[Review] BFD "BFD 3" Review (Drum Instrument, Comparison with Other Products, etc.)
Basic Information
BFD3 is the third generation of BFD's flagship software, Acoustic Drum Studio. It is an intuitively redesigned engine with new levels of realism and groundbreaking features. With stunning new kits, mix-ready presets, and tom resonance and cymbal swell modeling technology, BFD3 offers uncompromising detail. The revamped interface includes a new mixer and sound browser for the easiest BFD experience ever.
Features
- Seven new kits recorded in two locations
- Dedicated rock, metal, jazz, and brush kits
- More detail with less disk space
- Tom Resonance/Cymbal Swell modeling
- Streamlined new browser and workflow
- Faster, more efficient audio engine
- Expandable interface for larger screens
- New effects including algorithmic reverb and DCAMEnvShaper
- Wide range of mix-ready presets
- Fully editable, improved groove engine
- Rudiments tool for creating grooves
- Grooves by Steve Ferrone, Brooks Wackerman, Bobby Jarzombek, Peter Erskine, and Stanton Moore (platinum samples provided)
- 32-bit and 64-bit support
- VST, AU, RTAS, and AAX plug-in formats and standalone versions
Features
First, sound quality. Up to 80 velocity layers are available, with a total capacity of over 160 GB. In addition, it is kindly designed to fit into 55 GB with lossless compression. The drums are carefully recorded in a variety of microphone positions, and the mixer screen allows for fine-tuning, which is a nice feature for those who are particular about their drums.
The program has many genre kits such as funk, jazz, blues, and rock, so it is often said to be for advanced users, but it is surprisingly easy to use if you do not edit from scratch.
The processing of each kit part is not merely tuning, but can also be set in detail to mic and bleed. The ability to fine-tune the sound and miking, as well as the ability to set resonance in great detail, is a feat not possible with many other major sound generators.
Unlike regular drum editors, you can also fine-tune the position of nodes. The ability to make the groove forward and to fine-tune the groove is very good. The brush tool and other tools allow you to edit velocity and nodes all at once, making creation stress-free.
This operation method is similar to that of Monster's beat-making tool, Geist. You can also duplicate phrase patterns. And since it seems to be able to set unlimited lengths, a beat track can be completed with this single software.
It is also important to note that there is no limit to the creation. Of course, MIDI export is possible. presets of MIDI patterns are also available, ranging from rock to jazz.
Evaluation
This sound source tends to be spotlighted for its sound quality and realism, but I find it rather appealing that it has a top-class sound quality and easy-to-use features such as a drum editor. Not only the sound quality, but also the ease of use.
Perhaps only Superior Drummer can match this volume and functionality.
In comparison, Superior Drummer has a high degree of customizability and a wide range of editability and applicability, but it does not have the intuitively designed convenient features such as the Builder function that Toontrack is known for. While it is somewhat difficult to get to know, its strength is that there are many things that can be done.
Also, Toontrack has an excellent database function for phrase libraries. If you are a person who creates music from scratch, this is the one for you. The rest depends on your taste in sound. There are two hidden advantages: the price is much lower than the other two, and this one is compressed, so it doesn't take up so much space.
I would recommend it to those who are craftsmen and want to tweak it in various ways as they use it.
