The Digidesign Advanced Instrument Research (AIR) group is now shipping Strike™, the third in its new line of highly-optimized RTAS virtual instrument plug-ins for Pro Tools|HD®, Pro Tools LE™ and Pro Tools M-Powered™ customers. Strike is a deep and powerful plug-in for easy creation and control of professional-sounding, realistic virtual drum performances from within Pro Tools 7 (or higher) software.

Getting a desired groove with Strike is as simple as choosing one of the high-definition kits and telling the “virtual” drummer how to play. For example, Strike users can simply adjust the playing intensity, complexity, timing, groove, dynamics, and much more—all in real time. Strike also allows them to use the automation features in Pro Tools, connect a MIDI controller to tweak a performance on the fly, or gain ultimate control with a Digidesign Command|8®, Control|24™, or ICON integrated console.

Strike’s proprietary realtime performance engine eliminates the mechanized artifacts of typical sample-playback devices to deliver human results with unparalleled realism. This incredible range of sonic detail is brought out in each of Strike’s five high-resolution drum kits, which contain 12 drum sounds with up to 300 samples per instrument. Users can quickly drum up professional-sounding performances in a variety of musical styles using 1,500 preset patterns, which can be further customized with the onboard Style Editor. By triggering Strike directly from Pro Tools software, this versatile instrument can even be used as a high-resolution drum module.

To give users greater control over the drum kit, Strike includes a built-in multi-channel mixing console. Users can tweak everything from microphone leakage to room ambience while taking advantage of 3-band EQ and two Insert effects processors per channel. Strike’s onboard effects cover everything from reverb and dynamics to specialized tools like bit crusher and filter. The onboard mixer makes it easy to adjust the overall level and panning for each drum and route individual sounds to separate mixer channels in Pro Tools software.

Strike is available now via authorized Digidesign dealer and through the online DigiStore for $299 US MSRP.

For more information, visit their web site at www.digidesign.com.

Posted in Computer, Drums & Percussion, Recording, Technology

Groove Monkee has released a new library for Toontrack’s EZDrummer. Producer Pack 5, Rock and Jazz, contains over 2100 royalty free intros, beats and fills. The grooves are mapped for General MIDI, EZDrummer, BFD and Cakewalk Session Drummer. Free upgrades for the following formats are also available: DFHS, DFH C&V, DFH 1, DFH 2 and Groove Agent.

Groove Monkee has also released the following libraries in EZDrummer format:

• Groove Monkee Jazz
• Groove Monkee Funk, Hip Hop and R&B

Producer Pack #5: Rock and Jazz contents include:

• Over 2100 MIDI Beats
• 300 alternative meter beats
• 250 additional one and two-bar fills
• 125 intros
• Mappings: GM, EZDrummer, BFD and Session Drummer
• Rock styles: Alternative, Ballad, Classic, Contemporary, Blues Rock, Funk Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Pop, Punk
• Jazz styles: Bop, Swing, Latin, Linear, Funky, Fusion, Smooth, Bluesy, Alternative Time (3/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/4, 9/8 and 12/8)

Free Upgrades: Customers who have already purchased Groove Monkee Rock, Jazz or Funk, Hip Hop and R&B are eligible for free upgrades to the EZDrummer version of their libraries.

Rock and Jazz is on sale now for $59.95 and is available via instant download or on CD. Groove Monkee offers free MIDI samples and a 30-day money back guarantee.

For more information, visit their web site at www.groovemonkee.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Drums & Percussion, Recording, Software, Technology

GMS Drum Co. has introduced a new series of drums featuring the unique sound of North American hard white ash. GMS worked closely with American drum shell manufacturer Keller to develop these 8-ply 100% ash shells. Enhanced with Keller’s proprietary VSS™ technology, they are available exclusively on GMS Grand Master Series and Special Edition (SE) Series drums.

North American hard white ash is distinguished from maple, birch, oak, and mahogany by its exceptional punch and focus. Keller’s VSS technology extends this wood’s low-frequency sustain to produce richness and balance that’s unequalled even by other ash-shell drums.

“We experimented with different types of ash, including swamp ash [Southern soft ash],” commented GMS’s Rob Mazzella. “In depth, articulation, and sustain, nothing touched Keller’s VSS-enhanced North American hard white ash shells.”

Added Joe Montineri, Keller Music Division director of product development, “This exclusive GMS shell is crisp, punchy, and fat, with amazing amplitude, duration, and timbre focus.”

For more information, visit their web site at www.gmsdrums.com.

Posted in Drums & Percussion

Sonoma Wire Works™ and Drummerheads™ announce the release of 2 new sessions of unique drum content created exclusively for Sonoma Wire Works’ InstantDrummer format, with more on the way. Drummerheads promises a wide range of new sounds, styles, and very usable features with all of their InstantDrummer content. All Drummerheads Drummers will be available in both 16-bit and 24-bit formats for greater flexibility.

“Drummerheads’ drum content is an excellent addition to the expanded selection of InstantDrummer Sessions. In combination with new features in RiffWorks such as RiffLink online collaboration and RiffCaster instant podcasting technology, a full spectrum of grooves to choose from will inspire even more great songwriting with RiffWorks,” said Doug Wright from Sonoma Wire Works.

Hayden Bursk, Founder of Drummerheads had this to say: “I formed Drummerheads to add another color to the RiffWorks drum palette, but those colors aren’t just my own. Because Drummerheads is such a small company, we can respond immediately to user feedback and give them the kind of beats, grooves, and sounds they’ve been waiting for.”

For more information, visit their web site at sonomawireworks.com.

Posted in Audio, Drums & Percussion, Recording

Ritter has launched its new improved range of RitterClassic™ drum and percussion bags with more than 200 different products in the range. Available in a choice of colours, price points and designs, options include a single drum bag to fit all standard and not so standard sizes, to drum set configurations, along with bags for sticks and cymbals. Reaching out further, the range also caters for hardware, pedals and percussion such as bodhrans, talking drums, djembes, doumbek, congas and snare backpacks too.

Benefiting from a new, sleek, minimalist look with improved backpack system and stylish inverted zippers on the accessory pockets, the range now sports reflective safety strips, quilted interior, foam mesh handles with no visible webbing to spoil the look, chrome, metal moulded Ritter zipper pulls; shoulder straps, carrying handles, high-density foam protection and an ergonomically designed mesh lumbar support.

Made from water-resistant polyester, the RitterClassic™ range comes in night black/scarlet or chocolate/tangerine.

For more information, visit their web site at www.ritter-bags.com.

Posted in Drums & Percussion

On its continued quest to find the Worlds Fastest Drummer®, NAMM International again featured this highly charged interactive phenomenon at this year’s Summer Session in Austin, Texas. The contest consisted of two categories, Battle of the Hands™ and Battle of the Feet™. The Preliminary Heats were held July 14th and 15th. Included in the event were technical demonstrations, insight sessions and appearances by WFD Champions and World Record Holders Johnny Rabb (Deana Carter, Tanya Tucker, SheDaisy, Maynard Ferguson), Tim ‘The Missile’ Yeung (Nile, Hate Eternal, Vital Remains), and Randy Briggs (WFD & DCI Champ).

The top ten Fastest Hands and top ten Fastest Feet then competed the WFD World Finals, on Sunday, July 16th. This year’s Finals event featured an incredible performance by the Ten Finger Orchestra featuring Paul Allen and WFD World Champion, Johnny Rabb. Also appearing were winners of the Miss WFD Austin 2006 title, Ivy Lynn and Kristin Maverick!

The Battle of the Hands winner was Matt Smith of Flint, Michigan with a score of 1,030 Singles. At only 16 years old, Matt is the youngest WFD World Champion to date! Daniel Rice placed second (1,001) while Scott Laborde placed third (911). The Battle of the Feet winner Hensley Souryavong with a score of 774 Singles followed by Tom Miller (720) and Toby Phillips (694).

Over $12,000 in prizes were provided by Pearl, Remo, Axis, Pro•Mark, Meinl, Warner Brothers, Drumometer, and DrumRadio.com.

The World’s Fastest Drummer contest is sponsored by THE MUSIC EDGE.COM, NAMM’s teen promotional initiative. The next WFD World Finals contest is scheduled for NAMM Winter Session in Anaheim, California in January 2007.

For more information, visit their web site at www.namm.com.

Posted in Drums & Percussion, Education

Beta Monkey Music announces the release of Drum Werks X: Punk Drums.

Drum Werks X is a complete songwriting package for aggressive music, featuring over 600 slamming punk drum loops. Everything is fast. Everything is simple. Everything is hard-hitting. No time for complex drumming or subtle ghost strokes - this CD is nothing but hundreds of slamming beats and fast and furious fills.

With a wide span of tempos from 100 BPM to 285 BPM and beyond, Drum Werks X will deliver the no-nonsense drum parts your music needs. And, to top it off, Beta Monkey included a complete matching multi-velocity drum and cymbal sample set for added versatility.

Drum Werks X: Punk Drums Features:
600+ Grooves, Groove Variations, Fills, Intros, Endings, and One-Shots
100+ Multi-Velocity Drum and Cymbal Single Hits
Wide Range of Tempos: 100-285 BPM
Rhythmic Realism: 2, 4, 8, and 16 bar segments convey authentic phrasing
Cohesive Groove Sets: All loops are taken from the SAME recording session (all grooves, fills, one shots, samples are sonically-matched)
Complete Multi-Velocity Drum and Cymbal Single Hits Sample Set
Available in WAV, APPLE LOOPS and REX2 loop formats
Drum Werks X: Punk Drums is available now for a limited time for $29.99. New release pricing is available through July 31.

For more information, visit their web site at www.betamonkeymusic.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Drums & Percussion, Recording