General Information

What is BFD Cocktail?

BFD Cocktail is a download-only expansion pack for BFD3, BFD Eco and BFD2.


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What do I need in order to use BFD Cocktail?

BFD Cocktail requires a registered copy of BFD3, BFD Eco or BFD2 (versions 2.1 and later only) and a suitable system on which to run it.

Please note that BFD Cocktail existed before BFD Eco was released - all presets and kits supplied with it cannot be loaded into BFD Eco. However, all kit-pieces are present and can be used to build your own presets/kits or to swap into existing ones.


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Can I use this product with BFD 1.x?

No - this expansion can only be used with BFD3, BFD Eco or BFD2 (versions 2.1 or later only). BFD 2.1 is a free update to all registered BFD2 users.


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Why does it have these requirements?

BFD3, BFD Eco and BFD2.1 (and later versions) are equipped to handle the data format and custom channel layout featured in this expansion; previous versions of BFD2 and BFD 1.x cannot.


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What kind of limitations exist when using this product with BFD Eco?

When using this expansion in BFD Eco, limitations apply in terms of the audio channels and articulations that are available (this is one of BFD Eco's limitations, as opposed to the fully-featured BFD3 or BFD2).

Also, any presets or kits contained within this expansion pack are not compatible with BFD Eco (although individual kit-pieces can be loaded as normal).

BFD Eco is a streamlined instrument based on the BFD2 engine.


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What is included?

Yamaha Hipgig kit:

  • Hipgig 6"x10" and 7"x13" toms (played with sticks)
  • Hipgig 20"x16" Kick Drum (played with rubber and felt beaters)
  • Hipgig 5"x12" Snare Drum (played with sticks and hot-rods)
  • New articulations include rim shots and rim clicks on the toms. The snare also offers rim clicks, with the stick version additionally offering flams, drags and the half-edge articulation which can be used with positional sensing on suitable electronic drumkits.

There are no hihats or cymbals included with this expansion kit.

All drums feature Remo Heads: Coated Ambassador (snare and toms) and Renaissance Powerstroke 3 (kick). All presets are designed around BFD2 hihats and cymbals and can be easily set up to play with electronic drumkits such as the Yamaha DTXtreme series using BFD2's mapping functionality.

BFD Cocktail was recorded at Omega Studios in Rockville, MD.


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What mics and preamps were used for the recordings?

Direct channels:

  • Kick In: Shure Beta 52 through an API 3124 preamp
  • Kick Out: Neumann FET 47 through an API 3124 preamp
  • Kick Resonant: Yamaha Sub Kick through a Neve VR console channel preamp
  • Snare Top: Shure Beta 57A through an API 3124 preamp
  • Snare Bottom: EV N/D457 through an API 3124 preamp
  • Snare Side: Violet Design Flamingo Jr. through an ATI 8MX2 preamp
  • Toms: Violet Design Globe through an ATI 8MX2 preamp

Ambient channels

  • Overhead: Matched pairs of Neumann KM184s and Violet Design Black Knight mics through ATI 8MX2 preamps
  • Room: Violet Design Protoype omni capsules with Globe preamps through Focusrite Red preamps
  • Amb3: Nevaton MC404 stereo mic placed in he center of the room through a Metric Halo ULN2 +DSP preamps

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Is BFD Cocktail an FXpansion product?

Yes - it was produced by John Emrich for FXpansion and is distributed in download form on the FXpansion site.


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How big is the download?

Approximately 600MB.


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Do you allow license transfers?

Yes, however:

  • If you're the seller, you must contact us in advance of the sale. If you're the prospective second-hand buyer, you must check that the seller is cleared to sell. If in doubt, contact us.
  • There is a flat $50 fee per product for a license transfer, which can be purchased from our online shop.
  • Review copies, NFRs (Not For Resale copies, sometimes used for in-store demos), etc., cannot be transferred under any circumstances.
  • We reserve the right to refuse a license transfer request.

Once a transfer is authorised and the fee has been paid, the new owner is entitled to exactly the same upgrade paths and technical support resources as if they had bought the product new.


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