addictive drums has a free version of their digs, where they have pre-programmed 'patterns'. similar to using a drum machine, or your keyboard. most drum programs offer this type of thing, some call them 'grooves' others call it something else. you could also look into loop libraries, REX and ACID are popular formats. they can be manipulated in the time/pitch realm pretty easily. Propellerheads reason/record offers some pretty to the point functionality, but reaper is fine for running beat based pluggin instruments, which will usually include some basic patterns.

Thank you kmetal! I am already on my way getting Addictive Drums. Reviews look great on it!

While we are on it, what would you recommend in terms of Vocal Reverb VST's?

Addictive is fun to work with, you can drag midi patern from addictive directly to your DAW.

As for reverb, I felt in love for Valhallaroom recently. (50$ if I remember)

vocal verbs, that a tough one. I have honestly never used one that i "love". The 'best' artificial verb i ever heard was the bricasti m7, which i was aware beforehand it was a verb unit (being used), it just sounded phenomenal. just uncharacteristically natural for a digital reverb. audiokid (the admin) introduced me to it. but it's also over 2 grand, and it sounds like it.

as far as plugins, i tend to use timed echos as much as verb, usually blended together. i recently purchased the waves native power pack cuz it was on sale for 100 bucks, and it included 2 verbs, the true-verb, and IR-L. i like the IR-L better, i've only used them on vox, i tend to use mics for ambiance on everything else. any stock reverb pluggin usually either is awful, or has one or two cool settings, i don't use vst format much, mainly rtas/au. If you download the free version of adobe audition, you'll get some excellent stock reverbs. convolution, and otherwise. just go to adobe's site and you'll find the Download Link, if not search RO, huseph posted the link a while ago. (sorry for my lazyness, it's after 4am after a session).

some very well received, affordable hardware verbs are the yamaha spx-90, and lexicon lxp-1. they range from 100-300. we have them at the studio in the rack, but i have been to lazy for the past (ugh) year, to wire them up. i just use a stick reverb/echo built into the console, or the waves stuff.

Eventide has recently come out w/ a software version of the H3000 which is pretty well renowned, again there's a hardware one in the rack, lazy enough to not have hookerd it up yet. that's about all i can say about vocal verb, other than the possibility of re-amping them to a bathroom, or kitchen, or living room, or concrete walled basement. best of luck man.

-kyle