Best drum sounds for DP

[DavidLunday]

I was wondering if anyone can give me suggestions on getting some really good sounding drums...whether they are samples or a drum machine. Right now I have an Alesis SR-16 but it doesn't sound great. I also have Bitheadz Unity Session sampler.

I know I could get a much better recording by recording each individual drum sound on it's own track. However, I can't achieve this since all the sounds are on one program in my sampler (they're just spread across the keyboard.) Unless I use that one program as many times as I need for each drum sound...but then I would have to use up like 6-8 of my sampler tracks. It seems like there should be an easier way.

Also any tips on compression and reverb would be very helpful...my plug-ins are stock DP 2.72. Thanks, Dave

[DavidLunday]

Yes the Alesis is very easy to use...I've used it a lot actually, and I usually record using all 4 outputs so I can give the kick and snare it's own channel (aux L and aux R) and then use Main R and Main L for the overheads and toms...This way I can compress add reverb etcetera to the snare and kick by themselves. However, I'm using DP 2.72 and I don't know how to sync the SR-16 with Digital Performer. So now I'm using Drum samples from Unity Session instead....but the SR-16 is much punchier I think so I would like to be able to use it. Using sampled snare, kick, etc. is easier in my sequencer because it's so flexible that way...because I can use the DP preamp/compressor plug in as well as the reverb. But in final mixdown I can also take the sampled sounds and go out to better sounding outboard compressor, reverb etc. to get a really tight drum sound. I haven't done this yet but I think it would be better since analog gear sounds better than what I'm going to get out of the Stock DP preamp compressor. Any other suggestions? thanks, Dave