Arising as a result of a creative combination of Audified’s tried-and-tested technology and acknowledged DW® know-how, DW Drum Enhancer is billed as being the only drum processing tool that anyone would ever need to get the drum sound of their dreams, designed to process the basic drum sound spectrum. Put it this way: without DW Drum Enhancer, achieving any drum sound worth its weight in (musical) gold almost always necessitated the now-unnecessary utilisation of several different plug-ins to gate, compress, and EQ it to the heart’s content — clearly easier said than done. After all, when all is said and done, we’re talking about having to carefully match levels between the various plug-ins involved in doing so while fine-tuning the overall sound via several simultaneous windows, which is surely something of an audio headache. However, it definitely doesn’t have to be like that, thanks to DW Drum Enhancer.
Easing the drum processing pain by effectively simplifying and streamlining the effects processing chain, DW Drum Enhancer is not simply one effect. Far from it, in fact. For DW Drum Enhancer encompasses several EQs and compressors (including a model of classic solid state compressor circuits) when getting its musical mojo working. When working with DW Drum Enhancer users can choose their desired Drum type settings using the 12-position selector that includes three types of drums (SNARE, KICK, and TOMS), each with three (Modern, Heavy, and Vintage) variations. The remaining three (OTHER) positions are arranged as follows: OH (overheads); Bus, for servicing the whole set (usually in a mixing console group); and Room, intended for processing whole drum kits recorded by two microphones. Meanwhile, each selection automatically applies appropriate settings, such as EQ type, slope, and frequency; Comp (compressor) type, attack, release, and knee shape; noise Gate attack and release, and sidechain filter. Fortunately, this makes for a speedy, straightforward workflow while also allowing for further fine-tuning through the use of easily accessible additional controls courtesy of a stunningly-photorealistic GUI (Graphical User Interface) that’s as easy on the eye as it is easy to use.
DW Drum Enhancer can be seen and heard in this informative introductory video
On top of that, DW Drum Enhancer embraces an advanced model of real valve saturation circuitry. The oval Sat button turns saturation on or off while the big saturation knob adjusts the amount of saturation being applied with higher levels adding harmonics to the incoming signal. Similarly straightforward, specific buttons change the tube circuit, affecting the point at which it kicks in and also its frequency response. The following selections are available: Presence (higher amount of signal on mid-high frequencies to best facilitate cutting through the mix), Vintage (smoother highs and more even harmonics), Brown (an almost flat frequency response with only light high frequency rolloff and higher harmonic punch), White (higher amount of signal on higher frequencies and a balanced ratio between the even and odd harmonics), and LoFi (less low and high frequencies). All add colour, warmth, and sonic character based on Audified’s precise circuit modelling technology. This imbues any drum track with a true-to-life feel and an all-natural analogue sound, without shying away from its side effects — exactly the same as with all Audified plug-ins.
Putting DW Drum Enhancer to work… well, it clearly couldn’t be easier: one click sets up the system, then the dream drum sound-seeker conceivably only needs to think about applying some fine-tuning and gentle saturation to their sound, saving time, insert slots, and CPU (Central Processing Unit) load.
Little wonder, though, that DW Drum Enhancer’s provided presets for almost all occasions are an even speedier, sure-fire way of achieving a dream drum sound since they were professionally prepared to the highest standard in DW®’s dedicated studio by trusty audio engineer Chris Denogean. Duly responsible for almost all DW® content, having also recorded some of the world’s best drummers, DW Drum Enhancer users of all abilities further benefit from his specialised skills since there is no need to search for EQ sweet spots when working with the plug-in as its EQ section has helpfully been carefully crafted in collaboration with the talented DW® engineer, enabling the associated Hi, Mid, and Low frequencies and HP and LP filter behaviour to be dependent on the Drum type selected. Similarly, compressor type, knee, and times are also dependent on the Drum type selected while the tweak-able, intelligent Gate helps remove the unwanted signal from the material being recorded.
Reality reasons, then, that DW Drum Enhancer effectively lives up to its appellation as a time-saving complete drum chain with tube simulation. So, thanks to Audified’s close collaboration with a true doyen of DW® content, achieving a dream drum sound has never been easier — or sounded better… just ask Scott Donnell, Vice President of Marketing for DW®’s umbrella of brands (including DW Drums, Gretsch Drums, DW Electronics, and more)!
Meanwhile, DW Drum Enhancer will be being showcased by both DW® and Audified’s North American distributor, Eleven Dimensions Media, on booths #202A and #15001, respectively, at The 2018 NAMM Show, January 25-28 in Anaheim, California. Come check it out… these are the things that (drumming) dreams are made of!
DW Drum Enhancer is available to purchase at an introductory promo price of $149.00 USD until February 15, 2018 — rising to $199.00 USD thereafter — from Audified’s online shop here: https://shop.audified.com/products/dw-drum-enhancer
DW Drum Enhancer can be directly downloaded as a multi-format (AAX, AU, VST2, VST3), 32- and 64-bit native plug-in for MacOS (10.9 and above) and Windows (7 and above) — alongside a fully-functional, 30-day trial version — from Audified here: https://services.audified.com/download
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated DW Drum Enhancer webpage here: https://shop.audified.com/products/dw-drum-enhancer
About Audified (www.audified.com)
Audified is the premier brand of privately-owned Boskovice-based DISK Multimedia, s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, created to develop specialised audio applications, as well as handling the company’s high-end hardware product portfolio. Pioneering the development of audio applications for live (realtime) performance, as well as developing the first audio effects plug-ins for Apple’s Mac OS X, the company created some of the first plug-ins for Power|Core, TC Electronic’s hardware-accelerated DSP platform, prompting the Danish developer’s then-PR Manager Thomas Valter to comment, “Our two companies have been working closely together on various projects, and we are very satisfied with the products that have been a result of our cooperation.” Consequently, the company returned to its host application and audio effects developmental roots in 2007 by branding itself with the Audiffex appellation to resourcefully reflect that directional change with an award-winning array of innovations, including MixChecker — a must-have mixing assistant plug-in that transforms studio monitors into classic reference monitors or one of several consumer devices to instantly improve mixes. Moreover, Audified is not just a for-profit business, however; its parental company clearly cares about the future of audio software/hardware development, developing partnerships with both Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts (JAMU) in Brno, Czech Republic — realising a research project to bring modern audio engineering technologies to music education, and also Brno University of Technology, one of the Czech Republic’s leading research and teaching institutions — working with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication Technologies on scientific projects. Participating in organising entry exams and teaching at these highly-respected higher education establishments has helped establish the first specialised studies of audio engineering in the Czech Republic. In keeping with spreading the (audio engineering) word, Audified has helpfully seen fit to recently release a range of free plug-ins, available from here: http://shop.audified.com/collections/products/free#tags
About Drum Workshop, Inc. (www.dwdrums.com)
Founded by drum educator Don Lombardi in 1972, Drum Workshop, Inc. (DW®) is a premier American musical instrument company best known for designing and manufacturing award-winning drums, pedals, hardware, and accessories under the DW and PDP banners. Employing over 250 people worldwide, DW is headquartered in Oxnard, California, and Ridgeland, South Carolina, USA. International operations include a joint partnership in a manufacturing facility near Tianjin, China, and the company also maintains worldwide distribution for all of its brands. In 2014, Drum Workshop expanded to include other iconic American instrument brands, such as Gretsch Drums®, Latin Percussion®, KAT Percussion®, Gibraltar® Hardware, and Ovation Guitars®. Drum Workshop’s extensive product lines are endorsed by many of the world’s top artists, including: Neil Peart, Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith, Sheila E., Melissa Etheridge, Mick Fleetwood, Don Henley, and Dave Grohl, amongst others. Named amongst the world’s “Top 25 Highest-Grossing Musical Instrument brands” by MMR Magazine, Drum Workshop is still owned and operated by the Lombardi family, and maintains top-of-mind global brand recognition as America’s premier producer of quality and innovative musical instruments and accessories. For 45 years, DW has remained “The Drummer’s Choice.”
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