BFD 3 Explained®
Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : Working with the Browser and Kit Display
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6:26 Overview of the Interface
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.
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8:07 Global Controls
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.
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4:20 Setting Up Additional Content Locations
Learn how to have BFD3 scan and recognize file pathways and content locations containing BFD compatible libraries, presets, kits, or keymaps.
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4:17 Loading Presets and Kits
See how various elements are either restricted or enabled from being reloaded when switching presets and drum kits.
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6:58 Auditioning and Loading Drums Into Slots
See how to preview and load alternate or additional drums, in context as a groove is playing, or when the sequencer is stopped.
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5:16 Filtered Browsing
Learn how to use the filter panel, quick filters, favorites, and search functions to navigate through large libraries efficiently.
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4:32 Importing Samples
Learn how to create original multiple velocity layered instruments by importing samples using BFD3's Sample Import Panel.
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4:29 The File Menu
See how the File Menu is used to manage the saving and loading of drum kits and presets.
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6:28 The Kit Display
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.
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7:17 The MIDI Learn Wizard
Discover various ways of mapping drum articulations to various MIDI notes using BFD3's MIDI Learn Wizard.
Chapter 3 : The Drum Editor
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5:07 General and Tuning Controls
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.
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5:47 Bleed and Spill
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.
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5:23 Loudness (Dynamics) Controls
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.
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8:02 Ambient Mic Controls
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.
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5:58 Damping and Choke Controls
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.
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2:17 Cymbal Swell Controls
Explore the various algorithms that influence the characteristics and behavior of cymbal hits played in rapid succession.
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4:41 Articulation Controls
Discover how velocity is used to effect the pitch and damping of any or all of a drum's individual articulations.
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4:17 Tom Resonance and Hi Hat Tightening
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.
Chapter 4 : The Mixer
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5:17 Mixer Overview
Learn to control the display and navigate through the various mixer views and menus.
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8:21 Faders Mode
Discover the control and functions available in this mode beyond making simple fader and pan adjustments.
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8:30 Other Mixer Modes
See how the Tweaks, Effects, and Sends modes interact with other areas of the interface.
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4:54 Navigating the Effects Editor
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.
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7:10 Using Effects
See and hear a few of the built in effects processors in action, including the DCAM compressor, EnvShaper, and Filter Mod processors.
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4:16 Using Sends
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.
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4:39 Sidechain Processing
Discover how side chain processing is used to allow an external signal to determine the behavior and response of selected effects processors within BFD3.
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7:03 Exporting from BFD3
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).
Chapter 5 : The Groove Engine
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4:23 Groove Engine Overview
An Introduction to the main elements and concepts pertaining to BFD3's groove engine.
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6:04 The Groove Browser
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.
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6:33 The Palette
Learn to set default and slot specific start and end actions that apply to the playback of grooves within the 128 available palette slots.
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5:17 Playing Grooves Via MIDI
Learn to 'play' the groove palette by assigning and triggering the individual groove slots with MIDI notes.
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9:22 Navigating the Groove Editor
Explore some of the various functions in the Groove Editor that are used to modify and edit existing groove events.
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8:50 Creating and Editing Grooves
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.
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6:13 Using Groove FX
Discover some interesting and creative non destructive velocity and timing based processes available in the groove FX section.
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7:01 The Drum Track
See how the drum track is used to create a complete performance by adding and editing patterns and grooves.
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5:00 Recording MIDI Into BFD3
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.
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4:29 Exporting MIDI and Audio
Learn how export grooves, palettes, and the drum track as audio or MIDI. using either the File menu commands or drag and drop functions.
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2:29 Importing MIDI Files
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.
Chapter 6 : Mapping
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3:43 Key Mapping Window Overview
Introduction to the layout and main areas of the MIDI Key Mapping Window.
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5:04 Mapping Drum Articulations and Grooves
Explore several ways of creating assignments that map single or multiple articulations, or grooves from the groove palette, to keys for MIDI triggering.
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5:28 The Mapping Editor
Learn how to use the Assignments List and Mapping Response Panel to create velocity splits between.
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5:03 Automation
Learn how to assign and work with host automation, note automation, and MIDI CC automation in BFD3.
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3:26 Working with Program Changes
Learn how to set up program change messages within BFD3, so that presets can be changed remotely.
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6:26 Preferences Round Up Pt. 1
See how the preferences affect the behavior and response of various aspects of BFD3's interface.
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9:30 Preferences Round Up Pt. 2
Explore the remaining preferences, as you learn to tailor BFD3's look, feel, and response to best suit your personal work flow.
Product Overview
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!
Eli starts with an introduction and then dives right in showing you how to work with the Browser and Kit Display. Global Controls are then demonstrated, followed by how to load presets and kits, audition individual sounds and import samples.
Next, Eli shows you how to edit the individual drum's panning and pitch, as well as bleed, spill, loudness and ambience. Damping, choke and cymbal swell controls are explained and demonstrated, and then tutorials on articulation and resonance tweaking are given.
The Mixer is then revealed and Eli covers every feature and function such as Faders Mode, Tweaks, Effects and Sends, as well as in-depth coverage of the Effects Editor and how to use them. Compression and Sidechaining are also shown, as well as how to export BFD files and audio into your host DAW.
Eli now introduces you to The Groove Engine, where the real BFD3 magic happens. You'll see how to browse, play, edit and create your own grooves and rudiments with realistic sticking patterns and more. Eli wraps up the series with detailed tutorials on mapping and automation within BFD3 to create ultra realistic drum parts with great feel, and how to set up BFD3's preferences for optimized workflow and more.
If you want the best acoustic drum parts for your songs and productions, look no further than BFD3... Watch "BFD3 Explained" today and get your groove on!
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Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
Saved!
I'd used BFD2 before a few years ago, then upgraded to BFD3 and got stuck. Trying to navigate around BFD3 on my own and mapping to V-Drums was like going round in circles, and reading the manual is punishing (if you can stay awake). I was thinking of ditching BFD and trying Superior drummer, but then I went into Eli's course and the fog cleared. The speed of the course is spot on and when you look for more detail in the manual it all of a sudden makes sense. The course covers a lot of ground and I dip back into it from time to time when I'm stuck. Well recommended
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 10 months ago
Good in depth explanation of the interface, perhaps a little dry without examples of application in real tracks?
While this is a very good and essential dive into all the features of BFD3, I would still love to see a follow up, maybe 'BFD3 In Action' as I felt I still didn't know enough about using BFD3 in actual tracks. Eli is always great and I'm sure he could bring some excitement to the subject!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Logic Pro
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Most Musical Virtual Drums
Eli K. is a great teacher. I have listened to this BFD3 class numerous times. As we learn, we often realize how much more is there to discover. I hope BFD3 found a good home with now Roli as it is truly a very deep and sophisticated instrument.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
This course solved the mystery!
Ever since upgrading from BFD2 to BFD3 I felt completely lost. None of my previous kits seemed to work correctly, and everything was mapped to different notes. I had my BFD content all in different places, and after a year and a half, I was ready to give up on it. As a last ditch effort, I thought I would see if there were any online tutorials that could help me. I found the groove3 tutorial on BFD3 and they allowed me to take the first few lessons before I had to commit to purchasing the course. Once I was about 2 minutes into the first lesson, I knew that I would want to take the entire course. Everything became so clear and within the first day, I was using features I had never even known about in BFD3. All of the mysteries were solved, and I couldn't be happier. BFD3 is an AMAZING drum emulator, and BFD3 EXPLAINED is a great course.
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Really a reference point for me!
After a few weeks I decided to extend my subscription to 1 year. Really a useful resource!
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Excellent - very clear and logical and complete
This is teaching me so much about a really brilliant tool, love it. Just wish the top and bottom strips wouldn't pop up every time I move the mouse, obscuring the action
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Mastering Facility, Sound for Film/TV, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Very very Helpful
Perfect and in Depth
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Mastering Facility, Sound for Film/TV, Cubase
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Great insight to BFD3 for non-drummers
This is a great series and very informative of the scope and detail that BFD3 delivers. I knew it was a great package and have dabbled over the years since I got BFD Lite as a freebie, then ventured into BFD2 full product, but I had no idea of the level of detail, granularity, and nuance that it goes to. This video series really opens it up....and I'm only half way through! As a non-drummer, for me it has given me insight to the possibilities of making decent backing rhythm tracks to further develop production ideas that would otherwise remain as just ideas. Serious value for money!
I am a: Audio Engineer, Musician
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Excellent Higlhly recommended let''s have part 2!
This is Tuition at its best. Eli goes over the software diligently, clearly and musically. He understands this deep software very well and is able to explain the detail of how it is used to tease out various nuances. After going through the videos you will also know the interface. Eli is not only an excellent tutor but also a drummer. He has an additional tutorial called "Drumming Explained" where he uses a real kit and explains how a drummer approaches beat creation, did you know there are apparently 42 "sticking patterns'that can use various drum surfaces - great for the non drumming composer to get a grasp. I say this would be a good companion volume Let's hope he creates a video set called "BFD Advanced" where he can follow up by showing how beats are created in a daw artistically, rather than technically, perhaps using the material he presents in Drumming Explained.
Submitted 4 years ago
Excellent!
Eli does a great job of keeping it simple and to the point! If you want to know the in's and out's of BFD 3, then look no further!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Professional, Audio Engineer, Musician
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 4 months ago
Saved!
I'd used BFD2 before a few years ago, then upgraded to BFD3 and got stuck. Trying to navigate around BFD3 on my own and mapping to V-Drums was like going round in circles, and reading the manual is punishing (if you can stay awake). I was thinking of ditching BFD and trying Superior drummer, but then I went into Eli's course and the fog cleared. The speed of the course is spot on and when you look for more detail in the manual it all of a sudden makes sense. The course covers a lot of ground and I dip back into it from time to time when I'm stuck. Well recommended
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Studio One
Submitted 10 months ago
Good in depth explanation of the interface, perhaps a little dry without examples of application in real tracks?
While this is a very good and essential dive into all the features of BFD3, I would still love to see a follow up, maybe 'BFD3 In Action' as I felt I still didn't know enough about using BFD3 in actual tracks. Eli is always great and I'm sure he could bring some excitement to the subject!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Logic Pro
Submitted 2 years ago
Most Musical Virtual Drums
Eli K. is a great teacher. I have listened to this BFD3 class numerous times. As we learn, we often realize how much more is there to discover. I hope BFD3 found a good home with now Roli as it is truly a very deep and sophisticated instrument.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Submitted 2 years ago
This course solved the mystery!
Ever since upgrading from BFD2 to BFD3 I felt completely lost. None of my previous kits seemed to work correctly, and everything was mapped to different notes. I had my BFD content all in different places, and after a year and a half, I was ready to give up on it. As a last ditch effort, I thought I would see if there were any online tutorials that could help me. I found the groove3 tutorial on BFD3 and they allowed me to take the first few lessons before I had to commit to purchasing the course. Once I was about 2 minutes into the first lesson, I knew that I would want to take the entire course. Everything became so clear and within the first day, I was using features I had never even known about in BFD3. All of the mysteries were solved, and I couldn't be happier. BFD3 is an AMAZING drum emulator, and BFD3 EXPLAINED is a great course.
I am a: Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Pro Tools
Submitted 3 years ago
Really a reference point for me!
After a few weeks I decided to extend my subscription to 1 year. Really a useful resource!
Submitted 3 years ago
Excellent - very clear and logical and complete
This is teaching me so much about a really brilliant tool, love it. Just wish the top and bottom strips wouldn't pop up every time I move the mouse, obscuring the action
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Mastering Facility, Sound for Film/TV, Pro Tools
Submitted 3 years ago
Very very Helpful
Perfect and in Depth
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Mastering Facility, Sound for Film/TV, Cubase
Submitted 4 years ago
Great insight to BFD3 for non-drummers
This is a great series and very informative of the scope and detail that BFD3 delivers. I knew it was a great package and have dabbled over the years since I got BFD Lite as a freebie, then ventured into BFD2 full product, but I had no idea of the level of detail, granularity, and nuance that it goes to. This video series really opens it up....and I'm only half way through! As a non-drummer, for me it has given me insight to the possibilities of making decent backing rhythm tracks to further develop production ideas that would otherwise remain as just ideas. Serious value for money!
I am a: Audio Engineer, Musician
Submitted 4 years ago
Excellent Higlhly recommended let''s have part 2!
This is Tuition at its best. Eli goes over the software diligently, clearly and musically. He understands this deep software very well and is able to explain the detail of how it is used to tease out various nuances. After going through the videos you will also know the interface. Eli is not only an excellent tutor but also a drummer. He has an additional tutorial called "Drumming Explained" where he uses a real kit and explains how a drummer approaches beat creation, did you know there are apparently 42 "sticking patterns'that can use various drum surfaces - great for the non drumming composer to get a grasp. I say this would be a good companion volume Let's hope he creates a video set called "BFD Advanced" where he can follow up by showing how beats are created in a daw artistically, rather than technically, perhaps using the material he presents in Drumming Explained.
Submitted 4 years ago
Excellent!
Eli does a great job of keeping it simple and to the point! If you want to know the in's and out's of BFD 3, then look no further!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Professional, Audio Engineer, Musician
1. When did you start dabbling in music?
I started playing drums in high school at age fourteen. Like most kids my age around then, I was into progressive rock. Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Yes. They rocked my world. A few short years later though, my musical life changed. While studying music in college I discovered Charlie Parker, Milt Jackson, Sonny Stitt, and John Coltrane. Milt Jackson spoke to me in such a profound way that it left me no choice but to take up vibraphone.
These great players, along with drummers like Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Elvin Jones changed not only the way I thought about drumming, but also music - and by extension, life - as a whole. I realized life was meant to be a creative endeavor. The idea of improvising based on a loose set of guidelines and rules permeated into my psyche even when I wasn't holding a pair of drumsticks or mallets. But if I am going to be perfectly truthful, I have to hold Henry Miller and Woody Allen equally responsible for shaping the way I view and experience the world around me.
2. What training have you had?
I am currently an Apple certified Logic Pro. Young and cocky, and armed with only a partial University degree, I dropped out of school and began playing steady commercial hotel engagements and jazz gigs when I could. This went on for many years until I decided it was time to complete my degree - which I ultimately did with a major in Political Science and a minor in music.
It was at this point that I formed my current band Nightshift. We are going in to our twenty third year now - playing commercial one nighters like weddings, corporate events, etc. Don't turn your nose up at it though - it has allowed me a wonderful quality of life. It gave me the freedom to go back to school and complete a post graduate degree in Communications Studies - all the while supporting myself by playing weddings.
3. When did you get into recording?
It was in this graduate program - in the early nineties - that I found myself drawn to the fledgling emerging universe of hard disc recording and midi sequencing. Based on nothing more than the recommendation of one of my band mates who had an old Atari, I jumped in head first and bought a Mac LC ll, along with a version 1.1 of what was then Notator Logic. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But, in hindsight, it was a decision of epic importance in my life - shaping my future as much as the music of Milt Jackson and Charlie Parker did fifteen years prior.
I opened up my own commercial home studio in 1998 and began doing a variety of projects, working on radio jingles, artist CD projects, and whatever came my way. A couple of years later a colleague called me up - desperate. He was working at a post production house and one of the editors had just quit. They were doing audio post for a weekly TV series and needed a Pro Tools editor - and fast! And so, once again, I jumped in head first into what would ultimately open up my world even more - the world of Pro Tools.
4. People you have worked with/for?
Focusing on Logic, I built up a small but loyal client base and my phone kept ringing for Logic tech support and instruction. Film composers and studio owners all over the city were calling me. Even the music stores were giving out my phone number at this point! This kind of stuff becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. The more of it you do, the more calls you get to keep doing it. At least that's the way it should be!
As my Logic chops kept growing, I was hired by an old buddy of mine, Len Sasso, who was then an associate editor at Electronic Musician magazine, and began writing some columns for them. I had a blast doing them - and really learned to focus and express my thoughts in a concise and clear manner. This lead to a collaboration with LA based composer Terry Michael Huud on the 2006 film called Civic Duty - which was certainly one of the highlights of my professional life as a composer.
5. Why are you so good at training people?
I wake up every day excited to boot up, and create. Whether it's instructional videos, creating music, working with a studio client, performing with my band, or teaching at the schools - my days are filled with what I love doing. Enriched by the stimulation and creative freedom this modern music making software brings to my life. I bring that excitement and passion to each and every training product I create. My years of experience both using and teaching these programs has taught me the best way to make the user comfortable with these complex programs.
Products by Eli
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tutorial videoAAS Chromaphone Explained
Eli Krantzberg returns, this time showing you the incredible AAS Chromaphone creative percussive synthesizer. This synth is capable of creating incredibly expressive drum, percussion, string, and synth-like instruments, so hold the phone and check it out!
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tutorial videoAAS Strum GS-2 Explained
In this FREE series commissioned by Applied Acoustic Systems, Eli Krantzberg covers the expansive performance library of electric and acoustic guitar strumming inside and out, and shows you how to make Strum GS-2 your new favorite session guitarist!
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tutorial videoAirEQ Explained
Eli Krantzberg returns with an in-depth series on the amazing AirEQ by Eiosis, which was designed with a vision of achieving musical, technical and sonic excellence in equalization. This just might become your to go-to EQ!
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tutorial videoAlchemy 2 Explained
Logic Pro X 10.2 integrated Alchemy 2, one of the most powerful virtual instruments ever made. In this three-hour video training tutorial series, Eli Krantzberg teaches you how to become a Alchemy wizard and unleash all of its power on your music!
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tutorial videoAmple Sound Super Jumbo Explained
Eli Krantzberg presents a detailed series of Super Jumbo tutorials! Learn Super Jumbo, Ample Sounds’s incredibly realistic virtual acoustic guitar instrument inside and out, as well as how to use it creatively.
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