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:
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!

Roots SDX – Brushes, Rods & Mallets

Roots SDX – Sticks

Vic Firth Buy 3 Pairs of Black Drumsticks Get 1 Free

This Vic Firth drumstick package includes 4 pairs of black American Classic drumsticks for the price of 3. The American Classic line combines tradition and Vic Firth style. With bold designs for fuller sound and deeply back-cut tips for intensified cymbal response, the American Classic drumsticks are turned from select hickory, further enhancing their durability and sound.

Rating:
Great deal for some durable drumsticks. They perform just like other Vic Firth sticks, but have a cool black paintjob with the Vic Firth logo. Vic Firth is top quality and have been making drumsticks for quite a while. The sticks are available in many different styles for different styles of drumming.

Pro-Mark Japanese White Oak Drumsticks

Balanced and carefully crafted using hand-selected white oak. Grown in the mountainous regions of Japan, this particular species of oak is a harder wood than hickory and will take more wear, tear, and punishment. It resists chipping and wearing soft. Made with Pro-Mark's exclusive Millennium II manufacturing process, each stick is hand-finished and hand-inspected. The result is a strength and durability no other stick can match.

Rating:
Pro Mark makes great sticks. They have years of experience and are always on the cutting edge of design. These sticks are long lasting , have a great feel, are balanced well and come in a wide, wide selection of different sizes, including the more popular sizes in nylon and standard wood tips. Although my favorite sticks are Vic Firth, I’ve had many pairs of Pro-Marks and have been quite happy with them as well.

Vic Firth Dave Weckl Signature Series Drumsticks

Dave Weckl series of drumsticks by Vic Firth feature a barrel tip for broad cymbal sound. They are fast stick with great leverage. They are 16 1/4 inches long with a .560 inch diameter.

Rating:
My personal stick of choice. Made for jazz and fusion, great feel, smaller diameter for great articulation. The barrel shape “pings” the ride softly when hit. Every hit is precise and dynamics are easy to achieve. They truly feel like extensions of your hands. The red stain can tend to put red smudges on the head…but it’s not that bad.

Vic Firth 3-Pair American Classic Hickory Drumsticks

• 2B — Tear drop tip. For heavy rock, band, and practice. L=16.25″, D=.630″.
• 5A — Tear drop tip for rich cymbal sounds. Light and fast for jazz, orchestral, and pit work. L=16″, D=.565″.
• 5B — Tear drop tip. Ideal for rock, band and practice. L=16″, D=.595″.
  7A — Tear drop tip. Perfect for light jazz and combo. L=15.5″, D=.540″.
• Rock — Oval tip for a full sound. Great for rock and band. L=16.75″, D=.630″.
• Metal — Oval tip. Offers extra reach and power. L=17″, D=.635″.

Rating:
Vic Firth sticks are rugged. I’ve personally tried many different stick types and brands over 20 years of playing and I always seem to come back to Vic Firth. This 3 pack seems to be a good deal for a great stick. They offer a wide variety of sizes from the jazz drummer to hard rock drummer. Tip shape is great and gives good articulation and controls the sound when hitting cymbals and playing different dynamics. Drum sticks are a personal thing and need to be considered heavily. My advice is to try different styles in different lengths and weights to find the stick that suits you best.