After getting Addictive Drums 2: Custom with the Fairfax 1, Black Oyster and Funk kits, I’ve still to choose 3 “MIDIpaks” and 3 “Kitpiece Paks”.
Are there any I should be definitely be getting? Specifically, are there any that are required for any of the courses?
Having just finished the free beginner course, I’m currently on Grooving & Improving. I’m definitely improving, but a n00b is what he is, and ALL of this is new to me.
I’ve grabbed 2 screens and posted them below. If anyone could give them a looksy and advise I’d be very grateful.
There is actually a Jazz sticks and Jazz brushes kit. For the best Jazz vibes you want both but if you have to choose get the brushes kit because you can use stick hits from other kits whereas the brushes hits are unique to that Jazz brushes kit.
@Robert_Mathijs one more folllow-up here… I’m grabbing Jazz Brushes which means I can pick 2 of the 3 AD kits you recommend (Black Oyster, Fairfax 1 and Funk). Which 2 would give me the best stick hits to use with the brushes and also the best coverage of the sounds you use in the courses? Hope that’s not too hard a question.
I know MIDIpaks are sort of frowned on around here, of course we play everything ourselves!
That being said, MIDIpak beats can be so fun and inspirational. I love the Funk 1 and 2 sets. Sometimes I just press play on one of those funky beats and try out all sorts of kitpieces and presets and just let the grooves get into my brain. I figure since I paid all this money for AD2, and the MIDIpaks come along with the applications, why not have some fun with them?
Echoing the previous poster: the MIDIpaks are badass for learning. I use QFG for timing/technique/technical stuff, but I’ve also been working through the grooves/songs/fills from the packs. Pick a groove, jump to the BEATS tab in AD2, and boom—you can practice to your heart’s content. You can mute kit pieces, slow things down, and accentuate others. MIDIpaks are an incredible learning resource!! I sincerely hope MIDIpaks aren’t frowned upon from a learning perspective. Even if you don’t want to specifically memorize grooves (though why not?) there’s so much muscle memory involved that you can probably modularize all this in your head if you keep at it for a long time.
In terms of risk, I do think one has to make sure one learns complete songs and practice fill transitions/timing, etc. Another risk is completionism: it is probably better to learn 20 beats extremely well rather than 300 poorly learned beats. But that doesn’t take away from the huge resource of the MIDIpaks, IMO.
I agree. Learning from midi pack beats is completely fine. Learning to play anything by analyzing it and then trying to play it, or not even playing it but just analyzing. All good stuff to do.
Even if you don’t want to specifically memorize grooves (though why not?) there’s so much muscle memory involved that you can probably modularize all this in your head if you keep at it for a long time.