Toontrack Roots SDX – Brushes, Rods & Mallets and Roots SDX – Sticks Review

What do you get when you combine some of the most premier drum software producers in the world; some of the best audio engineers in the world; Roy “Futureman” Wooten, electric drummer extraordinaire; and put them all together in one studio? You get one of the most comprehensive,technical, awesome sounding, drum-sound libraries available. If you’re into electric drumming, this software is a no-brainer…It’s a must buy. Toontrack has done it again.

How does software like this work?
1. Get yourself some electric drums
2. Grab your computer
3. Grab a cable (usb) and plug your drum set into the computer
4. Start up your recording software and load this plugin as an add-on to the Superior Drummer software.
5. Map your drums to the software (So the pads you hit on your drums strike the corresponding drums on the virtual drum set in the software)
6. Put your headphones on and listen as you play high end, beautifully recorded drum kits.

This awesome drum software allows you to go beyond one sound that you would typically get from a single acoustic drum set in a room that is most likely acoustically challenged…and gives you perfectly mic’ed drums…every time, all through your headphones, speakers, amp, etc! The sounds on this software are recorded from REAL DRUMS in optimized studio environments.

From Toontrack’s Site:

Roots SDX – Brushes, Rods & Mallets

FEATURES
• Recorded by Roy “Futureman” Wooten in Blackbird Studio Nashville, TN
• Approximately 36 GB of raw, unprocessed sounds
• A total of 23 separately recorded, tweakable channels available in the mixer
• Custom MIDI included
• Large selection of different drums and cymbals (Pearl, Gretsch, Ludwig, Zildjian, Paiste)

Roots SDX – Sticks

FEATURES
• Recorded by Roy “Futureman” Wooten in Blackbird Studio Nashville, TN
• Approximately 36 GB of raw, unprocessed sounds
• A total of 23 separately recorded, tweakable channels available in the mixer
• Custom MIDI included
• Large selection of different drums and cymbals (Pearl, Gretsch, Ludwig, Zildjian, Paiste)

IN THE MIXER
• 16 mono, 7 stereo
• Decca Tree (3 mono mics)
• Acoustic live reverb chamber
• 3 different ambience stereo mic pairs
• 3 different OH mics
• 3 different kick drum mics
• 3 different snare drums mics
• 1 extra “trash” mic

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This is awesome software. You get beautiful sounding drums with perfect acoustics and sensitivity. When you strike the drum for the first time, it will put a smile on your face. There’s something about playing a GOOD sounding drum set, that makes your playing “feel” better. All of the tuning and sound optimization has been taken care of for your.

Roots SDX – Brushes, Rods & Mallets just feels so good. There’s no way to tell it’s coming from an electric drum set if you were to look away. I love the subtleties of the sounds. You can almost hear every individual strand of the brush. What’s great is to increase the volume a little with some rods, change it up and play with some mallets, etc…the possibilities are endless.

Listen closely to the buzz roll when playing Roots SDX – sticks and you’ll be in drum heaven. The dynamics are incredible, the snares have that tinge of ring and depth. It feels organic and natural. The toms and cymbals follow suit with subtle overtones and open sounds. As a jazz drummer, these sounds are about as close as it gets. It goes well beyond jazz sounds, though. There are a bunch of different drum brands packed into this software to make and customize your own hip-hop drums, rock drums…you name it. This is truly one beautiful sound pack!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Roots SDX – Brushes, Rods & Mallets

Roots SDX – Sticks

Addictive Drums Metal Ad Pak, Diabolic Midi Pak, Latin Afro Midi Pak Review:

Metal Ad Pak…Crunching metal sound just like the big boys…

Sound sets are expertly created from a Ludwig Classic Maple Drumkit.

XLN Audio’s description:

With thunderous toms, a heavy kick drum, a sharp but balanced snare drum and vicious Zildjian cymbals this kit really delivers in any kind of style in metal. The 18 piece drum kit was hand picked and tuned by Ross Robinson for the recording sessions. Listen to the audio demos and watch the videos to experience its wrath!
Presets

The Metal ADpak includes 30+ mix presets tweaked by professional metal producers and musicians such as Roberto Laghi and Björn Gelotte (In Flames), David E.K. (Fuge), Martin Preikschas and many others. The different presets all have different characteristics: big, small, close, wide, heavy and light.

Trig Sounds:

A special feature in this ADpak is the new trig sounds for the kick and the snare. Four different trig sounds are included to give your sound that extra edge and attack in your mix. Watch this video to listen to the sounds.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Diabolic Midi Pak…Get the metal grooves of one of the most powerful drummers around.

XLN Audio’s description:

Daniel Erlandsson from Arch Enemy was brought in to record the MIDI Pak: Diabolic, featuring a wide range of metal styles and grooves in different tempos and variations. Daniel’s power and impeccable groove is widely recognized- and now you can use him in your music any time!

Latin Afro Midi Pak…Latin/Afro groove machine that includes some of the most popular styles: Samba, Salsa and more.

XLN Audio’s description:

The Latin Afro MIDI Pak is a unique mix of the rhythms of Latin America and the Afro Beat culture. Included are 220 live recorded MIDI grooves in both 6/8 and 4/4 time signatures, in different feels, tempos and lengths.

Recorded by groove expert Måns Block (Damn, Timbuktu, Amanda Jenssen etc), these MIDI grooves and beats range from Samba and Salsa to Songo and Afro Funk.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Metal Ad Pak:
XLN Audio has done it again. This Metal Ad Pak will surely bring a smile to your face when you light it up. The drums are indescribably powerful and sound just like the real thing…better, really, because they’ve been masterfully mixed and have just the right mixture of punch and dynamics. I’ve been a fan of XLN Audio’s products for a while now for their ease of use, ease of setup…it’s basically plug and play and this Ad Pak is no different. The price is unbelievable for all you get. The pak includes a wide variety of recorded variations…And, they’ve made it easy for you to modify the sounds to your own liking as well. I see many hours of enjoyably music making with this Pak!

Diabolic Midi Pak:
Immersive Metal grooves will make your hair stand on edge. Masterfully created by Daniel Erlandsson (Arch Enemy, In Flames, Eucharist). Add these high energy grooves to your music…or do what I do and study them for your own drum playing. There’s nothing better than hearing then doing.

Latin Afro Midi Pak:
Grooves that will make you move…Again, besides just sticking them into my own music creations. I use them as a study guide. Beautiful, masterful grooves by drummer Måns Block (Damn, Timbuktu, Amanda Jenssen etc).

I couldn’t be happier with these products. This is top of the line stuff guaranteed to deliver the sounds you’re looking for for your next project.

Pintech Dingbat Tubular Pad

The Pintech Dingbat Tubular Pad takes up less room than a couple of pairs of drumsticks and sounds like anything your trigger module can come up with. Rugged construction, 9″ playing surface, excellent tracking and response. Compatible with all popular trigger modules. Mounts easily. Lifetime warranty.

Pintech Dingbat Tubular Pad Features:

Compact 9″ playing surface with realistic rebound-smaller version available as well!
Tough construction
Perfect tracking

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
For all you electric drummers: Need a closed hi-hat while playing your double bass and want to have the ability to switch back to your regular hi-hat? Is your snare drum only 2 zone? While playing jazz you’re going to want to have your standard head and rimshot assigned to your snare for accenting…but, how do you get a sidestick for those softer grooves? Need more options like assigning an alternate snare drum or other effect while playing drum-and-bass? Look no further, the Dingbat by Pintech is here…

All I have to say is this electric drum pad is sweet…innovation at its finest. It fits into places on your electric kit boldly where no other electric drum pad has ever gone. And it’s half the price of a normal drum pad. You can mount it almost anywhere on your kit with the provided mounting system. Sensitivity and tracking are excellent. One thing, you’ll need to purchase a 1/4″ patch cord that you can find at any local Radioshack for hooking it into your drum brain-they’re cheap and easy to find. It takes a little innovation and trial and error to get it positioned in tighter areas (I mounted mine right behind the snare), but once you do, it opens up a whole world of opportunities. Definitely need to check this cool piece of drum equipment out!

Roland TD-4KX2-S V-Compact Series Drum Set

The most affordable series from the V-Drums family has undergone a number of upgrades and refinements, including a new Kick Pad and V-Cymbals. With its improved playability, this kit will help you maximize your performance and practice time. You’ll get better faster with the built-in Coach and Quick Rec/Play function, and the mesh snare and tom heads as well as the cloth-based kick pad will give you an accurate feel for when you use your hard-earned skills to play an acoustic kit.

Roland TD-4KX2-S V-Compact Series Drum Set Features:

* Mesh heads for snare and toms (PDX-8, PDX-6)
* Natural swing motion and playing feel with new V-Cymbals (CY-12C, CY-13R)
* Three-way triggering for ride (CY-13R)
* Great feel and reliable playability with new mechanics and a cloth-based kick drum head (KD-9)

Includes:
* (1) TD-4 Percussion Sound Module with multi-pin cable harness and module mount
* (2) PDX-8 Mesh Pads (Snare, Tom 3)
* (2) PDX-6 Mesh Pads (Tom 1, Tom2)
* (1) KD-9 Kick Trigger Pad
* (1) CY-12C V-Cymbal Pad
* (1) CY-13R V- Cymbal Pad
* (1) CY-5 V-Cymbal Pad
* (1) FD-8 Hi-Hat Control Pedal
* (1) Drum rack
* (1) DW throne
* (1) DW kick pedal
* Clamps and arms for both the pads and cymbals

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome, affordable electronic drum kit. Roland’s new version of V-series drums, the TD-4, is absolutely stunning. The sounds are amazing and it’s built with Roland quality. Compact to fit into tight spaces or studios. Definitely an electronic drum set to be checked out.

Zildjian apparel and other gifts
Stylish Zildjian apparel, including hats, t-shirts, drummer gloves, Zildjian bags, Zildjian bar stools, Zildjian glasses and more…What more could the drummer who uses Zildjian cymbals ask for?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Zildjian makes high quality goods no matter it be a hand hammered cymbal or a slick messenger bag…They make it possible for the Zildjian drummer to show their drumming pride.

Evans G1 Clear Drum Heads

The G1 Clear Batter is a single-ply, 10 mil-thick head with a bright attack, warm sustain, and a broad tuning range.

Evans G1 Clear Batter Drumhead Features:

* Clear finish
* Wide attack
* Medium warm tone
* Open sustain
* Soft feel
* Highly durable

A solid head you can count on to anchor your sound.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The Evans G1 clear drum head is a great, all-around drum head well suited for Jazz and other drum styles where an open sound is desired. Little lighter than the Evans G2. I personally have been playing with G1s for a while now and they last and wear well. They’ve been great sounding heads and very versatile for different ranges of tuning.

Yamaha Yamaha Rock Tour 4-Piece Drum Shell Pack with Matching Snare Drum

Designed from the ground up as affordable, high-quality Yamaha drums with an edgy look.
This Yamaha Rock Tour 4-Piece Drum Shell Pack includes a 22″ x 18″ R-Version kick drum, 12″ x 8″ rack tom, 16″ x 15″ floor tom, and a 14″ x 6″ matching snare drum.

Big Leaf Mahogany Drum Shells
Known for its great beauty and durability, big leaf mahogany has been used for centuries to craft high-quality wood products. The wood delivers a rich and warm mid-low range tone with a short, natural decay. These Yamaha drums also use 100% reforested environmentally controlled material.

R-Version Kick Drum
For drummers that prefer an open, fat sound Yamaha’s “R-Version” kick drum shells are designed with no tom mounts to maximize the drum shell’s tone potential.

YESS!
The tom drum shell is equipped with Yamaha’s original YESS mount, which minimizes mount-to-shell contact—to enhance the Yamaha drum’s resonance, increase dynamic range, and produce longer sustain.

Floor Tom Legs
Large vertical floor tom brackets are fitted for drummers who play with intensity.

Kickin’ Front Head
The kick drum head is emblazoned with a prominently positioned Yamaha logo mark that looks sharp and is easy to spot even when the Yamaha drums are positioned at the back of the stage.

Pinstripe Drumheads
Tom and floor toms are fitted with Remo Pinstripe Heads for massive punishment and durability.

If you have your sights set on becoming a rock drummer, it’s important that the drums you are playing will help you reach your goal. The Yamaha Rock Tour Series drums that comprise this drum shell pack are the perfect choice, delivering a solid, powerful sound with sharp attack that will cut through and get you noticed. Hardware and tom drums offer quality inherited from Yamaha’s high-end kits, and the sets provide excellent durability and performance.

Cymbals and hardware not included.

Yamaha Yamaha Rock Tour 4-Piece Drum Shell Pack with Matching Snare Drum Features:
Yamaha Drum Shell Pack
22″ x 18″ R-Version kick drum
12″ x 8″ rack tom
16″ x 15″ floor tom
14″ x 6″ Rock Tour snare

6 plies of Big Leaf Mahogany
2 plies of ash
100% reforested environmentally controlled material
R-Version kick drum shell designed with no tom mounts to maximize tone potential
Tom shell equipped with Yamaha’s original YESS mount, which minimizes mount-to-shell contact
Tour Custom-style chrome lugs
Large vertical floor tom brackets
Large Yamaha logo on kick drum head
Tom and floor toms fitted with Remo Pinstripe Heads
Remo Ambassador head on snare
These Yamaha drums can withstand a rigorous touring schedule and still provide unmatched tone when in the recording studio.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome quality. Killer looks. Yamaha name. Comes standard with Remo pinstripe heads…This is one great drum set at a great price. The edgy looks are beautifully crafted on this cutting edge Yamaha drum set. Solid, powerful sound for rock drummers.

Pearl Artisan II Feathered Walnut Snare Drum – Limited Edition Ebony Feathered Walnut

This Pearl Artisan II Feathered Walnut Snare is a 14″ x 6-1/2″ Limited Edition drum and is part of Pearl’s Snare of the Month Club. The Pearl snare is crafted from 4 plies of poplar and 2 plies of birch, for a delicious tone that jumps out of the drum with each stroke. It comes complete with 8 CL-65 lugs and an SR-017 strainer.

Pearl Artisan II Feathered Walnut Snare Drum – Limited Edition Features:

* 14″ x 6-1/2″
* 4 plies of poplar
* 2 plies of birch
* Finish ply of walnut
* 8 CL-65 lugs
* SR-017 strainer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This beautiful, limited edition, feathered walnut snare drum is priced…well, incredibly…The wood pattern on it looks like something out of a fine furniture store. The hardware is simple and elegant. Pearl snare drums are great sounding and can be tuned to accommodate any style of playing. Did I mention the price? Incredible…It would be a beautiful addition to any set.

Gretsch Drums Catalina Ash Fusion Shell Pack with Free 8″ Tom

The Catalina Ash Fusion Gretsch Shell Pack is designed with power in mind for the drum player who is looking for full, penetrating tones and solid overall features. Ash wood produces a lively drum tone that projects a clear, cutting sound. The snare quickly reacts with an aggressive tone that bites with authority and the UV gloss finish fully reveal the visually striking ash wood grain pattern throughout the drum set. Other features include pro tom holders, heavy 2.5 triple-flanged hoops, die-cast bass drum claws, telescopic spurs, and the GTS tom suspension system. Cymbals and hardware sold separately.

Gretsch Drums Catalina Ash Fusion Shell Pack with Free 8″ Tom Features:

* Toms are equipped with Pro tom holders that feature ball/socket style for multi-angle positioning and stable GTS suspension systems
* Ash formula shells with 45 degree bearing edges and natural interiors
* 6-ply toms, 7-ply bass drum, and 9-ply snare drum
* Free 8″ x 7″ tom included
* 2.5mm triple-flanged hoops come standard on the toms and snare

Sizes:
* 22″ x 18″ bass drum
* 8″ x 7″ free tom
* 10″ x 8″ tom
* 12″ x 9″ tom
* 14″ x 14″ floor tom
* 5″ x 14″ snare drum
* Cymbals and hardware sold separatley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I love the Gretsch Catalinas. They’re constructed well and their sound is unique. This is a great drum set for the entry level drummer or the drummer who is a little strapped for cash. Great hardware and the finish is beautiful. They’ve put in a lot of high quality features for a set that’s priced so low.

DW 3000 Series Double Kick Drum Pedal

Single-post casting allows for pedals to be played independently or simultaneously.

This 3000 Series Double Kick Drum Pedal is packed with features like dual-chain turbo drive, bearing spring rocker assembly, 101 2-way beater, and heavy-duty all metal construction, with a price tag that’s in reach for more drummers. DW believes that well made pedals shouldn’t just be for the pros, but that they should be for all drummers.

101 2-way beaters
Industry-standard reversible beaters, with high-impact plastic and felt surfaces to cover a range of musical applications.

Dual-chain turbo drives
Chain-and-sprocket design with offset cams for quick response.

Single-post casting
DW’s double pedal design provides ease of movement between the pedal and hi-hat, which allows the pedals to be played independently or simultaneously.

Steel base plates
Provide a sturdy foundation and insures nonskid play on carpet and other flooring surfaces via adjustable spikes and Velcro®.

Dual adjustable toe clamp
The dual adjustable toe clamp ensures the pedal and drum stay connected. Convenient clip with drum key also included.

DW 3000 Series Double Kick Drum Pedal Features:

* Dual-chain Turbo drives
* Bearing spring rocker assembly
* 101 2-way beaters
* Heavy-duty all metal construction
* Single-post casting
* Steel base plates
* Includes drum key

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
dw pedals are the stuff. Made with high quality materials, craftsmanship and leading-edge design, these bass drum pedals help the drummer get the motion and sound they want. I have personally owned dw pedals for years and love them. Attention to detail and performance seems to be the driving force at dw when it comes to their drum set lines and hardware.