3.0 is an interface that allows users to control and manipulate the levels, panning, and effects of each drum and microphone channel individually. It is a crucial part of the software that provides a high degree of control over the final mix of the drum sounds.

MIDI Monitor

A MIDI Monitor is a tool that displays the MIDI data being sent from a MIDI controller, such as an electronic drum kit, in real-time. In the video, it is used to show how hard the drum pads are being hit and the corresponding MIDI values, which can be useful for tweaking the response and sensitivity of the electronic drum kit.

Highlights

Nick D Virgilio introduces Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0, a software that integrates with electronic drum kits.

Superior Drummer 3.0 offers a significant upgrade from version 2.0 with improved sound quality.

The software includes sounds recorded by master engineer George Massenburg at Galaxy Studios in Belgium.

Seven different drum kits with over 20 snares are available, recorded in 11.1 surround sound.

Users can easily change sounds on the drum kit to fit different music styles.

The Pearl Master Works default kit comes with a 24-inch kick drum for a big, beefy sound.

The Ayotte kit features high-end drums from Canada, sought after by many players.

The Gretsch old-school kit provides a vintage sound, possibly from the 60s or 70s.

The Ludwig Classic 70s kit is great for old-school arena rock sounding songs.

The Ludwig Concert Tom kit offers a Phil Collins style, old-school single headed drum kit.

The Premier drum kit is a classic old English brand used by many players over the years.

The Yamaha Beach Custom kit has a punchy sound suitable for various music genres.

Superior Drummer 3 allows users to create custom kits and change drum sounds easily.

The software is pre-mapped with nearly every electronic drum kit brain on the market for easy setup.

Users can manipulate the sound with 35 brand-new effects in Superior Drummer 3.

The mixer page provides detailed control over each microphone and effect channel.

Editing features allow users to adjust the response and articulation of their electronic drum pads.

Superior Drummer 3 is a powerful tool for music production, songwriting, and film/TV work.