The Rooms of Hansa SDX by Michael Ilbert - In-depth Review (Superior Drummer 3 expansion)

[@saitkoraymusic]

Is toontrack giving you money? Your ideos are like direct introductions to the tootracks tutorials. ıf we want to watch like yoru videos youtube toontrack official is the best.

[@MikeLuke]

I agree, they make great videos.

[@LochNessAnthony]

How did you get that “i” without the dot..

[@fredmanteghian5913]

Mike Lukanz, your videos, of the two I've watched thus far, are superb! Thank you for your valuable insight.

[@joejordan4246]

Hi Mike! You are the absolute best reviewer of the Toontrack products. I just purchased this SDX yesterday. The sounds are truly amazing. Thanks again for all you do. I 've learned a ton about engineering in SD3 from you. Cheers from the USA!!!

[@Gaverny]

Quarantined here in North Carolina, U.S. .....but enjoying your video. Great work, thank you 👍

[@ARDrummer]

Very interesting stuff...very cool you got to sit in on the recording session!

[@TrevorHelt]

Your channel has been so valuable for me! Thank you for everything

[@rhythmista7707]

Spectacular, superb, and awesome sounds

[@ChrisBakerDrummer]

That's so awesome that you got to be there while they were recording these samples! Wow, what a privilege!! Fantastic review, as always... thanks for putting so much work into these videos.

[@MikeLuke]

Thank you for watching all my stuff, Chris. ;)

[@movininstereo9144]

Thank you. So much info in this video and super cool to hear the background. I had already purchased this before seeing your video but this made it more worth it. Super excited . Legend!

[@MikeLuke]

Thanks a lot, appreciate it!

[@caspermaster-com]

Ok, this is the best drum sample kit i have ever heard, and i probably heard all of them. Just listening to the first set in the first room i can see that all sounds are extremely musical in terms of sound, attack, release, where they sit in the mix, and works in high class pop arrangement and dirty indie arrangement as well. And really, just a really freaking pleasing sound that still sound like a real kit!

[@MikeLuke]

Hi Casper, thanks for watching and your comment. I have to agree, this expansion pack is probably the best sounding Toontrack ever released. When you play a MIDI beat (which was played by a human anyway), no one could tell a difference anymore. And of course it sounds like a real kit because what you hear IS actually a real kit- ;)

[@willemvandenberg5263]

Thanks for this video! I bought this SDX based on this video and it’s probably the best investment I’ve did in all my electronic drumgear (and I’ve invested a lot…)! Very thankful for your videos!

[@ThePanchomack]

Hey Mike - thanks for the review...appreciate your Toontrack Videos cheers

[@stefanosgeorgiou3489]

My ears: Oh yeah! My wallet: Oh no... Thanks for the review, Mike!

[@RogerioValgode]

Exactly my feelings lol

[@HenryMittnacht]

Klasse review! Und dass Armin Rühl Acryl Set mit drin ist ist natürlich super cool! Da werd ich ihn mal drauf ansprechen, wenn ich ihn mal wieder treffe!

[@MikeLuke]

Ich glaube, er hat sogar mehrere Trommeln zur Verfügung gestellt. Aber beim Acryl Set weiß ich es ganz genau ;)

[@Temporalmixproductions]

Damn, Toontrack is pumping them out!

[@XCenturionX]

This library is awesome. Superior Drummer 3 is worth every penny

[@MikeLuke]

I fully agree here.

[@mbwilding]

earned yourself a new subscriber, this was a great review.

[@MikeLuke]

Thanks ever so much, Matthew

[@djrbfmbfm-woa]

mike, hello from nsw australia!!. i need the ABBA drum kit sound. could you point me to the most appropriate SDX library for that? thx. j.

[@XiyuYang]

I thought I'm done with SDX after Decades and Death&Darkness, welp, gotta get this one too xD

[@MarkuzP66]

Lucky You Mike! This must be a dream of yours. Thank you for the good review!

[@MikeLuke]

It was super cool to spend some time in the studio, without a doubt. What impressed me the most though was the level of detail and pure focused work they put into that. I mean, they record one cymbal for hours and hours. And then the next cymbal.

[@MarkuzP66]

Mike Luke I can imagine!👌🏼

[@insighttv4601]

Decades is still the best

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

Wow that Massoff kit sounds INCREDIBLE!

[@martevansdrums]

Just picked this up yesterday and wow! I have a feeling this will become my default. Everything sounds incredible but the vocal booth kits are just ridiculously good.

[@MikeLuke]

Agreed. The Vocal Booth is a recording masterpiece.

[@anthonyb924]

Great review and looks like a really good expansion. Finally some roto toms. I can live with a 4 piece kit even though I play a 6 piece, but please give us more cymbals, especially FX / china / splash.

[@davidpringuer]

great review thankns

[@DrJMoLac]

Thank you Mike! Another great video!! These are so appreciated. I agree with you (in principle) that they could have done more for kit options. BUT. I bought this SDX yesterday after watching your video and I also bought Decades at the same time because everyone says how awesome it is. I also own a million Ezx's and the Roots bundle SDX. I have option after option for drums. Many of them are ok, some are great, but none have FULLY blown me away. That is until the Rooms of Hansa Marble Room Kit. THIS is the sound I was looking for. It is the sound that fits the music I am making. I wish I would have waited to Buy Decades until I worked with Hansa first (but I'm impulsive). I probably would have held off. While options are almost always good.... and I agree if this is your first SDX maybe get something with more options. BUT..... with the zillion options I have in Superior Drummer I finally found the ONE with Rooms of Hansa. I'm sure I will still use Decades at some point (it is very versatile) but in my opinion....The Marble Room is where it's at tonally and for a BIG yet controlled sound.

[@MikeLuke]

I have to agree. The Rooms of Hansa is probably the best sounding SDX they ever released.

[@MarianoGabrielConti]

Thanks for the info, subscribed!

[@sabineandkennii]

a really great review...I've been using this SDX in a few new projects, and I concur with all your points. First..it sounds amazing! and it's one of the only SDXs I have that requires almost no eq...it was so well recorded that just balancing the mixer to taste works.... now, I'm about to enter mixing stage(I bounce the tracks out as WAV files), so I'll know more then, but it sounds great just as is. Of course it will go through my parallel processes, etc. but wow...sounds great. I too was a little surprised, or disappointed with the small amount of instruments--the kit size is about what I usually use anyway, however, I would have liked more 'colors'... especially in the cymbals and hihats, as I find certain cymbals will work well in some arrangements, but get lost in others, etc... that said, I did think about all this as I was drifting off to sleep, and in most of my SDXs, I have my own presets that are a mixture of my favorite drums, and the presets include eq for those specific instruments, as eq for one kick may not be right for another, etc.... so those are my starter kits, and then I can switch out instruments as desired. In the case of the ROH SDX, Michael Ilbert mentioned he wanted to make an SDX that you could just use and get right to work with...to that end, I think he succeeded in a big way, and it may have been his reasoning for limiting the drum choices, as different drums sometimes don't work with a specific set up... anyway....it sounds killer, and maybe less choices will make for a quicker workflow....less indecision...lol...

[@MikeLuke]

Hey Kenny, thanks for your awesome comment and your thoughts on this. I have to agree on the cymbals tho. Paiste cymbals sound great, but they don't work in any occasion. I do think, however, that the software itself provides enough possibilities to shape the sound and to get them sit in the mix properly, e.g. just increase the volume or enable mic bleeding on some particular channels to bring them up naturally. The reason why they didn't include too much cymbals is rather easy: It just takes too much time. I mean, they recorded in four different rooms and they need almost one (!) full day to just record a pair of HiHats. They maybe manage to record two cymbals a day due to the dozens of articulations. This is what Toontrack told me.

[@najinelson6742]

@@MikeLuke I have to work one month to get my money! One day for hh only? Regarding the price for the expansion, that's pretty quickly earned money, isn't it ?

[@zzzz-sf5lr]

Toontrack Nü Metal Drums expansion pack????

[@ananomouse378]

These rooms are somewhat unique, the main room they have today (not the big hall) is a very low celeing, from floor to ground in this room, it;s likely only about 7.5 feet. It's a big enough room but low celeing. And their booths/smaller rooms are very specific sounding. So I get it. I get why they were a little bit minimal on Kit choice. But the rooms are awesome.

[@christopherpederson1021]

amazing

[@MikeLuke]

Thanks for watching, Christopher!

[@megapengmusic]

thank you!!

[@gregwilliams2764]

I really liked the dry dry snare

[@MikeLuke]

Same here, Greg. It has a great and unique flavor to it.

[@steph3571]

It sounds fantastic! All the SDX specially made for SD3 are on top ! But there is no configuration with 4 toms here.... It's a little pity.

[@MikeLuke]

That’s right. You can add another Tom though and pitch one slightly up and one slightly down

[@above-us-only-sky]

do you have the ability to tune the drums virtually? if not, does each drum come with different tuning preset options? mainly concerned about the ability to tune the snares and not be stuck with only one tuning.

[@MikeLuke]

Yes, you can tune virtually. Not only the drums, even the cymbals and HiHat

[@MikeMcRoberts]

Is this SDX a lot dryer than the others? SD3 and their packs tend to have ridiculous amounts of reverb. I want my drums to sound like they are in a small room not a football stadium.

[@MikeLuke]

Partially yes. This SDX has been recorded in four different rooms. One vocal booth, which is ridiculously dry up to one big concert hall. And two others that are somewhat in between. A cool sounding dry SDX is the „Custom & Vintage“ SDX, which I always loved.

[@justin1603]

@mike du hast recht death and darkness ist die beste sdx bisher seit progressive foundry hat toontrack einen großen step hingelegt... die aktuelleren sdx haben zudem teilweise doppelten content oder fast schon dreifachen verglichen mit älteren sdx (rock warehouse vs death and darkness zb^^) ich finde rooms of hansa persönlich besser als decades , ist natürlich auf diesem quallitätslevel auch persönlicher geschmack und neben der genialen core libary und der death and darkness sdx wird diese sdx vermutlich mein 2. bzw 3. favourit :)) ps: die "rotor toms" sind auch absolut mein ding :))) sie hätten trotzdem ein paar toms mehr in die räume packen müssen ...geb ich dir auch recht vielen dank für deine top reviews mike

[@MikeLuke]

Danke für Deine netten Worte, Marc!

[@ThePanchomack]

Are the midi files used from Hansa Rooms as well?

[@MikeLuke]

In this case, yes. All MIDI you heard are part of the Hansa Rooms.

[@GILLISH]

nice but to bad they did not create virtual mic's that you can move around the drum set and put where ever you want

[@MikeLuke]

Yeah, some other companies do this, am I wright? But this is then just "artificial" room sounds and cannot be done the way Toontrack records drums, I guess.

[@johnkrummrich4948]

Good point on the cymbals. But it sounds awesome for what is there. And why are there really no Meinl cymbals in any of the packs is it a licensing issues. Unless I missed it please let me know if I did. Thanks for your review. I am getting this one

[@XiyuYang]

John Krummrich There are 2 crashes, 1 china and 1 pair of hats in Death and Darkness, and a few more across some EZX libraries

[@johnkrummrich4948]

X Y thanks I just watched the review of death and darkness and saw that All my real cymbals are meinl byzance and just want to see more from toontrack. But I have nothing to complain about with all the Choices they make available But thanks for the heads uo

[@MikeLuke]

Meinl Byzance cymbals are also available on the "Pop Punk EZX", the "Drums of Destruction EZX" and the "Funkmaster EZX" as far as I remember.

[@johnkrummrich4948]

Mike Luke thanks I never look into the EZX so I will now

[@erickrl]

não entendo pq essas salas nao aparecem pra mim,,,curti o som da que tem o marmore...

[@boogybass]

I’m not a huge heavy metal writer; would you recommend this for R&B, Soul, and Pop? Is there a better SDX expansion for these styles?

[@MikeLuke]

Hi Ron, well, there are several ones to consider. The old „Custom & Vintage SDX“ is still one of my favorites. Warm, vintage drums with great sounding cymbals. The „Indiependent SDX“ will work, too. For R&B and Soul you won’t need big sounding studios which most of the Rock and Metal SDX had been produced in. You might wanna check some of the EZX expansions, too. They all work within Superior Drummer and there are a ton which are dedicated to the genres you are looking for. In addition to those I‘d mention the „Custom Shop EZX“ the UK Pop EZX. In any case what I always recommend: Take some time, have a good Cup of coffee and some decent headphones and then go to Toontrack‘s website. For all expansions they have a product page with a lot of audio examples per expansion and great Making-of-videos which will give you a feel about this pack, how they produced it, which sound they were after.

[@boogybass]

@@MikeLuke Thanks for your response, Mike! I have a lot of EZX expansions (probably more than my wife knows), but joking aside, I don't have Custom Shop, Vintage Rock, UK Pop, nor do I have the Independent SDX. I guess I'm hoping some of the EZX ones might go on more of a sale in these next 12 days before Christmas. I doubt the Independent will go any further than what it already is though. One simple question, if you were doing Pop, R&B, Soul, and easy-going R&R, which of the four (Custom Shop, Vintage Rock, UK Pop, and Independent SDX) would you purchase first? I already have Hip Hop, Electronic, Electronic Edge, In the Pocket, Jazz, Dream Pop, and numerous Rock expansions.

[@MikeLuke]

If I had to pick one of them, it would probably be the Custom & Vintage SDX. Have in mind though that SDX always need more time, love and tweaking to get the sound you want as EZX are always pre-processed with EQ and compression hence many prefer them over an SDX.

[@boogybass]

@@MikeLuke Thanks for your opinion on this, Mike!

[@oceansidesounddesign8770]

Mike, thank you so much for your in-depth review. Very helpful and appreciated. I'm still trying to decide if this is the first SDX I will get. I already have GGD M+M, SSD and a bunch of EZX (including indie folk) but it still looks attractive and decided between Decades, D&D and this one for my core. I mainly do pop / rock / indie. Beside the issue with time, any idea why they did not capture felt mallets on the ride in the Meistersaal? Seems really odd not to include it. Does it have more articulations on the crashes besides the main 3? Wish they also did the Twin Shell in the Live Room - it would be a no brainer purchase for a more standard sound but that would have taken a lot of time. Warm regards from Australia.

[@MikeLuke]

Oh well, it is a tough decision for sure. It‘s always hard to tell from outside what others might need and want, so all I can share is MY perspective on this topic. You own SSD, M&M, the core of SD3 and some EZX, so I think the heavier rock side of things is pretty much covered. And even though the D&D is THAT good that I considered it to be a new core library, I don‘t think you‘ll need it or that it would cover anything you haven‘t got already. Decades sounds incredible and should be an option for you looking at the genres you are into. However, for me Hansa is still probably the best sounding SDX Toontrack has ever recorded - even due to its limitations of which you mentioned a few (and I did in my review). Yet still ... what you get is so unique and incredibly sounding. The presets from the responsible engineer Michael Ilbert are the best presets I ever heard. Period. I feel he has been the only engineer ever to FULLY understand the power and concept of SD3 and created his presets on this idea. Hence he didn‘t use the Twin Shell in the Live Room as he felt and, more importantly, he knew the Camco kit sounded better. Of course you could always record MORE instruments, but in the end of the day you need to keep in mind that due to the way Toontrack is sampling those instruments, every new combination would have led to more recording time and ultimately to more costs for them (just as a benchmark: one (!) pair of HiHats takes one full day to record). To give you some context, I will link two songs I actually mixed as an engineer for a client. In both songs we used the Hansa SDX: First song „Magenta & Gold“ is from the Marble Room and the second one „Remission“ is from the Vocal Booth: 1. open.spotify.com/track/4eYqWRKBC02v1KYLvhtEkw?si=isFrSTr9SUKkkVEF2dym2A 2. open.spotify.com/track/2V7T2KgBaiddM3lLNKnMMc?si=vTZ60MWlSGaMx6N1NcqmYA

[@oceansidesounddesign8770]

@@MikeLuke Thank you for the fast and great response. You have helped me narrow it between Decades and Hansa. I agree, I think Hansa is an extremely focused release by Michael Ilbert. I do like the 1980s kit in Decades so I guess it is down to listening to more demos. But having access to the outboard compressors in Hansa would help in the mix. Thanks for the links - the songs sound great. It is really nice to see how Hansa sits in a final mix. Cannot wait for your Eddie Kramer SDX video. Keep up the great work Mike.

[@petercutler3136]

What genre is this suited for

[@MikeLuke]

Hi Peter, it's really suited for every genre due to the four different rooms they recorded the drums in. You can go from tight Pop, Indie, Blues to ambient Rock. Very versatile software.

[@petercutler3136]

Hey Mike thank you so, so much for your reply. I am about to invest in SD3 and I have been trying to choose which would be the best SDX’s to buy with it. As you have mentioned in some of your other great vids it’s is not always clear which genres SDX’s are suited too. Aside from Rock this and Orchestral that etc, etc. I am looking for the best SDX’s for Big Band Swing Jazz Pop Hip Hop Soul Disco Funk Funky House Big Ballad (Of course I get that many loops are available for some of these genres) But could you recommend 4 SDX’s for the above and maybe let me know what the SD3 factory kit/library is good for. This would be the most helpful help I’ve had in a monthlong search if you could answer this for me. Many, many thanks in advance. Pete

[@GatoPaint]

honestly, it makes me mad when Toontrack temeselves dont get what they're offering. Here, it was an amazing oportunnity to change from libraries that gives new drums, to libraries that give you different tastes of ROOMS , I hate when you dont have variety of cymbals, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO SELL ME JUST ONE CYMBAL BUT THESE LIBRARIES NEED TO BE MADE VERSATILE, NOT TO LIMIT THE OPTIONS OF THE PLAYER OR PRODUCER,, and I get the point you said about adding a cymbal that wasnt in the recording.

[@autowalter]

What do you think or expect of the upcoming SDX Legacy of Rock?

[@MikeLuke]

Well, from all I know it’s going to be very unique. Great instruments and recorded by one of the most iconic sound engineers in music history who worked for Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Beatles.

[@autowalter]

Mike Luke yeah, I think I’ll pass, I don’t need another vistalite, what I’m waiting for is just a pack of just cymbals (meinl, sabian, paiste)

[@MikeLuke]

Not sure this will ever happen, to be honest. But who knows

[@justin1603]

@mike after spend some time with rooms of hansa i must say i really love this sdx and i made a descision ... sold some sdx coz with the core libary, DECADES, ROOMS OF HANSA and my favourite DEATH & DARKNESS ( in fact like 2sdx) i have everything i need and i think those 3 last sdx are on another level thanks again for helping find the right drums mike :)

[@MarkuzP66]

The good thing is that they sampled octobans and RotoToms. I know no other library which has this. But yeah only two Toms in some Kits and no Chinas and EFX Cymbals are a shame!

[@aleksandrkarlshoffer-ruden6291]

Sound Cool!!!!!!🥁🥁🥁🥁

[@biekanez1]

Thanks Mike for this amazing review of the rooms of Hansa. You are a lucky guy to got the opportunity to be there in the studio for one day during the recording. The thing I don't like about Superior Drummer or on some SDX packs is that there are often empty slots for instruments, you have to learn them in always by yourself and why isn't that standard so you can remove an instrument if you don't use it in your set up. As an example the second rack tom, I don't have it so I always remove it from the kit I use at that moment. That's far more easier to work with. And as you mentioned at the end of the video, for me it's a reason not to buy this SDX because of its limited instruments. Would you buy this SDX expansion pack your self or would you buy the Decade, at that time for you it was the best expansion SDX sofar. What I also not understand is why there aren't trial versions of the SDX packs for one week or so and of course fully functional. Now I always think what shall I do, buy it or is it really worth that amount of money. I really don't buy everything you maybe believe Mike.😂 I always reconsider a lot before I buy something. But when I buy something I only buy the best. ( I hope) thank you so much for sharing and explaining everything very well and on a very pleasant manner. Thanks buddy 🍻👊👍😎

[@MikeLuke]

Hi Rob, hard to say. Both Decades and this one have their pros and cons. The Hansa SDX has more rooms, the sounds you get out of them are incredible. I can't answer a question like this, because it always depends on your needs and sound is always subjective taste in the end. Cheers!

[@wyrlismike]

I saw they released a new pack and thought, somebody better call Mike!

[@MikeLuke]

Hahahahaha, thanks a lot! 🙏😁

[@franzeek]

This really sounds amazing, but I really hope they start making raw libraries again. If I want already processed sounds I will just use EZ drummer.

[@DrJMoLac]

Sure.... if you don't mind using 16 bit

[@jasonweinberg932]

Toontrack should do an SDX for Superior Drummer 3 with Thomas Lang, they should bring him to well equipped studios and just let his imagination go hog wild with unique setups (Kits, Heads, etc...) If you want to know why, just watch Thomas setting up his DW kit. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXi5ppiLnMiXqdk

[@XiyuYang]

Jason Weinberg Nah, Gavin Harrison or Matt Garstka please, not a fan of Thomas Lang

[@arbogast4950]

Well, at least there was one Sonor drum...

[@MikeLuke]

Yes, and they even had Meinl cymbals onsite, but they didn't make it to the final product. But to be fair, all those Masshoff Drums are German. ;)

[@johnewald3148]

What language is that?

[@MikeLuke]

Could you please translate? I don't understand English.

[@johnjonson7815]

It's Denglish. :-) Luke, Dein Englisch ist schon O.K.. Your accent is personality!

[@hugoriders]

I own progressive foundry ( which I don't use it anymore), Decades and Death and Darkness. It does looks awesome but I'm skipping this one specially for the lack of cymbals. Death and Darkness it's the best and in combination with Decades I don't see the need of this SDX. One thing I would love is a decent electronic drums( machines) for Superior Drummer. Electronic EZX sucks...

[@MikeLuke]

I understand. Having Decades plus Death&Darkness (and the core library of course) actually means you don’t need any SDX anymore. ;) Did you know that the core library of SD3 contains hundreds of electronic samples already - even more than the EZX pack you mentioned? Additionally, you might check the HipHop EZX as it has some nice electronic sounds as well.

[@XiyuYang]

There are tons of electronic samples in the core library. Plus, since you’re tapping into electronic already, do some sound design work and make your own samples, incredibly fun

[@luisutil9070]

Pretty unusable sdx for me

[@danielglomb2933]

wenn de Berliner bist dann quatsch doch auch Deutsch. Was bringt dir das Englisch gequatsche🤮

[@MikeLuke]

So verstehen mich alle, die nicht Deutsch sprechen.

[@FrancoArea51]

9:09 horrible fill...

[@scott7521]

Who cares