Choose a kick and snare relationship
Decide whether the groove should feel punchy, soft, gritty or spacious. A very long kick may conflict with a sustained bass, while an overly sharp snare can dominate a mellow instrumental.
Audition candidates in the actual pattern and at the intended tempo. Sample previews rarely reveal how a sound will behave once layered with the rest of the kit.
Control layers and frequency overlap
Layering can add weight or texture, but each layer should contribute something identifiable. If two sounds create the same transient or frequency emphasis, one may be unnecessary.
Check polarity and timing when layering similar transients. Small offsets can cause cancellations or an unexpectedly soft attack.
Keep the kit consistent
You do not need every drum to come from the same pack, but consider whether the room character, saturation and tonal balance feel related.
Save combinations that work well and note their role in different styles. A small, dependable sample library can speed up production more than a folder of thousands of untested sounds.