Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re: How to Enhance Your Drum Sounds with Professional Samples
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re: A Review
If you are looking for a way to enhance your drum sounds with professional samples, you may want to check out Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re. This is a drum replacement plug-in that allows you to replace or blend your original drum tracks with high-quality samples from the Steven Slate Drums library. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, drawbacks, and tips of using this plug-in.
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re
What is Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re is a package deal that includes two components:
A drum replacement plug-in called Trigger
A drum sample library called Steven Slate Drums Signature Drum Kits EX Edition
A drum replacement plug-in with advanced features
Trigger is a next-generation drum replacement plug-in that uses a phase-accurate multilayered triggering engine. This means that it can seamlessly trigger multiple samples simultaneously, such as a close mic sample, a stereo overhead sample, and a stereo room mic sample. This way, you can recreate the sound of natural drums with real multitracked samples.
Trigger also has two detection modes, live and accurate, that allow you to adjust the sensitivity and accuracy of the triggering according to your needs. You can also use MIDI in/out and automation features to control the plug-in from your DAW or external devices.
A drum sample library with high-quality sounds
Steven Slate Drums Signature Drum Kits EX Edition is a collection of over 10 GB of drum samples recorded by Steven Slate, a renowned producer and engineer. The library includes 10 snares, 9 kicks, and 3 sets of toms from various brands and models. All the samples were tracked to 2" tape using first-class gear, giving them a warm and punchy sound.
The library also features 127 different articulations per sample layer, up to 127 velocity layers per instrument, and up to 127 alternation hits per velocity layer. This means that you can get a realistic and dynamic performance from the samples, as they respond to your playing nuances.
Why use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
There are many reasons why you may want to use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re for your drum tracks. Here are some of them:
To improve your drum sounds with realistic and natural samples
If you are not satisfied with the sound of your original drum tracks, whether they are recorded live or programmed digitally, you can use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re to replace or blend them with professional samples. The samples from Steven Slate Drums library are realistic and natural, as they capture the sound of real drums recorded in different rooms and mics. You can also choose from different genres and styles, such as rock, metal, pop, funk, and more.
To customize your drum sounds with multiple layers and parameters
If you want to tweak your drum sounds to suit your preferences and needs, you can use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re to customize them with multiple layers and parameters. You can layer up to eight samples per instrument, and adjust their volume, pan, pitch, attack, sustain, release, and phase. You can also use the built-in filters, envelopes, and gates to shape the sound further. You can even load your own samples and use them with Trigger.
To save time and hassle with easy and accurate triggering
If you want to avoid the hassle of manually editing or aligning your drum tracks, you can use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re to trigger the samples automatically and accurately. Trigger has a fast and accurate detection algorithm that can handle any type of drum track, from clean and simple to noisy and complex. You can also use the leakage suppression feature to prevent unwanted triggers from bleed or crosstalk. Trigger also has a low latency mode that allows you to use it live or in real-time.
How to use Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
Using Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re is easy and straightforward. Here are the basic steps:
How to install and activate the plug-in
To install the plug-in, you need to download the installer from the Slate Digital website and run it on your computer. You will need an iLok account and an iLok dongle to activate the plug-in. You can create an iLok account for free on the iLok website. Once you have activated the plug-in, you can use it in any DAW that supports VST, AU, or AAX formats.
How to load and select samples
To load the plug-in, you need to insert it on a track that contains your original drum sound. You will see a user interface with eight slots for different samples. You can click on each slot to open a browser window where you can select a sample from the Steven Slate Drums library or your own folder. You can also drag and drop samples from your computer or DAW onto the slots. You can preview the samples by clicking on the play button or hitting a key on your MIDI keyboard.
How to adjust detection and leakage settings
To adjust the detection settings, you need to click on the DETECT tab on the top of the user interface. You will see two modes: live and accurate. Live mode is faster but less precise, while accurate mode is slower but more precise. You can choose the mode that suits your needs best. You can also adjust the sensitivity slider to control how easily the plug-in triggers the samples.
To adjust the leakage settings, you need to click on the LEAKAGE tab on the top of the user interface. You will see a leakage suppression slider that allows you to reduce or eliminate unwanted triggers from other drums or mics. You can also adjust the threshold slider to set the level below which the plug-in ignores the input signal.
How to mix and blend samples
To mix and blend samples, you need to click on the MIX tab on the top of the user interface. You will see a mixer panel where you can adjust the volume, pan, pitch, attack, sustain, release, phase, filter, envelope, and gate of each sample layer. You can also mute or solo each layer by clicking on the M or S buttons. You can also use the master fader to control the overall output level of the plug-in.
How to use MIDI and automation features
To use MIDI features, you need to click on the MIDI tab on the top of the user interface. You will see a MIDI in/out panel where you can assign MIDI notes to trigger the samples. You can also use the MIDI learn feature to automatically map the notes from your MIDI keyboard or controller. You can also use the MIDI out feature to send the triggered notes to another instrument or plug-in.
To use automation features, you need to click on the AUTO tab on the top of the user interface. You will see a list of parameters that you can automate from your DAW. You can also use the learn feature to automatically assign automation lanes to the parameters. You can then use your DAW's automation tools to record and edit the changes in the parameters over time.
What are the pros and cons of Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
Like any other product, Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Pros
Phase-accurate and multilayered triggering engine
This feature ensures that the samples are triggered in sync with the original drum tracks, without any phase issues or latency. It also allows you to layer multiple samples per instrument, creating a rich and realistic sound.
Professional and diverse drum sample library
This feature provides you with a wide range of drum sounds from various genres and styles, recorded by Steven Slate with high-quality gear and techniques. You can also use your own samples and mix and match them with the library.
Flexible and intuitive user interface
This feature makes it easy and convenient to use the plug-in, as it has a clear and simple layout, with all the essential controls and options at your fingertips. You can also customize the interface to suit your workflow and preferences.
Compatible with most DAWs and formats
This feature makes it versatile and adaptable, as it can work with any DAW that supports VST, AU, or AAX formats. You can also use it as a standalone application or with other plug-ins or instruments.
Cons
Requires iLok for activation
This feature may be inconvenient or costly for some users, as it requires an iLok account and an iLok dongle to activate the plug-in. Some users may not have an iLok dongle or may not want to buy one. Some users may also experience issues with iLok authorization or registration.
May consume CPU resources
This feature may affect the performance of your computer or DAW, as it may consume a lot of CPU resources, especially when using multiple instances of the plug-in or loading many samples. Some users may experience glitches, crashes, or freezes when using the plug-in.
May not work well with complex or low-quality drum tracks
This feature may limit the effectiveness of the plug-in, as it may not be able to trigger the samples accurately or smoothly when dealing with complex or low-quality drum tracks. Some users may encounter false triggers, missed triggers, or unwanted leakage when using the plug-in.
Conclusion
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re is a drum replacement plug-in that allows you to enhance your drum sounds with professional samples from the Steven Slate Drums library. It has a phase-accurate multilayered triggering engine, a diverse drum sample library, a flexible user interface, and compatibility with most DAWs and formats. It also has some drawbacks, such as requiring iLok for activation, consuming CPU resources, and not working well with complex or low-quality drum tracks.
If you are looking for a way to improve your drum sounds with realistic and natural samples, customize your drum sounds with multiple layers and parameters, save time and hassle with easy and accurate triggering, and use MIDI and automation features to control the plug-in, you may want to give Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re a try. It is a powerful and versatile tool that can help you achieve professional results.
FAQs
How much does Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re cost?
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re costs $149 USD on the Slate Digital website. You can also get it as part of the Slate Digital All Access Pass subscription for $14.99 USD per month or $149 USD per year.
What are the system requirements for Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re requires a 64-bit Windows or Mac OS X computer with an Intel or AMD processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 10 GB of free disk space. You also need an iLok account and an iLok dongle to activate the plug-in. You can use the plug-in in any DAW that supports VST, AU, or AAX formats.
How can I get support for Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
If you have any questions or issues with Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re, you can contact the Slate Digital support team via email at support@slatedigital.com or via phone at +1 (323) 944-0822. You can also visit the Slate Digital website and access the knowledge base, user manuals, video tutorials, and forums.
What are some alternatives to Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
If you are looking for other drum replacement plug-ins, you may want to check out some of these alternatives:
Drumagog 5 by WaveMachine Labs: A drum replacement plug-in that uses advanced triggering technology and a large sample library. It also has features such as auto-align, room samples, convolution reverb, and MIDI out.
Addictive Trigger by XLN Audio: A drum replacement plug-in that uses intelligent detection and superstart presets to trigger samples. It also has features such as dynamic detection, tone designer, and drag and drop.
Steven Slate Drums 5 by Steven Slate Drums: A drum virtual instrument that includes over 100 drum kits and over 1000 instruments. It also has features such as a custom mixer, a groove editor, and a master section.
How can I learn more about Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re?
If you want to learn more about Slate Digital Trigger EX Drum Re, you can visit the Slate Digital website and watch the product videos, read the product description, and view the product specifications. You can also download a free trial version of the plug-in and try it out for yourself.
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