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Best Vst Drum Plugins 2018

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Best Vst Drum Plugins 2018 Average ratng: 9,1/10 6228 reviews

Drum VST plugins are becoming increasingly popular as sampling becomes more and more common. The term ‘drum VST’ is rather broad, so I’ll be focusing on all types, including virtual drum libraries, percussion libraries, beat machines, and even drum synthesis. There you have it — our favorite VST plug-ins for vocals. With these processors in your plug-in folder, your vocal tracks are sure to sound better than ever. If you have any questions about vocal plug-ins, our knowledgeable Sales Engineers are chock-full of expert advice. Give us a call at (800) 222-4700, and we’ll be happy to help you out!

Sampling and Drum VSTs have been a part of modern music for many years. For a long time sampled drums were primarily limited to the electronic genre, but now they permeate mixes across all genres.

Drum samples can be integrated into mixes in a variety of ways from subtle to bold. They can be used to bolster a drum section on a rock track or to support the melody in a pop mix. Producers of all genres should have a go-to drum VST in their toolbox.

Now we’re going to go over some of the top drum VSTs currently available so you can get an idea which one might work best for your mixing needs.

The 12 Best Drum Plugins

Whether you’re a singer-songwriter looking for a rhythmic foundation to write a song, or a producer looking to add some realism to your drum sound, here’s a roundup of the most popular virtual drum plugins on the market. Toontrack EZdrummer 2. Toontrack’s EZdrummer 2 is the number-one selling drum software production tool in the world. The Ozone Imager is an essential free VST plugin for trap beats. As the name suggests, this is an imaging tool you use to control your track's stereo width. To make a professional sounding track, you must control your stereo width. Commonly, your low frequencies are narrow, in mono, while you typically place your higher frequencies wide. Here are the best Free Drum VST Plugins online that can be used with FL Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, and other VST supported software. The Best VST Drum Kit Plugins. Here are some of the most versatile VST plugins in the market today: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5. This VST plugin is an expansive synthesizer. It was originally designed.

1. XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2: Custom XL

Addictive Drums was first released in 2005, and it has only gotten better in the years since. Addictive Drums 2 builds on the original software with perfect recordings made in some of the most well-known studios globally. These are in addition to recorded sessions by some of the best session drummers in the business.

There’s a selection of more than 20 drum kits to pick from, and more are added to the library all the time. You also have the option to build your kit from the ground up with the convenient drag-and-drop interface. If that doesn’t interest you, there’s more than 5,000 beats available, categorized by BPM and genre. The time, feel, and tempo of these beats can also be adjusted.

Check out the onboard sampler to find a number of parameters for each kit piece. These include distortion, EQ, delay, transient shaping, reverb, and compression. Addictive Drums also features a parallel processing bus. Addictive Drums 2 is one of the top drum VSTs out there because of its constantly expanding inventory of drum kits for both electronic and acoustic drums.

Pros

Drums sound amazing
Goes easy on the CPU
Impressive beat editing software

Cons

Purchasing more kits can add up

2. Arturia Spark 2

Best Drum Vst Plugin

If vintage sounds are right up your alley, you may already be familiar with the variety of workstations offered by Arturia. With the Spark, Arturia stays true to their roots with one of the most extensive libraries of vintage drum machines on the market. If you like an old-school sound, the Spark is calling your name. There are more than 2800 sounds to choose from. You’ll also find a range of patterns and banks contributed from pro sound designers.

The Arturia Spark 2 has something for everyone, but of course it is ideal for injecting a vintage vibe in your mix. Users will find that the step sequencer makes pattern making a breeze. You can also take advantage of several automation options to produce a more dynamic sound. As a bonus, the interface also includes a modular synth to push your sound that much further.

Pros

High-quality vintage drum collection
Awesome modular section
Incredibly stable plugin

Cons

REX support could have been prioritized more
Genre-based content is a little inconsistent

3. FXpansion BFD 3 Virtual Drumkit

FXpansion first came out with an incredibly forward-looking drum kit VST in 1999. They didn’t offer their first BFD kit until 2003, and this newest version goes way beyond what was initially included in the software. You’ll find 160+ GB of samples available with detail levels of more than 80 velocity layers each.

The majority of kits in the BFD 3 come from recordings at Ocean Wave Studio made with a vintage Neve. There are also some kits that were made at Omega Studios. You have the option of working with either processed or raw samples according to your preference. You can shape your tone from the ground up if you want. Then you also have the option of working with the provided samples. These have been processed with the BFD built-in effects, which you can easily adjust.

You’ll have your pick of more than 40 expansion kits to further enhance your options. The BFD 3 Virtual Drumkit is so expansive that you’ll feel that your options are endless. No matter which genre you are working with, this drum plugin will elevate your sound.

Pros

Impressive kit sounds
Customizable Interface
Power groove editor

Cons

Lacks triggering capabilities
GUI is a little small

4. Xfer Records Nerve

If you work within the EDM genre, you’re probably used to digging through countless sample packs in order to nail down the perfect drum sounds. You’ll be relieved to hear that the Xfer Records Nerve can save you time and effort thanks to its excellent design. It’s been created by top-notch dance music producers, and it shows.

The Nerve comes packed with presets and patterns, and if you want to harness your own creativity, you can easily develop your own custom beats and sounds. The effects section does not disappoint with its many varied options. You’ll also find up to eight stereo outputs so that you can transfer your sounds to external processing.

There are three primary sections that make up the GUI. These are the Pattern Editor, the Pads/Waveform section, and the Mixing section. Xfer Records keeps it simple, which translates to greater efficiency and less effort required on your part. One of the most notable features is the impressive step-sequencer. With this you can program your beats visually or by clicking your mouse rhythmically. With the Nerve, versatility is the name of the game.

Pros

An awesome collection of high-quality sounds
Simple, user-friendly GUI
Advanced effects section with sidechain compression

Cons

MIDI mapping can be tricky
Takes up a good amount of CPU

5. D16 Group Drumazon

If the Roland TR-909 is among your favorites, just wait until you get your hands on the Drumazon. It would be difficult to find a more authentic-sounding drum machine out there. It faithfully reproduces vintage sounds to the point where you might forget you’re working with a VST.

There’s also plenty of controls for you to play with to make the software work for your producing needs. For just one example, the kicks offer both pitch and tune depth controls—something you wouldn’t get with the TR-909. The decay times are also significantly longer, almost enabling you to transform your 909 kicks into expansive 808-style subs. You’ll also find reverb knobs for the handclaps and decay controls for the cymbals.

The Drumazon doesn’t offer much range, but if you want to faithfully recreate the Roland TR-909, look no further.

Pros

Authentic 909 sounds
Flexible sequencer modes
Improved sound control over the original machine

Free guitar vst plugins for fl studio. Cons

Not a lot of versatility

6. BeatSkillz Synthwave Drums

Drum machines from the 1980s were primarily characterized by a ton of reverb. If you’re looking to recreate the iconic drum sounds from the 80s and the new wave genre, the BeatSkillz Synthwave Drums will not disappoint. As we know, trends have a way of circling back around, and the 80s drum sounds have resurfaced in a big way over the last several years. If you are a producer of pop music, you’ll want to have retro drum sounds at your disposal. With Synthwave Drums you’ll have access to 63 amazing kits that each offer 12 individual sounds.

This drum plugin also comes complete with 13 combinations of kick and snare. Synthwave Drums features four banks for cymbals, twelve for toms, four for effects, four for claps, four for percussion, and eight for hi-hats. You can choose from more than 1,350 one-shot samples to further enhance your drums. These drums are already processed, so they deliver the iconic 80s sound immediately without any additional tweaking.

You’ll find that the GUI is quite basic, but it gets a boost from its neon coloring and its user-friendly arrangement. This VST makes it exciting and easy to produce drum sounds that will transport you to a different time.

Pros

Authentic 1980s sounds
User-friendly interface

Cons

Lacks grooves and beats

7. D16 Group PunchBOX

With the Group PunchBOX you’ll find an awesome library of drum sounds, but D16 takes it a step further. There’s also a great collection of modules, effects, and synths, which makes this VST an attractive option. Finding the right drum sample to fit with your mix is no easy task, but the samples on the DST will make your job that much easier. You’ll be able to find just about anything you might be looking for.

The PunchBOX is a rack module with a design that will boost your creativity. You’ll find three sample layers along with a synthesized layer to work with. Then take advantage of the effect modules to develop authentic sounds that can be adapted for any type of music. The compression and EQ modules make it easy to add in bold snares, rich bass drums, and a range of other intriguing percussion sounds.

You’ll find an abundance of presets conveniently situated based on their sound characteristics and musical style. The PunchBOX offers incredible versatility and everything you need to take your mix to another dimension.

Pros

Versatile four-module design
Amazing sounds and samples
High-quality processing

Cons

Controls could be bigger

8. SONiVOX Tony Coleman Drums

The Tony Coleman Drum VST is perfect for those who want authentic drum sounds without breaking the bank. If you’re not familiar with Tony Coleman, just know that he is a bit of a legend in the R&B realm. His drumming talents have backed artists like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Etta James, and Albert King. With Tony Coleman Drums, you can perfectly replicate his unique tone.

Coleman prefers his drums, including his snares, toms, and kicks, to be large and open with a rich, deep tone. If you’re searching for an awesome drum sound that will overwhelm you in the best way possible, you’ll find it here. What you’ll get with this VST is 20GB of drum samples from recordings made at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

This acoustic drum VST includes a Mapex Black Panther snare, a Sabian 22” AAX ride; 10”, 12”, 13”, 14”, and 16” toms; a Sabian 18” AAX crash; Sabian 16” AA hi-hats; an 18” AAX Fast Crash; a 20” vault, and a Mapex Saturn Series 22” kick.

Pros

Ideal for jazz, funk, and blues
User-friendly interface
Authentic brush samples

Cons

Lacks versatility

9. BeatSkillz Soul-Tastik Drums

Beatskillz has introduced a unique VST full of smooth drum beats that come straight from classic boom-bap songs and beats. Soul-Tastik Drums includes 50 drum kits with 12 different samples each. This means that there are more than 600 high-quality samples to choose from.

The GUI has been organized to optimize workflow and make it easy to manipulate sounds. The controls you have at your disposal like panning and pitch give you so many ways to shape your sounds. Also it’s super easy to translate these sounds into your DAW. We are also pleasantly surprised at how solid the built-in reverb sounds. With this VST BeatSkillz gives you everything you need to create the beats you want.

Pros

Great selection of drum kits
User-friendly parameters
Intuitive GUI

Cons

Sample manipulation capabilities are somewhat limited

10. Heavyocity DM-307

Heavyocity has built a great reputation based on their range of high-quality VSTs. Many producers are drawn to Heavyocity because they have some of the best Kontakt instruments available like Gravity and Forzo. The DM-307 stands out because of its incredible range of samples that include live percussion, analog, modular synth drums, and so much more. In fact, there are 3,600 sounds to play around with in addition to 1,500 presets to get you where you want to go.

The DM-307 can be utilized in just about any style of music, including hip-hop, cinematic, electronic, industrial, and everything in between. One stand-out feature is the 16-step sequencer that provides you with eight extra 16-step bars. This basically means that you will have a 128 step-sequencer at your fingertips to create incredible beats.

Pros

Great selection of top-end samples
Works great for just about any genre of music
One-of-a-kind step-sequencer

Cons

A good number of the loops sound quite generic
Some might be overwhelmed by the expansive sample library

11. Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

Toontrack’s EZdrummer 2 software is known for making it super easy for non-drummers to add drum beats to their mixes. With the Superior Drummer 3, Toontrack offers more expansive software that is ideal for authentic drum programming. Superior Drummer 3 provides more than 250 GB of sounds and ultimate control for the user. Its cross-grade capabilities allow you to move presets and sounds between Superior Drummer 3 and EZdrummer 2.

If you’re a songwriter, you’ll appreciate the advanced grid-editing tools like the piano roll editor. You can choose from a great selection of top-notch samples, or you can use samples you have created. No detail is overlooked in the mixer, and you’ll find that the routing capabilities are incredible. One clear sign that you are working with a real kit is the separate channel that’s specifically designated for microphone bleed.

One of the most exciting tools on this drummer VST is the Tracker function. With this you can identify certain sounds and hits from drum audio tracks that you drag into the software. Superior Drummer 3 should be towards the top of your list if you are looking for ultra-realistic drum sounds and a number of exciting features to enhance your mix.

Pros

An incredible 230+ GB of quality sounds
Drum sounds are very realistic
Sample replacement

Cons

Workflow can take some getting used to

12. DrumDrops The Vintage Funk & Disco Dual Kit

DrumDrops brings together two of their amazing drum kits—the Vintage Funk Kit and Vintage Disco Kit—in one exciting VST. And if you’re on a budget, you’ll be happy to know that these kits can be used with the Kontakt Player, which is available for free. The founder of DrumDrops is Mike Pelanconi, who has played with reggae artists like Big Youth and Gregory Isaacs as well as other artists, including Blur and Lily Allen. His extensive experience helps him ensure the quality of the kits included on this VST.

With the Vintage Disco Kit, you can faithfully recreate that vintage 1970s sound with small hi-hats, a fat low-end kick, and a warm snare. The sounds produced bring to mind gaffer taped heads and dampened dustcloth drums. With the Vintage Funk Kit, you can expect additional percussion and a bit more of a kick overall. The GUI is user-friendly, so you’ll be able to handle all of the processing elements without any trouble.

Pros

Ideal for disco and funk sounds
Compatible with the free Kontakt Player

Cons

Lacks versatility

Finding the Right Drum VST

That wraps up our list of some of the best drum VSTs currently available. Our goal was to highlight a range of VSTs with specialties that provide a lot of value to producers of all genres. To find out which best matches with your musical needs, you’ll have to get under the hood and test these out for yourself. You might be surprised which one will be a perfect match for you.

Article Content

Virtual drum software allows you to quickly and easily create realistic sounding drum tracks using samples and grooves performed by actual drummers on high-quality kits that were recorded in world-class studios.

Toontrack EZdrummer 2

Toontrack’s EZdrummer 2 is the number-one selling drum software production tool in the world. Designed as a quick and easy way for guitarists to lay down drum ideas when songwriting, EZdrummer 2 includes a full library of MIDI grooves performed by professional drummers as well as drag-and-drop templates with pre-made song structures. Add, remove or change parts by dragging in new groove presets or creating your own unique MIDI parts. Drag a MIDI groove into the “Song Creator” window and EZd2 will suggest other grooves with a similar feel, allowing you to create cohesive songs in seconds.

EZd2 features five complete kits split into separate “Modern” and “Vintage” libraries, and over 40 expansion packs featuring new samples and MIDI grooves designed for jazz, country, hip-hop and more. Grooves are highly flexible and can easily be changed using EZd2’s editor. Reimagine grooves by dragging the “Power Hand” icon over the drum or cymbal you want the drummer the use as the lead instrument.

Although the samples in EZd2 are designed to be record-ready, the onboard mixer is packed with presets for effects chains including compression, reverb, delay and EQ. After perfecting your drum tracks, simply drag them into your DAW as MIDI or export them as a .wav file.

EZdrummer 2 – Complete drum track in minutes

Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

While Toontrack’s EZdrummer 2 is meant for guitarists looking to quickly put together record-ready drum tracks, Superior Drummer 3 is designed for hours of in-depth tweaking. Packed with over 230 GB of raw, unprocessed sounds; SD3 offers even more control and processing than it’s younger sibling. Toontrack makes it really simple to cross-grade platforms and allows you to transfer your sounds and presets from EZd2 to SD3.

Best Vst Drum Plugins 2018 Free

Showcasing enhanced songwriter functionality like multiple song tracks for different versions and advanced grid editing features like a built-in piano roll editor; SD3 is one of the most in-depth drum production suites available. Upgrades from EZd2 include the ability to use your own custom samples and a more detailed mixer with advanced routing capabilities, including separate channels for mic bleed.

SD3 also allows you to drag-and-drop drum audio tracks into the “Tracker” window to identify hits, replace sounds or even convert entire drum tracks to MIDI. SD3 doesn’t just use a transient detector to trigger samples — it’s programmed with artificial intelligence to more accurately detect drum hits.

In addition to the massive drum library, SD3 is compatible with dozens of sound and groove expansion packs.

Superior Drummer 3: Introduction video

XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2

XLN Audio released the original Addictive Drums software back in 2005 and they’ve been working on perfecting it ever since. Addictive Drums 2 combines meticulously recorded drums from legendary studios with authentic performances by professional session drummers.

Choose from sample presets or build your dream kit from scratch using the intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Select from over 5,000 beats, fills and grooves using the “Sound Ideal” slider to select from natural-sounding or extremely affected grooves.

Transform your beats using the onboard sampler, loaded with EQ, compression, transient shaping, distortion, reverb, delay and even a dedicated bus for parallel processing. And if you still can’t find the right sound, explore XLN’s ever-growing library of expansion packs for additional samples and grooves.

XLN also offers great support for electronic drums and works out of the box with most models, making it a great option for drummers looking to create high-quality beats in their bedroom.

This is Addictive Drums 2

Steven Slate Drums 5

Steven Slate Drums 5 is kind of the “Chinese Democracy” of drum simulators. SSD 4 was released in 2011, and fans have been waiting for a follow-up ever since. Originally slated for a 2014 release, SSD 5 is finally here, and it was totally worth the wait.

Of course, SSD 5 is loaded with hundreds of killer new drum samples, including 50 new kits, 77 snares, and 84 kicks. But it’s not the number of samples that makes SSD 5 impressive — it’s the way they sound. Equipped with a new physically modeled drum playback algorithm, SSD 5 simulates the authentic sound and feel of a live drummer.

The new Deluxe 2 library features the most detailed drum sounds of any Slate collection, with more options for velocity, alternating hits and articulations. But don’t worry, all of your favorite SSD 4 drum sounds are back and better than ever thanks to the new algorithm.

Choose from dozens of presets for modern and vintage kits, ranging from rock to jazz to country. SSD 5 even has a few electronic samples for your next EDM banger. Packed with dozens of pre-made grooves, SSD 5 is like a professional session drummer in a box.

Introducing Steven Slate Drums 5 (SSD5) Now Available!

Native Instruments Studio Drummer

Native Instruments introduced their legendary Kontakt sampler in 2002. Now Kontakt 5 hosts one of the largest libraries of sampled instruments available — including Native Instrument’s own Studio Drummer.

Studio Drummer allows you to create dynamic, authentic high-quality drum tracks using three drum kits recorded at legendary Teldex studios in Berlin, and over 3,500 grooves and fills in a wide range of genres.

Adjust the playing style of your drummer from robotic precision to loose and groovy with the Tightness control. Use the onboard mixer to control levels for each drum as well as separate mono and stereo overheads and room mic controls. Apply EQ, transient shaping, bus compression, tape saturation and even convolution reverb to every channel.

Studio Drummer can be used with the free Kontakt Player, so there’s no need to purchase Kontakt 5 or Komplete 11. Native Instruments also offers additional drum and percussion libraries for Kontakt from Abbey Road that operate using the Studio Drummer interface.

Native Instruments STUDIO DRUMMER Native Instruments

FXpansion BFD3

FXpansion was founded in 1999 and released the original BFD in 2003 — a revolutionary acoustic drum sample instrument years ahead of its time. FXpansion recently introduced the third generation of their flagship acoustic drum studio software, which features over 160GB of samples — each with over 80 layers of velocity.

Four of the kits for BFD3 were recorded at Ocean Way Studios using a vintage Neve, while the other three kits were recorded at Omega Studios. BFD3 includes raw and processed samples, allowing you to sculpt your own tone or grab something that sounds great right out of the box. Uniquely, the processed samples use BFD’s built-in effects, allowing you to tweak them to taste in real-time.

FXpansion also sells over 40 different expansion kits ranging from metal to jazz to Japanese percussion.

FXpansion BFD3

Drum Vst Plugin Download Free

UJAM Virtual Drummer

You may have heard of UJAM from their best-selling Virtual Guitarist plug-in, but they also offer a number of creative tools for drummers, bassists and beatmakers. Recently, their Virtual Drummer 2 software received an update that completely reimagines the series. In addition to 30 new styles, 690 grooves and 150 additional presets, the “We Heard You” update introduces highly requested features such as MIDI drag-and-drop, which lets you drag phrases directly from the interface to your DAW as MIDI notes, giving you the power to fine-tune any performance. The new Virtual Drummer 2 also features an enhanced onboard mixer and individual outputs for each instrument.

Virtual Drummer 2 is available in three versions: Solid, Phat and Heavy, as well as a bundle with all three plug-ins. Solid offers a well-balanced, versatile drum sound for a wide range of sessions. Phat combines funky urban grooves with a dry sound for tons of vibe and character —perfect for soul and funk. And if you’re more the metal and punk type, try Heavy, which delivers a powerful, energetic drum sound.

Each version features an interactive keyboard with a standard MIDI drum kit layout ranging over C1 and C2, while C3 and C4 feature preset phrases for verses, chorus, breakdowns, fills and more. You can even adjust the playstyle with advanced controls for speed, feel and swing as well as a “humanize” function. Each version features five preset drum kits in a variety of styles, as well as options to switch out individual drum sounds and save your own custom kits.

An intuitive interface makes it easy to quickly dial in the perfect sound for any session with five custom mix presets. Simply select a preset from the right-hand side and increase the amount slider for more vibe. And if you’re looking for a little more punch, just increase the Slam slider on the left for extra compression. No matter what style or sound you’re going for, the UJAM Virtual Drummer 2 series has you covered.

Free Drum Production Software

There are plenty of other drum studio plugins out there, including free options like Sennheiser’s DrumMic’a plugin which loads inside of the free Native Instruments Kontakt Player and features options for Sennheiser or Neumann mics.

MT-PowerDrumKit 2 is another free option offering powerful, high-quality sounds of a realistic acoustic drum kit. Samples have been specially processed to make them ideally suited for use in Pop, Rock and Metal productions.

Best Vst Drums

Most DAWs also feature some form of built-in drum processing as well, such as Pro Tools’ BOOM or Logic Pro’s Drummer.

Best Vst Drum Plugins

Now that you’re familiar with the most popular drum production software on the market, the only thing left to do is drop a beat!

*drops microphone*

Drum Kit Vst Plugins

(Just kidding. I would never do that…) Download guitar vst free.

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Death Metal Drum Vst Plugin

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