The procedure for setting this up is actually a combination of some other tutorials on this website; How to record the output of a softsynth, and How to use BFD and multiple outputs.

The actual procedure depends largely on what version of the plugin you are using, Stereo, All, Ultra, or Groups

. Look for separate tutorials for those soon, but for this particular tutorial, I will use the session template from the BFD Multiple ouput link above, which uses the “All” version.I’m assuming you have already read the link above and that you have your session setup so that it is like the template. Here’s what you need to do.

In Pro Tools, create:

• Three stereo audio tracks
• Thirteen mono aux tracks

On the first stereo track, set the input to an available stereo bus. Set the output of the instrument track created from the link (from the template or manually) to the same bus. This is your Overheads track. On each other stereo input select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a” and then each respective output. On one stereo aux, select room, and on the other select PZM.
Since we’re using an aux for both the kick and the snare, you have a choice of using the mixed aux output or recording both kick pieces and both snare pieces to separate tracks. If using the combined, you would set the output to a bus similar to how you set the overheads track. If using separate, you would set them as you would the other kit pieces, described next.Set the inputs on the remaining mono audio tracks in the same way (“plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a”) to individual drum pieces; HiHats, Tom 1, Tom 2, Tom 3, Cymbal 1, Cymbal 2, Cymbal 2.
Label all tracks accordingly.

Record arm all tracks and press record.

This is the most basic way to use BFD in Pro Tools. It can be used with BFD Lite or the full version of BFD.

• Create a stereo instrument track
• On the instrument track, insert BFD Stereo
• Load a drumkit! on the BFD interface (so many people tend to forget that step, and then want to know “why is there no sound?”)

That is honestly all there is to it. You can now begin recording the drum parts with a MIDI keyboard controller, or electronic drums, or with the pencil tool.

Attention: This tutorial is for Pro Tools version 7 and above. If you are using an older version, these instructions and this template do not apply and you are on your own.

There are actually several ways to do this, but I’m going to cover the most popular one; using BFD All. (this tutorial is for the full version of BFD, and will not work with BFD Lite; a good reason to upgrade!)

For a quick setup, download my BFD Template, create a new Pro Tools session and “Import Session Data” into that new session.
Or if you want to do it the hard way…

In Pro Tools, create:

• One stereo instrument track
• Two Stereo aux tracks
• Thirteen mono aux tracks
• One stereo master track

On the instrument track, insert BFD All. Load a drumkit! (so many people tend to forget that step, and then want to know “why is there no sound?”)
Now we have to set the inputs of all of the aux tracks. On each input select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a” and then each respective output. On one stereo aux, select room, and on the other select PZM.
For the kick and the snare, we’ll be using 3 aux tracks each; two mix tracks and a submix. On the first mono aux, select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a -> Kick In” and set the output to bus 1. On the next mono aux, select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a -> Kick Out” and set the output to bus 1. On the third mono aux, set the input to bus 1.
Now do the same thing with the snare drum; On the first mono aux, select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a -> Snare Top” and set the output to bus 2. On the next mono aux, select “plug-in -> BFD All – Overheads – Insert a -> Snare Bottom” and set the output to bus 2. On the third mono aux, set the input to bus 2.Set the inputs on the remaining mono aux tracks in the same way to individual drum pieces; HiHats, Tom 1, Tom 2, Tom 3, Cymbal 1, Cymbal 2, Cymbal 2.
Label all tracks accordingly. MIDI data will be recorded to the instrument track, and the instrument track serves as the overhead mic output for BFD.

Now you are able to mix drums in BFD directly in the PT interface, adding effects and automation as you see fit.

1. How to audition a groove
2. How to use the BFD Grooves in Pro Tools
3. How to add a groove to the library (coming soon)

Before you use a Groove in your session, you are going to want to listen to it to see if it will fit the feel of your song, right? Here’s how to do that:

1. Drag a groove bundle from the Grooves Browser or the Fills Browser to one of the three banks; Bank A, Bank B, or Fills
2. To play the groove once, click on it in the groove bank

This will allow you to listen to the groove, and to see if it fits with the music that you are creating. Then you can decide which method you want to use to incorporate it in your session. (see separate tutorial)

There are two different ways to use Grooves in the BFD Groove Library:

1. One-Key trigger
2. Copy the MIDI from the Groove into the PT session

(click the links to go to the tutorials)My personal preference is the copy method, as I find it to offer the most control over what is going on, but that’s just the way I like to work. YMMV.

This is my preferred method for working with grooves in BFD.

You can drag Grooves straight to a MIDI or Instrument track in Pro Tools. Simply press the {CTRL} key, then drag & drop the Groove to the MIDI ot Instrument track while holding down the {CTRL} key.

You can also CTRL + Drag & Drop to the Regions list, basically “parking” the groove there so that you can later drag and drop it to the MIDI/Instrument track. I recommend when following this method that you rename the region in the region bin to something more recognizable for the session you are working in, i.e. Verse1meas1, chorus, preChorusFill, etc. etc.

Easy, right?

1. First, you need to make sure that BFD is set to trigger grooves from MIDI notes. Click on the Play Options button (looks like a sideways triangle/play button with a question mark next to it) on the right hand side of the BFD screen, and select “Respond To Groove Notes”. (there are some other interesting features regarding grooves there, but I’m not going to go into those here).
2. Next, you would press the key on your controller that corresponds to the Groove you are trying to play. Bank A is C5-B5, Bank B is C6-B6, and Fills are C7-B7
3. Using this method, it is probably best to pencil in the groove triggers to the grid (also the best way if you don’t have a controller)