KVR Audio

JamesC01 · Post by **JamesC01** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 8:36 am

I snagged the custom bundle on sale yesterday, but I have no idea what I want. I don't plan on buying any more packs, or drum vsts, ever, because even on sale I found the price a bit steep, so I'd like to pick the most versatile sounding options. I want to slowly pick them, maybe over a couple of months, instead of all at once, so I'm mainly looking for some suggestions for a first pack, that's fairly versatile.

I'm not really going to be making a specific genre. I just like making music, whether it's electronic, pop, rock, metal, jazzier/softer stuff like fusion, maybe, rnb, hip hop. What would be the most versatile 3 choices that gives me the biggest range? I'd rather not have much overlap between the kits.

I will also do some listening on my own to the demos, but it's nice to get opinions from people who have more experience with the plugin.

One that is off-limits for me is the reel machines kit. I'm looking for real sampled drums, my daw comes with tons of good sounding drum machine samples.

jens · Post by **jens** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 10:56 am

That's a tough one as it is just so much a matter of taste... it's also been quite a while since I last used AD2, so let me have another look before I recommend anything (I have most of them)

masonsjax · Post by **masonsjax** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 11:19 am

I have 7 or 8 of them and they're all pretty good IMO. I use the funk kit, united heavy, and jazz brushes probably the most often. I also like the R&B and Indie kits. Also check out the midi packs from Groovemonkee and Oddgrooves if you like to use patterns. Both have AD2 compatibility.

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 5:45 pm

How many you are going to pick?

For me the best part of AD is their unique kits, my favorites are Vintage Dry, Boutique Mallets, Session Percussion and reel machines, I also have black velvet for more heavy rock projects and I use Jazz brushes from time to time.

sQeetz · Post by **sQeetz** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:05 pm

I actually have all of them. But I rather like to assemble my own drumkits from a blank preset, so I use the individual drum sounds like they were samples (very expressive ones). Combining them as I see fit. So I have no favorite actually. They are all valuable

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:20 pm

Vintage Dry is amazing. Sounds like a thousand classic recordings. Although they all have a heavy vintage color, there is a lot variation in the kits and I personally believe it's the most versatile adpak. If I could only choose one drum sample instrument/library for all time, it would be Vintage Dry.

donkey tugger · Post by **donkey tugger** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 7:34 pm

sQeetz wrote: Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:05 pm I actually have all of them. But I rather like to assemble my own drumkits from a blank preset, so I use the individual drum sounds like they were samples (very expressive ones). Combining them as I see fit. So I have no favorite actually. They are all valuable

It's good how the drums from the different kits do tend to all work with each other nicely, and don't sound out of place.

Difficult one to pick a favourite I've got most of them too. Most of them can be useful in multiple genres, given the amount of effects, routing and envelope options etc, but if pushed for 3 covering a good range I'd go for Modern Jazz Sticks, United Pop, and Blue Oyster......today.

Scrubbing Monkeys · Post by **Scrubbing Monkeys** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 8:14 pm

Vintage dry .....all rounder
Studio rock .....my presenr kit for two sets worth of backing tracks.
RnB kit.......just full of flavor.

I dont really do metal or jazz

lights · Post by **lights** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:07 pm

I faced your exact dilemma, last night.
Decided to go for kits that had the furthest possible sonic character from those I already own.
Ended up with Boutique Mallets, Jazz Brush and Reel Machines.

But this purchase strategy works better if you own a few kits already, I guesss.

The thing is, I really enjoy working with AD2. IMO, It's a straight forward drums/percussion module that can do a lot of rhythm work heavy lifting when working on a track. You can use it for its patterns when sketching out ideas or live record some expressive drumming when the mood is right. Some kit pieces sound better than others so I tend to mix and match kit pieces into different kits.

Personally I think the R&B kit, the Fairfax 2 and Black Velvet are the most versatile all rounders, but it will really depend on the kind of music you produce.

Don't disregard the individual kit pieces choices though. Even after you settle on your choice of kits, you can go back and choose individual kit pieces to supplement your sonic options. A piccolo snare, or a specific base drum etc.

JamesC01 · Post by **JamesC01** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:12 pm

lights wrote: Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:07 pm I faced with your exact dilemma, last night.
Decided to go for kits that had the furthest possible sonic character from those I already own.
Ended up with Boutique Mallets, Jazz Brush and Reel Machines.

But this purchase strategy works better if you own a few kits already, I guesss.

The thing is, I really enjoy working with AD2. IMO, It's a straight forward drums/percussion module that can do a lot of rhythm work heavy lifting when working on a track. You can use it for its patterns when sketching out ideas or live record some expressive drumming when the mood is right. Some kit pieces sound better than others so I tend to mix and match kit pieces into different kits.

Personally I think the R&B kit, the Fairfax 2 and Black Velvet are the most versatile all rounders, but to will really depend on the kind of music you produce.

Don't disregard the individual kit pieces choices though. Even after you settle on your choice of kits, you can go back and choose individual kit pieces to supplement your sonic options. A piccolo snare, or a specific base drum etc.

I went with the fairfax 2 kit so far (it seemed to be recommended quite a lot when I searched it up,) so now I have two kits to choose. The Soul/RnB kit does seem quite nice.

jens · Post by **jens** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:48 pm

Good choice - and I agree with DT in regards to recommending United Pop - and I personally also quite like the Black Oyster kit and the oft-mentioned Vintage Dry...

Having said that: both Boutique Mallets and even more so Session Percussion will give you something different that you can mix&match with the conventional kits...

Scrubbing Monkeys · Post by **Scrubbing Monkeys** » Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:55 pm

Oh yeah.....I cant live without session perc...

donkey tugger · Post by **donkey tugger** » Fri Sep 06, 2024 6:20 am

I'd agree with others on the Soul & R&B kit. Whilst it's probably not quite as versatile as some of the others, it's absolutely gorgeous for that tight sounding close miked stuff.

JamesC01 · Post by **JamesC01** » Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:50 pm

jens wrote: Thu Sep 05, 2024 9:48 pm Good choice - and I agree with DT in regards to recommending United Pop - and I personally also quite like the Black Oyster kit and the oft-mentioned Vintage Dry...

Having said that: both Boutique Mallets and even more so Session Percussion will give you something different that you can mix&match with the conventional kits...

I went with the black oyster as my second kit. The 'dry' preset seems just like a good solid drum sound.

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:53 pm

Vintage dry is awesome. So are the jazz kits, brushes in particular. I also like the Reel machines for a different take on classic drum machines with the AD mapping and processing. These ones are my favs as they are the most different from the factory packs, or whatever the original factory packs were (studio, rock and prog or vintage or whatever, which otherwise are probably my favs as well)

Which Addictive Drums ADpak(s) to pick? (No specific genre)