Tag: review

Gear, Performance, Review

Beyerdynamic DT 71 review

Much of the activity in the in-ear monitor market has been at the budget end, but established German audio specialist beyerdynamic is not ignoring the growing musician market. The company used the last NAMM Show to debut a new line of in-ear monitors, one of them specifically designed for drummers. The DT 71 IE  is designed to “deliver powerful bass and clear treble, enhancing low frequencies while ensuring detailed reproduction of cymbals, percussion and bass guitar overtones”, according to the launch publicity. digitalDrummer tested the earbuds with a range of modules and VSTs on a MacBook Air via a PreSonus Studio26c interface. What’s in the box The stylish black packaging contains: a pair of in-ear monitors a pair of Comply […]

Samples, VST

Addictive Drums 2 overhauled

Addictive Drums has long been a recommended VST for e-drummers because of its small footprint, easy-to-use stand-alone player, wide variety of sounds and reasonable cost. However, the product was showing its age, especially with the major rivals all launching new versions since AD2’s 2014 debut. The Swedish producer, XLN Audio, is attempting to catch up with and perhaps leap over some of its competitors with the recent addition of the v2.5 update – a free update to Addictive Drums 2. Updating The v2.5 update is executed via the XLN Online Installer app which automatically detects the new version, downloads what’s needed and guides you through the installation. It’s all very easy and intuitive. When it’s done, you see a fresh, […]

Industry

E-drums year in review

Allan Leibowitz reflects on the e-drum highlights of the past year. 2021 was a hectic year for electronic percussion, with a large quantity of new product and strong demand fuelled by stay-at-home music under COVID-19 restrictions. But while demand increased, manufacturers struggled with supply chain challenges, from materials shortages to rising transport costs and freight delays. COVID-19 also impacted heavily on music industry trade shows, the traditional launching ground for new products. The annual NAMM Show in the USA was held virtually in January, with little new product buzz among e-drum manufacturers. The event is due back next year, but moving to Anaheim in June, meaning that Summer NAMM has been scrapped. Organisers cancelled Musikmesse 2021, the European equivalent of […]

Gear

It’s no Lemon

A new entrant in the low-cost cymbal market is making waves, so we checked out this latest offering. IF YOU’VE BEEN following any online e-drum group, you will have seen the intense interest in the Chinese Lemon brand of e-cymbals, especially the 16” three-zone ride. Many drummers have added these cymbals to their kits, some lamenting the lack of a bigger option – especially as the 16” turned out to be closer to 15 inches in reality. Well, the wait is over with Lemon now offering a nominal 18” three-zone cymbal. What’s in the box Lemon is sold directly by its manufacturer via the Alibaba platform. Some western buyers are nervous about dealing with the Asian Amazon-equivalent, so a secondary […]