You can also use the detected velocity of a sound to decide whether it is triggered or not with the Velocity Threshold.

The sweet-spot usually lies somewhere in the middle, which is also the default setting for this control. Moving the threshold all the way up to the top instructs Tracker to require a 100% match to its machine learned database, and it will likely result in only a few trigger points created. Moving the threshold all the way to the bottom instructs Tracker to require a 0% sound match to its machine learned database, and therefore all trigger points shown as blue dots will become MIDI notes that are sent to Superior Drummer 3.

This threshold line represents the percentage in which the trigger point matches the Tracker’s machine learned idea of what a specific instrument sounds like. We’ll follow this by using Neutron’s Track Assistant to push the whole kit past the finish line and end up with a tight, polished drum sound that cuts through the wall of guitars. To help demystify sample replacement, we’re going to walk through the process of sample replacement for drum elements of an acoustic drum kit in a metal track using Superior Drummer 3. Sample replacement makes sure the first strike is as audible and strong as the last. This rapid performance style inevitably leads to an uneven attack structure on kicks, snares, and toms. One reason for this is the breakneck speed at which these drummers are often playing. The practice of drum sample replacement has become commonplace in modern production, especially in hard rock and metal. Sample replacement plug-ins like Superior Drummer work by detecting each moment when a drum hit occurs on a recorded track, and using these moments to trigger playback of a sample.

Drum sample replacement is the process of layering and/or replacing recorded drums with sampled drums, generally using a virtual instrument plug-in, like Superior Drummer 3 by Toontrack.

Superior drummer metal machinery