Best Drum Software For Pop/R&B/Soul/Funk Type Tunes

[BPlayer]

Hi Guys,

I got into ProTools about a week ago and want to get a drum plugin in the very near future. The only one I currently have is Reason-Adapted ReDrum that came with my 003 Rack Factory. I have been reading the threads and the names that seem to pop up the most are Strike at $299, DrumCore at $199, EZDrummer at $161 and Stylus RMX at $279.

From what I have read in the forum, DrumCore has the longer loops and StylusRMX will require me to purchase some add ons. I will probably use some loops but will also do some programming myself. (F.Y.I. – I also have a Boss DR-880 but felt that drum plugins would be more realistic and of better sound quality.)

My question is  which one has the best sounds for Pop/R&B/Soul/Funk type tunes? I doubt I’ll be doing much Hip Hop. I don’t mind spending the money on the higher priced software if it really has the best sounds and loops for the type music I play most.

I realize that I could probably use all of them in different scenarios but want to get a good one now and get started with it.

I’d also be curious about your opinions of ReDrum. I haven’t spent much time with it but it doesn’t seem to come up much in discussions of drumming software.

Thanks !

[Yuval Fuchs]

You are correct in that all of them will be useful, yet i'm sure you need to pay attention to your budget. That said, there is also the power of your current machine to consider when running these type of VI's. For ProTools, and the music styles you will be playing, I recommend Strike first, which was designed from the ground up to work with ONLY ProTools natively (as an RTAS plugin). Hence, it is probably the most effecient on your CPU out of the bunch. It's user interface IMHO, is also the most intuitive and easy to understand. Soundwise, it will definitely be in a different league when comparing to any hardware drum machine. My second choice would be Drumcore which adds a unique feature to the mix - think of drumcore as a pristine recording of Super Pro session drummers playing every style imaginable at every tempo (so virtually no time compression/expansion is occuring when changing BPM's) on their signature drum kits using their favorite mics. It also has a very easy to use interface and like Strike, can be used like a traditional drum sound module so you can program your own drum tracks.

I hope this helps you hone in to what you need.

[Audioholic]

they all have their strenghts, for electronic grooves, RMX is top notch, to get other sounds, you will need to buy expanders, not the best for acoustic sounding drums


EZ drummer is awesome, but you will also need expansions to get more variety, and not alot of really great midi files, but for acoustic sounds, this is great, I have many of the expanders to cover my needs.

Also check out addictive drums, it has synthy type drums and acoustic, kinda covers.

I would maybe plan on getting one with expansions, or maybe 2,

haven't used strike, but i bet is smoking, basing it off the demos.

[BPlayer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll probably pick up Strike first, learn it well and then determine if I need others. My Sweetwater sales rep also reccommended Strike as his first choice but I wanted some other opinions as well.