In part one of this series last month, we worked through the hardware fundamentals — what to prioritise when buying or configuring a system for drum VSTs, and where the conventional wisdom tends to mislead. For part two, we went straight to the people who build this software. We sent the same set of questions to a number of VST producers including XLN Audio (Addictive Drums 2), Toontrack (Superior...
Roland last year continued its strategy of flowing flagship technology down the product range with the launch of the V51 and V31 modules, both derived from the V71 brain. The company also built two kit configurations around the new modules — the VAD acoustic-look shell packs and the more traditional TD pad-style kits. digitalDrummer tested the TD516 after spending time with the other variants...
We’ve had a few reader enquiries about Unlock e-cymbals, especially in the wake of our exhaustive reviews of rival Lemon cymbals. After various attempts at sourcing review samples, we finally got hold of a new 20″ three-zone ride (CY20R, with no logo or branding on the top) and a Lightning Series 14″ hi-hat. By way of background, Unlock is a relative newcomer to the e-drum...
British music technology maker Novation has introduced the Launch Control XL 3, a redesigned compact MIDI control surface aimed at producers and performers seeking hands-on control over DAWs and external gear. The new model updates the long-standing Launch Control line with a mix of physical controls and workflow enhancements while retaining a focus on broad compatibility and flexible...
Antoine Fadavi — a 2018 finalist in the digitalDrummer E-drummer of the Year awards — has released a short masterclass on sampling pads through Drum Channel, reflecting the rapid growth of multipads among both electronic and acoustic drummers. The 20-minute lesson, Getting Started with Sampling Pads, covers the practical essentials: mounting options, connectivity, MIDI integration, backing tracks...
Roland has released a free Version 2.0 firmware update for its SPD-SX PRO Sampling Pad, adding several new features and workflow improvements. The most significant addition for existing Roland users is support for SPD-SX back-up files, allowing owners of the standard SPD-SX to load their existing performance set-ups directly into the SPD-SX PRO when upgrading. The update expands the unit’s...
The marketing around drum VSTs has never been better. The samples are more detailed, the mixing engines more sophisticated, and the sonic options more nuanced than anything that existed even five years ago. Superior Drummer, BFD, Steven Slate Drums, Addictive Drums — any of these can produce results that rival a professional studio recording. But open one of them on an underpowered or poorly...
Akai Professional has launched the MPC Sample, a battery-powered standalone sampler priced at US$399 — the most accessible entry point the company has offered into the MPC ecosystem, and a notable addition to a market where finger drumming is attracting growing mainstream attention. The MPC Sample draws on the design language of the MPC60, featuring 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads with poly...
As we prepare for the Europe Drum Show, we reflect on one of the highlights of last year’s digitalDrummer E-drum Labs a the UK Drum Show. By the time Andy Gangadeen sits down behind an electronic drum kit, you’re not just watching a drummer — you’re watching a philosophy in motion. At the digitalDrummer E-drum Labs in Liverpool last October, Gangadeen’s session wasn’t a product demo or a...
CME has built a reputation primarily through its WIDI range of wireless Bluetooth MIDI devices — compact, reliable, and notably low-latency solutions that filled a gap the MIDI world had been waiting on for years. The H12MIDI Pro, announced this week, suggests the company has broader ambitions. The H12MIDI Pro is a compact standalone MIDI hub that marks a significant step up from CME’s...
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By electronic drummers,
for electronic drummers.
FROM THE EDITOR
Electronic drums have come a long way since the 1970s and are now seen alongside their acoustic siblings on stages around the world. They also draw crowds at music trade shows and attract strong interest on the floors of music shops.
As an electronic drummer, technology enthusiast and professional writer, I know first-hand how hard it is to be taken seriously when your kit needs a powerpoint and amp. That’s why we launched digitalDrummer in 2010. I wanted to create a communication channel dedicated to this vibrant market and the musicians who are so enthused by the digital opportunities.
Because it is aimed at a niche audience of dedicated enthusiasts, digitalDrummer is able to explore drum technology in great detail, but it is written for drummers, not techno-geeks.
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Allan Leibowitz
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