setup questions with MPD226 and Big Bang Universal Drums

Hi [name removed],

Thanks for getting in touch.

There’s certainly a way to get your Big Bang libraries to work. What’s the issue you’re facing?

The Big Bang Drums library is okay to start with (and it will work with the XpressPads finger drumming technique), but there are much better libraries for drums available, such as Addictive Drums, ezDrummer, Studio Drummer, Abbey Road Drummer, Superior Drummer, or BFD just to mention the most famous ones.

Hope this helps.

Best regards

Andreas

Thank you for your prompt reply.

i had sucessfully downloaded the two freeware ie SONiVOX Big Bang Cinematic Percussion 2.5 and Big Bang Drums 2.3 that comes with the Akai MPD226 controller.

But I am unable to open them so can I learned this course without these software and where can get those recommended by you?

Are you trying to run them in stand-alone mode or as a VST plugin?

Am I correctly assuming that you have downloaded the several-gigabyte big libraries and installed / unpacked them on your computer already?

Here are some virtual drum modules I recommend (Big Bang Drums is a good starting point but can’t compete with these):

Addictive Drums 2 Solo

Addictive Drums 2 Artist Bundle

eZdrummer 2

“Studio Drummer” and some “Abbey Road Drummer” editions are included in Native Instruments’ precious Komplete Bundle, but it’s an investment as well.

These are my personal faves. I’ve also written a blog post about my take on virtual drum modules.

Hope this helps.

Sorry to say that I’m not sure what it meant “trying to run them in stand-alone mode or as a VST plugin”
I had successfully downloaded them but can’t seem to “opened them up to use it”
Does that mean I’m not qualify to learn this course?
I hope to learn with the free software first before I decide to invest in other software.
Thank you so mucb ?

No probs.

May I ask what DAW you have been working with so far? I’m not sure whether or not BB Drums can be used in standalone mode or must be used as a plugin inside a DAW. I had to re-build my PC recently and haven’t installed BB Drums since. That’s why I’m not sure.

There are basically two ways of using music software components, such as virtual drum modules for example. Some can only be used inside a DAW as a plugin, others can also be used in “stand-alone” mode which means that no DAW (such as Cubase, Logic, Live, Pro Tools, FL-Studio, etc.) is required.

If you need to run BB Drums as a plugin, you’ll have to install the VST-version of this program into the folder, your DAW expects to find those VST files in. After that, your DAW needs to rescan that folder and then you’ll be able to use it.

I’m still unable to run the SONiVOX Big Bang Cinematic Percussion 2.5 and Big Bang Drums 2.3.

But i’m still interested in your Finger Drumming course. Can I take this course without using the above software?

Yes you can use the XpressPads eCourse without the BB Drums library. There are many different virtual drum kit options you can choose from, even one that is free of charge, which is Drummic’a from Sennheiser, but it requires the Native Instruments Kontakt Sampler. The best recommendations for virtual drum kits I provided below.

Hope this helps.

Sorry for asking so many questions, are the virtual drum kits you recommend be as complicated to run too?
Thanks again

No probs.

No, these are absolutely not that complicated to run. They don’t require an iLok, and at least Addictive Drums 2 and ezDrummer 2 both come as stand-alone and as plugin versions (you get both when you buy them).

I think you can also try before you buy Addictive Drums 2. You just need to download their Online Installer and I think from there it’s a simple step to get the demo.