Category: Samples

Samples

For drummers, this is a FADR

Maybe it’s a result of my previous searches, but it seems like I can’t open Facebook these days without being bombarded with stem separation solutions — and FADR is probably the most publicised. So, after a barrage of offers, I finally succumbed and grabbed the paid version, as the free one didn’t really give an indication of what the solution entails. And for those who haven’t seen it previously, digitalDrummer has been reviewing stem separators since they first emerged, partly in search of the perfect drum-free play-along creator. Just search our archive and you’ll see our previous investigations. How It Works FADR is an online suite covering a range of musical tools. The basic free programme includes a stem separator […]

Industry, Samples, VST

Breaking news: inMusic acquires Native Instruments

The months-long uncertainty over the future of Native Instruments has ended with a deal that will reshape a significant corner of the music software world. inMusic, the Rhode Island-based group behind Alesis, Akai Professional, Moog Music, Denon DJ, Numark, Rane and M-Audio, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Berlin company, bringing an end to an insolvency process that digitalDrummer has been tracking since January. A strategic fit — with one intriguing question The acquisition is not without precedent. The two companies established a working relationship in 2025, when a collaboration brought NKS integration to Akai Pro’s MPK and M-Audio’s Oxygen controllers, and placed NI sounds on the MPC standalone platform for the first time. That partnership now looks […]

Samples

Toontrack taps Jeremy Stacey’s kits for new EZX

Toontrack has released the Drumology EZX, a new expansion for EZdrummer 3 and Superior Drummer 3 built around four vintage kits drawn from renowned session drummer Jeremy Stacey’s personal collection. The pack targets producers and songwriters working in vintage and modern pop, fusion, rock and grunge who need sonically authentic drum sounds spanning four decades. Each kit is a genuine artefact of its era. The 1960s kit is a Ludwig Super Classic in Blue Oyster, built from three-ply mahogany/poplar/maple shells, with a 22×14″ kick, 14×5″ snare, 13×9″ rack tom and 16×16″ floor tom. Cymbals are period-appropriate Zildjians — 14″ K hi-hats, a 21″ A ride, an 18″ A crash — plus a 20″ Super Zyn crash for a touch of […]

Samples

Addictive Drums 2 gets metal expansion

XLN Audio has released a new expansion for Addictive Drums 2, introducing the Progressive Metal ADpak, a collection designed to capture the nuance and power of modern progressive metal drumming. At the centre of the release is Waltteri Väyrynen of Opeth, whose playing drives the expansion. The ADpak was recorded using Väyrynen’s personal Pearl Reference Pure kit, delivering detailed articulations tailored for complex, expressive performances. According to XLN Audio, the pack features dual 22” kick drums for natural alternating patterns, multiple snare options (brass and steel), and a wide palette of Sabian HHX and AAX cymbals, ranging from shimmering crashes to aggressive chinas and articulate rides. The toms are designed for dynamic, melodic playing — a key characteristic of the […]

Samples

Straight from the source: VST developers on getting the best from their software

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 Drummer and EZdrummer), and Steven Slate Drums, and asked them what they actually see from their users and what they genuinely recommend. The responses came from Emil and Oskar at XLN Audio’s product team, Tore Jarlo from XLN Audio support, Toontrack’s technical team, and Jamey Zebrack, product specialist and technical support […]

Gear, Samples, VST

Novation launches Control XL 3

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 configuration. Expanded controls and features The Launch Control XL 3 retains the layout familiar to users of earlier versions but introduces several notable enhancements: Eight 60 mm faders for mixer control or continuous parameter adjustment. 24 endless rotary encoders with RGB LED feedback for parameter tweaks. 16 assignable buttons that can be mapped to functions such as mute/solo, track selection or custom […]

Performance, Samples

Fadavi masterclass targets growing multipad market

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, and hybrid setup configurations. Rather than walking through any specific device, it focuses on workflow — organising samples, setting pad velocity, and building set-ups that work in live performance. The release reflects a broader shift in how drummers across genres are incorporating sampling technology. What was once primarily the territory of electronic drummers has become standard kit for touring musicians in pop, rock, […]

Gear, Samples, VST

Built to Play: The Drum VST Hardware Guide

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 configured machine and the experience is miserable: dropouts mid-fill, latency that kills the feel, or a spinning beachball every time you load a new kit. The good news is that building or configuring a system for drum VSTs isn’t as complicated — or as expensive — as it might seem. The bad news is that a […]

Samples

Drumopolis SDX Expansion drops

Swedish music software developer Toontrack has released Drumopolis SDX, a new Superior Drummer 3 expansion produced by veteran record producer Tony Visconti. The pack features eight fully sampled acoustic drum kits, captured at Metropolis Studios in London during sessions overseen by Visconti, drummer Stephen Gilchrist and engineer Liam Nolan. The kits are designed to span a range of rock styles from open, powerful sounds to tighter, more focused tones, and include a detailed set of presets. Kits and Components Drumopolis SDX has a diverse kit selection, including: The Duke Kit – A 1970s-era Slingerland Artist Series kit recorded in the main room. This set includes a 14×26″ Slingerland Marquis kick, a 6.5×14″ Ludwig Black Beauty snare, Slingerland rack and floor […]

Samples

E-drum application for the new BeatBuddy

A couple of years ago, I discovered the BeatBuddy as a sound source for MIDI controllers such as the Zendrum and trapKAT. To recap, the original BeatBuddy is a “drum machine pedal”, delivering “authentic, studio-quality drum beats” spanning more than 220 styles and 24 genres. At the time, I noted that the beat-generation function was probably irrelevant to 99% of the digitalDrummer audience. We don’t need drum machines — because we are drum machines. The real appeal of the little box lay in its 24-bit, studio-grade sound engine and the ability to load a large number of custom drum samples via an accessible SD card. I used the BeatBuddy with my Zendrum for well over a year, creating custom kits […]