Product Reviews

Whereas some plug-ins favour graphically rich, photo-realistic interfaces, such as EZdrummer - Submersible's DrumCore eschews such visual frippery for a utilitarian and alarmingly orange interface. However DrumCore's performance definitely is worth getting excited about.

DrumCore is a combination of a file browser for drum loops; the 9GB sound library which features world-class drummers; the ingenious Gabrielizer feature, which instantly remixes an existing loop to create a new variation; and the audio playback engine and Midi sound module for browsing, auditioning and exporting content.

Naturally, it's the content that any drum module lives or dies by. All DrumCore loops are recorded at least at 24-bit, 48KHz quality and at several different tempos for a more realistic feel, rather than relying on time-stretching a single recording to suit various tempos. With version 2, the breadth and depth of content has been expanded, bringing in prog rock and more, as featured drummer audio loops and Midi drumkits. So you get

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the best of both worlds: a huge audio loop collection, plus the individual kit elements - recorded at the same sessions - so you can 'roll your own' patterns if necessary. The outputs of the Midi module can also be sent separately to a ReWire host's mixer (ie Logic, Live, Pro Tools, etc) for individual treatment. Furthermore, while the kit used by each drummer usually sounds amazing, you can mix and match kit pieces or use, say, a country kit to play back a dancehall rhythm.

Tempo sync via ReWire is new in 2, as is Rex and Acid file export. These make DrumCore even easier to use. We ReWired DrumCore 2 to several different sequencers and it performed flawlessly every time. It launched in an instant, required only moderate CPU power and browsing was easy. Sadly, the DrumCore interface did not respond to our PowerBook's two-fingered scrolling instructions.

There are two reasons to spurn DrumCore. It doesn't yet support Intel Macs, although this will change soon. The second reason is that there is nothing like the same degree of control over the sound as there is in, say, BFD or DfH Superior. While you can adjust the volume, pan, pitch and sample layers of every drum hit in DrumCore, there is no provision for the EQ, bleed levels, room ambience etc, of its rivals. However, this means less knob-twiddling and more music making.

DrumCore 2 impressed us. Its interface may be unprepossessing but it delivers the sonic goods in spades. Considering that you can import your existing loop libraries and use a competitor to play its stellar Midi content, DrumCore makes a solid case for owning two drum modules.