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Tag: electronic drums

  • Review: MDrummer by MeldaProduction is a Preeminent Drum Plugin

    Review: MDrummer by MeldaProduction is a Preeminent Drum Plugin

    The Czech company, MeldaProduction, continues to garner praise among musicians and producers for their excellent plugin line. It’s a collection of instruments and effects including both paid plugins as well as many free options. We recently enjoyed the opportunity to review their MDrummer, a drumming environment with excellent sound quality and cool functionality. It was love at first sight (or sound!)

    MDrummer Features

    • Excellent Sound Quality
    • Functional UI Makes Creating New Drum Sets Easy
    • Robust Drum Machine Sequencing Functionality
    • Built-in Effects Engine
    • 64-Bit Processing With Unlimited Sample Rate
    • New Sample Libraries – Known as Drummer Packs – are Free
    • Hundreds upon Hundreds of Snares, Kicks, Toms, Cymbals, and More
    • Support for Modulators and Multi-parameters
    • Flexible Mixing With Support for Mono, Stereo, M/S, and Surround
    • Supports Most Popular Plugin Formats
    • Separate Plugins Include Either 1 or 16 Outputs for Mixing
    • Available from MeldaProduction for $301 With Lifetime Free Updates

    From a sonic standpoint, this review focuses on the recent Drum Empire 2020 Drummer Pack. It features a host of cool sampled kits, including the legendary Ludwig Vistalite made famous by John Henry Bonham. So let’s dive into MDrummer to see if it might become your favorite e-Drum plugin.

    A Functional Plugin Interface

    MDrummer’s main interface features multiple tabs, providing access to the Quick Setup page, the mixer, a song construction page, the Drumset Editor, and pages to construct and generate drum machine rhythms. However, this review focuses on playing MDrummer with my Alternate Mode TrapKAT, so I won’t go into too much detail on the song and rhythm pages. Needless to say they are quite powerful, with the latter featuring a cool Euclidean sequencer. I hope to cover that functionality in an upcoming review. 

    MDrummer Quick Setup
    The MDrummer Quick Setup page lets you load drum sets and add effects. Image by author.

    Unlike other drum plugins I’ve used, MDrummer dispenses with a skeuomorphic interface. So instead of a visual representation of a studio drum set, the Drumset Editor lists each drum in a grid. Thankfully, this interface features a colorful image of the drum along with buttons to choose the specific kit piece, add effects, layer drum sounds, and more. In short, the interface is attractive, while also being highly functional. Notably, when installing all the Drummer Packs (they’re free so why not?) you have literally hundreds (thousands?) of options for snares, kicks, toms, cymbals, percussion, and more.   

    In a similar manner, the Quick Setup page lets you choose a drum set and its master effect. In MDrummer, a Drummer Pack functions as a sample library. A convenient tree interface lets you drill down into each installed Drummer Pack to find a specific drum set. A similar interface exists to choose the master effect for the drum set. It’s also possible to layer (essentially combining) drum sets and effects for additional sonic flexibility and mayhem.

    Crafting a Drum Set with Percussion

    As noted earlier, the goal of this review focuses on the newer Drum Empire 2020 Drummer Pack. Each drum set was sampled in a high-end Czech studio with great drummers using a variety of drum sticks, brushes, mallets, and more. I tend to prefer digital drum sets using brushes and Drum Empire 2020 features quite a few.

    MDrummer Drumset Editor
    The MDrummer Drumset Editor lets you craft your own kit. Image by author.

    I fell in love with MDrummer’s Gretsch-based Brush Loosen drum set, but some of the TrapKAT pads – the ones used for percussion – weren’t mapped. The easy to use Drumset Editor interface made mapping those extra pads a breeze. I simply edited the drum set and found the killer-sounding congas and bongos I needed. I saved it as “Brush Loosen With Percs.” Check it out in action in the following video.

    MDrummer also provides control over the velocity layers and samples used in each sound. This illustrates a common theme throughout the plugin. Getting at the basic functionality is simple, but it’s also possible to dive into more advanced functionality as needed. Remember, each drum also includes its own effect, which is also modified using this page. Note that both the Quick Setup and Mixer pages allow the editing of the master effect for the entire drum set.

    The Best Drum Plugin I’ve Ever Heard

    I’ve been playing electronic drums for over two decades. In addition to a highly-effected Roland drum module, my studio work features an array of drum plugins. Simply put, MDrummer blew me away. I’ve only scratched the surface of its capabilities, let alone the kits in the other Drummer Packs. As a reminder, MeldaProduction provides all new Drummer Packs for free to registered users of MDrummer.

    Obviously, excellent sampling techniques, great drummers, and quality studio gear make for superior drum samples. The cymbals are especially worthy of note. The rides and crashes boasted high fidelity with especially long decay times. The splash cymbals also blew me away. Stunning sound quality like this abounds throughout MDrummer.  

    Check out another video using the famous John Bonham Ludwig Vistalite drum set. MDrummer’s action is superb with nary latency issues encountered on a laptop with 8GB of RAM. Headphone listening also reveals the large stereo image.

    I typically use the one stereo output version of the plugin within Reaper. Therefore, sub-mixing the drum set gets handled using the flexible internal MDrummer mixer. A 16 output plugin exists for those who prefer to mix within their DAW. Controlling the Global panorama setting on the Quick Setup page nicely enhances the stereo image. The nearby pitch control is also effective for quickly tweaking the overall drum tone within the mix.  

    Ultimately, if you are an electric drummer, MDrummer belongs on your short list of plugins. Excellent sound quality, an easy-to-use interface, and a detailed sonic architecture make MeldaProduction’s drumming plugin a true winner. Let the Drum Empire 2020 Drummer Pack be your gateway to a killer drum sound. It rapidly became my favorite drum plugin!

  • Review: Hans Zimmer Percussion adds Cinematic Drumming to your Tracks

    Review: Hans Zimmer Percussion adds Cinematic Drumming to your Tracks

    Spitfire Audio brings another world class sample library to their lineup with the introduction of Hans Zimmer Percussion. An updated version of the original released a few years ago, HZP belongs on your shortlist if you need top shelf percussion samples. The Grammy Award-winning soundtrack guru produced and mixed this collection leveraging his talented engineering crew at London’s legendary AIR Studios.

    Hans Zimmer Percussion Features

    • Nearly 50 GB of Uncompressed Percussion Samples (20 GB Drive Space Required)
    • Tympani, Taiko, Tamtam, Tombek, Bass Drum, Gong Drum, and More!
    • Stunning Sound Quality
    • Includes all Samples from Spitfire Audio’s HZ01 and HZ03 Libraries
    • Full Control of Mix (with Close, Room, and Surround Mic Perspectives)
    • Updated Intuitive GUI
    • Requires NI Kontakt Player (Included)
    • Support NI’s NKS (Native Kontrol Standard)
    • Available for a Street Price of $399

    Simply stated, Hans Zimmer Percussion offers a top shelf collection of cinematic quality samples for your own projects, whether soundtrack, world music, or beyond. This collection frankly blew me away!

    A Top of the Line Percussion Sample Collection

    Installing Hans Zimmer Percussion requires around 40 GB of hard drive space during the install and at least 20 GB once it completes. This extra bandwidth is worth it, as these samples offer mind-blowing sound quality. Most include multiple playing techniques (rolls, flams, dynamics, etc.) and round-robins; those extra samples being essential when recording drum tracks.

    hans_zimmer_percussion
    Hans Zimmer Percussion in action. Screenshot by author.

    HZP offers two main Kontakt instruments. One features a whole host of timpani samples, while the other includes everything else. Expect Taikos, tamtams, tombeks, a real deep bass drum, and so much more. The small number of metallic sounds was a minor disappointment.

    The HZP interface fits snugly within the Kontakt player. A grid in the middle of the screen lets you select a collection of related drum samples. You map the different sounds and playing techniques to different MIDI notes using a menu on the right sidebar. The Timpani samples come already mapped, but you are able to transpose them to better match your controller.

    Owners of a Native Instrument controller supporting their NKS standard gain an extra advantage of an on-screen keyboard to help identify mappings. I just used my TrapKat after some initial exploration with my non-standard MIDI controller. BT Phobos, another Spitfire Audio plugin we reviewed, also supports NKS.

    The left sidebar includes other useful settings for EQ, MIDI CC, dynamic envelopes, or even mixing the mic placements between close, room, and surround. You also gain a measure of control over stereo separation. HZP also supports MIDI automation of these settings.

    Putting Hans Zimmer Percussion through its Paces

    After mapping HZP to my TrapKAT, I was truly able to put the samples through their paces. After an initial period of latency issues once I started playing, everything settled down; shocking me at the overall quality, especially the natural sound on successive hits on the same drum. This illustrated the quality provided by Spitfire’s round-robin sampling technique. I channeled Jerry Marotta’s drumming work on Peter Gabriel’s classic Security track, Rhythm of the Heat.

    The response stayed quick, even with my tendency to overplay while cranking out Brufordian fills over the entire TrapKAT. Even with the timpani as revealed in the video below.

    Sure, the traditional trap kit style of playing doesn’t apply in this case, and my mind conjured up new ideas for percussion tracks on upcoming Church of Hed releases. I hadn’t done this much world music styled drumming since the mid 90s. Fun. Check out HZP in action during the second half of this Church of Hed track, Quarrydosing, from our 2018 album, Sandstoned.

    The bottom line remains simple. If world music and cinematic percussion interest you at all, Hans Zimmer Percussion belongs in your collection. I give it my highest recommendation. So there.


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  • A Love Letter to the Alternate Mode trapKAT

    A Love Letter to the Alternate Mode trapKAT

    Sometime in the early 90s, I tried out an electric drum kit at a Columbus music store. I forget what brand it was – probably an early Roland model. I was surprised at the feel. While not as sensitive or dynamic as a real kit – I owned a Pearl 5-piece at the time – it definitely worked for me; even the kick pedal which is usually my biggest issue when playing someone else’s drum set at a multi-band show. I just had to be able to do my John Bonham right foot kick work.

    An Early User of Roland Electronic Drums

    Fast forward a few years when Quarkspace was first getting off the ground. Our style was a weird mix between psychedelic/proggy jamming, like the Grateful Dead, Floyd, or YES, and more electronic styles, ala the Orb or Orbital. We felt an electronic drum kit would be perfect for us, especially since the lack of loud acoustic drums on stage meant we didn’t need use individual amps, an essential way to limit the onstage sound, enhancing the listening necessary to do quality improvisations.

    Additionally, I am a keyboard player and synthesist, so electronic drums and their programmability are perfect for my style of music compared to using a traditional trap kit. I sold the Pearl and never looked back!

    I ended up buying a 5-piece Roland electronic drum kit with the TD-5 module. For additional fun, I picked up a used DrumKAT which I placed to the right of the Roland pads. While this setup worked well for the most part, I wasn’t a big fan of the TD-5’s sounds, and the old trap kit metaphor of the pad setup wasn’t to my liking, even with the DrumKAT. There had to be a better way!

    Enter the trapKAT

    In the late 90s, the newly released Alternate Mode trapKAT seemed like a perfect solution to my electronic percussion needs. Its trapezoid layout featuring both large pads and smaller pads around the rim appealed to me. I also picked up a FatKAT kick pedal and repurposed the virtual hi-hat pedal from my Roland set.

    trapkat
    My Alternate Mode trapKAT. Photo by Author.

    For a sound module, I went for the Roland TD-8, which served as the brain for their new line of V-Drum electronic sets. The V-Drum’s mesh pads and traditional kit layout didn’t appeal to me, in addition to the rather high price. I’ve always been able to control the sounds I wanted using the TD-8, even when using the physical modeling drum sounds in the module.

    The trapKAT’s playability has always been top notch, and its action still holds up after two decades of use. The FatKAT allows me to do those Bonham kick drum bits just like an acoustic bass drum. Being able to do cymbal clinches on the rim pads is another great feature.

    Two Decades of Electronic Drumming

    As I just mentioned, the trapKAT still plays great even after two decades of use – the FatKAT too. Over time I added a Boss VF-1 effects unit dedicated to the TD-8 for additional sonic manipulation. I now also use software plugins as a sound source, since I predominately work in the studio these days. BFD is my favorite, and I just picked up Spitfire Audio’s Hans Zimmer Percussion collection to add to the arsenal (a review is coming.)

    I especially enjoy using the TD-8’s TR-808 and TR-909 kits in my projects. They also sound great with the Arturia DrumBrute. My electronic percussion studio needs are in good hands. Although, I’ve been looking at getting a pair of “real” bongos just to get those hands dirty again.

    If you are a drummer looking to explore the world of electronic percussion, the trapKAT needs to be on your short list. Don’t let the fact I’m a KAT Featured Artist let you think I’m biased. I’ve used their products for 20 years before I gained that extra moniker.

    In short, the trapKAT remains an essential part of my studio setup. When it comes time to lay down a few beats, it’s the perfect option.