Chaps

You can layer up to four snares in AD2 by using snares in the Flexi locations. The Flexi snares can be triggered by hits on the original Snare. I do it all the time.

Well, I haven't done much to tweak AD2 drum sounds but on the snare I have adjusted the Snare Buzz and Top/Bottom mix to find a sound I like. The drums I heard in your examples sound pretty unaffected and dry so I would first make sure there was no Send to an FX bus and then fiddle with the Snare Buzz and Top/Bottom settings to see if they gave me more of the sound I was looking for. In the image below I've outlined the editable settings I have found to have the most profound affect on a piece's overall sound and might be fun to play with even if most don't prove useful. You can also browse and audition kit pieces on the XLN website. The drum sound you want may not be one that you already have. Addictive Drums 2 Kit Pieces

Well, if you use the USB port connected to desktop computer, or a laptop that is plugged into a wall socket, that is AC power converted to DC power. I've never seen a charger warning that it may output too much power for certain devices, only that it has enough power to charge/run certain devices. The user guide for the SSL 12 says "SSL 12’s power is based on the USB 3.0 specification (900mA) so ensure you are connected to a USB 3 port and not a USB 2 port." I would think any USB 3.0 charger would be compliant. It's too bad you don't want to connect to a computer because there are many advantages to doing so. Software/firmware updates, control of the device using software, and multiple inputs/outputs recognized in the DAW are what come immediately to mind. The audio interface I use, the Steinberg UR24C can be powered by either connecting it to a computer, which can both power the device and connect to the computer for digital audio, or powered by an AC adapter, which also connects to the interface via USB. I connect with USB C 3.1 because it powers the device, gives me very fast transfer speeds, lets me blend all audio sources with software for the headphones, and lets me use Direct Monitoring with FX in my headphones. That series is worth checking out if you are still shopping around. Steinberg UR-C Audio Interfaces

Is the USB power only a problem because you don't want to connect it to your computer? You can buy USB chargers that plug into an AC wall socket that could power the device. They aren't very expensive. I have several of them.

I wish I could use it but, like every other UA product I try to authorize, it will not connect to my Ilok or accept the password. Not worth the trouble for me.

Another user had a similar problem and solved it by enabling Disable Input Monitoring During Playback in the CbB (Cakewalk by Bandlab) Preferences>Audio>Playback and Recording settings. To me, it seems an extreme solution because I just Mute the audio track I am recording on, but it worked for him and is worth trying to further identify the problem.

Sorry, I meant Monitor knob on the front of your interface. Is the delay being recorded by Cakewalk or are you only hearing it when you are recording? Can you post a screenshot of your Audio Driver Settings? Below is a screenshot of mine, and because I am using Direct Monitoring I have a large Buffer Size, which is more stable but adds substantial echo to my signal while monitoring if I use Input Echo.

The Monitor button is the level control for the outputs on the back of your device, like for speakers. It will not affect anything you hear through headphones.

That is the Input Echo button and it allows you to hear your audio after it is processed through your DAW. It will also add a delay to your signal depending on how much latency there is. If you are hearing an echo then you may be hearing the direct audio and the processed audio at the same time. You can use Direct Monitoring or Input Echo but using both at the same time may not give you optimum results.

Direct Monitoring is for hearing what is plugged into the interface's inputs through your headphones. It is independent of the software your are using to record audio. With Direct Monitoring there is no delay in the signal caused by the recording software because you are hearing the audio 'before' it is sent to the computer. Some interfaces use a knob and/or software to determine how much of the direct signal (what is plugged into the inputs) is mixed in with the audio coming from the DAW. Your interface uses only software to do this. The software is called Focusrite Control and you will have to download and install it, if you haven't done so already, to effectively use your interface's Direct Monitoring. I suggest you check out your interface's manual as well as watch YouTube videos to learn more about how Focusrite Control works because Direct Monitoring can be very useful in some situations. Scarlett 4i4 3rd gen Downloads

Sounds good. Very mellow and clean. If I were going to quibble about something, and it's most likely because of the way I hear things, it's that the piano's attack seems a little too forceful for the tone of the composition. If I found that in my own songs, and I often do, I would reduce the velocity of the MIDI notes to a more pianissamo and increase the track's volume to compensate.

The standalone version is crashing, but the plugin inside Cakewalk seems to be working fine. Plenty of distortion for those that are into that. I'll have to fiddle with it later to see if I can dial in a nice subtlety overdriven tube sound.

Okay, I signed in and activated but when I try to load a preset it closes. I tried several times to load a preset and it keeps disappearing. Hopefully others will have better luck with it.

It looks interesting but it only opens in Demo mode for me.

Another thing to consider is getting a larger capacity drive for your C drive. It's pretty easy to clone your existing system drive to a new drive and then swap it for the old one, which can then be used either as a backup or another data drive. Many companies that sell drives also include cloning software to make it simple. Just something to think about.