Toontrack Music has announced that Superior Drummer 2.0, "The New York Studio Legacy Series", its new professional sample engine for drums, is now shipping.

Superior Drummer 2.0 is a complete overhaul of the original dfh Superior engine but Toontrack have made painstakingly sure to lose nothing of the sound quality, attention to detail and musicality that has made the Toontrack Music drum sampler line what it is.

Superior Drummer 2.0 has been re-developed for optimized use with e-drums with more effective use of sample layers and much improved loading times. It includes custom MIDI played by Nir Z accessed through the all new customized MIDI engine and arranger - EZplayer pro; it features stand-alone capacity through Toontrack solo.

The new interface is reminiscent of EZdrummer with its simple handling and layout but gives its user layer upon layer of in depth features to create the ultimate drum track.

The all new construction window offers features such as:

• ADSR.
• X-pads - Load instruments from any Toontrack library to add positions or to double instruments on the position of your choice.
• The ability to read and combine all dfh Superior and EZdrummer sound libraries.

The all new internal mixer features bussing capabilities and several built-in FX from UK-based software developer Sonalksis:

• 5 Band EQ
• Highpass and Lowpass filter
• Gate
• Compressor
• Transient

The Sessions

Superior Drummer 2.0 "The New York Studio Legacy Series" was recorded by Pat Thrall, Neil Dorfsman and Nir Z at Hit Factory, Avatar Studios and Allaire studios, NY. Pat Thrall, Neil Dorfsman and Nir Z have between them over the past three decades worked with artists as diverse as Meatloaf, Celine Dion, Nick Lachey, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Beyonce, Bjork, Kiss, Joss Stone, Genesis, John Mayer and Chris Cornell.

Vol. 1
This first release contains the Superior Drummer 2.0 sampler engine and Vol.1 of the "New York Studio Legacy Series". Vol.1 contains extensive recordings from Avatar Studios in New York.

Vol. 2
The second release, Vol.2 of the "New York Studio Legacy Series", is planned for Q1 2009 and will complement these recordings with sessions from the legendary Hit Factory and Allaire studios in New York city and upstate New York.

Pricing & Availability

Superior Drummer has an MSRP of $349 / €249 / £189. Upgrades from dfh Superior and dfh Superior Custom & Vintage are available along with cross-grades from EZdrummer.

Superior Drummer is available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats.