Category: Review

Gear, Industry, Performance, Review

November digitalDrummer is now live

The November 2023 edition of digitalDrummer, the last of the year, is now live. This edition is jam-packed with gear news and reviews including: The first review of Medeli’s debut kit under its own name A thorough examination of the Simmons Titan 50 kit An exploration of BFD’s new free VST New products covered in this magazine range from a new Millenium configuration to two upgrades from Alternate Mode and Yamaha’s finger-drumming debut offerings. On the people side, we interview REO Speedwagon’s Bryan Hitt, find out about a drumming world record (achieved with e-drums) and discover how Vinnie Corbo is pushing the boundaries of the traditional drum circleby adding trigger pads and software. As the end of the year approaches, […]

Gear, Review

Simmons goes low

When we first heard the Simmons new generation monitors, starting with the DA2012B, we were struck (almost physically) by the low-end boom. And that has been maintained in the latest DA2100 Series drum amps. The bass performance was noted in Scott Holder’s evaluation as “the punchiest low end of any monitor” he’s reviewed. So, what’s the last thing you’d expect from Simmons? Yes, a dedicated subwoofer. But that hasn’t stopped the company from releasing its DAS12S Drum Amplifier Subwoofer for an even more bone-rattling electronic drums experience. At the heart of the DAS12S is a 12” sub driver – no bigger than the main unit in the top-of-the-range DA2112, but capable of 400 W RMS and 130 dB (compared to […]

Gear, Review, Samples

Praise SD for new EZX

Toontrack has added another expansion pack to its already huge drums VST range – Superior Drummer Gospel EZX. digitalDrummer loaded it and tried it out. THE NAME OF the new pack is somewhat misleading – its application goes way beyond Gospel music, as we quickly discovered. What’s in the box As usual these days, there is no box: the samples are delivered via digital download, and thanks to the Toontrack Product Manager, download, installation and authorisation is a walk in the park. Also, because this is an EZX (as opposed to the more detailed SDX packs), it is a modest-sized download that can be completed pretty quickly with a decent Internet connection. Once everything is installed and authorised, you can […]

Gear, Review

Create your own ‘vibe’

Allan Leibowitz set out for some “shakin’ all over”. THERE ARE SOME who say all that’s lacking in electronic drumming is “the vibe”. Literally – the vibrations, especially the low-end thump, that make you feel your beat. This is not such an issue for those starting out on their drumming path with electronics, but may be a deal-breaker for acoustic converts and especially for gigging drummers relying on in-ear monitors or wedges to hear their kit. Until recently, Pearl offered a good middle-of-the-road solution with its Throne Thumper, but that has been withdrawn, leaving the market open for the much higher-end Porter & Davies tactile monitors. The UK company, probably realising that its previous $1,200 entry price was a bit […]

Gear, Review

eDRUMin expands

eDRUMin 10 was voted accessory of the year in the recent digitalDrummer Readers’ Choice awards, so we put it to the test. IT’S BEEN MORE than a year since eDRUMin entered the market with a compact, four-input e-drum to MIDI interface. The initial device was pitched as an alternative to the ageing TMIs on the market, and the big differentiator is the companion Control Application. While the first model was widely welcomed, the common complaint was the limited number of inputs, and even though the software supports more than one eDRUMin box, there was clearly demand for a more comprehensive offering. Enter eDRUMin 10. What’s in the box The eDRUMin package consists of an interface “box” and an attachment strap […]

Gear, Industry, Performance, Review

A budget surprise

digitalDrummer continues its exploration of low-cost in-ear monitors   ONCE THE DOMAIN of big-name German or American manufacturers, in-ear monitors are coming out of China in larger quantities and with serious quality features  for their budget prices. digitalDrummer was among the first drumming magazines to review the KZ ZS10 Pro and, shortly afterwards, the CCA C12. Both multi-driver units delivered a lot of bang for buck; admittedly, with minimal frills. The slightly more expensive FiiO FD1 ($80) takes a different approach – one we could describe as quality over quantity. What’s in the box Where the IEMs reviewed previously came in minimalist packaging with little or no documentation and no accessories, the FiiO FD1 comes close to the “name brand” […]