Design Series Acrylic Shell expansion for DW Soundworks

Published 4/12/24

Sample library collection gains new DW kit

Drum Workshop, or DW, are a well-known name in the drumming world, and earlier in 2024 they made the leap into the virtual realm with a new sample library platform and a range of innovative hybrid acoustic/electronic kits. The latest expansion for the former has just arrived, capturing the sound of a popular DW kit range that’s said to be a great choice for genres such as punk, hardcore and metal.

Simply named Design Series Acrylic Shell, the expansion pack promises to deliver the bright, clean attack, focused tone, controlled sustain and oversized live sound that acrylic-shelled drums are known for. The samples were all recorded at the DW Factory, with the company utilising a whole host of high-end mics and preamps, as well as processing the samples with a range of outboard compressors and EQs. There are 12 custom presets that suit a range of different playing styles included, and users are provided with plenty of control over the final sound thanks to an array of different mic selections.

SOS Review

You can check out our full review of DW Soundworks, along with some information about their DWe hybrid kits, in the December 2024 issue (print / web / app / replica / PDF editions).

Compatibility

Design Series Acrylic Shell runs in DW Soundworks, which is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11, and Macs running macOS 11 and above. VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available, along with a standalone application. The software can be downloaded and authorised via Roland Cloud, which requires a free Roland Backstage account.