Once you've figured this out, some of the pieces will sort themselves out; you Pianoforall Review may have 2 or 3 of the dearer ones ruled out by default. But the price of a drum synth is not going to automatically increase your music production quality. Sure, some of the base drum samples used for synthesis and sequencing can be a little more clear and defined in some of the higher-end models, but in general price is not an indicator of quality, especially when choosing between the ultra-high-priced synths and the mid-range editions.
Recently, Vengeance Audio has released their Multiband Sidechain drum synth in their Producer Suite product. This is simply a superb synth that exceeds expectations in most departments. Sound quality is just top notch! Going up alongside the first Vengeance offering is Metrum, a kick drum synthesizer that features a dedicated sine wave generator with a few special features that set it apart from its competition. It even includes a total of three separate slots for different attack samples that can be selected by the user. The modular nature of this drum module is outstanding, and with the sound quality to boot, this is sure to be one of 2010's premier VST offerings.
As well as the separate loading slots, different amp and pitch envelopes are made available for further twisting and tweaking. As far as effects go, a comprehensive FX suite with plenty of modulation options is there, so you can easily create tailored sounds for your own music. We all like our own signature sounds, right?
One of the most impressive functions is one that has been implemented in a lot of virtual instruments, albeit poorly. Not so in Metrum. What am I talking about? The random button, of course. That's right; if you haven't got the time to tweak the knobs and dials to your heart's content, why not let the random generator serve up a hot batch of unexpected for you? There must be some advanced rules in the Metrum randomness generator as I could not find a combination that was unlistenable! Every sound was palatable and ready for use in tracks right away. My only complaint is the interface which I did find to be very confusing at times.