I'm looking to buy some software drums to use with Logic, and I noticed FXpansion have a special on BFD Eco that comes with a Rock Legends pack, but there is a retailer here in Australia that still has BFD2 on sale for $149. I would appreciate any thoughts or opinions about which one is a better buy/better value for money.

Thanks.

BFD2 has it all and is definitely worth $150. The BFD Eco deal is just a great deal. If you are a drummer, and enjoy tweaking every parameter available go for BFD2. I am not a drummer but want to do some tweaking but not spend the better part of my time doing it--and BFD Eco is perfect for me. Eco does though have more tweakability than, for example, EZ Drummer.

I just got ECO and am very satisfied with the amount you can tweak. I think I'd like to upgrade in the future though so $1500 is a tempting price. (But is that AU dollars? How does that relate to the US price I don't know)

I upgraded from Eco earlier this year and I'm glad I did. Tweakability is a good feature, but with the multi-outs you can really tweak anything you want from within your DAW. The biggest upgrade for me was the sound. BFD2 is way more responsive and nuanced than Eco because of the more detailed samples in its kits. BFD2 sounds so awesome that I may be selling my copy of SD2 soon - it has gone unused for months!

BFD ECO has multiple outs too, what is the difference? It even nicely names them so from within Studio One I can easily enable whatever channel I need to send out to the main mixer. But definitely the extra velocity layers are great I'm sure, I will look to upgrade when I get a new machine with more RAM though. I think 'ECO' is not just about price and features, right? If your system is anemic maybe ECO is the better fit.

That was exactly my point, but now that I read it, I can see that wasn't clear at all (I MUST stop posting before I've had coffee!). Eco has multi outs, so you can tweak sounds in your DAW. BFD2's mixer is a convenience, but not the main selling point IMO. I guess what I was trying to say is that the OP should go for the full version if that extra bit of realism is important, not so much tweaking the sounds. Eco is totally worth getting by itself, but buying BFD2 now at $150 is cheaper than upgrading from even the $50 Eco, I believe.

No matter what you choose here, it's a great deal. Like I said, I'm thinking I may throw my SD2 up on the market place. As great as it sounds, BFD2 just does it all better.

Yep EZDrummer likely will be at auction from me soon as well.

Thanks everyone for input and responses- I don't know if it has made choosing between the two any easier, but at least I understand my choices a bit better. The US$ and AU$ are almost the same atm, I guess I'm wondering whether the addition of the Platinum (?) Rock Legends pack to BFD eco makes it the more valuable pack- any thoughts?

I've also read somewhere else that BFD2 is in constant beta, and that perhaps the company has let it slip somewhat to focus on their other products, and I've also read that the company has mentioned that they are working on BFD3- would it be better to wait and buy?

BFD3 is all speculation at this point, so don't bet on it. FXpansion usually do intro sales, so an upgrade to 3 from 2 will probably be less than buying BFD3 on its own. That's speculation, too. And if BFD2 is in beta, then it's a pretty solid beta. I have had exactly 0.000 problems with it.

The upgrade price from Eco to 2 is US$200. So, if you buy Eco now and upgrade later, you'd be saving $50. Not bad. But if you buy BFD2 from your retailer now, you'd have it for %50 off, $150. BFD2 can load Eco kits, and you can still get the Rock Legends pack for %50 off by itself, so add another $30. Buying both now would save you $120 if you are planning on upgrading later.

Think of the flip side. If you are not planning on upgrading, then $50 will get you Eco and a great kit for it and you save $120 over BFD2 and the kit. It's up to you to decide what your plans are. Eco is great, and truth be told, you probably wouldn't miss the BFD2 features if you don't already know what you're looking for. But if you're looking for a great drum instrument, then I'd say you shouldn't wait. Either of these two is a great deal.

BFD2 supports MIDI program change message - the first reason why i have bought BFD2 upgrade. I need this feature for my live setup.

Just saw that ScitScat.com have the BFD2 Upgrade for $95

http://www.scitscat.com/p-3497-fxpansion-bfd-2-upgrade-from- upgrade-to-bfd2-from-bfd1x-bfd-eco-or-bfd-eco-dv.aspx

Rail

Oh bad timing, I am trying to get everything together to get a new PC. Hopefully this sort of deal turns up again when I have the cash. I especially want the drum pattern editor.