Tag: review

Gear

TD516 rocks the mid-market

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. Here’s what we found. What’s in the box The kit ships in three boxes: one containing the rack (MDS-Standard3), one for the kick drum pad, and one for everything else — module, pads and cymbals. Worth noting upfront: while the kit includes a rack and mounting hardware, there is no hi-hat stand, snare stand or kick […]

Gear

Unlocking cymbal options

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 market. Having launched in 2018, Unlock produces and sells e-drums under its own brand as well as providing OEM services for overseas brands. The company has partnered with around 20 organisations, but it’s hard to gauge its success in comparison with rivals like Medeli and Ringway because it will supply as few as five units […]

Gear

It might look like a toy but does it play like one?

Scott Holder reviews the Alesis Turbo MAX We’ve classified any e-kit costing $500-$1,000 as “introductory” and anything under $500 as “budget”.  I’ve reviewed many of these:  Simmons SD600 (dD Aug 2020), KAT KT-200 (dD Nov 2020), Roland TD-07 (dD Nov 2021), KAT KT-300 (dD Feb 2022), ddrum E-Flex (dD Aug 2022), Donner DED-200 Pro (dD Feb 2023), Simmons Titan 50 (dD Nov 2023) and the Alesis Nitro PRO/MAX (dD Feb 2025).  The lowest price for any of those kits was either the early DED-200 or the E-Flex, both at $350. The new Alesis Turbo MAX drops the price floor for a mesh-based kit even lower – below $250. To put that in perspective, the entire kit costs about the same […]

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 […]