SR's I-Drums gets Mix magazine award!
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
We just found out that Mix magazine rated the Sonic Reality/ILIO title "I-Drums" which was announced last NAMM a 'Certified Hit' award and sent us a framed certificate. It was picked out of products at NAMM that they think are hot. It is a pretty heavy load product that we've been working on for a long time but it is not too far away from being released now. For those that don't know, it is a massive multi-gig drum library for EXS, Kontakt, Giga 3... It was all recorded 24 bit 96K and has expanded I-Map kits. More info coming as it gets closer to being released. But, we were surprised to see the award arrive and are proud to announce the news here.
Last edited by Squids on Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 4878 posts since 13 Jun, 2002 from Montreal
Congratulations Dave. It will be eagerly anticipated all round I'm sure.
Cheers,
Gordon
Cheers,
Gordon
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- KVRian
- 711 posts since 16 Mar, 2002 from Mostly in planes and hotels. Terra Firma: Seattle, WA
Excellent. Congrats. I know how much you like drums. Must mean a lot to you.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
I am not sure exactly what it means. "Certified Hit". But, it's always nice to get some recognition. "Studiophonik" was also selected for this award for Frankfurt Musik Messe. Somebody out there likes us!progfusion74 wrote:Excellent. Congrats. I know how much you like drums. Must mean a lot to you.
That news will come from IK though or I would have posted it. But, ILIO sent me both awards (I guess they both got sent to them) and they even put a funny note in the box. I really love Ilio. They're good people and I get along with the owners really well. I think sometimes it comes down to just having a good sense of humor as well as sense for good products. Anyway, thanks!
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- KVRist
- 106 posts since 28 Apr, 2003
Congrats, can't wait for this one to be released.
Speaking of humor and drums, I'm not sure if you saw this video yet, Squids, but it looks like you might have some competition in the "keyboard drumming" category:
http://www.prodikeys.com/products/prodi ... s_High.wmv
That would be so great seeing Squids go head-to-head against the Prodikeys guy!
Speaking of humor and drums, I'm not sure if you saw this video yet, Squids, but it looks like you might have some competition in the "keyboard drumming" category:
http://www.prodikeys.com/products/prodi ... s_High.wmv
That would be so great seeing Squids go head-to-head against the Prodikeys guy!
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
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- KVRist
- 142 posts since 25 Oct, 2004
I own Sampletank2 XL so I should know this but I don't so What are I-Drums? And are any included with ST2 XL? I don't know if you guys take requests but here's one: CAN YOU INCLUDE CUBASE DRUM MAPS FOR ALL SAMPLETANK and ST2 XL KITS EVER MADE with the new Sampltank 2 capsules and expansion banks? Better yet post it on the IK site? I would actually pay money for this if I had too.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Cubase maps? You mean converting Imap to GM map? If so, here: www.sonicreality.com/squidscorner/IMapDrummaps.zip
I-Drums is a library itself that is not in ST format actually. It's in Giga and other formats. It isn't released yet but was announced at NAMM. It won an award for basically Mix's round up of the products they thought were most exciting from the show. In fact, Studiophonik (which IS in ST format) also won for Frankfurt Musik Messe. Somebody there must like us or something. I actually don't even know too many people there so it is nice to be noticed (without having to beg...just kidding).
However, I-Drums uses our "I-Map" drum layout that we use on a lot of products (usually SR products but I programmed some sounds for ST2 XL... the I-Map kits are some of the ones I did for it). It's a cool layout for getting more articulations of the kit than the usual GM map.
I-Drums is a library itself that is not in ST format actually. It's in Giga and other formats. It isn't released yet but was announced at NAMM. It won an award for basically Mix's round up of the products they thought were most exciting from the show. In fact, Studiophonik (which IS in ST format) also won for Frankfurt Musik Messe. Somebody there must like us or something. I actually don't even know too many people there so it is nice to be noticed (without having to beg...just kidding).
However, I-Drums uses our "I-Map" drum layout that we use on a lot of products (usually SR products but I programmed some sounds for ST2 XL... the I-Map kits are some of the ones I did for it). It's a cool layout for getting more articulations of the kit than the usual GM map.
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Good on ya! Always interested in drum-related stuff...
Not being a Cubase user, is there a simple text-file that you have posted somewhere that shows which keys correspond to what in an I-Map?
Greg
Not being a Cubase user, is there a simple text-file that you have posted somewhere that shows which keys correspond to what in an I-Map?
Greg
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
There is a graphic explanation of it on www.esoundz.com in some of the various I-Map drum libraries such as Studio Drum Capsule, Acoustic Drums and Interactive Drum Kits.
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- KVRist
- 142 posts since 25 Oct, 2004
Hi Squids-
We've exchanged replies on the Cubase forum in the past. This is great!- a forum just for Sampletank frequented by one of it's creators awesome! I was just wondering- I have Sampletank2 XL and I have found some great sounding drumkits, most recently is the Don Kezner kit- which I made a Cubase drum map for, however it seems this kit is missing some velocity layers- I'm not sure if this is a bug with cubase or ST2XL or the layers just simply were never included in the first place- what I've noticed with this kit is from like velocity levels 105 thru 127 you have pretty good representation but when you get to like 85-105 the sounds just suddenly drop off like what it would sound like if one were to attempt to play drums with their pinky- I've especially noticed this on the snares of the Don Kezner kit- some of the hi hats are the opposite I can't get those darn thinks to whisper no matter how low I put the velocity. Is this a software/bug issue? Otherwise are there any kits with at least 4-5 velocity layers ON EVERY DRUM IN THE KIT? Of course this kit I'm looking for would have to work in a pop rock setting: Dave Mayor Matheuws meets Puddle of Fuel. There has to be at least one included ST2XL acoustic rock kit with MANY layers.. any suggestions?
Ps- Will STnkXL ever have a feature like the LM4 where you can control the volume of each drum and the channel/track of each drum? I know the workaround is to "sperate pitch" in Cubase but that breaks up the whole kit, sometimes it's nice just to tweak one or two drums on their own track.
We've exchanged replies on the Cubase forum in the past. This is great!- a forum just for Sampletank frequented by one of it's creators awesome! I was just wondering- I have Sampletank2 XL and I have found some great sounding drumkits, most recently is the Don Kezner kit- which I made a Cubase drum map for, however it seems this kit is missing some velocity layers- I'm not sure if this is a bug with cubase or ST2XL or the layers just simply were never included in the first place- what I've noticed with this kit is from like velocity levels 105 thru 127 you have pretty good representation but when you get to like 85-105 the sounds just suddenly drop off like what it would sound like if one were to attempt to play drums with their pinky- I've especially noticed this on the snares of the Don Kezner kit- some of the hi hats are the opposite I can't get those darn thinks to whisper no matter how low I put the velocity. Is this a software/bug issue? Otherwise are there any kits with at least 4-5 velocity layers ON EVERY DRUM IN THE KIT? Of course this kit I'm looking for would have to work in a pop rock setting: Dave Mayor Matheuws meets Puddle of Fuel. There has to be at least one included ST2XL acoustic rock kit with MANY layers.. any suggestions?
Ps- Will STnkXL ever have a feature like the LM4 where you can control the volume of each drum and the channel/track of each drum? I know the workaround is to "sperate pitch" in Cubase but that breaks up the whole kit, sometimes it's nice just to tweak one or two drums on their own track.
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
Yes, I think that's deliberately part of the programming. Ghost hits, y'know.Controller_C wrote:I'm not sure if this is a bug with cubase or ST2XL or the layers just simply were never included in the first place- what I've noticed with this kit is from like velocity levels 105 thru 127 you have pretty good representation but when you get to like 85-105 the sounds just suddenly drop off like what it would sound like if one were to attempt to play drums with their pinky-
You can increase the velocity sensitivity by adjusting the "amp" knob on the "velocity" page. If you want to only do this to the hats, use zone edit.Controller_C wrote:I've especially noticed this on the snares of the Don Kezner kit- some of the hi hats are the opposite I can't get those darn thinks to whisper no matter how low I put the velocity. Is this a software/bug issue?
I don't use the ST2XL soundset, so I don't know.Controller_C wrote:Otherwise are there any kits with at least 4-5 velocity layers ON EVERY DRUM IN THE KIT? Of course this kit I'm looking for would have to work in a pop rock setting: Dave Mayor Matheuws meets Puddle of Fuel. There has to be at least one included ST2XL acoustic rock kit with MANY layers.. any suggestions?
However, if there aren't any such drumkits, you might want to check this out. It's a dedicated library for drums that comes with complete programming for ST2. I think it expands to two gigs. At $79, that's a pretty good deal if you're really into drumkits.
Zone edit can be used to adjust the volume of each drum. If you want them on different mixer channels in your host but playable on a single midi channel:Controller_C wrote:Ps- Will STnkXL ever have a feature like the LM4 where you can control the volume of each drum and the channel/track of each drum? I know the workaround is to "sperate pitch" in Cubase but that breaks up the whole kit, sometimes it's nice just to tweak one or two drums on their own track.
1) Load the same drumkit into two (or more) parts in ST2.
2) Assign them the same MIDI channel.
3) Assign them different outputs.
4) Use zone edit and set the "level" control on the "env1" page to minimum for alternating drum hits. For example, if kit one has all the hats muted and kit two has everything but the hats muted, then you'll have the hats split to a different mixer channel in your host, but they'll be controlled on the same midi channel as the rest of the drumkit.
I hope that makes sense.
Forever,
Kim.
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- KVRist
- 142 posts since 25 Oct, 2004
WOW! Thanks Kim- you know your s**t! I will check out zone edit and follow your advice.
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- KVRist
- 142 posts since 25 Oct, 2004
Just wondering if these drumkits that come with ST2XL are meant to be ready for mastering right out of the box or if the user is supposed to eq and compress the drums just as they would recording a live drummer. I imagine they would have to be treated in some way by the user because everyone's mix and needs are different. Are most of the drumkits already compressed and eq'd to some degree? Also, I am programming drums for a songwriter in my band because he hates recording his guitars to a lifeless click track(I don't blame him!)the funny thing is he liked my programmed drums so much he wants to use some of them for real! He is entering the South By Southwest showcase and is very pressed for time so the idea of using my programmed drums would definately save time. Here's the issue, he has T-Racks and wants to use that to process his drums but his Mac resources are limited, I tell him "Hey just use the Sampletank2XL effects, they are the same as T-Racks!", but he doesn't believe me, is there any advantage in sound quality to using T-Racks to process and EQ the drums versus the included ST2XL effects? YOur time is GREATLY appreciated!!!
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
It really depends on what type of sound you want. The drumkits are definitely "good enough" to be used in a production as they are.
Personally, I usually make my own effects presets.
You can also take an "in between" approach - use the presets as "starting points", and then tweak the effects or synth parameters (such as filter or envelopes) to "personalise" the sounds so they fit better in your music.
The effects in ST2 do include the algorithms from T-RackS. They are sonically the same. There are some differences though -
1) The EQ in ST2 only has two fully-parametric bands. T-RackS's EQ has seven semi-parametric bands.
2) The multiband limiter in ST2 doesn't allow you to adjust the threshold or level of the three individual bands. T-RackS does.
3) There are no gain-reduction level meters for the compressor or limiter in ST2. T-RackS has gain-reduction meters.
4) T-RackS has a "clipper" stage that provides soft or hard clipping as the final processing stage, to make sure the signal doesn't go over 0dBFS. ST2 doesn't have the exact same module (probably because it doesn't need it - ST2 is not meant to be the final stage before writing to CD. T-RackS is.) If you really want to clip your signal, the "crusher" effect in ST2 does this... but it's pretty nasty.
5) The compressor in ST2 doesn't allow you to adjust the frequency of the high pass filter in the sidechain. T-RackS does.
Basically, they are the same algorithms, but with slightly modified controls. T-RackS has more fine-tuning capabilities because it's designed to be the final stage of processing for the final master. ST2 has the most useful controls so it's easy to get good results fast. Less finetuning is required because the processing is only in individual channels, where sound-sculpting tends to be more radical.
I suggest you process the drumkit with the built-in effects in ST2, and use T-RackS on the mix (including guitars, vocals, or any other instruments).
If you've got the processing power, T-RackS is nice on channels too, recorded vocals, guitar, etc. I do it all the time.
In the end though- you've got to trust your ears. Experiment and listen. If it sounds good, it is good. It's also good to compare your sound to commercial artists of the same style.
I hope that helps.
Forever,
Kim.
Personally, I usually make my own effects presets.
You can also take an "in between" approach - use the presets as "starting points", and then tweak the effects or synth parameters (such as filter or envelopes) to "personalise" the sounds so they fit better in your music.
The effects in ST2 do include the algorithms from T-RackS. They are sonically the same. There are some differences though -
1) The EQ in ST2 only has two fully-parametric bands. T-RackS's EQ has seven semi-parametric bands.
2) The multiband limiter in ST2 doesn't allow you to adjust the threshold or level of the three individual bands. T-RackS does.
3) There are no gain-reduction level meters for the compressor or limiter in ST2. T-RackS has gain-reduction meters.
4) T-RackS has a "clipper" stage that provides soft or hard clipping as the final processing stage, to make sure the signal doesn't go over 0dBFS. ST2 doesn't have the exact same module (probably because it doesn't need it - ST2 is not meant to be the final stage before writing to CD. T-RackS is.) If you really want to clip your signal, the "crusher" effect in ST2 does this... but it's pretty nasty.
5) The compressor in ST2 doesn't allow you to adjust the frequency of the high pass filter in the sidechain. T-RackS does.
Basically, they are the same algorithms, but with slightly modified controls. T-RackS has more fine-tuning capabilities because it's designed to be the final stage of processing for the final master. ST2 has the most useful controls so it's easy to get good results fast. Less finetuning is required because the processing is only in individual channels, where sound-sculpting tends to be more radical.
I suggest you process the drumkit with the built-in effects in ST2, and use T-RackS on the mix (including guitars, vocals, or any other instruments).
If you've got the processing power, T-RackS is nice on channels too, recorded vocals, guitar, etc. I do it all the time.
In the end though- you've got to trust your ears. Experiment and listen. If it sounds good, it is good. It's also good to compare your sound to commercial artists of the same style.
I hope that helps.
Forever,
Kim.