I'm not sure if you really care to take the time, but figured it wouldn't hurt to have a little wishlist of things that would be cool in VDL.

- "modern" piper snares
- duts
- "Dr. Beat" samples
- snare backsticking or playing with the butts
- two different pitches of 6" drums on tenors
- 8" tenor samples

Take it for what it is worth.

Just thoughts that were going through my head today. A very cool product "as is".

[quote="ShaneR"]16" bass drum, small tenors, red jam block - the program would then be complete.[/quote]

The red jam block is already on there. It's in the tenor voicings as high jam block (or woodblock).

SCV doesn't march a 16" bass, so that's why there isn't a sound for it. Same reason for the small tenors.

How about solo tenor and snare?

[quote="drumcorpbc"][quote="ShaneR"]16" bass drum, small tenors, red jam block - the program would then be complete.[/quote]

The red jam block is already on there. It's in the tenor voicings as high jam block (or woodblock).

SCV doesn't march a 16" bass, so that's why there isn't a sound for it. Same reason for the small tenors.[/quote]

I guess I didn't look hard enough for the block.

Not including the higher drums seems like a huge mistake to me. That is limiting this product to people that have the exact same drum sizes and tuning as SCV. With something of this obvious quality, it seems like they would want to make it usefull to wide range of composers. I for one didn't buy it to have SCV sounds, but to have realistic marching sounds.

Actually, I think Virtual Drumline does sound pretty realistic! ;) Please go easy...While VDL doesn't contain everything and the kitchen sink, it's a heck of a lot better than options of the past. And there's lots in store for the future. Stay tuned.... (pun intended) :)

For the price, VDL is a bargain. Jim and Adam, if there is a need for beta testing on the new library, I'm sure you'll find some eager volunteers on the board.

Gabe Cobas

I would love to Beta test the new VD or VDPit!!!
Count me in!!

Nathan Willis

[quote="Jim Casella"]Actually, I think Virtual Drumline does sound pretty realistic! ;) Please go easy...While VDL doesn't contain everything and the kitchen sink, it's a heck of a lot better than options of the past. And there's lots in store for the future. Stay tuned.... (pun intended) :)[/quote]

Sorry, maybe I phrased that wrong. VD is amazingly realistic. Has anyone heard the Rowloff sounds that are included in Finale 2005? Crap. I am very satisfied with this product as is. Since this was a wish list thread, I thought is was okay to nitpick. My point was that is seemed unlikely that people bought this product beacuse it was SVC. Rather they wanted the sounds and the source was a secondary concern. I'll shut up now.

[quote="ShaneR"]

Sorry, maybe I phrased that wrong. VD is amazingly realistic. Has anyone heard the Rowloff sounds that are included in Finale 2005? Crap. I am very satisfied with this product as is. Since this was a wish list thread, I thought is was okay to nitpick. My point was that is seemed unlikely that people bought this product beacuse it was SVC. Rather they wanted the sounds and the source was a secondary concern. I'll shut up now.[/quote]

No worries Shane. You bring up some valid points.

Being a Proteus 2000 user before using VDL, I found that it is very easy to make the instruments that you wish to hear. Now that I'm using Kontakt, it is even easier. Sampling (simple sampling) has to be the neatest way to add virtual performers to midi-based recordings. I was especially glad to find out that I could take my computer's outbound audio and outbound midi, mix it with external sound sources, and feed it back to the inbound ports for recording. My previous hardware would never have allowed this to happen. Very cool.

- David

I am having a lot of fun using garage band for Mac.

Would here be any way that someone could create some samples to write with in there?

I hav a lot of ideas but I never learned how to read music plus all this software you are using for VDL seems pretty daunting for the average end user like myself.

I think it'd be great if you released either finale or sibelius files setup to use VD whenever you purchase one of the exercises or exercise/ensemble books. I know personally having transcribed a few things into sibelius so I can play along with things to clean or learn a piece with variable tempo abilities is an excellent help to both myself and my students.

First let me say VD is the pioneering and most comprehensive cache of sounds for marching percussion in the realm of midi, and I love it.

Now, here's a few things that I would like to see in the next VD release.

1. pings - 2" from bead
snares and quads - quads are close but they just don't snap and ring enough, plus the 6" drum shots sound a hair bizarre.

2. zones
snares - 1/2 way, edge, side (snare bed)
bass - 1/2 way

3. left hand sounds
Although realistic, (I LOVE the realism) it sounds like they are recorded with an unmatched pair of sticks. Maybe find a way to make the left hand sound stronger, yet maintaining distinct - but not too different - left and right hand sounds.
Some left hand sounds on quads sound strange; in particular, drum 3 left hand.

4. muffled bass
it would be nice to have a left hand muffled bass sound (quite different from puffies.)

5. bottom bass
I'd like to hear the characteristics of bass 4, only lower; right now bass 5 is somewhat too thumpy and doesn't have enough tone. (although it's probably absurd to request tuning preferences.)

6. single hand press - snares, quads
a very staccato press, not far from the head

7. stick on stick shot - snares, quads
stick raised from the rim while contacting the head, hit with opposite stick crossing 3" from beads.

8. buzz rolls - snare
great sound on quads, a bit too harsh/high on snare.

9. recording
The recording is almost too "studio" in nature. I would love the recorded sound to be done outside, with a stationary stereo field mic from one location (the listeners' standpoint), rather than close mic-ed.
The sense of 3-D sound stage and added realism would be appealing.

While some of these requests may seem far fetched, I think they raise some valid needs.

VD is off the chain...

one of the things that i would like to see is the difference between a solo player (ie snare/tenor) and the rest of the line...that way solo's can be written in...

i understand that the whole point of drumline is to make it sound like it is just 1 drum out there playing...but everyone knows that it is almost impossible to get it that way...

just a suggestion...but i do love the sounds...

[quote="sorryiwasdreami"]9. recording
The recording is almost too "studio" in nature. I would love the recorded sound to be done outside, with a stationary stereo field mic from one location (the listeners' standpoint), rather than close mic-ed.
The sense of 3-D sound stage and added realism would be appealing.

While some of these requests may seem far fetched, I think they raise some valid needs.[/quote]

Actually using your sound card's settings you should be able to addin whatever "sound environment" you want be it a football field, a winter percussion performance space. With the way the recording is currently you can add or remove reverb and acoustic noise as needed to fit the environment. If it were recorded outdoors you'd end up unable to get a clean studio feel.
Completely offtopic I really wish that SCV would do another studio recording ala 1992.

I thought that the samples were taken outdoors.

- David