GoranGrooves have announced an update to their Handy Drums virtual instrument collection, delivering AAX plug-in versions, native Apple M1/M2 processor support, and a variety of new features and improvements across the collection’s 15 sampled drum instruments.
The new features introduced in version 1.4.0 aim to further increase the usability of the instruments whilst retaining their simplicity and ease of use. A new Percussion tab containing finger snaps and metronome samples has been added to all instruments, and level balancing between drums and percussion sounds has been simplified with the addition of a Drums Subgroup with a dedicated volume control.
Variable Hats can now be assigned with any MIDI CC number via MIDI Learn or manual selection, and a new Note Learn function has been introduced which allows users to assign any note to any component via a ‘select and strike key’ method, with a Note Indicator providing visual feedback on which key or MIDI CC has been triggered.
Performance improvements have been made thanks to the addition of Encapsulated Round Robin groups, which play a different sample each time a component is triggered, independent of any other component in the instrument. The default levels of individual components within kits have also been altered to improve the overall balance of each instrument, and hi-hat decay times have been adjusted to make the transition between open and closed sounds more natural.
GoranGrooves say that they have also implemented a variety of GUI improvements, including some tweaks to the plug-in's initial overlay, notifications, dropdown menus, panels, and buttons, as well as adding new zoom settings on the main panel.
Check out the video below for an overview of the new features.
Compatibility
Handy Drums is supported on PC and Mac systems, with VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU plug-in versions available along with a standalone application.
Pricing & Availability
The update is available for current users to download now via the GoranGrooves website. Those wishing to purchase Handy Drums are currently able to take advantage of discounted prices, with individual instruments available from between $20 and $49 each. The Producer Collection, which contains all 15 instruments, is currently (20 December 2022) priced at $249. For those wishing to try the instruments out, GoranGrooves are also now offering a free trial. More information can be found on the company's website.
