SSD5 Free

[pepe44]

Dont know if you guys saw this but The Slate Digital has a newer version of their new drum module. The "Lite" version is now free.
http://stevenslatedrums.com/ssd5/

[nofish]

Free version seems to (also) need iLok, not for me.
Thanks for the heads up though.

[zeekat]

LICENSING
SSD5 licensing supports iLok Dongle or Machine ID

Doesn't that mean it's an option?

Wondering if it's worth it. Samples sound kinda the same as the older one, which already sounds great.

[sostenuto]

Many thanks for Heads-Up !! ilok User for many fine Libs, for years !

[drichard]

Thanks for the heads up, but after installing and trying it out, I uninstalled it. I didn't care for either the free drum kit or the included patterns, but others may feel differently.

Originally Posted by pepe44

Dont know if you guys saw this but The Slate Digital has a newer version of their new drum module. The "Lite" version is now free.
http://stevenslatedrums.com/ssd5/

[Edgemeal]

At bottom of the email I got it says,
There is no iLok Activation Code for SSD5 Free.

So I installed on my (non-main) Win10 PC, drag-drop a few groves, played ok for 5 mins, save as test project, exit reaper, restart, load the test project, played for about 10 secs then crashed! Maybe I just need to reboot, it has Reaper v5.40 on it, I doubt that matters.

EDIT: Seems OK now after rebooting.
Free Kit is OK, if anything the grooves will inspire me to create a new song.

Thanks pepe44, even tho I heard about it from other site.

[o_e]

Originally Posted by nofish

Free version seems to (also) need iLok, not for me.
Thanks for the heads up though.

Just receive the following email:

edit: to late..

[Jorgen]

I've tried to install it four or five times. No luck. That green process meter halts near the end and won't move.

[Edgemeal]

Lot of noise in this free kit!

# MIDI note/CC name map
93 China R 19
92 Crash R 19
91 Crash L 18
90 Splash L 9
73 Hi-Hat Footsplash
72 Hi-Hat Pedal
71 Hi-Hat Tip Open
70 Hi-Hat Tip Open 4
69 Hi-Hat Tip Open 3
68 Hi-Hat Tip Open 2
67 Hi-Hat Tip Open 1
66 Hi-Hat Tip Closed
65 Hi-Hat Shank Open
64 Hi-Hat Shank Open 4
63 Hi-Hat Shank Open 3
62 Hi-Hat Shank Open 2
61 Hi-Hat Shank Open 1
60 Hi-Hat Shank Closed
59 Ride Edge  
58 Ride Choke
57 Crash R Edge
56 Crash R Choke
55 Crash L Edge
54 Crash L Choke
53 Ride Bell
52 Ride Bow Shank
51 Ride Bow Tip
50 Splash L Edge
49 Splash L Choke
48 Tom 1
47 Tom 2
46 Hi-Hat Note On
45 Tom 2
44 Hi-Hat Pedal
43 Tom 3
42 Hi-Hat Tip Closed
41 Tom 4
40 Snare Rim-Shot 
39 Snare Rim-Click
38 Snare Center
37 Snare SideStick
36 Kick
35 Kick Double
34 Snare Side
33 Snare Rim-Shot Edge
32 China R Choke
31 China R Edge
26 Hi-Hat Note On
22 Hi-Hat Shank Closed
21 Snare Rolls
19 Tom 1 Rim Click
17 Tom 2 Rim Click
16 Tom 2 Rim Click
14 Tom 3 Rim Click
12 Tom 4 Rim Click

[Edgemeal]

Originally Posted by Jorgen

I've tried to install it four or five times. No luck. That green process meter halts near the end and won't move.

Have no idea, tho first thing I'd check is if there is enough free disk space for the library data. After install the SSD5Library folder is 1.90 GB (2,045,865,756 bytes) on my Win7 PC.

[pattonfreak1]

Any one tell me how this fares against MT PowerDrumKit?
Better? Worse?

[Edgemeal]

Originally Posted by pattonfreak1

Any one tell me how this fares against MT PowerDrumKit?
Better? Worse?

Decide for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Sq4jkKyuo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbATW4fND4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeFy6b1ZLg

[lucas_LCS]

does anyone know if the SSD 3.5 library and groove/beats can be used by SSD5 Free?

[X-Raym]

definitely a very very good sounding kit. Thanks to the dev for sharing it without limitations, there isnt a lot of high quality kit like that avaible for free !

[Granite]

Originally Posted by pepe44

Dont know if you guys saw this but The Slate Digital has a newer version of their new drum module. The "Lite" version is now free.
http://stevenslatedrums.com/ssd5/

Freakin awesome.
Thanks for the heads up.

Originally Posted by pattonfreak1

Any one tell me how this fares against MT PowerDrumKit?
Better? Worse?

In my subjective opinion SSD5 lite is a step up.
In saying that MT Powerdrummer is a useful tool.
You can output it's midi and control other kits.

[nofish]

Originally Posted by Edgemeal

At bottom of the email I got it says,
There is no iLok Activation Code for SSD5 Free.

Thanks, I stand corrected.

[Jorgen]

Originally Posted by Edgemeal

Have no idea, tho first thing I'd check is if there is enough free disk space for the library data. After install the SSD5Library folder is 1.90 GB (2,045,865,756 bytes) on my Win7 PC.

I have plenty of space. Same thing happened with some Labs instruments. Everything installed fine, but the app couldn't locate the samples. Either there's something fishy with my machine, or I somehow managed to screw up. No big deal.

[tonybeepbeep]

Few thoughts from me:

As a free sampler it works fine, slightly more options than MT when it comes to Room/OH mics

Had a few stalled (ca. 85% done) W10 installs then tried as Admin and all worked well

The interface reminds me of the good (bad) old days of Windows 95 and early Winamp iterations. Then again I'm not the biggest fan of American graphic design, in general. It looks a bit cheap and dated like packaging from a mail order product.

Soundwise it's quite processed, but that's what SSD delivers anyway. It is not BFD3, but I wouldn't use it in the same way anyway.

I value this guy's opinion and agree that the mixed version is quite good.

Mike Luke reviews SSD5

[drichard]

I think it depends on the style of music you want. The SSD has more samples and more patterns too, but I find the PowerDrumKit more useful for me. The SSD free kit is not the sound I'm looking for.

Originally Posted by pattonfreak1

Any one tell me how this fares against MT PowerDrumKit?
Better? Worse?

[tweezer]

I think it's pretty good for a freebie. I pitched the snare down a bit for a bit more body and took some of the release off the toms but the rest was fine. Well, fine except for the crash cymbals which have no direct control that I can find. Click them on the display and they sound OK but in a MIDI sequence the attack is way too slow. It's so slow that it sounds like they're coming in late. The ability to shorten the sustain would have been nice too. The grooves are fine if you don't mind the drummer soloing over your vocal performance, but you don't have to use them.
It's no worse than other kits I've paid good money for though. For ages I yearned for Abbey Road 60s drums but I never managed to make that sound anything more than ho hum. I always end up going back my to my Analogue Drums mongrel kit which is perfect. Well, except for the snare being a bit iffy and the ride cymbals sounding awful without major EQ surgery. Mixing in a little bit of MTPDK to give it a bit more 'splat' does the trick, but MTPDK doesn't do subtle. However, that's a whole other story.
Many thanks to Edgemeal for posting the key map.

[zeekat]

So there's no EX or Platinum options anymore? I'm feeling pressured by that 30 Nov deadline for the upgrade price. I have 4 EX and love it, great instantly-good, neutral sounding stuff, maybe it's worth upgrading for more goodness.

[ivansc]

Finally got around to trying SSD5 last night & it sounds OK. Just OK. I can get the upgrade for $79, but having never succeeded in getting my SSD4 Platinum working reliably in several years, even with a lot of help from Slate, I honestly dont like the "look" or controllability in the free version. Maybe with a little more exploration....

First things first. I just re-downloaded SSD4 Plat & will see if I can finally get IT working beflre spending any more money with Slate.

[pipelineaudio]

I bought it right when it came out. SSD5 fixes a lot of what felt to me like abandonware on ssd4

[pattonfreak1]

Originally Posted by Edgemeal

Decide for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Sq4jkKyuo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbATW4fND4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeFy6b1ZLg

Awesome thanks so much. A resounding YES it appears

[Jorgen]

Originally Posted by tonybeepbeep

Had a few stalled (ca. 85% done) W10 installs then tried as Admin and all worked well

That did the trick. Thanks.

[ivansc]

Making time today to re-re-re-re-re-install SSD4 and IF that works now, I may just pony up the $79 upgrade feel...

FWIW I still occasionally use version 3.5, which was in fact a Kontakt instrument & always worked reliably.

UPDATE: trying to reinstall SSD4 was the usual crashfest. I cant be arsed any more... Back to toontrack, Sennheiser, AD, etc. for me. Shame.

[pepe44]

like Superior drummer mixer does it has the possibility to multi out on the dropdown menu, i think SSD5 doesn't have that, you have to do it manually , im i right ? I know this isnt the slate forum but if you guys know how to, please let me know.

Thanks

[lucas_LCS]

Originally Posted by ivansc

FWIW I still occasionally use version 3.5, which was in fact a Kontakt instrument & always worked reliably.

are you able to use the SSD 3.5 library and groove/beats in SSD5 Free?
I mean can they be imported or transferred to SSD5 free?

[ivansc]

very much doubt it & dont have time to rty it just now.

[Aeolian]

Well I just tried it, and it sounds pretty awesome, free or not.

I preferred it over MT power kit, which sounded way too "Vinnie Paul" for my taste... I thought ssd5 free sounded much more realistic and natural.

Gui is a bit weird, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly.


I haven't tried sample import yet (not sure if the free version will do it)... but I did manage to add a few MIDI grooves to the included ones.


Best free kit imho.
Get it before he changes his mind.

Installed without a hitch.

[Judders]

It's fine, I'm sure it's great for some people. Supposedly the kit is unprocessed. I'm not a fan of the overheads though, which I like to have a good representation of the whole kit rather than being cymbal mic's.

Trying to play it with a low buffer introduces a few dropouts too, which I guess is from the algorithmic modelling they added to this version.

I'll happily stick with Superior Drummer, but I can see why SSD suits some people more.

[sizzlemeister]

Anyone having an issue assigning the channels to sends? I like the sound of the kit, but can't get more than the 1/2 sends to work.

[Dimaension X]

Originally Posted by Edgemeal

Lot of noise in this free kit!

# MIDI note/CC name map
93 China R 19
92 Crash R 19
91 Crash L 18
90 Splash L 9
73 Hi-Hat Footsplash
72 Hi-Hat Pedal
71 Hi-Hat Tip Open
70 Hi-Hat Tip Open 4
69 Hi-Hat Tip Open 3
68 Hi-Hat Tip Open 2
67 Hi-Hat Tip Open 1
66 Hi-Hat Tip Closed
65 Hi-Hat Shank Open
64 Hi-Hat Shank Open 4
63 Hi-Hat Shank Open 3
62 Hi-Hat Shank Open 2
61 Hi-Hat Shank Open 1
60 Hi-Hat Shank Closed
59 Ride Edge  
58 Ride Choke
57 Crash R Edge
56 Crash R Choke
55 Crash L Edge
54 Crash L Choke
53 Ride Bell
52 Ride Bow Shank
51 Ride Bow Tip
50 Splash L Edge
49 Splash L Choke
48 Tom 1
47 Tom 2
46 Hi-Hat Note On
45 Tom 2
44 Hi-Hat Pedal
43 Tom 3
42 Hi-Hat Tip Closed
41 Tom 4
40 Snare Rim-Shot 
39 Snare Rim-Click
38 Snare Center
37 Snare SideStick
36 Kick
35 Kick Double
34 Snare Side
33 Snare Rim-Shot Edge
32 China R Choke
31 China R Edge
26 Hi-Hat Note On
22 Hi-Hat Shank Closed
21 Snare Rolls
19 Tom 1 Rim Click
17 Tom 2 Rim Click
16 Tom 2 Rim Click
14 Tom 3 Rim Click
12 Tom 4 Rim Click

NICE! Thanks for that! BTW, I really like this kit - very simple, and yes, it does need some post-processing, but it's a great set of drum samples!

[Dimaension X]

So after downloading, setting up and trying, I'm a little underwhelmed. The drums sound fine, but not very interesting. Very generic sounding, velocity-wise.

As you "hit" softer, the dynamic range is fairly good and feels like a softer hit, but when you hit harder, the dynamics just don't really change much. It still sounds like a "medium range" hit, just louder. With other drum sample sets like EZ Drummer, a nice loud hit "sounds" like you're hitting the drum-head harder, adds a nice little "ring" to it, sounds snappier. You can "feel" the resonance from the whole kit. The SSD5 just doesn't have that "life" to it.

So it sounds a little "boring" to me. It's still a good sounding kit for beginners to learn about programming or for getting ideas down quickly, and if you add some dynamic processing, it might improve the overall feel. But the overall drum hits still feel a little "dull" to me.

Still sounds way better that the MT Power Kit. So if you do need a free set of drum samples, I do recommend it, but be prepared to add some processing to the kit to help the sound out.

[tonybeepbeep]

Originally Posted by Jorgen

That did the trick. Thanks.

Glad you got it installed mate

[cutnpaste]

Originally Posted by pattonfreak1

Any one tell me how this fares against MT PowerDrumKit?
Better? Worse?

I have ssd5 free & MT PowerDrumKit on my system, MT PowerDrumKit is better it is a complete package out of the box, no additional items to download.

[Dimaension X]

Originally Posted by cutnpaste

I have ssd5 free & MT PowerDrumKit on my system, MT PowerDrumKit is better it is a complete package out of the box, no additional items to download.

Agreed. The MT Power Kit is a little "rough" and uneven sounding, but it is a bit more "metal"? SSD5 Free is a great sounding kit, is much smoother, and would be ideal for modern jazz-fusion. I think it falls short for metal, it just doesn't sound like you're "slamming" the drums when maxed out at 127 velocity. It stays much smoother and controlled, which is why I think it's great for fusion.

[Fergler]

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a fully fleshed out kit for a free version. Snare-offs, chokes for every cymbal as actual chokes instead of a different sample set, all sorts of cymbal strikes, excellent velocity response. I can't believe I put off installing this for a month or so.

Having this and Drummic'A, which is a very different sounding kit, is a lot of variety for my needs.

[ejanejarr]

Originally Posted by Jorgen

I've tried to install it four or five times. No luck. That green process meter halts near the end and won't move.

Same here, just I'm on Mac (Mojave). Reinstalled after installing the plugin, but it never gets to complete the packs installation. It gets stuck around 90%.

[Jorgen]

Originally Posted by ejanejarr

Same here, just I'm on Mac (Mojave). Reinstalled after installing the plugin, but it never gets to complete the packs installation. It gets stuck around 90%.

Install as admin. Worked for me.