Free BFD acoustic drum software

Sorry it's taken me so long, but having downloaded the software and read the manual, I've cracked it. I'll walk you through it, because it's not totally clear in the picture. (Had to use my phone, because every time I tried to take a screen shot, the menus in BFD disappeared.) In the Browser window, at the left of BFD, there's a downward arrow
icon, opposite where it says Preset. Click on that you'll be able to navigate to Engine/Keymap/General MIDI. Hope that helps.

BFD.jpg
 
Seamus OReally said:
Simon, can you compare the sound of BFD to, say, the Native Instruments Abbey Road drum series?
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I'd love to give you an informed answer to that Jim, but I'm afraid I have no experience of other sample-based drum plug-ins. While I could listen to some promo videos, they're usually so glossily produced, it's impossible to conduct any kind of meaningful comparison. What I can tell you about BFD3 is:

  • The quality of the drum recordings is exceptionally high, as is the drums used
  • The range of samples – in terms of velocity and area of head struck – is fantastic (including the cymbals)
  • Because BFD support all sorts of articulations MIDI can't (like cymbal chokes) you have to learn the internal sequencer to get the best from it
  • That learning curve is quite steep, especially if you're not a drummer
  • A really good drummer, with some electronic pads, makes BFD sound like a million dollars
  • There are a vast number of BFD 'packs' you can buy, giving you samples of an incredible range of percussion
  • It's quite a processor-hungry beast
Overall, BFD sounds really, really real – and you can treat the drum parts just like an actual kit you've recorded yourself. If you want to move beyond the excellent per-drum audio processing options within BFD, you can set up BFD and Logic Pro so that every drum has its own track. Then you can apply your chosen plug-ins and mix techniques.

Hope that helps!
 
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I have w10 installed on the newest machine I have.
BFD changed ownership in 2020, now owned by inmusic. I want to install this but.
 
ib,
In the user administration name password section of your OS / computer, are you listed as the owner administrator?
Are you yourself entered as having full control administrative privileges?

but who nose ?

Post this question on "Tom's Hardware" forum. There may be a known work around.
You might get some pointers from that.
The only time I've had issues, I turned off all the security and firewall; that solved it. Then after it starts working turn the security back on.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
ib,
In the user administration name password section of your OS / computer, are you listed as the owner administrator?
Are you yourself entered as having full control administrative privileges?

but who nose ?

Post this question on "Tom's Hardware" forum. There may be a known work around.
You might get some pointers from that.
The only time I've had issues, I turned off all the security and firewall; that solved it. Then after it starts working turn the security back on.
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Intelligent analysis – assuming that's the issue. It may be that @ibmorjamn simply doesn't like inmusic. Certainly, when they changed the authentification system, it gave a lot of us paid-up BFD3 users more than a slight pain in the posterior. Typically, you load it for a session and it periodocally demands you re-authorize it. I can live with that, but if you've got a paying client sitting next to you, it's not a good look at all.
 
simoncroft said:
But…?
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So much download installing. I will get to it .
Simon, I appreciate your help and the screen shot. I spent a lot of time searching forums trying to figure out how to fix the driver for HX Stomp the last couple of weeks. I become so frustrated with windows but that’s nothing new.

I have a trial of EZ drummer 3 right now but it is so different. I like it but I was so used to EZ drummer 2. Trial is almost over unfortunately.
 
simoncroft said:
Intelligent analysis – assuming that's the issue. It may be that @ibmorjamn simply doesn't like inmusic. Certainly, when they changed the authentification system, it gave a lot of us paid-up BFD3 users more than a slight pain in the posterior. Typically, you load it for a session and it periodocally demands you re-authorize it. I can live with that, but if you've got a paying client sitting next to you, it's not a good look at all.
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You are correct, I never bothered with becoming administrator but that should help.
I am king trying to work on a tune and forget about computers for a week or 2. lol
 
ibmorjamn said:
So much download installing. I will get to it .
Simon, I appreciate your help and the screen shot. I spent a lot of time searching forums trying to figure out how to fix the driver for HX Stomp the last couple of weeks. I become so frustrated with windows but that’s nothing new.

I have a trial of EZ drummer 3 right now but it is so different. I like it but I was so used to EZ drummer 2. Trial is almost over unfortunately.
Click to expand...
I don't know what the BFD3 manual's like now, but the original was the worst kind of "tell you what everything does, but not how you can use it to get the best results" documentation. The first user manual I wrote was in 1984, and I've given the subject a lot of thought since. A product like BFD3 is too versatile to start with screen-shots of the user interface, with exhaustive list of the names of functions. (Doubly so when the user has no idea what "anti machine gun" is, or what it does.)

Instead, you have to go on a journey with the user, showing them how to accomplish simple tasks, such as chaining together patterns from the existing library to make a song, programming a pattern of their own, using the mixer section to get particular drum sounds… Fortunately, we live in the broadband age now, and there are YT videos to help you out. I know, because I put quite a few on there myself! (Alas, not about BFD.)

BFD3 is incredibly powerful, but you could do a lot worse than learn the basics on the free version before you commit to the full system. I actually started with BFD2, and it took me several years before I started to understand its full potential.
 
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I finally got around to getting BFD running.
So far I like it, there are so many good drum platforms now. They are eclipsing the amp sims.
 
simoncroft said:
If you get on the BFD mailing list, I see to recall sales came round quite often.
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BFD 3 is currently $39
It takes up a lot space, 18 gb - 55gb
It doesn’t say how many grooves it has.

The metal expansion has 313 grooves.
Any software that sells drum kits and studios like Toontrack does is making better sounds but the grooves are what I need , not necessarily multiple kits , locations or engineers with long lists of accomplishments.

Just wondering if it’s a pretty full all around package and worth it.
Toontrack has drained about all the money out me they are going to get. lol
 
ibmorjamn said:
BFD 3 is currently $39
It takes up a lot space, 18 gb - 55gb
It doesn’t say how many grooves it has.

The metal expansion has 313 grooves.
Any software that sells drum kits and studios like Toontrack does is making better sounds but the grooves are what I need , not necessarily multiple kits , locations or engineers with long lists of accomplishments.

Just wondering if it’s a pretty full all around package and worth it.
Toontrack has drained about all the money out me they are going to get. lol
Click to expand...

I can't remember what I paid for BFD3, but it was a lot more than $39! The most important things you get with BFD3 over the free player are the vast library of sampled drums (hence 55GB) and the ability to write your own grooves, with all sorts of articulations MIDI doesn't support, much as cymbal chokes. I suspect you'll still be anting the Metal expansion pack, though.
 
So the metal expansion will work with the free player?

It might be money better spent on BFD 3 for all of the articulation and ability to write grooves.
 
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ibmorjamn said:
So the metal expansion will work with the free player?

It might be money better spent on BFD 3 for all of the articulation and ability to write grooves.
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At $39, I'd bite their arm off! But yeah, player will work with all the groove packs too. Here's a screen shot from the promo video, showing what they're actually trying to sell you.I reckon they're heavily discounting BFD3 and giving away the Player, becuse the repeat money is in the expansion packs.

Screen Shot 2024-12-24 at 18.04.08.png
 
Darn it, I purchased BFD 3 yesterday.
Some how I missed the download link , of course.

I can’t download until they answer my message. Probably next year on the 2nd.
So I am temporarily frustrated.
 
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