BFD 3.5 Upgrade from BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO: Acoustic Drum Plugin

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (40 ratings)

BFD 3.5 Upgrade from BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO is an upgrade plugin that brings the BFD 3.5 acoustic drum studio to existing BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO users. It is available in VST3 and AAX formats.

VST3AAXWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

BFD 3.5 Upgrade from BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO is intended for owners of earlier BFD versions who want the third-generation BFD acoustic drum studio. The developer describes the update as a redesigned engine with new levels of realism, a revamped interface with a new mixer and sound browser, and features such as modelled tom resonance and bleed. The upgrade also adds Apple Silicon AAX support and cross-platform VST3 support, with compatibility for Windows and macOS.

Best for

Acoustic drum tracks
Drum loop creation
Mixing multi-mic kits
BFD library upgrades
Groove-based drum programming

Developer: BFD
Category: Virtual Instruments
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Upgrade path for existing BFD 2, BFD 1 and ECO users
Core library featuring 51 kits
60 mix-ready preset kits with customized parameters and effects
Drum Editor Tech, Model and Mic sections for per-drum control
82 ready-to-play Groove Palettes plus individual grooves
48 audio effects, including 13 AIR Music Tech effects
Modelled tom resonance, bleed and cymbal swells
Multi-channel audio export direct to disk

03In depth

Modelled Drum Sound and Dynamics

BFD 3.5 adds modelled tom resonance and bleed, which the developer describes as a natural glue that blends the kit together. According to the developer, the modelling varies with the characteristics and tuning of any combination of drums, something it says cannot be achieved with samples alone.

The update also includes improved dynamics matching across drums and a swell-modelling algorithm for cymbal washes. Per the developer, these features can be applied to existing BFD libraries when upgrading, and to expansion packs purchased later.

Mixing, Editing and Export Tools

The internal mixing engine includes DCAM-modelled compression, filtering and other effects, along with EQ and algorithmic reverbs. An external signal can be used as a compression sidechain source.

The new Mics control in the Drum Editor offers per-channel multi-mic levels and individual mic attenuation. Multiple channels can be routed to discrete outputs for processing in other plugins, and multi-channel audio can be exported directly to disk. Grooves can be exported by drag and drop.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	BFD
Type	Plugin
Category	Virtual Instruments
Formats	VST3, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

Who is BFD 3.5 Upgrade from BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO for?

The developer positions it as an upgrade for existing BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO users moving to BFD 3.5.

Which formats and operating systems does it support?

It is available in VST3 and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run BFD 3.5 Upgrade from BFD 2, BFD 1 or ECO?

The minimum requirements include macOS 12 Monterey or later or Windows 10 or later, a Core2Duo 2.0 GHz processor or equivalent, 2 GB DDR3 RAM, a 7200 rpm mechanical hard disk or fast SSD, an internet connection for authorization and downloads, a USB 2.0 port for installation, and a 1280x800 screen resolution.

Does the upgrade apply to expansion packs?

According to the developer, the modelling features can be applied to existing BFD libraries when upgrading and to expansion packs purchased in the future.