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Vamtech
Drumtrax 3.0 (Mac/Win)
Standard MIDI Files

Overall EM Rating (1 through 5): 4

By Jeff Obee

Vamtech's Drumtrax 3.0 ($99.95) is loaded with an unexpectedly large number
of drum tracks in an impressive array of styles.  Unlike other Standard MIDI File
products, it comes on a CD-ROM and includes a software librarian.

TRACKING THE TRAX

The CD-ROM comes with an installer, so you can place the entire disks
contents (34 MB) on your computer or install just the librarian. The librarian is a
tool for organizing the plentiful files.  Its main screen contains a list of files; file
descriptions; information about tempo, category, and meter; and space for user comments.
the librarian's search feature allows you to input specific search criteria or type in keywords.
When you've selected a drum pattern, press the Launch button to open it in your sequencer.
The librarian also functions as the manual, giving you an easy-to-use and in-depth help section.
    Drumtrax gives you a similar level of control when you're working with the files.  You
can open a Type 0 or Type 1 MIDI file for each track.  A nice addition is the markers,
which specify which rhythmic event occurs at what bar in a track.  For instance, if
you've selected file ALT_105, you can see that there is a tom fill at bar 42.  This
is helpful when splicing, as patterns are generally long.
 

FEELING THE TRAX

Drumtrax has SMFs in many musical styles. Categories include Alternative, Blues, Country,
Dance/Pop, Hip- Hop, Hard Rock, Jazz, Latin, OddMeters, R&B, Rap, Soft Rock, ToolBox,
and World.  Each category has numerous tracks, and each track is substantial, with an
average length of around 64 bars.
    So, how do they feel? Overall, they're very good.  The Dance/Pop category has a wealth
of energetic grooves that can be mixed and matched with laudable results. It's nice to have
oddmeters such as 5/4, 7/8, 9/8, 11/16, and 19/8 available; although some grooves are
unfocused and don't work at the designated tempos. The Hard Rock, Pop, and Alternative
patterns work well, but those are a cinch. As for jazz, Elvin Jones this is not. But the Jazz
category does contain enough material for you to assemble some passable tracks. In fairness
to Vamtech, jazz is definitely the hardest style to create convincingly through MIDI. Everything
in thew World and Latin categories groove well and accurately represent their genres.

Toolbox is the icing on the cake. Its files contain all sorts of extra goodies, such as
difficult-to-program snares accents and rolls, cymbal parts, percussion ensembles, and so
forth. It's impossible for the Toolbox to cover every rhythmic accent, but it is an invaluable
resource.

ON THE RIGHT TRAX

To say that Drumtrax is versatile is an understatement. Vamtech has produced a
well-thought-out product here, which will provide a broad cross section of musicians
with an abundance of rhythmic resources. If you use SMF drum patterns, this is a great investment.