How to set up Addictive Drums 2 with e-drums

Looking to up your e-drum game? Use Addictive Drums 2 instead of your kit’s stock sounds to experience the difference in authenticity, realness and feel. Let session drummer Rosalvo Melo show you how to easily connect your E-drums, map sounds to kit pieces, and create custom cymbal stacks with Addictive Drums 2.

Getting started with a new music-making setup can be a confusing affair. No worries though, we got you. All you have to do is turn on, plug in, grab your sticks and rock out! XLN drummer Rosalvo Melo explains the process:

1. Connect your e-drum kit via USB
2. In Addictive Drums, click “Audio & MIDI setup” in the top left corner. Make sure your output is set to your interface or kit, and MIDI inputs are set to your drum kit.
3. Click the “hamburger” menu in the top right corner, and select “Map window”, then choose your kit from the “Map Preset” dropdown menu.

Custom mapping

Addictive Drums come with a regular drum setup ready to rock, but what if you want to use a custom sound on a particular kit piece, like a cowbell on one of the toms for example? Simple - just use Addictive Drums 2’s nifty Learn function.

Here’s Rosalvo to show you how:

1. Go to “Map Window”
2. Choose the kit piece you want to change (i.e. CYM 1, KICK, FLEXI 1 etc).
3. Click the kit piece name under the image to open a drop down menu. Select your desired kitpiece.
4. In the field and list below, choose the stoke type you want to re-map, and click “Learn”.
5. Hit the physical drum piece you want to assign it to on your e-drum kit. Done!

Creating cymbal stacks

Want to emulate the sound of a cymbal stack in Addictive Drums 2? Here’s how:

1. Load up your kit in Addictive Drums 2 and click the KIT tab
2. Select the cymbal you want to effect, then click “E” (Edit) in the top right corner of the slot
3. Activate “Volume envelope” and tweak away. Shorter decay time will make your stack sound tighter. Play around with “Cut” (EQ) and “Pitch” to further dial in your preferred sound.