KVR Beta Team for SR's Drum Masters Version 1.5!

[Squids]

Drum Masters What is it? A virtual drum kit and groove instrument like no other. It is the most realistic simulation of a live multitrack drum session in a plug-in in the market today.

For years amazing records have and continue to be made with a LIVE drummer recorded in a multi-track studio session. If you've got a great drummer with the best mics, rooms, engineers and gear then that could be the ultimate drum track, certainly in terms of realism, personality and feel. Again, depending on the drummer and those elements. Of course that can be expensive to do especially if you want to try out different sounds (different snares, different cymbals, mics etc.). So, multichannel drum kit plug-ins like EZ and BFD have become a popular choice for software-based studios. Many of these plug-ins enjoy the benefits of multichannel mixing of the mics (directs, overheads, rooms) in various degrees of control (Ocean Way Drums actually offering deep level of control with full mic mixing even per kit piece) -AND- they are all played via MIDI which is extremely flexible and fun (especially for e-Drummers or finger drummers like me).

While that approach is very practical and useful there is an element that popular drum kit plug-ins don't have relative to a live multitrack drum session and that is the DRUMMER PLAYING! The style, feel, character and sound of the drummer's audio grooves which have infinite velocities and articulations, any position of any drum piece in the set can be played and the interaction of the kit itself is organic (a kit played live resonates and responds in the room differently depending on what is hit and in what combination) is all a part of what can make a live multitrack drum session the ultimate drum track.

So, wouldn't it be great if there was a plug-in that simulated a live multitrack drum session as accurately as the real thing? Wouldn't it also be great if it was played by some of the best drummers in the world with their unique style, feel and character? THAT is what Drum Masters IS! I can say that it is the most realistic simulation of a multitrack drum session because first of all it IS a multitrack drum session cut up into 2 and 4 bar loops and then put into REX format (in an exclusive proprietary time-aligned system that currently only Sonic Reality does). The REX files are then mapped to the keyboard in Kontakt and played from Sonic Reality's "Infinite Player" plug-in powered by Kontakt (Infinite Player is bundled with "Drum Masters").

The REX format allows you to have the flexibility to change the tempo and in this rare case you can ALSO still mix the multichannel mics (most REX-based loop plug-ins like Stylus RMX, DrumCore and others work only with stereo files, no discrete mic control of the directs, overheads, rooms etc.).

But, the disadvantage of audio grooves is you don't have the flexibility you have with midi and a playable drum kit in terms of coming up with custom parts to suit your composition. So Drum Masters has the Multitrack Drum Kit from the same session as the grooves as well. The best of both worlds! Legendary drummers in the studio with their rare, vintage and top of the line custom kits as well as "grooves played by the masters" and all of it can be MIXED as if you had the multitrack masters. Hence, Drum Masters!

With the release of Kontakt Player 3.5 (which is a free update for Infinite Player users) we're going to also release Drum Masters version 1.5 shortly after. It will have new scripts with many enhanced features that I will share with you in this thread soon. The good news for Drum Masters users is that it is a free EASY patch update after you've upgraded to KP3.5. Also, we're going to be releasing the Sonic Reality Midi Groove Collection some time in July which will be free for all Ocean Way Drums and Drum Masters users!

So, are you already a Drum Masters user? We're going to try something we've never done before. A semi-public beta version where users can try it out before the update is officially released. It is a chance to let us know how it is working for you. If you want to beta test some of the kits and grooves from version 1.5 just respond to this thread as a "sign up". So far we're only inviting those that find this thread on KVR in our company forum. We can't guarantee that everyone will be picked to be on the Drum Masters v1.5 beta team but we'll do our best.

More news to come. Let us know if you want to sign up. If you don't already have Drum Masters then here's a link to get it:

Gold Edition (main version): http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=2486

or you can go for the big Platinum Edition here: http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=2485

But, if you prefer you can just get the Starter Pack and then build your collection by getting each kit and groove set a la carte. Here's the starter pack which get you the Infinite Player plus some sounds: http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=3775

Then, here are the grooves individually: http://www.esoundz.com/downloads.php?fi ... 8033H27897

Here are the kits individually: http://www.esoundz.com/downloads.php?sv ... earance=no

All of it is downloadable (boxed versions also available). Let me know if you have any questions. More info about Drum Masters such as the legendary drummers involved, details of the various versions etc. can be found both on the individual product pages from the above links (newly updated with detailed info) and here: www.sonicreality.com/drummasters

Thanks!

[buscemi]

I am VERY interested in this. I have been playing with Ocean Way MT triggered by edrums and getting good results. I don't have a TD-20 but I'll be throwing a MIDI Mapper in the mix to help out there. Off-topic, though...

I'm psyched about this - hoping that the 3.5 update is out officially soon too. I'm glad to see the DM line evolving in these ways.

I've had more needs for grooves lately, so I'm into that and interested to see how they are and how they can be tweaked.

Bring it on!

[gmontano]

I'd be into doing the beta, my only caveat is that I cannot devote any real time until August 1.

[mike1k]

Sign me up for the 1.5 beta!

Mike

[Squids]

I'd be into doing the beta, my only caveat is that I cannot devote any real time until August 1.

The beta testing requirements for this are light. Also the update is light too! You'll only have to update the app part from NI when the Kontakt Player 3.5 is ready (free update from them). That will essentially update your Infinite Player. Then you'll download a "Patch" with the new NKI and NKM (instrument and multis) from us to try out the new features like round robin and other cool things that I will slowly mention in this thread as I confirm them. It's getting closer and very exciting! A pretty big update all around that are very proud to tell you is FREE for all Drum Masters users! The beta list is just for those anxious to try it and give their feedback before it is officially released.

Now, because the beta version may just be specific kits and grooves out of the Drum Masters Gold package it may be possible that any of you wanting to beta won't be able to use the patches if you don't have the samples they go with. If you have Drum Masters Gold OR happen to have the samples a la carte from the ones we select for the beta then you'll be able to do it. Since we haven't selected the beta kits/grooves yet though you could say which ones you have if you DON'T have Drum Masters Gold. If a lot of people say they have "X" then we might choose that just to include more of you. But of course having the Gold is the easiest. We can also do a low cost upgrade to the Gold from your a la carte kits/grooves too. Just contact Allen if anyone wants to do that.

Thanks for responding so fast guys! We're glad you're excited too!

[gmontano]

cool - i do have drum masters gold.

[andywright67]

Hey Dave,

I'm very much up for beta testing here, would gladly lend a helpful hand.

I currently don't have any of the DM packs/kits, etc... however, but I do beta test for NI.

Please let me know if I can help you.

Best,

Ashley

[jensa]

Hi Squids.

DM Group buy participant and pink drumstick winner and yes please, I would like to try this too.

[buscemi]

Hi Squids.

DM Group buy participant and pink drumstick winner and yes please, I would like to try this too.

Pink drumstick users everywhere will be glad to know you've tested DM with yours! Seriously, though, great prize and hopefully we both (and everybody else so far) ends up testing.

[ZombyWoof]

I'm definitely in. I'm currently running the Kontakt 3.5 beta and loving it.

[Aboensis]

I'm definitely in. I'm currently running the Kontakt 3.5 beta and loving it.

+1.

I also have DM Gold and would be very interested in beta testing 1.5.

[Squids]

We'll make a kit, at least a stereo kit, that anyone can test even if you don't own Drum Masters yet (and you can keep the kit for free too! - it'll be the JB Sonor Kit in stereo). We'll also put some free multitrack grooves to test as well for anyone and it will come with a 2 week trial version of Infinite Player which is what will be needed to play it.

For those that do have Drum Masters, particularly if you have Gold or Platinum, you'll be able to try out more things such as Multitrack Kits and Grooves as well as how they interplay!!!!!! Now, to get a little peak about that... woah, there are some features that are so unique and cool in this!! I'll talk about one of them:

Custom Groove Performance Map! So, you know how we made an update to the current version of Drum Masters where we have what we call "Groove Performance Maps"? These were two octave menu maps of grooves that were placed above the iMap so you could play the kit and 2 octaves of grooves at a time (and the drummer's session grooves are split up into separate NKI instrument files with up to 2 octaves of grooves each). This allows you to go back and forth between the groove and kit LIVE while still being able to have the loops lock to tempo AND have fully discrete mixing of the mic channels (one of the unique features of Drum Masters with audio grooves). The cool thing about the performance maps of the grooves was that they could be side by side (kits and grooves) for interplay between them live as well as instant routing to the same individual outputs for mixing! Seamless.

Well... check this out. Version 1.5 will allow you to have ONE NKI instrument file with all of the grooves in that tempo from that drummer (instead of just two octaves at a time) and it one octave is in order from first to last (of up to 100 grooves) and the bottom C and top B of that first octave are "increment/decrement" key switches that let you scroll through 10 at a time (the notes in the middle between C and B) to listen to. When you like a particular one you want to use in your song you just hold down the C key for 3 seconds and then hit the key of the groove you like followed by a key on the next octave above that you want to assign it too! You can make 12 custom assigned grooves on that octave above (plus have 10 grooves from that tempo in preset order) to play along side your kit!

Plus, we did something else. We have it where you can do that above the kit AND below the kit! Whichever you prefer. On top of that we made an iMap performance mode where it is mapped an octave up and is missing the bottom tom positions (1,2 and 3) to make room for the new custom groove performance two octave system on the left and when you are in performance mode you can actually play an octave of custom selected grooves and the rest of the iMap kit live from a 61 note keyboard! Just convenience. You can also just play the custom groove maps and a full iMap from an 88 key keyboard or 76 key (or just transpose your keyboard up and down but remember you also get the benefit of everything being routed through the same outputs in the same instance of Kontakt/Infinite Player)

What else? Okay you do have iMap, GM AND V-Drum Maps now PLUS a user definable map that can be for ANY e-Drum (V-Drum or any other manufacturer's kit) and it even has midi learn for super fast mapping. Round Robins are user tweakable (sometimes you want it switching automatically and hey, sometimes you don't!!!! Most drum products are either/or but this one will allow you to decide piece by piece what you want doing that or not!).

So, as you can see this is a pretty BIG update (there's even more I haven't mentioned like built-in effects, impulse responses of rooms, midi files... I will be revealing bit by bit here as we go forward with this update which is scheduled some time in July... which happens to be my birthday month. A nice birthday present would be for you guys to help spread the word about Drum Masters!!!! It's one of the most powerful drum plug-ins there is, in terms of what you can do and the realism of using midi-played multitrack kits as well as real audio grooves of great drummers that are REX and MULTITRACK!

Of course, to help convey this we've got MAD videos and something we call "Sonic Reality T.V." coming in July as well. You can watch tutorials and also just sit and watch Rod Morgenstein or Danny Gottlieb just playing in their session for a while. You can see a sneak peek at some of that on our YouTube page: But on Sonic Reality T.V. we will have even more backstage and behind the scenes studio footage, interviews with the artists and more.

Hope that sounds exciting to you! We're excited about it.

[BERFAB]

I have been waiting for this. I've got the Gold Pack, plus I probably picked up most of the rest in the last GB. Please count me in for the beta. I've been struggling with DM in my setup in its current form and am eager to help bring this to its full potential.

"PLUS a user definable map that can be for ANY e-Drum (V-Drum or any other manufacturer's kit) and it even has midi learn for super fast mapping."

Does this mean that I can map kits so that my GURU or Jamstix or AD, etc. midi files will match up with them? Or does the map only tell you where everything is?

The list of updates and freebies looks great. Oh, and really, really nice touch with the FREE Sonic Reality Midi Groove Collection!

The thought and planning you've put into this on the update and support speaks volumes. Again, that's why we're all here, right?

Cheers
-B

[Squids]

Part of the free midi update will be 1,000 iMap and GM grooves courtesy of Groove Monkee (for a start) and that will go to anyone who has already purchased Drum Masters or Ocean Way Drums (as well as anyone who purchases it up until August 31st when that promo ends... it will be officially announced soon but it will be retroactive so we don't leave out anyone who already bought it or buys it now... all of these updates and upgrades so far are FREE so you don't miss out by getting now or already having got it - which we hope makes you HAPPY!).

Anyway, yes, there are 4 mapping modes in Drum Masters 1.5 for kits: iMap, iMap Performance (the one that allows grooves and imap kit to be on a 61 key keyboard together), GM and User Defined. The user one lets you make any map you want down to each articulation of each kit piece!!!!! That means if you prefer the left center stick of the snare you can map just that one or you can put the left and right together into a Round Robin group so they alt back and forth from whatever key you assign it to! So, someone would have to just make NKI presents using the user defined section (which any of you could do and we'll share them... in fact anyone who does that will get some epointz for sure because it helps the "community" have more maps). They could take all of the Drum Masters kits and make presets for Jamstix , Guru or ANY eDrum from any manufacturer or anything at all! It's about as flexible and universally compatible as it gets.

Oh also each "mode" has specific convenience features for that type of map. While the user defined is the most flexible allowing practically anything, the iMap mode allows you to reposition the toms into what we call "Tom Positions" which are "slots" for the 6 toms to be in for the extended iMap. That means you can just load the tom and decide which of the 6 places the "center, edge and rim" (three keys) of each tom will be in the 6 tom places. Even if the original kit only had 3 toms you could load them up again, change their pitch to simulate a larger tom set and assign them to the other three tom positions (or you can bring in other tom sets and assign them where you want... or you can make your own kit of JUST floor toms!!! Total flexibility and FAST because you remap 3 tom articulations at a time when you do that - it moves the center, edge and rim together in a group to the new place. I'll illustrate that with graphics and/or video so it is perfectly clear.

You'll now be able to Round Robin GM maps too (and we'll have presets that already have that done too). Plus, coming later this month or in August we'll have a bonus Round Robining/Multi Velocity GM Percussion Map that you can add as an extra pack plus the release of some more kits and grooves for Drum Masters too!

Then after that is the release of the Ken Scott Collection which will take advantage of these great new features as well. Eventually so will Neil Peart's collection but actually in that case we're planning on releasing just his kit first for BFD2 just to show them some love (we may also release that Phil Collins-style kit for BFD as well which was recorded by Genesis producers and SR at Genesis' studio! We might flip flop releases so different things are available at different times in different formats and if one hears about the other and requests it madly for the other format then we can prioritize based on demand and mutual jealousy... Unless of course you own BOTH BFD2 and Infinite Player in which case you'll be able to have your cake and eat it too with cheap cross-grades to have it in both formats whenever the other is released anyway so.... how about them apples?!)

[andywright67]

Sounds awesome!!!