Business-News No. 2
The global electronic drumming e-zine
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Copyright © 2009 by
digitalDrummer
All Rights reserved
digitalDrummer
All Rights reserved
News...News...News...News...News
NEW EXPANSION PACKS FROM VEX
V Expressions has launched a number of new expansion packs, including some VST-like add-ons which take advantage of the enhanced performance of the TD-20X/TDW-20 modules.
The new offerings include the Engineer 1.2 pack, described by the programmers as continuing where Engineer 1.0 left off, “but with a slightly new direction”. Priced at US$30, the pack is being touted as a budget pack, and consists of 24 kits “modelled from some of today’s popular ‘produced’ VST counter-offerings”.
Also touted as a budget offering is the new "VXT" series, a reworking of the Master Picks series and based on VST sounds. Available for download from $40 each (or for $80 for all three), the collection consists of over 120 kits in three expansions.
This limited-time combo offer includes five additional brand new cymbal packs.
Vex has also released a new pack of 16 assorted kits covering all kinds of sounds, including electronic, jazz and general application, dubbed Expressions. This all-new patch collection is available for all modules (TD-10 version is yet to be finalised) and sells for $20.
The expansion packs will be reviewed in a future edition of digitalDrummer.
RMV LAUNCHES HYBRID
Brazilian drum maker RMV has released a sneak peak of its first e-drum offering, the ELEDRUM.
A full-size hybrid kit, the system includes adjustable internal triggers. From a preview video on the company website, the triggers appear to be single-zone. They are shown with RMV mesh heads and with mylar heads. They are demonstrated in some dual-triggering - an external microphone is mixed with triggered sounds through a module.
The kit, shown in six-piece configuration, is supplied without a module, with a spokesman saying this arrangement allows buyers to choose from the extensive range of modules already on the market.
There’s no mention of a launch date, nor pricing.
EVIL DRUMS ECO KIT 1 RELEASED
Platinum Samples is happy to announce the release of Evil Drums Eco Kit 1 a low-resource, download-only expansion kit for FXpansion BFD Eco & BFD 2.1 virtual drum software.
Recorded by Joe Barresi (Tool, QOTSA, Bad Religion) in the Cement Room at Grandmaster Recorders Ltd. (Foo Fighters, NIN, Rancid) Evil Drums Kit 1 is a versatile Pork Pie kit suitable for modern rock, indie, pop, punk & metal.
This download-only kit has been tuned for BFD Eco's reduced-velocity engine.
Also included are sample grooves from Platinum Samples’ upcoming Bobby Jarzombek Metal MIDI Groove Pack.
Also available for BFD from Platinum Samples are Joe Barresi’s Evil Drums, Andy Johns’ Classic Drums, and Jim Scott’s Rock Drums Expansion Packs. Joe Barresi Evil Drums is also available as an SDXTM Expansion Pack for Toontrack Superior Drummer 2.0.
Platinum Samples is the first third-party company to release Expansion Packs and Kits for FXpansion’s BFD Premium Acoustic Drum Module software. The expansion kit requires that BFD Eco or BFD 2.1 be installed and is both Mac OS X and Windows compatible. BFD supports Digidesign’s RTARTAS format, as well as the VSTi, DirectX, Audio Units and Rewire technologies.
YAMAHA OFFERS REBATES
From July 1, 2010, Yamaha will be offering a $300 mail-in rebate on the DTX900K Electronic Drum Kit and a $500 mail-in rebate on a DTX950K Electronic Drum Kit for a limited time.
·This is a customer mail-in rebate direct from Yamaha.
·Purchase your DTX900K or DTX950K between July 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010.
·Go to www.yamaha.com/dtx900rebate and register.
·Print out your registration/rebate form and mail it to the address on the rebate form.
·Include a copy of your sales receipt and the original UPC bar code from the DTX900 module box.
·Effective dates: July 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010.
·Rebate submissions must be postmarked by August 15, 2010.
·Proof of purchase will be required on all rebates.
SLATE LAUNCHES TRIGGER
Slate Digital has announced that the new advanced drum replacer, TRIGGER Platinum, is now available.
TRIGGER is a multi-channel, phase-accurate drum replacer with six channels of multi-velocity sample layers. This means that you can trigger a close mic, stereo overhead pair, and room mic pair - all from one instance of the plugin, according to a company statement.
“With TRIGGER you can quickly and easily turn ordinary drum tracks into world class drums,” a spokesman claims.
TRIGGER Platinum comes with the entire Steven Slate Drums library, including a sneak peak at some of the upcoming DELUXE series drums.
Find out more about TRIGGER's features at www.slatedigital.com.
TOONTRACK ADDS MUSIC CITY USA SDX
VST giant Toontrack has announced the launch of its newest library of drum samples and MIDI grooves for its Superior Drummer 2.0 drum production platform.
The Music City USA SDX features input from Harry Stinson and Chuck Ainlay, two of the best, most experienced players and producers in the business.
The pack gets its name from Nashville Tennessee, which boasts more labels, publishers, writers, producers, musicians and artists per capita than any other city in North America.
"With the city's history and culture so steeped in the art of making and recording music, the team could think of no better place on earth to record a library of drums that would be at home in music ranging from rock to reggae, metal to gospel or punk to polka," says a Toontrack spokesman. "Oh yeah... theyre good for country & rock too."
The Music City USA SDX will be available May 2010.
NEW APP FOR LIVE PERFORMANCE
Eareckon, headed by digitalDrummer DIY columnist Pfozz, has released a new music application originally designed to meet the requirements of musicians and engineers in “live” situations.
BloXpander combines the power of a computer and the efficiency of a dedicated device.
It functions as an ASIO Host for VST plugins, featuring 24 channels, four auxiliary bus + 1 master bus, six inserts per channels (with a theoretical 174 instruments / FX slots) .
Pfozz says the application is ideal for all musicians, including drummers.
“By using electronic drums, you have the opportunity to play a hyper-realistic software drums sampler and switch from a jazz set to a metal set in no time. You can then assign effects such as compression, gate, EQ, etc. to the various elements of your virtual set (especially if you use a plugin with multiple outputs). Only one action is needed to change the set and retrieve your presets,” he explains.
If you have an external MIDI controller, you can pre-mix your drums or apply a temporary creative effect from your throne.
If you play acoustic drums and don’t have a sound engineer at your disposal during live performances, an audio interface with multiple inputs coupled to BloXpander will give you the opportunity to assign all types of effects or simply mix the microphones placed on your drums set. Mostly, BloXpander will preserve all your ready-to-call settings.
BloXpander is on sale for €69 and comes bundled with Toontrack’s EZdrummer lite.
For more information, see: http://www.eareckon.com/
ALESIS UPDATES DM10 O/S
Alesis has released an operating system upgrade for its recently released DM10 Pro, Studio and stock DM10 kits. The company says the new module settings are ideal for harder hitters. "They'll give you more dynamic range, improved sensitivity, and improved crosstalk performance," according to a company statement.
The upgrade is available here.
NEW O/S FOR TD-12
Roland has released an operating system update for the TD-12 module.
The update takes the module to the same state as the new TD-12 KX, with new trigger types; improved Hi-Hat response and new parameters for Positional Sensing.
To download the upgrade, click here.
MIDITRONIX PROMISES BIG CHANGES
MIDItroniX, a new company formed by the inventor of FSR technology, Franklin Eventoff, and Mario DeCiutiis from Alternate Mode, is promising to "reinvent electronic drums and percussion".
While the company's website does not offer any details, it claims that a team of brilliant software and hardware engineers along with CAD designers, mechanical engineers and others have been brought together to rethink literally every aspect of E-drumming. "We are excited that this last year has brought us new and innovative concepts," it says.
MIDItroniX says it has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the next generation of pads, controllers, hybrids, e-pedals and hihats.
"You might not see MIDItroniX or Alternate Mode as the brand name, as we have created OEM models for our products. But you will see an amazing assortment of new products that will dazzle you in the coming months and years ahead."
The partners ask to be excused for not disclosing more details, adding that "patents are under way and we need to protect our OEM partners".
ALESIS EXPANDS DM10 RANGE
Alesis has unveiled its DM10 Studio Kit and introduced the DM10 at the 2010 Winter NAMM Show.
The DM10 Studio Kit features the DM10 drum module, Alesis’ RealHead drum pads, DMPad Cymbals and StealthRack mounting system.
The module has an extensive factory sound set with breathtakingly natural sounds and the ability to load entirely new sound sets via USB from a Mac or PC.
The DM10 works with virtually all manufacturers’ pads and triggers, and its input section can be further expanded with the optional Trigger|iO module.
The kit comes with a DMPad 12" Hi-Hat Cymbal, two DMPad 12" Crash Cymbals, and a triple-zone DMPad 14" Ride Cymbal. The Ride and one Crash feature large choke strips on the undersides for accurate cymbal control. The Ride also features multiple-zone triggering on the bell, face and edge. The Hi-Hat Cymbal is continuously controllable using the included RealHat Pedal.
SONIC REALITY ADDS PEART
Sonic Reality sound development company has added “Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit”, a sample library for BFD2 and Infinite Player, powered by Kontakt, to its Drum Masters series. Neil Peart, legendary drummer of the band “Rush”, has collaborated with Sonic Reality and producer/ engineer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) to bring the authentic sound of Neil’s “Snakes and Arrows’ Custom DW Drum Kit into the digital domain. With advanced features such as deep level dynamics, humanized random alternating hits, discrete multiple mic mixing and more, this deluxe sampled kit is an ultra-realistic recreation of Neil’s actual acoustic set as used live on tour and in the studio.
SUPRIOR GETS EVIL DRUMS SDX
Platinum Samples has released Joe Barresi’s Evil Drums SDX Expansion Pack for Toontrack Music’s Superior Drummer 2.0 software .
Joe Barresi is one of the busiest producer/engineers working today with an impressive list of credits including albums by Tool, Wolfmother, Queens Of The Stone Age, Weezer, Clutch, Pennywise, Turbonegro, Bad Religion, and many more.
Featuring six full drum kits, six kick drums and six snares, the Evil Drums Expansion Pack is unlike any other expansion pack available. Recorded to analog tape at two legendary rock studios using compression and EQ, Joe Barresi has captured a diverse ensemble of drum sounds with unprecedented detail and full bleed to create a unique and exquisitely evil expansion pack. Evil Drums also includes MIDI grooves performed by Pat Wilson (Weezer, The Special Goodness).
Platinum Samples is the first third-party company to release Expansion Packs for Toontrack Music’s best selling Superior Drummer 2.0 software. The expansion pack requires that Superior Drummer 2.0 be installed and is both Mac OS X and Windows compatible. Superior Drummer 2.0 supports Digidesign’s RTAS format, as well as VSTi and Audio Units technologies.
NEW EXPANSION PACKS FROM VEX
V Expressions has launched a number of new expansion packs, including some VST-like add-ons which take advantage of the enhanced performance of the TD-20X/TDW-20 modules.
The new offerings include the Engineer 1.2 pack, described by the programmers as continuing where Engineer 1.0 left off, “but with a slightly new direction”. Priced at US$30, the pack is being touted as a budget pack, and consists of 24 kits “modelled from some of today’s popular ‘produced’ VST counter-offerings”.
Also touted as a budget offering is the new "VXT" series, a reworking of the Master Picks series and based on VST sounds. Available for download from $40 each (or for $80 for all three), the collection consists of over 120 kits in three expansions.
This limited-time combo offer includes five additional brand new cymbal packs.
Vex has also released a new pack of 16 assorted kits covering all kinds of sounds, including electronic, jazz and general application, dubbed Expressions. This all-new patch collection is available for all modules (TD-10 version is yet to be finalised) and sells for $20.
The expansion packs will be reviewed in a future edition of digitalDrummer.
RMV LAUNCHES HYBRID
Brazilian drum maker RMV has released a sneak peak of its first e-drum offering, the ELEDRUM.
A full-size hybrid kit, the system includes adjustable internal triggers. From a preview video on the company website, the triggers appear to be single-zone. They are shown with RMV mesh heads and with mylar heads. They are demonstrated in some dual-triggering - an external microphone is mixed with triggered sounds through a module.
The kit, shown in six-piece configuration, is supplied without a module, with a spokesman saying this arrangement allows buyers to choose from the extensive range of modules already on the market.
There’s no mention of a launch date, nor pricing.
EVIL DRUMS ECO KIT 1 RELEASED
Platinum Samples is happy to announce the release of Evil Drums Eco Kit 1 a low-resource, download-only expansion kit for FXpansion BFD Eco & BFD 2.1 virtual drum software.
Recorded by Joe Barresi (Tool, QOTSA, Bad Religion) in the Cement Room at Grandmaster Recorders Ltd. (Foo Fighters, NIN, Rancid) Evil Drums Kit 1 is a versatile Pork Pie kit suitable for modern rock, indie, pop, punk & metal.
This download-only kit has been tuned for BFD Eco's reduced-velocity engine.
Also included are sample grooves from Platinum Samples’ upcoming Bobby Jarzombek Metal MIDI Groove Pack.
Also available for BFD from Platinum Samples are Joe Barresi’s Evil Drums, Andy Johns’ Classic Drums, and Jim Scott’s Rock Drums Expansion Packs. Joe Barresi Evil Drums is also available as an SDXTM Expansion Pack for Toontrack Superior Drummer 2.0.
Platinum Samples is the first third-party company to release Expansion Packs and Kits for FXpansion’s BFD Premium Acoustic Drum Module software. The expansion kit requires that BFD Eco or BFD 2.1 be installed and is both Mac OS X and Windows compatible. BFD supports Digidesign’s RTARTAS format, as well as the VSTi, DirectX, Audio Units and Rewire technologies.
YAMAHA OFFERS REBATES
From July 1, 2010, Yamaha will be offering a $300 mail-in rebate on the DTX900K Electronic Drum Kit and a $500 mail-in rebate on a DTX950K Electronic Drum Kit for a limited time.
·This is a customer mail-in rebate direct from Yamaha.
·Purchase your DTX900K or DTX950K between July 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010.
·Go to www.yamaha.com/dtx900rebate and register.
·Print out your registration/rebate form and mail it to the address on the rebate form.
·Include a copy of your sales receipt and the original UPC bar code from the DTX900 module box.
·Effective dates: July 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010.
·Rebate submissions must be postmarked by August 15, 2010.
·Proof of purchase will be required on all rebates.
SLATE LAUNCHES TRIGGER
Slate Digital has announced that the new advanced drum replacer, TRIGGER Platinum, is now available.
TRIGGER is a multi-channel, phase-accurate drum replacer with six channels of multi-velocity sample layers. This means that you can trigger a close mic, stereo overhead pair, and room mic pair - all from one instance of the plugin, according to a company statement.
“With TRIGGER you can quickly and easily turn ordinary drum tracks into world class drums,” a spokesman claims.
TRIGGER Platinum comes with the entire Steven Slate Drums library, including a sneak peak at some of the upcoming DELUXE series drums.
Find out more about TRIGGER's features at www.slatedigital.com.
TOONTRACK ADDS MUSIC CITY USA SDX
VST giant Toontrack has announced the launch of its newest library of drum samples and MIDI grooves for its Superior Drummer 2.0 drum production platform.
The Music City USA SDX features input from Harry Stinson and Chuck Ainlay, two of the best, most experienced players and producers in the business.
The pack gets its name from Nashville Tennessee, which boasts more labels, publishers, writers, producers, musicians and artists per capita than any other city in North America.
"With the city's history and culture so steeped in the art of making and recording music, the team could think of no better place on earth to record a library of drums that would be at home in music ranging from rock to reggae, metal to gospel or punk to polka," says a Toontrack spokesman. "Oh yeah... theyre good for country & rock too."
The Music City USA SDX will be available May 2010.
NEW APP FOR LIVE PERFORMANCE
Eareckon, headed by digitalDrummer DIY columnist Pfozz, has released a new music application originally designed to meet the requirements of musicians and engineers in “live” situations.
BloXpander combines the power of a computer and the efficiency of a dedicated device.
It functions as an ASIO Host for VST plugins, featuring 24 channels, four auxiliary bus + 1 master bus, six inserts per channels (with a theoretical 174 instruments / FX slots) .
Pfozz says the application is ideal for all musicians, including drummers.
“By using electronic drums, you have the opportunity to play a hyper-realistic software drums sampler and switch from a jazz set to a metal set in no time. You can then assign effects such as compression, gate, EQ, etc. to the various elements of your virtual set (especially if you use a plugin with multiple outputs). Only one action is needed to change the set and retrieve your presets,” he explains.
If you have an external MIDI controller, you can pre-mix your drums or apply a temporary creative effect from your throne.
If you play acoustic drums and don’t have a sound engineer at your disposal during live performances, an audio interface with multiple inputs coupled to BloXpander will give you the opportunity to assign all types of effects or simply mix the microphones placed on your drums set. Mostly, BloXpander will preserve all your ready-to-call settings.
BloXpander is on sale for €69 and comes bundled with Toontrack’s EZdrummer lite.
For more information, see: http://www.eareckon.com/
ALESIS UPDATES DM10 O/S
Alesis has released an operating system upgrade for its recently released DM10 Pro, Studio and stock DM10 kits. The company says the new module settings are ideal for harder hitters. "They'll give you more dynamic range, improved sensitivity, and improved crosstalk performance," according to a company statement.
The upgrade is available here.
NEW O/S FOR TD-12
Roland has released an operating system update for the TD-12 module.
The update takes the module to the same state as the new TD-12 KX, with new trigger types; improved Hi-Hat response and new parameters for Positional Sensing.
To download the upgrade, click here.
MIDITRONIX PROMISES BIG CHANGES
MIDItroniX, a new company formed by the inventor of FSR technology, Franklin Eventoff, and Mario DeCiutiis from Alternate Mode, is promising to "reinvent electronic drums and percussion".
While the company's website does not offer any details, it claims that a team of brilliant software and hardware engineers along with CAD designers, mechanical engineers and others have been brought together to rethink literally every aspect of E-drumming. "We are excited that this last year has brought us new and innovative concepts," it says.
MIDItroniX says it has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the next generation of pads, controllers, hybrids, e-pedals and hihats.
"You might not see MIDItroniX or Alternate Mode as the brand name, as we have created OEM models for our products. But you will see an amazing assortment of new products that will dazzle you in the coming months and years ahead."
The partners ask to be excused for not disclosing more details, adding that "patents are under way and we need to protect our OEM partners".
ALESIS EXPANDS DM10 RANGE
Alesis has unveiled its DM10 Studio Kit and introduced the DM10 at the 2010 Winter NAMM Show.
The DM10 Studio Kit features the DM10 drum module, Alesis’ RealHead drum pads, DMPad Cymbals and StealthRack mounting system.
The module has an extensive factory sound set with breathtakingly natural sounds and the ability to load entirely new sound sets via USB from a Mac or PC.
The DM10 works with virtually all manufacturers’ pads and triggers, and its input section can be further expanded with the optional Trigger|iO module.
The kit comes with a DMPad 12" Hi-Hat Cymbal, two DMPad 12" Crash Cymbals, and a triple-zone DMPad 14" Ride Cymbal. The Ride and one Crash feature large choke strips on the undersides for accurate cymbal control. The Ride also features multiple-zone triggering on the bell, face and edge. The Hi-Hat Cymbal is continuously controllable using the included RealHat Pedal.
SONIC REALITY ADDS PEART
Sonic Reality sound development company has added “Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit”, a sample library for BFD2 and Infinite Player, powered by Kontakt, to its Drum Masters series. Neil Peart, legendary drummer of the band “Rush”, has collaborated with Sonic Reality and producer/ engineer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) to bring the authentic sound of Neil’s “Snakes and Arrows’ Custom DW Drum Kit into the digital domain. With advanced features such as deep level dynamics, humanized random alternating hits, discrete multiple mic mixing and more, this deluxe sampled kit is an ultra-realistic recreation of Neil’s actual acoustic set as used live on tour and in the studio.
SUPRIOR GETS EVIL DRUMS SDX
Platinum Samples has released Joe Barresi’s Evil Drums SDX Expansion Pack for Toontrack Music’s Superior Drummer 2.0 software .
Joe Barresi is one of the busiest producer/engineers working today with an impressive list of credits including albums by Tool, Wolfmother, Queens Of The Stone Age, Weezer, Clutch, Pennywise, Turbonegro, Bad Religion, and many more.
Featuring six full drum kits, six kick drums and six snares, the Evil Drums Expansion Pack is unlike any other expansion pack available. Recorded to analog tape at two legendary rock studios using compression and EQ, Joe Barresi has captured a diverse ensemble of drum sounds with unprecedented detail and full bleed to create a unique and exquisitely evil expansion pack. Evil Drums also includes MIDI grooves performed by Pat Wilson (Weezer, The Special Goodness).
Platinum Samples is the first third-party company to release Expansion Packs for Toontrack Music’s best selling Superior Drummer 2.0 software. The expansion pack requires that Superior Drummer 2.0 be installed and is both Mac OS X and Windows compatible. Superior Drummer 2.0 supports Digidesign’s RTAS format, as well as VSTi and Audio Units technologies.