While I was initially impressed by the velocity curve feature in Superior Drummer 2, allowing ideal samples to be played in a live context, I much prefer the functionality on Addictive Drums 2. The full featured mixer is still included, but changes pre-FX volume of samples can be quickly adjusted without concern for grouping or routing. The 5 primary volume knobs on the explore screen is a feature that makes Addictive Drummer 2 a little more approachable than Toontrack’s counterpart. After you’ve selected your beat, the transform menu can quickly adjust the velocity of hits, the intensity of accents, and quickly reassign a drum. On top of sorting by library, tempo, or style, the grid searcher at the top of the “Beats” tab will allow you to find the beat you are looking for by separating out only the beats including hits you’ve set on the basic grid. Beats you have purchased come with a multitude of different variations for quick little tweaks live cymbal choice and accents. While genre specific MIDI packs can be purchased for about $20 each. While Toontrack keeps their advanced MIDI player separate in their EZ Drummer software, Addictive Drums 2 comes with a similar MIDI loader built in.

Strange sounds I’d have never had the idea of crafting myself are scattered amongst the more processed presets. It is truly impressive how many sounds the original designers were able to wring out of a limited selection of processing tools on each kit. On the topic of presets, it seems like a lot more thought has gone into the variety of setting this time than the last rendition. Some of the more immediately apparent updates to Addictive Drummer from the last rendition, is a rehaul of the beats library manager, the introduction to ExploreMaps, and a great deal more presets than before.

Addictive Drums 2 comes with 3 Adpaks out of the box, with each new one costing about $80 a piece. There are 21 Adpaks as of 2017, ranging from 60s rock, heavy metal, to auxiliary percussion. As a Superior Drummer 2 user watching SD3 on the horizon, I’ve decided to turn around the other way and see what one of their closer competitors have to offer.Īddictive Drums 2 is the software front end to XLN’s large collection of Adpaks Each one representing a full kit built to match a certain sound or style. Whether you are a recording type trying to avoid the cost of a real drummer, or a drummer looking for a way to make electronic drums sound as real as possible, Addictive Drums has probably come across your radar at some point.

Superior drummer vs addictive drums