Superior Drummer 3 Explained

Want superior tutorials for the highly anticipated drum production workstation, Superior Drummer 3? Look no further... Toontrack expert Luke Oswald presents the most in-depth video tutorials available about Toontrack's new flagship drum VI, Superior Drummer 3.

Getting Started

• SD3 Introduction (01:15) - In this video, Luke introduces you to Superior Drummer 3 and explains why this software has substantial meaning to him as a longtime.

• Upgrade & Installation Options (05:47) - Luke explains the upgrade options for Superior Drummer 3 and discusses the variety of core library downloads and what you can expect for each.

• Interface Layout Options (04:53) - Learn how to resize the Superior Drummer 3 interface and detach/reattach the tab windows for infinite display possibilities.

Menu Options

• File Menu (02:25) - Luke explains how to save and open SD3 project files and how to setup a default project.

• Edit Menu (02:39) - Luke explains the benefits of the Copy/Paste and Undo/Redo features within Superior Drummer 3.

• Settings Menu (08:45) - Explore the global settings within Superior Drummer 3, including mouse control and navigation options, database and library management, edrum settings and audio/MIDI setup.

• View Menu (01:37) - Learn how to alter the interface layout and how you can customize a variety of viewing options within Superior Drummer 3.

Loading Libraries & Presets

• Library Selection (01:50) - See how to change expansion libraries and how Superior Drummer 3 handles legacy SD2 and EZD2 libraries.

• Preset Selection (03:18) - Luke explains how to load mix presets for use as a creative starting point.

• Select Parts & Part Presets (03:59) - Get an in-depth explanation of how to load only part of a mix preset, and learn how to load just the drum selection or just the mixer settings for endless creative possibilities.

• Saving & Loading User Presets (03:13) - Learn how to save your own custom mix presets and how you can recall them at a later time.

• RAM & Memory Usage (07:09) - Luke discusses the importance of memory usage and discusses the caching and quality options available for Superior Drummer 3.

Drums Tab

• Drum & Tool Selection (05:45) - Luke demonstrates how you can select an instrument and use specific performance tools like rods, brushes and mallets.

• Articulation Selection (03:28) - Learn all about the variety of articulations within Superior Drummer 3 and how they can be selected and edited.

• Search, Replace & Add Instruments (06:54) - Superior Drummer 3 features a new Instrument Search feature that allows you to search for any instrument to replace existing ones or add new sounds to your kit setup.

• Importing Your Own Samples (07:55) - Discover how to import your own custom samples in a variety of ways to create your own hybrid drum kits.

• Creating Instrument Stacks (08:09) - Luke explains how to quickly stack drums to create custom layered drum kits.

• Box Parameter Options (03:49) - Learn about the Box Parameter layout options and how you can customize them to your own way of working.

• Level, Env, Tuning & Pitch FX (04:02) - Luke now discusses the Level, Envelope Tuning and Pitch FX options and how they can be used to alter the sound of your selected instrument/articulation(s).

• Velocity Gate, Curve, Soft Hit Level & Smoothing (04:51) - See how to manipulate the velocities of your MIDI performances using the Velocity Gate, Velocity Curve, Soft Hit Level and Smoothing.

• Technical Functions (03:18) - Luke reveals some of the deeper functions within Superior Drummer 3 such as Voice & Layer, Humanize, Mute Tail Articulations, Hi-Hat CC Off-Set and The MIDI Monitor, and how they affect the loaded samples and incoming MIDI.

Grooves Tab

• Search Field, Filters & MIDI (06:25) - Luke explains a variety of ways to search for MIDI grooves using your own search criteria and tag filters.

• Tap2Find Filtering (03:06) - Learn how to use the new Tap2Find function for even greater MIDI groove filtering options.

• Filter Settings & Web Shop MIDI (01:57) - Get the lowdown on the filter settings and how you can show or hide any filter category. Luke also explains how you can audition MIDI that you have not yet purchased.

Mixer Tab

• Basic Mixer Functions (07:00) - Luke now explains the basics of the Superior Drummer 3 mixer and discusses Solo/Mute adjustments, fader adjustments, routing and channel visibility.

• Mixer FX Overview (04:40) - Now see how to add, move, copy, configure and remove Superior Drummer 3 plug-in effects.

• EQ Effects (03:16) - Luke reveals and discusses the three EQ options available within the Mixer Tab.

• Dynamics Effects (04:54) - Learn all about the various dynamic processors including compressors, limiters and exciters found in SD3.

• Distortion Effects (02:38) - Get an explanation of the distortion effects that can be used to add grit and texture to your drum tracks.

• Reverb Effects (02:21) - Superior Drummer 3 comes stocked with a variety of ambience processors including plate, room, hall and spring reverbs. See and hear them in-action!

• Delay Effects (01:38) - Luke now demonstrates the great sounding Tape, Filter and Classic delay effect options available in the Superior Drummer 3 mixer.

• Modulation Effects (04:19) - Discover SD3's chorus, flanger, tremolo and and other modulation tools within the Superior Drummer 3 mixer. And how to apply them to your drums.

• Utilizing Mix Presets (05:45) - Luke explains why learning how to utilize Mix Presets is a valuable tool for sound design development.

• Using Bus Sends (03:43) - Learn how to use parallel bus sends for additional mix processing options.

• Bus Send Output Variations (03:35) - Get an in-depth explanation of the Pre-Fader, Post-Effect and Post-Fader Bus Send options.

• Bus Send Applications (03:26) - Luke now discusses a few real-world applications for using Bus Sends.

• Routing Microphone Channels (05:49) - Learn how to configure channel routing for instrument microphones.

• Routing Instrument Stacks (03:59) - Luke now teaches you how to route microphone channels for stacked instruments.

• Multi-Channel Output Overview (02:31) - Learn how to setup automatic and manual multi-channel output configurations.

• Bleed Level Adjustments (07:30) - Luke demonstrates how microphone bleed levels work in the new Superior Drummer 3 mixer.

• Additional Microphone Bleed (02:04) - Learn how to quickly enable and disable microphone bleed for ambient microphones, and create new sonic textures for your drums.

• Bleed & Close Mic Levels (04:42) - Discover how to adjust the close mic instrument vs bleed levels, how to adjust the offset for microphone channels, and how to adjust the microphone envelope, for dialing in the perfect drum sound.

Tracker Tab

• Importing Audio (02:58) - Learn how to quickly import audio into Tracker for quick audio to MIDI conversion.

• Extracting MIDI from Audio (06:24) - Luke discusses the main methods for extracting MIDI from audio including how to set and dial-in the Threshold, Match w/ Sound, Amount Dial and Bleed Reduction controls for a perfect extraction.

• Audio To MIDI Conversion: Multi-Track Drums (07:12) - Luke now walks you through an entire multi-track drum recording where he's able to extract MIDI from all individual drum audio tracks and then have them trigger SD3 sounds!

• Exporting MIDI From Tracker (02:00) - See how to export your converted MIDI files to your computer or drag and drop into the Superior Drummer 3 Song Track.

• Audio To MIDI Conversion: Stereo Drum Track (08:27) - Now learn how to take a stereo drum track recording and extract MIDI parts for each drum instrument. Cool!

• Additional Tracker Functions (03:13) - Luke now explains some additional settings that are helpful when using Tracker, such as Snap To Grid, Snap To Transient, Region Editing and Playhead Synchronization.

The Song Track

• Creating Song Templates (06:15) - Luke shows you how to generate an entire drum track from a single MIDI file.

• Saving User Song Templates (03:57) - See how to save your own song track arrangements for use as a User Template with other MIDI grooves.

• Importing & Recording MIDI (03:43) - Luke discusses additional methods for importing MIDI into the Song Track and also talks about recording directly into Superior Drummer 3.

• Manipulating MIDI (04:25) - Once you've created your drum track, see how to manipulate and edit MIDI blocks within the Song Track.

• Edit Play Style (08:30) - Now learn how to make musical changes to your MIDI grooves using the intuitive Edit Play Style function.

• Grid Editor: Add, Delete & Quantize MIDI (05:09) - Learn how to add, delete and quantize your MIDI grooves in the Grid Editor.

• Grid Editor: Velocity Adjustments (03:01) - Learn all about the Global, Dynamic and Fade velocity adjustment options to create more realistic drum tracks.

• Grid Editor: Editing Instrument Articulations (02:39) - Luke demonstrates how you can easily edit instrument articulations in an organized fashion.

• Grid Editor: Editing MIDI CC Information (01:31) - Luke shows you everything you need to know to edit MIDI CC information within the Grid Editor.

• Export MIDI & Bounce Audio (08:26) - Luke now demonstrates how to export your MIDI grooves and bounce high quality audio in a variety of ways, directly from the Superior Drummer 3 Song Track.

Macro Controls

• Assigning Parameters To a Hardware Controller (03:44) - Luke now shows you how to use the MIDI Learn function to quickly assign individual, or multiple parameters to a hardware controller for more creative options.

• Upper, Lower & Slope Parameters (08:24) - Luke discusses how to use the Macro Controls parameter adjustments for endless creative control over multiple parameters at once.

• Automating Macro Controls (03:08) - Learn how to automate Macro Controls in your DAW to record multiple parameter adjustments.

E-Drum Settings

• Custom Mapping & Learn Function (02:07) - See how to setup MIDI mapping for your electronic drum module and how to create custom mapping presets using the convenient Learn function.

• Custom Positional Sensing (04:11) - Luke explains how to use the new Positional Sensing capabilities of Superior Drummer 3 to adjust the transition point between multiple articulations.

• Global Velocity Adjustments (02:25) - Learn how to configure global velocity settings and hi-hat CC controls for incoming MIDI to make trigger Superior Drummer 3 just right.

• Series Sign-Off (00:49) - Luke thanks you for joining him on your SD3 journey.