Reality Drums - Some Comments, Some Questions

[RayC]

Based on some of the information form this list, I picked up the Reality Drums Sonic Refill.

First I have to say I was rather disappointed with the lack of documentation that came with it. There was absolutely NO INFORMATION on the kits, the various hits, or the drum mapping. Had I not found this list, asked about I-Map and received the link to the Interactive Drums, I would have had absolutely no idea what was mapped where. I'd be faced with running up and down 88 keys each time I load a kit and taking a guess as to what was intended from each sample.

I realize that the Refills are kind of a second-hand, discount library, but how hard would it be to put a PDF on the CD with, as a minimum, the Interactive Drums' description of I-Map?

I suppose for the seasoned I-Map professional, this is all second nature by now. But there may be some whose first exposure to I-Map might be a Sonic Refill. If they don't know what to expect, and it doesn't correspond to GM, it's likely to end up in the trash (and being "trashed").

Anyway, the first thing I did was create an Excel spreadsheet with a keyboard layout and the corresponding I-Map drum sounds identified next to it. Just like you'd get with any hardware sound module that has drum patches. I find it very handy to have next to me while working with the kits. If anyone would like a copy, let me know.

Now for some questions:

One of the painful things with any new library is auditioning all of the sounds/kits. Especially with (soft) samplers, since each patch must be loaded before it can be played.

Does anyone have any tips for keeping track of which kit is which and/or quickly auditioning kits? Or is it just a matter of getting to know them after a while?

I'm fairly new to Reason, so when it was time to render my tracks to audio, I was faced with another quandry: how best to transfer some 35 odd drum hits into Pro Tools?

Basically, I arrived at two possibilities:

1 - Go into NN-XT, and edit the individual keymaps to go to different sampler outputs. A fairly tedious process. Then the question of whether I overwrite the kit, save it as an alternate mapping, or discard it when I'm done…

2 - Make multiple passes, soloing each drum individually to get each on a separate track.

#2 is what I chose for this tune.

Is there a better way?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Ray

[Squids]

Based on some of the information form this list, I picked up the Reality Drums Sonic Refill.

First I have to say I was rather disappointed with the lack of documentation that came with it. There was absolutely NO INFORMATION on the kits, the various hits, or the drum mapping. Had I not found this list, asked about I-Map and received the link to the Interactive Drums, I would have had absolutely no idea what was mapped where. I'd be faced with running up and down 88 keys each time I load a kit and taking a guess as to what was intended from each sample.

I realize that the Refills are kind of a second-hand, discount library, but how hard would it be to put a PDF on the CD with, as a minimum, the Interactive Drums' description of I-Map?

I agree with you. It would have been nice and if we had a PDF (which we should and will soon) that goes into I-Map detail we could have just thrown it on there. The reason it wasn't is because, yes as a budget priced library the docs are lacking but the sounds are ace. Also, we had to crank out 10 at one time and this was the only one that had I-Map kits. If we had more time we would have added a little something on the disc just for I-Map. I can tell you that the NEXT I-Map refill will actually have this. Anyway, keep in mind though that most sample libraries, particularly in this price range, that deviate from the GM standard don't include what the mapping is either and you have to search around on the keys to see where everything is (in fact, a lot of kits on keyboards are this way when they aren't GM). However, since I-Map is our own standard that we keep using we really should be talking it up more because people like it and would be interested... at least we DO have the web site to add more information and even free video tutorials coming for this though. It allows us to have more time to put that part together but meet the demands of a distributor like M-Audio who wants 10 at a time for a super low price immediately!

All considered, this library rivals our $199. Interactive Drum Kit library but can be had for less than $50. Any disappointment should at least be balanced in perspective with that! In other words, you got a killer deal. Not many $50 libraries sound and play like that.

I suppose for the seasoned I-Map professional, this is all second nature by now. But there may be some whose first exposure to I-Map might be a Sonic Refill. If they don't know what to expect, and it doesn't correspond to GM, it's likely to end up in the trash (and being "trashed").

I doubt they are going to trash it. First of all, I-Map practically has the GM hat/kick/snare formation in it, just an octave up. The only major difference is the toms and cymbals plus the extra articulation keys. Also, the Monster Drums and Vintage Drum libraries are both ONLY GM mapped and this one is marketed as a more expressive map with more articulations... that's what it is and I think if people buy it as such they should probably be happy. If not then... I don't know. I think the VFM on this is almost too good as it is to be honest.

Anyway, the first thing I did was create an Excel spreadsheet with a keyboard layout and the corresponding I-Map drum sounds identified next to it. Just like you'd get with any hardware sound module that has drum patches. I find it very handy to have next to me while working with the kits. If anyone would like a copy, let me know.

I'd be curious to see it. Sounds like a good idea. Each person is different. For me I go by key memory (for other people's maps). Of course, the more you get used to I-Map the less you need to "think" about it and the more it becomes second nature as you say.

Now for some questions:

One of the painful things with any new library is auditioning all of the sounds/kits. Especially with (soft) samplers, since each patch must be loaded before it can be played.

Does anyone have any tips for keeping track of which kit is which and/or quickly auditioning kits? Or is it just a matter of getting to know them after a while?

Personally I think it is a matter of getting to know it. You can audition individual hit samples from Reason but I don't recommend that as a method. Get to know your kits by playing them is best IMO.

I'm fairly new to Reason, so when it was time to render my tracks to audio, I was faced with another quandry: how best to transfer some 35 odd drum hits into Pro Tools?

Basically, I arrived at two possibilities:

1 - Go into NN-XT, and edit the individual keymaps to go to different sampler outputs. A fairly tedious process. Then the question of whether I overwrite the kit, save it as an alternate mapping, or discard it when I'm done…

2 - Make multiple passes, soloing each drum individually to get each on a separate track.

#2 is what I chose for this tune.

Is there a better way?

Hey, that's a limitation of the NNXT. I would have chosen #2 probably as well... actually, I would have done my track and then grabbed maps within the NNXT and deleted unused ones etc. but that's because I whip around on that thing like a sound developer. I think due to the limitations of that instrument you have to do it the way it is more comfortable. If #2 worked for you then it seems to be as good a way as any.

----
Thanks for any suggestions.

Ray

Sure. Look forward to better docs in the Premium Refills coming out, including an amazing new drum title (assuming you start to enjoy I-Map, otherwise we have some GM mapped libraries). One thing we may do as a bonus is make some extra GM map patches for Reality Drums as a download freebie from www.esoundz.com in the future. I am not opposed to it but when we'll have the time to... (If anyone wants to do it for me I'll give them a free library in trade... this would not be resold but just given away as a bonus. Let me know).

Thanks Ray!

[RayC]

Squids,

I'm not knocking the library; it's very nice. It has just what I was looking for: layered samples with alternates so my fills and rolls sound more realistic.

I'm not really inclined to play "live" from a keyboard. I'm more of a drum grid kind of guy. So I-Map vs. GM makes no difference to me. (Although that may change at some point. )

For most types of libraries, the key mapping is obvious. A piano mapped to C1 is most likely a the C1 note on a piano.

But hit a C1 on a drum library and it goes "Thump". Was that "thump" a kick, a low tom, the left venticle of a hearbeat, or maybe the right ventricle, or maybe an alternate left ventricle to do realistic heart palpitations.

Take it as a suggestion. To get the most out of any sample library, it's helpful to have information on the samples it contains.


Ray


P.S. I can't find a way to upload a file. I've converted my excel spreadsheet to a PDF. If you PM me with an email address, I'll send you (or anyone else) a copy of my I-Map chart.