Scott, Maybe I didn't post clearly enough... Though I still feel the drummer sits in the right spot (people still DANCE to the drums and bass, no matter WHO they paid to see), it was a poor attempt (I see now) to merely suggest that the playing and singing be a little stronger, to match it's energy.

Turning down the drummer doesn't change his intensity if you are trying to get him to sit with a gentler performance. You need to use the Dynamic Arranger feature for that, which adds or subtracts velocity values from the Parts, and especially makes a difference to the velocity-switched drums. Or change, using the Cover tools, to a more brushed kit, perhaps.

But I believe that the 'sound' of a drum determines how loud it needs to be. Turning a hard hitting drumsound down below the 'hard hitting' volume level gelds the sound, IMO. I MUCH prefer subtracting velocity, or just changing to a softer 'hitting' kit, but at a similar volume.

It's a LOT more like what a real drummer does... as he gets quieter and quieter, he backs off the rimshots, goes to more skin hits, them finally, he changes sticks and gets out his brushes or Blasticks, and starts to play a little harder again, and let the stick do the volume drop...

For me, the sound of a hard hit drum track turned down to sub-vocal levels is just some clicking in the background. I'd rather hear an in your face brush kit than a distant hard kit if it HAS to come down...

Just me, my opinion, no big wup....