The free VST in focus this time is the Pepto Audio’s DR-84. The DR-84 is a freeware drum machine/rompler VST for Windows and macOS. This isn’t a full review as I have only just started using it myself, but I do share some early impressions.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit late to the party with this one, as my collection of Quadelectra Jackboxes has kept certain itches scratched for quite a while. With that being said, let’s take a look at the features and see what it has to offer. I’ll try and leave my early opinions until right at the end, let’s check it out.
The DR-84:
This VST houses a collection of some of the most popular drum machines of the 1980s. They are; Linn Drums, Roland TR-707, E-MU Drumulator, Oberheim DMX, Yamaha RX11, and the Simmons SDSV. All of the sounds in these kits are completely unprocessed so that they sound as close to the originals as possible. Additionally, there are three pre-processed synthwave kits included that borrow elements from multiple kits, and that have been made to drop straight into your tracks and deliver the goods. If you wanted a hybrid kit that was unprocessed, there are four of those too!
That’s 14 kits in total, with one simple and functional interface, there are; 6 drum machine kits, 1 module kit, 4 hybrid kits, and 3 processed synthwave kits.
Each of the kits features 16 sounds, each on its own channel on the interface. Each channel has controls for; pitch, pan, trim, volume, and output channel selector. There are also three global control knobs; Master Volume, Reverb, and a low pass filter.
Video:
DR-84: The Kits, at a glance:
- 14 Kits in total
- 16 Drum machine kits
- 1 Electronic drum module kit
- 4 Hybrid kits
- 3 Modern synthwave kits
DR-84: The Features, at a glance:
- Built-in reverb
- Low-pass filter
- Pitch, trim, pan & volume controls per drum piece
- Master volume knob
- Multi-output selection
- This plugin is free. Although, if you’d like to donate something as a way of saying thank you, you can use PayPal.
Midi Map:
- C1 : Kick
- C#1 : Rim
- D1 : Snare
- D#1 : Clap
- E1 : Tom 1
- F1 : Tom 2
- F#1 : Tom 3
- G1 : Tom 4
- G#1 : HH closed
- A1 : HH openli>
- A#1 : Ride
- B1 : Crash
- C2 : Cabasa
- C#2 : Conga 1/Block
- D2 : Conga 2/Click
- D#2 : Cowbell
- E2 : Tambourine*
*The tambourine is a hidden piece, not visible in the GUI.
The view from here:
As I noted in the beginning, I haven’t had this DR-84 for very long so my experiences with it are limited. With that said, I have; messed around with each kit, dropped a synthwave kit into an already finished track and got it to work, and started a new track which is about 3/4 done. I think I have a good feel for what it has to offer and I have already formed an opinion on how useful I think it is for me.
Long story short, I like it! I still love my goto Jackboxes, but I will be reaching for this plugin quite often too. My favorite preset so far is the Synthwave Kit 2, I love the kick, snare, and pitched tom sounds. They just scream modern synthwave. Although these samples sound great, a little work will always be needed, I found; the kick needs a little taming and a little high mid boost, the snare needs a little more smack and a little white noise tucking in and the toms need a little tidying and tightening up. But they do sound great out of the box. As it’s free, you can take it for a spin yourself without any obligations or expense. If you want these types of sounds then you will like it, I’m pretty confident. Please drop a comment with your take on it.
To get your copy, head over to the Pepto Audio product page.