Reader strategies for humanizing drum programming

I got some wonderful responses to my post on making VST drums more realistic. Here are a few of my favorites:

From Keith Thomas:

“I actually ‘beatbox’ the groove I want with my human timing on an audio track and then match every drum hit to that audio.”

From Brian Steckler:

“My favorite goto is to grab my real hi hats and play them live. Only takes 1 mic,…