BFD 3 Explained

BFD3 by FXpansion is their next generation acoustic drum studio, ready to create realistic, studio quality drum tracks and grooves. Let BFD master Eli Krantzberg show you how to get the most out of this powerful software and make professional sounding, record ready drum tracks fast!

Introduction
Introduction (01:37) - A brief summary of how this video series is laid out.
Working with the Browser and Kit Display
Overview of the Interface (06:26) - Become familiar with the broad layout of BFD3. Learn to navigate around the Browser, Kit Display, Drum Editor, Mixer, Effects Editor, Groove Editor, Key Map Panel, Global Controls, and Navigation Bar.
Global Controls (08:07) - Explore the controls that are used to control global aspects of the current BFD preset including, tuning, velocity offsets, randomization/humanization, transport, auto play modes, and various performance indicators.
Setting Up Additional Content Locations (04:20) - Learn how to have BFD3 scan and recognize file pathways and content locations containing BFD compatible libraries, presets, kits, or keymaps.
Loading Presets and Kits (04:17) - See how various elements are either restricted or enabled from being reloaded when switching presets and drum kits.
Auditioning and Loading Drums Into Slots (06:58) - See how to preview and load alternate or additional drums, in context as a groove is playing, or when the sequencer is stopped.
Filtered Browsing (05:16) - Learn how to use the filter panel, quick filters, favorites, and search functions to navigate through large libraries efficiently.
Importing Samples (04:32) - Learn how to create original multiple velocity layered instruments by importing samples using BFD3's Sample Import Panel.
The File Menu (04:29) - See how the File Menu is used to manage the saving and loading of drum kits and presets.
The Kit Display (06:28) - Explore the Kit Display functions in both Select and Link Modes. Learn to flip the drum kit micing perspective between audience and drummer positions, and how create, audition, load, copy, swap, move, link, and delete drum slots directly from the Kit Display.
The MIDI Learn Wizard (07:17) - Discover various ways of mapping drum articulations to various MIDI notes using BFD3's MIDI Learn Wizard.
The Drum Editor
General and Tuning Controls (05:07) - See how this section of the drum editor is used to adjust the level and panning for each drum's direct mics; how to use the tuning section to change a drum's pitch either in continuous values (cents) or in semitones, and how to tune the fundamental pitch of the toms to specific MIDI notes.
Bleed and Spill (05:47) - Bleed simulates the sound of other drums captured in the kik and snare mics. Spill is the simulated bleed picked up by the tom mics. Learn to adjust the level and routing of each drum's bleed signal.
Loudness (Dynamics) Controls (05:23) - See how the Velocity dynamics, curve, and range knobs are used to scale and adjust the volume of the velocity layers being triggered either by external MIDI notes or the internal groove engine.
Ambient Mic Controls (08:02) - Explore the ambient mic controls in both the drum editor and the Tweaks page of the mixer. See how to control stereo imaging and positioning of the stereo ambiance mics, and how to balance the various ambience channels in relation to the direct mic channels.
Damping and Choke Controls (05:58) - Learn how to use the damping controls to decrease the decay time of a drum in both the direct mic and ambient mic channels; and how to use the choke settings to control how a preceding event decays when a new event is triggered.
Cymbal Swell Controls (02:17) - Explore the various algorithms that influence the characteristics and behavior of cymbal hits played in rapid succession.
Articulation Controls (04:41) - Discover how velocity is used to effect the pitch and damping of any or all of a drum's individual articulations.
Tom Resonance and Hi Hat Tightening (04:17) - Discover the way BFD3 emulates the tom resonance generated with snare and kick drum hits and the spill picked up by the tom mics; and learn how to emulate the increased damping and pitch offset on closed hi hat articulations that result from clamping down tightly on a hi hat pedal.
The Mixer
Mixer Overview (05:17) - Learn to control the display and navigate through the various mixer views and menus.
Faders Mode (08:21) - Discover the control and functions available in this mode beyond making simple fader and pan adjustments.
Other Mixer Modes (08:30) - See how the Tweaks, Effects, and Sends modes interact with other areas of the interface.
Navigating the Effects Editor (04:54) - Learn to use the Effects Editor to load move and copy effects, save and load presets, scroll through the effects slots, use the common controls found on all effects, and assign sends.
Using Effects (07:10) - See and hear a few of the built in effects processors in action, including the DCAM compressor, EnvShaper, and Filter Mod processors.
Using Sends (04:16) - Watch as sends are set up on the snare and overhead channels, and routed to an aux used to add more space and dimension to the sound of the room.
Sidechain Processing (04:39) - Discover how side chain processing is used to allow an external signal to determine the behavior and response of selected effects processors within BFD3.
Exporting from BFD3 (07:03) - Learn how to set export parameters including setting a destination export folder, arming individual channels for export, setting the bit depth, choosing a sync mode, and then importing the newly created files into the host DAW (Logic Pro X).
The Groove Engine
Groove Engine Overview (04:23) - An Introduction to the main elements and concepts pertaining to BFD3's groove engine.
The Groove Browser (06:04) - Learn how to audition grooves in sync with the host DAW directly from the groove browser, and how to load either palettes or individual grooves into the palette area and drum track.
The Palette (06:33) - Learn to set default and slot specific start and end actions that apply to the playback of grooves within the 128 available palette slots.
Playing Grooves Via MIDI (05:17) - Learn to 'play' the groove palette by assigning and triggering the individual groove slots with MIDI notes.
Navigating the Groove Editor (09:22) - Explore some of the various functions in the Groove Editor that are used to modify and edit existing groove events.
Creating and Editing Grooves (08:50) - See how the various tools are used to create and edit groove events, and how to use the Paint and Rudiment functions together to create inspiring patterns based on rudiment sticking patterns.
Using Groove FX (06:13) - Discover some interesting and creative non destructive velocity and timing based processes available in the groove FX section.
The Drum Track (07:01) - See how the drum track is used to create a complete performance by adding and editing patterns and grooves.
Recording MIDI Into BFD3 (05:00) - Learn how to record patterns from your DAW into the groove palette; and how to use loop record to overdub in real time on each pass.
Exporting MIDI and Audio (04:29) - Learn how export grooves, palettes, and the drum track as audio or MIDI. using either the File menu commands or drag and drop functions.
Importing MIDI Files (02:29) - Learn how to bring single or multiple MIDI files into BFD3 using the File Menu or drag and drop functions; and how to use the MIDI Import Panel to split and rename MIDI files as they are being imported.
Mapping
Key Mapping Window Overview (03:43) - Introduction to the layout and main areas of the MIDI Key Mapping Window.
Mapping Drum Articulations and Grooves (05:04) - Explore several ways of creating assignments that map single or multiple articulations, or grooves from the groove palette, to keys for MIDI triggering.
The Mapping Editor (05:28) - Learn how to use the Assignments List and Mapping Response Panel to create velocity splits between.
Automation (05:03) - Learn how to assign and work with host automation, note automation, and MIDI CC automation in BFD3.
Working with Program Changes (03:26) - Learn how to set up program change messages within BFD3, so that presets can be changed remotely.
Preferences Round Up Pt. 1 (06:26) - See how the preferences affect the behavior and response of various aspects of BFD3's interface.
Preferences Round Up Pt. 2 (09:30) - Explore the remaining preferences, as you learn to tailor BFD3's look, feel, and response to best suit your personal work flow.