This has to be done via the new search engine, rather than the right-click menu, but that’s not a great chore, and the search engine itself works well, utilising a text field and a comprehensive bank of filters. Unlike SD2, though, individual kit pieces can now be mixed up as you see fit across all libraries. Like SD2, as well as the kits in the core library, SD3 can also load any installed SDX and EZX add-ons. Size-wise, SD3 blows SD2’s 20GB library out of the water with 230GB of recordings downloaded in five separate bundles - the surround channels (which are very usable as additional ambience channels for stereo mixes) add up to almost 100GB alone. The centrepiece of Superior Drummer 3 is its massive core library of multisampled drums and cymbals recorded by the legendary George Massenburg in true 11-channel surround (see boxout). The whole thing is freely resizable, too, with internal elements (text and controls) scalable from 70-250%, and all four tabbed sections able to be popped out into their own windows. Gone is the skeumorphic, oddly arranged fascia of SD2 now we have our menus and tabs (Drums, Grooves, Mixer and Tracker) along the top, all instrument editing controls in a single contextual panel on the right hand side, and the new sequencing tools at the bottom. Superior Drummer 3 (VST/AU/AAX/standalone) makes an immediately positive impression with its gorgeous GUI. That patience has been generously rewarded, as SD3 marks a genuinely revolutionary leap forward for the platform. The long-awaited arrival of Superior Drummer 3 is big news, then, particularly for the loyal SD2 user, who’s been overlooking the increasingly apparent shortcomings and UI niggles of their beloved virtual drums suite with commendable patience. Since then, however, not only has it been surpassed in several areas by arch rival FXpansion BFD3, but it’s also seen Toontrack’s own development spotlight sighted squarely on their much cheaper, more accessible ‘prosumer’ alternative, EZdrummer 2.
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