Stylus RMX vs. Addictive vs. EZdrummer...

[ckbarlow]

Hey y'all:Among software drum apps, what would you recommend and why? For a while the comments were that nothing could touch Stylus but based on a quick search just now, I'm seeing as many mentions of Addictive and EZ on the forum now.(Also, pls pardon and redirect me if this has been covered - moments ago I searched for "drum" in this TR&P group spanning the last 365 days and didn't see a comparable thread - thanks.)Some context:I currently do not own dedicated drum software, so I'm looking for a bread-and-butter app. (That said, I use Logic 8, which by virtue of its big ol' library could be considered bread-and-butter...)I think I'd mainly use it for modern instrumentals and occasionally to flesh out a country song pitch. I've had two country forwards with simple guitar + vocal demos, but I know that if I flesh them out (well), I'll stand a better chance.Logic 8 has recently become my main DAW - in just the last couple of months. I've been quite happy with it. (I'd been working between Live and AudioDesk before that, and haven't had a project yet that required the sort of rhythmic surgery for which Live is so fantastic...)I have a 2.0GHz G5 desktop with a second internal drive, 500GB, so that's adequate; and just swapped a 200GB into my trusty MacBook, and 2GB of RAM, so that I could install and run Logic on it.At last year's Rally, I was ogling Stylus and Matto came up behind me and said, "This is indispensable. It's a must-have." That was pretty compelling! I just didn't have the scratch at the time. I'm sure they'll be back this year with a great TAXI discount and I want to be ready.Thanks everybody!CK

[mazz]

For bread and butter drums, EZ or Addictive are your best choices. For atmospheric, soundtrack, vibey stuff, Stylus is indispensable. There are some good "regular" drum expanders for Stylus but for what you say you want to do, I'd go for Addictive or EZ.That being said, if you have Logic and some good acoustic drum samples, there's plenty of very good MIDI loop libraries out there that you can get for not a lot of money. If you can get a kit set up in the General Midi layout, which may even be one of the options in Logic (EXS), then you're in good shape. Check out Groove Monkee for some very good grooves in a lot of different formats, including General Midi.Stylus is amazing and I use it on almost everything except where I need "real" drum parts. For that I go to EZ Drummer. I like the ability to mix the different mics together and load in different drums, etc. I've heard Addictive is similar in that regard, I haven't tried it myself.IMO one would have both if possible but I think you have a good foundation with Logic and some MIDI loops for your country stuff and Stylus for the Film/TV/groove/esoteric stuff.My 2 cents,Mazz

[ckbarlow]

Thanks, Mazz!RE: What I say I want to do... I'll be frank. I recently, being a geek, put my TAXI submission history into a spreadsheet and made myself face the statistical reality - I've done much, much better with instrumentals than with the country tunes (and as I mentioned yesterday in another discussion, I never dreamed I'd write country, just started last summer). Plus, as mentioned, my two country forwards were simple guitar + vocal demos. So my decision should be bigger than "which drum software"; it should be based in some deep "what should I be spending my time and energy on?" thought. Like you said, it would be ideal to cover both bases. When are we going to have a TAXI-member PowerBall pool, anyway?

[hummingbird]

I think the answer depends on what kind of music you do. I write a lot of electronica & orchestral hybrid, so Stylus was the best choice for me. However, I still plan on getting one of the others for more 'standard' style bedtracks (there are calls for rock, pop, jazz instrumentals as well). Of the two, Addictive & EZ Drummer - they are both good, Mazz likes EZD, and Matto likes AD, so... either one would work. On my wish list.

[ibanez468]

I would say, if you can get your hands on any two of them, get ahold of Stylus, for all of the reasons mentioned above, and either one of the other drum programs. That should put you in relatively good shape as far as drum programs are concerned. Just my .02 too.I-468

[ckbarlow]

OK - this is really starting to look like a consensus, and from some accomplished folks. If any of you would like to point me toward some example tracks that illustrate how you've used the different contenders, that would be some fun listening. As always, thanks each of you for your time - see you at the Rally,CK

[davewalton]

Oct 7, 2008, 10:17am, ckbarlow wrote:OK - this is really starting to look like a consensus, and from some accomplished folks. If any of you would like to point me toward some example tracks that illustrate how you've used the different contenders, that would be some fun listening. Asking ego-centric musician/composer types to post their music... this thread may never end. So let me happily start by posting these:Stylus RMX using the Burning Grooves expander pack (features our own Gitarrero on the "slurpy" strat... and the only real player I might add)www.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/HaveFun ... .mp3Stylus RMX itselfwww.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/MachineFunk.mp3Stylus RMX itselfwww.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/AmIDreaming.mp3

[ckbarlow]

Oct 7, 2008, 10:30am, davewalton wrote:Asking ego-centric musician/composer types to post their music... this thread may never end. So let me happily start by posting these:Stylus RMX using the Burning Grooves expander pack (features our own Gitarrero on the "slurpy" strat... and the only real player I might add)www.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/HaveFun ... .mp3Stylus RMX itselfwww.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/MachineFunk.mp3Stylus RMX itselfwww.DaveWaltonMusic.com/MyMusic/AmIDreaming.mp3sweet!

[mazz]

I'll jump in here!! http://www.johnmazzei.com/album/15Blown Away: Stylus plays the drums and also the rhythm guitar part via Nine Volt Audio loops convertedGolden Bubbles and Summer Memories: EZ drummer, Nashville brushes kitTahoe Drive: A mix of EZ Drummer playing the drum part and Stylus playing percussion, probably from Liquid GroovesOmniAmbient and Back Story: All percussion from Stylus (Back Story might have a little EW Stormdrum on it, I can't remember)Enjoy!!Mazz

[ckbarlow]

fun - thank you!