Hertz Drums MINI Bundle (Is this *really* a deal?)

[locrian]

I just heard about Hertz Drums for the first time, so I know nothing about them or the company behind them.  Their site claims that the Mini Bundle is currently selling at its lowest price ($73.99) which seems reasonable.

So I have two questions:

1. Has anyone here ever used these drums?  If so, what do you think about them?

2. Is the $73.99 price for the bundle really a deal, or is that just the regular price?

https://hertzinstruments.com/hertz-products/hertz-drums-mini-bundle/

 

[Jason Neudorf]

If no one has heard about them, it's not a deal. I've seen maybe 2 posts about it on KVR and Vi-Control.

As a beginner, I'd be tempted to go for something like Addictive Drums, BFD3, Get Good Drums first, before even considering something like this. Or even Ugritone or Yurt Rock. I dunno about styles, though. Maybe they're boutique and cool or something, but my instinct says "no", without even listening, due to lack of buzz.

Maybe someone with a real ear can listen to demos and say "ooh, they're raw/cooked/seasoned/??? in an interesting way" though.

 

[Mark pianist]

Late to message but maybe this will help someone. This message addresses what I feel is the hardest sound to get right in these drum samples on the market, the snare drum.

 

I have had a chance to check out Superior drums latest version, Addictive drums full version and the demo on Hertz drums as well as Ezdrums, GGD, Modo drums and Perfect drums.

A little on Room Sound Drums.

 

This is a perspective from an audio engineer. If you want to mix your own stuff or make it easier to be mixed, which might save you money, then this is my advice.

Addictive drums is totally unusable if you are looking to use it in rock via distorted  guitars or metal/heavy guitar music.

Overall for any music they are thin sounding. This is because you need very good overheads to get a big sound.

Overheads are not just for cymbals.

People generally think they have to rid  the snare sound out of the overheads to make it good. This is not the case.

This is why room mics are used as well, not just for depth.

Some metal  has fake sounding snares so Addictive drums  might work for that but big sounding snares no.

I am sorry if you bought this I have no intention to make you upset just my honest experience.

 

Superior drums is better but a bitch to get a decent sound and in my opinion for rock not as useable but I suppose it could work ok. I could only get a few sounds to be ok and I had to use the double up mode which you really shouldn't have to do.

The set should sound good on its own with all music tracks up. Then you use an extra snare sample or parallel compression to make it shine.

 

Now  wait for it you nay sayers .

Yes I know they are unprocessed via Superior, and I am aware of this because I do mix.

It just doesn't work. Why? Many famous people recorded it and though toontrack claims you can use it for all rock music and other styles, you can't without using some other samples not made by toontrack.

The reason is communication between Toontrack and the recording engineer I am surmising.

Snares have to be tuned differently, as well as different mic positions to get a certain sound that will work in a certain style such as heavy guitar music.

Also the drummer has to hit it a certain way. Heavy guitar styles, if mic techniques are right, need a rimshot a lot of the times. However the harder it is hit the thinner the sound  becomes.

So the drummer is also a factor in recording. Lots of rimshots in this software are thin.

Superior drums seems to be incredibly recorded but when I listen to it, it is like someone messed with them, I don't know maybe I'm crazy.

They also sound very digital, I don't recall if they said they put them to tape or not but it doesn't sound like it.  Overall it makes me wonder if that is really the way it sounded in the session.

So for $400 I don't think it is worth it.

One amazing thing is the way it gets midi data from audio but I don't still think it is worth it unless you are a pro that is making money, I know that is redundant, then maybe you'll want that.

There are free methods of midi to audio that take more time if you are a bedroom producer that does it for pleasure and has time.

EZ drums Not  had too much experience with ez drums but  it is processed and should cut through a mix and I really didn't like them .

However I really can't give a fair review right now. 

 

Didn't care for Modo drums either.

 

Perfect drums, like the ones above, I have extensive experience with them.

Perfect drums is processed.

They work for some music well and others no. No rhyme or reason just hit or miss probably because they are slightly over processed. Overheads are good unlike Addictive.

Hertz drums I am trying the demo. White drums is the demo.

It is processed  and has different selections of snares to choose from like the others. 

The samples do have decent overheads and works. They also have a metal software version of their drums that is unprocessed.

Be aware that unprocessed could be lightly processed which is ok as long as they are telling the truth.

It is completely normal to limit peaks and add a very little amount of eq in the recording to make it sound like it does when you listen to it in the actual room.

Also one may lightly eq to help you understand where they want the sound to go.

 

So I do recommend Hertz drums for the White pack has one snare drum tuned mid range that I like.

If you need a low mid tuned snares it has those also. If the other sets in the pack give you the same results then it would be a good one. 

It probably is good for heavy guitars but I have not checked yet.

Listening to the demos it looks like that may be the case but listen for yourself and decide.

 

Get good drums Modern and Massive is excellent for processed drums. Be aware you cant eq these for the most part they are heavily squashed but sound great.

Here is a good tip. For the Yamaha drums use Slate's trigger. The overheads are  way better and it sounds great.

Use trigger for the Q drum as well, be advised the Q  Drum has a ring you will have to lower with eq but it sounds great.

The Kontakt version use the 14x6.5” Gretsch Bell Brass it sounds great.

Also use the snare velocity control to adjust. Between that and the midi velocity you will get a great sound.

Yes lots of work different from real drums tracks recorded live.

 

GGD Invasion is lightly processed so you can eq and compress.

I don't think they make it for trigger or maybe they do.

I have used it extensively in Kontakt and it sounds great. Remember you have to mix this version.

So you will need sometimes to use a second snare sample or parallel compression.

So I do recommend this.

However, remember that these drums in some lighter rock settings via not heavily distorted guitars, may not work.

Again mic positions and drummer how he/she hits it as far as velocity's.

 

Room sound drums . I have not check them out yet and they do not have a demo but I probably will purchase some sets from Room sound.

So check them out . Stayed tuned for me to check them out.

Feel free to reply here in a few months or more to ask me about them and Hertz.

Feel free to ask me about any other ones that  come up after this message.

I'll check them out for you.

[Last Call]

I'd stay away from Room Sound. Got 3 of their kits and just the timber alone sucks, and they sound hollow too.

There are ways you can deno them without soending a dime (I don't think they accept returns, so don't throw your money away.

They used to have a free demo of one of their kis though.

[Last Call]

20 minutes ago, Mark pianist said:

Late to message but maybe this will help someone. This message addresses what I feel is the hardest sound to get right in these drum samples on the market, the snare drum.

 

I have had a chance to check out Superior drums latest version, Addictive drums full version and the demo on Hertz drums as well as Ezdrums, GGD, Modo drums and Perfect drums.

A little on Room Sound Drums.

 

This is a perspective from an audio engineer. If you want to mix your own stuff or make it easier to be mixed, which might save you money, then this is my advice.

Addictive drums is totally unusable if you are looking to use it in rock via distorted  guitars or metal/heavy guitar music.

Overall for any music they are thin sounding. This is because you need very good overheads to get a big sound.

Overheads are not just for cymbals.

People generally think they have to rid  the snare sound out of the overheads to make it good. This is not the case.

This is why room mics are used as well, not just for depth.

Some metal  has fake sounding snares so Addictive drums  might work for that but big sounding snares no.

I am sorry if you bought this I have no intention to make you upset just my honest experience.

 

Superior drums is better but a bitch to get a decent sound and in my opinion for rock not as useable but I suppose it could work ok. I could only get a few sounds to be ok and I had to use the double up mode which you really shouldn't have to do.

The set should sound good on its own with all music tracks up. Then you use an extra snare sample or parallel compression to make it shine.

 

Now  wait for it you nay sayers .

Yes I know they are unprocessed via Superior, and I am aware of this because I do mix.

It just doesn't work. Why? Many famous people recorded it and though toontrack claims you can use it for all rock music and other styles, you can't without using some other samples not made by toontrack.

The reason is communication between Toontrack and the recording engineer I am surmising.

Snares have to be tuned differently, as well as different mic positions to get a certain sound that will work in a certain style such as heavy guitar music.

Also the drummer has to hit it a certain way. Heavy guitar styles, if mic techniques are right, need a rimshot a lot of the times. However the harder it is hit the thinner the sound  becomes.

So the drummer is also a factor in recording. Lots of rimshots in this software are thin.

Superior drums seems to be incredibly recorded but when I listen to it, it is like someone messed with them, I don't know maybe I'm crazy.

They also sound very digital, I don't recall if they said they put them to tape or not but it doesn't sound like it.  Overall it makes me wonder if that is really the way it sounded in the session.

So for $400 I don't think it is worth it.

One amazing thing is the way it gets midi data from audio but I don't still think it is worth it unless you are a pro that is making money, I know that is redundant, then maybe you'll want that.

There are free methods of midi to audio that take more time if you are a bedroom producer that does it for pleasure and has time.

EZ drums Not  had too much experience with ez drums but  it is processed and should cut through a mix and I really didn't like them .

However I really can't give a fair review right now. 

 

Didn't care for Modo drums either.

 

Perfect drums, like the ones above, I have extensive experience with them.

Perfect drums is processed.

They work for some music well and others no. No rhyme or reason just hit or miss probably because they are slightly over processed. Overheads are good unlike Addictive.

Hertz drums I am trying the demo. White drums is the demo.

It is processed  and has different selections of snares to choose from like the others. 

The samples do have decent overheads and works. They also have a metal software version of their drums that is unprocessed.

Be aware that unprocessed could be lightly processed which is ok as long as they are telling the truth.

It is completely normal to limit peaks and add a very little amount of eq in the recording to make it sound like it does when you listen to it in the actual room.

Also one may lightly eq to help you understand where they want the sound to go.

 

So I do recommend Hertz drums for the White pack has one snare drum tuned mid range that I like.

If you need a low mid tuned snares it has those also. If the other sets in the pack give you the same results then it would be a good one. 

It probably is good for heavy guitars but I have not checked yet.

Listening to the demos it looks like that may be the case but listen for yourself and decide.

 

Get good drums Modern and Massive is excellent for processed drums. Be aware you cant eq these for the most part they are heavily squashed but sound great.

Here is a good tip. For the Yamaha drums use Slate's trigger. The overheads are  way better and it sounds great.

Use trigger for the Q drum as well, be advised the Q  Drum has a ring you will have to lower with eq but it sounds great.

The Kontakt version use the 14x6.5” Gretsch Bell Brass it sounds great.

Also use the snare velocity control to adjust. Between that and the midi velocity you will get a great sound.

Yes lots of work different from real drums tracks recorded live.

 

GGD Invasion is lightly processed so you can eq and compress.

I don't think they make it for trigger or maybe they do.

I have used it extensively in Kontakt and it sounds great. Remember you have to mix this version.

So you will need sometimes to use a second snare sample or parallel compression.

So I do recommend this.

However, remember that these drums in some lighter rock settings via not heavily distorted guitars, may not work.

Again mic positions and drummer how he/she hits it as far as velocity's.

 

Room sound drums . I have not check them out yet and they do not have a demo but I probably will purchase some sets from Room sound.

So check them out . Stayed tuned for me to check them out.

Feel free to reply here in a few months or more to ask me about them and Hertz.

Feel free to ask me about any other ones that  come up after this message.

I'll check them out for you.

I have Trigger,  SSD5 and expansions, and some SDXs for SSD3, could you elaborate more about using Trigger? Thanks.

[Bruno de Souza Lino]

You also have the always neglected Drum Replacer, which also converts its trigger detection to midi...If you manage to have Melodyne not attempting to convert the audio to midi at the same time (because to convert the triggers to midi you have to drag the audio track with Drum Replacer to a MIDI or instrument track).

[Mark pianist]

38 minutes ago, Last Call said:

I'd stay away from Room Sound. Got 3 of their kits and just the timber alone sucks, and they sound hollow too.

There are ways you can deno them without soending a dime (I don't think they accept returns, so don't throw your money away.

They used to have a free demo of one of their kis though.

Thanks for the heads up.

Yes I think I can figure out the way to demo them.

I have friends and other ways.

I don't usually buy unless I demo.

Unless I here them in a decent mix then I can't tell. Not a mix where the snare is over everything else.

Again, thank you!

[Mark pianist]

1 hour ago, Last Call said:

I have Trigger,  SSD5 and expansions, and some SDXs for SSD3, could you elaborate more about using Trigger? Thanks.

Slate Trigger, as I was mentioning, is only for using GGD Modern and Massive.

As the GGD version comes with samples to use with Trigger and Kontakt via works with the free version.

I have a mix of Daughtry It's not Over via from the Puremix site, that I mixed using Invasion and a Joe Gilder song where I used the Modern and Massive Yamaha.

I am using Hertz right now for a song on Cambridge free multitracks song My Fault.

I can send you the mp3 or wav mix if you like. If there is a pm in here just pm me.

I will give you all the details on settings and which snare I used.

Trigger as with Kontakt, getting the  midi velocity right is key.

Plus with trigger use the area where you can adjust the attack to adjust  midi.

So I find on the Yamaha 70 to 70 works best.

If I change velocities I always keep both numbers the same. If you want it to vary then change the settings at that point via like a snare fill so as it does not sound like a machine gun.

For some reason GGD on that version gives you totally different overheads on trigger compared to Kontakt.

If you can find drum great sounds  that work with kontakt , it is best IMO.

Audio triggers are a little more difficult to work with and can be frustrating.

 

 

Looks like you own SD3, have you had any luck making it sound good with heavy guitar music or rock with distorted guitars if you do any mixing?

[Last Call]

2 hours ago, Mark pianist said:

 

 

Looks like you own SD3, have you had any luck making it sound good with heavy guitar music or rock with distorted guitars if you do any mixing?

Not quite. Maybe I am expecting something out of drum libraries that is not possible.

But my journey is super weird because for a loooong time, like, years and years, nothing sounded amazing to my ears, but "recently" I found out, for my needs, that the Schiit guys (I hope you've heard about the company) have the opinion that usb sucks ballz, and that spdif optical sounded amazing (loooong story).

I connected my DAC to my PC ia SPDIF (thank god it has that kind of output) and now even the shittiest youtube recorded video souns amazing, with a grain of salt, long story).

Right now I am sporting an ADI-2 DAC and a pair of HD 820 headphones.

I loaded one of my projects, loaded Steven Slate drums... and it sounded so good (specially paid attention to the snare, as I coincidentally found about your snare statement being true along my journey).

So I feel I am finally on solid ground, my footing is correct and firm, that I can finally move forward and learn stuff and be confident is gonna be useful.

(Just typed my epiphany because I am in bliss right now, not because I want to convince anyone about my "truth").

[Last Call]

Oh, didn't know GGD came with Trigger samples. Will have to look it up.

[jngnz]

So all SSD5 needs to not be the worst drum library ever released is a bit of snake oil? Count me in.