by Goran Rista
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Handy Drums V2.0, a significant upgrade that brings a year’s worth of hard work to fruition. This version introduces substantial improvements across the board, enhancing sound quality, aesthetics, and usability to deliver an unparalleled virtual drumming experience.
AESTHETIC ENHANCEMENTS
Handy Drums’ main graphical user interface (GUI) has been fully vectorized, ensuring a crisp, clear appearance on any screen size and resolution. This update also features refined pencil artwork sketches, elevating the plugins’ visual appeal.
SOUND INNOVATIONS
- Remixed and Rebranded Kits: The iconic John Bonham-style kit, now known as the Rock Legend, has been remixed to offer a richer and more versatile sound, complete with new snare drum options.
Studio Legend has also been remixed for a more natural sound and will sit in the mix better than before. - Enhanced Sample Triggering: V2.0 introduces a more natural playing experience by employing random sample triggering, which avoids repetitive sounds and enhances the realism of the performance.
- Sophisticated Variable Hi-Hats: Advanced algorithms allow variable hi-hats to closely mimic real hi-hat performances, enhancing the authenticity of virtual drumming.
New Instrument Additions
The Latin Percussion & Drums section now boasts a doubled number of instruments and articulations, including three báta drums, a tambora, and more. The World Percussion plugin features a new higher-pitched djembe, and the Vintage Standard kit has been updated with better-sounding cymbals.
FUNCTIONAL AND USABILITY UPGRADES
- Accessibility Improvements: Efforts have been made to label and organize GUI components for better navigation, especially for users relying on screen readers.
- Mixer Enhancements: The main mixer now includes Solo buttons alongside Mute buttons for improved control, with added functionality for toggling all buttons simultaneously. New panners and individual elements mixers offer more nuanced sound customization.
- Expanded Outputs and Mapping Capabilities: The number of stereo outputs has been increased, and the mapping panel now features dynamic drum pads and blank mapping keys for greater flexibility.
- E-Drummer Mode: A special mode tailored for electronic drummers introduces tailored plugin adjustments for a more authentic playing experience.
- Load Samples on Demand: To optimize performance, samples are now loaded as needed, reducing memory usage and speeding up plugin loading times.
- MIDI Loop Browser: This standout feature makes finding and auditioning MIDI loops effortless, streamlining the drum track assembly process in your DAW.
Integration with Handy Grooves
Our comprehensive loop pack collection, Handy Grooves has been meticulously reorganized and integrated into the Handy Drums V2.0 ecosystem for seamless access and use. They now come with installers that will make them instantly available inside all Handy Drums’ MIDI Loop Browser.
All Handy Grooves MIDI packs have been updated to v2 for existing customers. If you have already purchased Handy Grooves, you can download the new version from your GoranGrooves Library Account.
SUMMARY
Handy Drums look better, sound better, and are more powerful and easier to use.
If you are new to Handy Drums, get a FREE TRIAL now.
If you own a previous version of Handy Drums, we have attractive upgrade options for you.
For a closer look into the new features, see the dedicated documentation.
GoranGrooves Partners with AVID to Offer Exclusive Early Access to v2.0 of Handy Drums Studio Standard for Pro Tools Users
by Goran Rista
In an exciting collaboration, GoranGrooves and AVID have teamed up to present an exclusive offering to the Pro Tools community. The latest version of the highly acclaimed drum software, Handy Drums Studio Standard v2.0, will now be available at no additional cost to all monthly and annual Pro Tools subscribers and those on the Upgrade Plan for perpetual licenses. This partnership marks a significant milestone in providing high-quality music production tools to artists and producers through Avid’s Pro Tools Inner Circle program.
GoranGrooves, known for its development of virtual drum and percussion plugins, as well as producer of MIDI loop packs, has made a name for itself in the music production industry with its award-winning suite of 15 virtual drum and percussion plugins, including Studio Standard. The release of Handy Drums Studio Standard v2.0 re-introduces meticulously produced drum samples and an intuitive, no-frills interface designed to deliver an “album-ready” sound without the need for extensive mixing. “This approach not only saves time but also ensures a polished, professional drum sound accessible to all levels of music creators,” says Goran Rista, the founder of GoranGrooves.
The versatility of the Studio Standard set makes it a good choice for a broad spectrum of music styles, from Pop and Rock to Country, Blues, and Jazz. The plugin’s centerpiece is the sampled Yamaha Maple Custom drum kit, renowned for its warmth and punch, complemented by Zildjian A-custom cymbals for a complete, authentic drumming experience. Additionally, the plugin boasts a wide array of GM-mapped acoustic percussion instruments, enhancing its utility and appeal.
Key features of Handy Drums Studio Standard v2.0 include pre-mixed, ready-to-use studio drums, an integrated mixer, multiple dynamic levels, and an “ultra-realistic drum sound” acclaimed by critics. Furthermore, the plugin supports a resizable interface, MIDI loop browser, e-drummer mode, and variable hi-hats control, among other advanced functionalities, making it a comprehensive tool for music production.
Avid, a leading technology provider for the creation, distribution, and monetization of digital media, continues to empower creative professionals and amateurs alike with its Inner Circle program. This initiative consistently offers valuable resources such as trainings, plugins, virtual instruments, and sound libraries to enhance the music creation process. Pro Tools users can easily claim their copy of Handy Drums Studio Standard v2.0 by redeeming the unique codes found in their Avid accounts on the GoranGrooves Library website.
About Avid
Avid Technology is a pioneer in the digital audio and video technology industry, focusing on delivering powerful tools and platforms for content creators across music, film, and broadcast. The company’s flagship software, Pro Tools, is regarded as the industry standard for audio production, offering remarkable capabilities for recording, mixing, and editing. Avid’s commitment to innovation and its comprehensive ecosystem of software, hardware, and integrated solutions enable creative professionals and hobbyists to realize their artistic visions.
This collaboration between GoranGrooves and Avid symbolizes a shared dedication to enhancing the music production experience, providing Pro Tools users with exclusive early access to v2.0 of Handy Drums Studio Standard.
For further information, visit:
Behind The Scenes Of GoranGrooves:
Sampling Of Additional Percussion Instruments
by Goran Rista
Latin Percussion Rhythms is a highly-requested and anticipated MIDI pack that I have procrastinated the most to produce. The effort and complexity of putting them together far transcend any regular MIDI drum loop production. The years of procrastination efforts seem to be finally coming to an end.
I recently finally managed to gather enough motivation, which would see me last through the enormous tasks of putting together the most comprehensive, authentic, great-feeling MIDI pack of Latin rhythms for Handy Drums. Once I started compiling a list of all Latin/ Caribbean music styles, I realized I was short on some instruments, and I had to break from beat production to “quickly” record and add a few more percussion instruments.
That rapid task turned out to be another massive undertaking. Yes, I should have known better by now.
Anyhow, with the help of my buddy, Kevin Abanto, a fantastic multi-instrumentalist percussionist, we recorded several new percussion instruments. In addition to sampling the Batá drums, Peruvian cajon, panderetas, cajita, and vibraslap for the first time, we also resampled the timbales and the djembe. The new timbales will find their way into Handy Drums LATIN PERCUSSION, STUDIO STANDARD, and FLAMENCO PERCUSSION, while the new djembe will be added to the WORLD PERCUSSION.
Here is the look behind the scenes of the work in progress.
Handy Drums ROCK STANDARD Review
by Benedict Roff-Marsh
Composer, producer, and mixing engineer Benedict Roff-Marsh took a spin on our Handy Drums ROCK STANDARD plugin free trial. He documented his exploration through it and demonstrated how he might use it in a mixing situation.
“The GoranGrooves Handy Drums – Rock Standard is an absolute must-have for any drummer or music producer who wants to add some serious rock power to their productions.”
Find out what he liked and disliked in his unfiltered review podcast below for Higher HZ.
Get all the details about the Handy Drums collection of drum plugins.
What’s New In Handy Drums v1.4.0?
After months of hard work, we are happy to announce the newest and best version of Handy Drums: v 1.4.0.
It is packed with many improvements, tweaks, and bug fixes.
This version introduces AAX plugin format for Pro Tools, Apple-silicon native support, learn note and note indicators in drum mapping, percussion tab in all plugins, and much more. You can now try all of our plugins for free.
Watch the video overview below, then scroll down for more info.
Sound On Sound Magazine Rates Handy Drums 5/5 Stars In Their Editorial Review- Oct 2022
One of the leading music tech and production publications in the world, Sound On Sound reviewed our Producer Collection, as well as the Handy Grooves loops, and rated them with 5/5 in their October 2022 edition!
To say that we are thrilled with their review and rating would be an understatement.
Among other things, SOS’s John Walden says:
I have to say that I’m impressed by the core drum sounds… In summary, great value, great sounds and great usability.
You can find the review in the printed edition and digital PDF, and on their website, which has been unlocked for you to read right now.
Hear all of the plugins in action.
Recording Magazine Publishes a Glowing Review Of Handy Drums Plugins In Sep 2022 Edition
We are super excited and grateful that one of the most prominent publications for music production, Recording magazine, reviewed our Handy Drums collection.
David Blascoe had fun with Handy Drums, ran them through paces, and found them to sound “fantastic.”
Handy Drums give you access to quick and great-sounding drum tracks in your DAW of choice.
-DB, RECORDING MAGAZINE
You can read his full review on the Recording Mag website.
Hear all of the plugins in action.
Handy Drums Receives Innovation Award by Computer Music
We are stoked to have the Handy Drums receive a glowing review by one of the leading music tech publications, Computer Music, and to be endowed the prestigious “Computer Music Innovation Award.”
For their October 2022 issue, available both in print and online, CM dag into the Producer Collection with a focus on four different drumsets with contrasting sound pallets.
“Handy Drums delivers a guaranteed, considered level of quality across the board.”
They pinned the Handy Drums Rock Standard against Logic Pro’s Drummer kit and were “instantly impressed” with the results.
“For those needing pro drums, quickly and painlessly – the Handy Drums range delivers in spades.”
If you can’t lay your hands on the printed edition of the CM mag, read the full review on Music Radar.
Hear all of the plugins in action.
“Handy Drums- Perhaps The Simplest Drum VI Around”
June opened up with a review of the Handy Drums collection by the Production Expert platform. Luke Goddard had a test run with our plugins and concluded that one doesn’t have to trade simplicity of use for sound quality.
In Luke’s words:
Complex Sounds With Ease Of Use?
There have been a number of innovative drum VI products around for those who aren’t adverse to a degree of going under the hood to get sounds into shape, but simpler alternatives tend to sacrifice realism for ease of use. Without forgoing high-quality sounds, or immediacy, Handy Drums- PRODUCER COLLECTION strikes a healthy balance for composers and musicians who thought that good sounds require learning a complex tool.
Watch his brief overview of the Handy Drums collection below or read his detailed insight on the Production Expert website.
Hear all of the plugins in action.
“GoranGrooves HANDY DRUMS – Professional Drums w/NO MIXING!”
by Brian Benoni
Brian Benoni operates a busy YouTube channel and website BenoniStudio.com, where he thoroughly reviews various music software and hardware.
We are delighted to have had him review our entire collection of Handy Drums plugins. He really dug in and demonstrated all of the bits and pieces and the various sounds of the whole collection.
Read the overview on his blog or better yet, watch the video below.
Get all the details about the Handy Drums collection of drum plugins.