Drumming sounds fun, well unless you’re trying to sleep late at night. It can get difficult to find time to practice or record drums at home. But with the introduction of electronic drums, it can be possible to rock out by making your neighbors hate you.
Whether you’re programming drums or using an e-drum kit, here are some top-quality drum plugins you can use.
Steven Slate Drums
For many years, Steven Slate’s Drums have been a recognizable staple when it comes to drum samples. Believe me when I say that Steven Slate’s drum samples are the most used samples by many music producers.
Their latest edition, Steven Slate Drums 5 houses so much more drum kits and groove samples for any genre of your choosing.
Drummers and non-drummers get to enjoy the wide array of possibilities of SSD 5 in the comfort of their own homes.
Its user interface (UI) has improved since the last update making the process of choosing and loading drum sets/samples much smoother and more efficient.
Not sure which kit to use, let the live audition feature give you a preview of what they sound like to see if they fit your sound or not.
For the more experienced drummers out there, you can adjust the snare ring in a specific way.
That’s not all, it also comes with artist packs. Want to use the certain style of your favorite artists in your own tracks, well now you can thanks to this.
Find the price tag too expensive? Well, Steven Slate offers a free version of their SSD 5.5.
You are still given all the controls and features present in the full version. Your drum library won’t be as extensive, but for beginners, that might be beneficial.
The free version provides the benefits of a more intimate set of sounds, something beginners can start off with. If you want to expand your sound roster, then the full version is there for you.
Addictive Drums
Regarded as an industry standard, Addictive Drums is a powerhouse of a plugin used by many producers, home or professional.
The plugin offers drum packs for drummers out there who want to program or use it as the sound for their electric drum kit. You also have midi beats if you want to go for hip-hop or trap.
You also have the option of the kit piece which allows you to take individual drum parts from different kits and piece them together. This is great if you only like certain parts of a kit and want to switch it for something else.
You can build your collection over time since XLN offers more sounds you can buy separately.
You are also given effects for you to play around such as compression, delay, reverb, and many more.
The program runs on digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as Ableton, Cakewalk, Logic, Garageband, Protools, Cubase, and Reaper.
If you’re looking for brand recognition, high quality, and many more, this plugin’s got you covered.
Toontrack Superior Drummer
Recorded in Galaxy Studios, Superior Drummer garners a fresh and realistic array of drum samples that you can mix and match to fit your sound.
All sounds were recorded in Belgium’s Galaxy Hall by renowned drummer George Massenburg. So rest assured that they will come out of your speakers sounding pristine and life-like.
The result is 230 GB worth of unedited drum sounds ready for you to drag and drop or fit into your electric drum kit.
Searching for samples is made easier with its integrated browser. But what’s more convenient than that is the Tap2Find function. This allows you to match the rhythm of the song.
One thing that will come in handy is audio to midi conversion. Its instrument recognition technology allows for audio to be converted into midi, making it more flexible for you to edit.
Superior Drummer also comes with effects that you can add some spice to your drums. If you’re feeling a bit limited with raw samples, well this lets you play around with the sound of your drums.
With a large catalog of samples all recorded by an award-winning drummer, you got quite the deal with this plugin.
Toontrack EZDrummer
Another plugin from the minds of Toontrack, EZDrummer is the simpler and more affordable option at least compared to the previous entry.
If too many options and 230gb is too much for your music-making, then a more selective set of sounds might be ideal for you.
But don’t let its simplicity fool you, it’s still a great plugin to use. If you are overwhelmed with choices or can make do with limitations, then this plugin is perfect for you.
You’re still given Tap2Find and a drum editor like Superior Drummer. So you’re still getting the same benefits on a smaller-scale plugin.
MT Power Drum Kit
Now the previous three entries all come with a price tag. If you’re looking for free options, then you’re in luck.
Apart from SSD 5.5 free, one such free plugin is Manda Audio’s MT Power Drum Kit.
This drum kit is able to replicate the sound of an acoustic drum, and does it pretty well for a free plugin. You’re given a library of sounds and grooves you can use to come up with your own drum tracks.
It has a library of grooves and fills you can incorporate into your projects, all recorded with the sound of a real-life acoustic drum. As for its quality, it’s been pre-possessed to sit well in any mix, making the mixing stage a bit easier.
In terms of who can benefit, the majority of it will be rock, pop, or metal musicians. It only offers an acoustic drum sound, so those genres will benefit from that sound the most. If that is your specialty or desired music genre, then you will benefit greatly from this drum plugin.
No Need to Compromise with Drum Plugins
Drum plugins are the ultimate saviors for drummers who want to jam without ruffling their neighbors’ feathers. With a variety of options available, you can enjoy noise-free drumming sessions and let your creativity soar. These plugins offer an impressive range of drum sounds and customizable features, giving you the freedom to explore different beats and styles. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, drum plugins are a game-changer for keeping the peace while pursuing your passion.
No need to compromise the sound of your drums to make less noise at home. These plugins will help you retain quality in your drumming. So go ahead, crank up the volume (silently, of course), and rock out to your heart’s content, knowing that you’re not disturbing anyone nearby.
