Would you quite like a free version of one of the best drum VSTs out there? Well, Steven Slate has a fully functioning and never-expiring demo version of SSD 5.5 for you to play with, forever, for free.

SSD 5.5 Free comes with a fabulous Deluxe 2 Kit along with a classic processed Slate snare and some kit presets that set it up and mix it perfectly for your session. You have all the same controls as the full version. You can place microphones, mix levels, change sizes and velocity curves. Set it up exactly how you want it.

All you’re missing from the full version is the huge amounts of library. You can always upgrade to the full version later.

StevenSlateDrums.com

This is all about providing you with a solid, usable and high-quality sampled acoustic drum kit that sits perfectly in the mix. With some sampled drum instruments, the level of editing and detail is so deep that it takes a lot of hard work to wrestle the sound into a usable state alongside your other VST instruments.

With MT Power Drumkit 2, the samples have already been pre-processed to fit right together and so is much more likely to drop into any track and sound good. For some people, it doesn’t give them enough individual control over the sound but if you just want a great sounding acoustic kit then this is perfect.

It has a massive groove library of realistic sounding patterns and rhythms while some innovative functions create smooth and authentic fills and changes. Although you can, of course, play the drums yourself. There’s a mixer page to give you level control over the individual drum elements so you can adjust it to your tastes.

But the power in the MT Power Drumkit 2 is in the simplicity and the instant sense of satisfaction you get when you drop that drum kit in there.

Manda Audio MT Power Drumkit 2: VST/AU/AAX plug-in for Windows, MacOS and Linux.

MiniSpillage is another good-looking drum synthesizer but one which focuses on three sounds and forms of synthesis. It offers a Bass Drum, a Wood Drum, and closed and open Hi-Hats, all generated by algorithms. It has been around for almost a decade, but beautifully written plug-ins never go out of fashion.

The Bass Drum uses a single oscillator with a pitch sweep, internal frequency modulation (FM) and harmonic controls with a useful display that lets you know what’s going on. There’s modulation in the form of “Warp.” You have control over the amount of “Click” you want in the sound and “Emphasis” on that initial transient.

The Wood Drum synthesizes natural and synthetic timbres from log drums to toms. It has controls like Expand, Variation, and Detune to create the feel and you can mix in metallic, body and brightness elements to shape the tone.

The Hi-Hats combines 6 oscillators with a noise source and two resonant filters to give the bite and sizzle of classic open and closed hi-hats.

All three then have the same lower section of envelope and LFO before running in the Distortion circuit and Filter.

MiniSpillage is capable of a wide variety of sounds within the constraints of the 3 forms of synthesis. It looks great, sounds great and is powerfully synthetic. The only downside is that it’s only available for MacOS.

AudioSpillage MiniSpillage: AU plugin for MacOS.

The simplicity and familiarity of Drum Pro will make you feel right at home. It’s a bunch of sampled drum kits wrapped up in a simple MPC style interface.

Drum Pro comes with 20 drum kits designed for electronic and urban beats. It includes 9 vintage electronic drum machines sounds from the classic TR-808 and TR-909. You load a kit; slap your keys or pad controller and you are banging out beats in no time at all.

Each kit comes with 12 sounds loaded onto the 12 pads. You have mixing control across the bottom and an envelope across the top. There’s even a little bit of reverb you can dial in. It’s simple and easy; load a drum kit and boom, you’re off.

StudioLinked Drum Pro: VST plugin for MacOS and Windows.

Spitfire create some of the finest sample libraries and instruments on the planet that are used in studios and professional environments for scoring and music production. They also have a bunch of free sample libraries in their LABS series. It’s s growing collection of quirky but useful libraries built into a very simple VST interface.

For drums there are three libraries you can install and use for free right now.

Drums is a beautifully raw sounding kit. It has multiple levels and is exciting to play and I find myself using it all the time because you can load it up and play without getting bogged down in the complexity of some other instruments.

Percussion is a versatile selection of background sounds, shakers, timbales, cowbells, congas and much more.

Vintage Drums is based on a 1970s Ludwig kit and a 1940s custom kit with original calfskin heads. I told you they were quirky.

The whole LABS series is brilliant and you should have them.

Spitfireaudio.com: VST/AU plugin for MacOS and Windows.

Check out our guide on the best beat maker machines!

Cassette drums is a bundle of classic drum machine plugins based on vintage Roland gear. There are three plugins in the bundle designed by Crimson Merry called the Cassette 606, Cassette 808 and Cassette 909. I wonder if you can guess which Roland drum machines that are based upon?

The front ends are simple while capturing the essence of the Roland machines. Behind each front panel is a classy bunch of samples expertly recorded by Edgar Maguyon, Gregor Zemlijic and Anderson303. Each plugin has three versions of the kit. One is Clean and free from any processing, where as the Warm and Hot kits feature different levels of saturation produced by re-sampling through an audio cassette desk. Hence the name.

These are brilliant plugins that should be in everyone’s collection ready for the moment you need that authentic bit of Roland sizzle.

BRB Cassette Drums: VST/AU for MacOS and Windows

Jamstix 4 aims to take drumming into virtual reality with its in-depth, real-time modeling of genres and human Drummers with all the bad habits, terrible timing and authentic feel that implies. It doesn’t use MIDI grooves or patterns; instead, Jamstix models the arms and playing style of Drummers to generate realistic performances depending on the parameters you set. If you don’t like drum programming, this is probably for you.

Jamstix comes with multilayered high-quality drum sounds and a ridiculous number of kits if you buy the full version. For the free version, there are only 200 samples for arrangement in a decent number of ready-to-use kits. It comes with 8 drummer models and 21 style models that you can mix and match to form your perfect Drummer. Then you “Build” a song by creating a structure and giving it a few pointers on how you’d like it to be played. You can then sit back and watch the virtual 3D drum kit being played in realtime.

The interface is a bit complex and crowded but Jamstix is an easy way to get a human feel into your drum tracks.

Rayzoon Jamstix 4 Free: VST/AU/AAX for Windows and MacOS.

MODO Drum uses a combination of sampling and physical modelling to create stunningly expressive kits. Each drum sound is produced through the summation of its physical attributes modulated by the a model of different playing styles. Everything from the drum material, sympathetic resonances, striking of sticks and amount of alcohol in the drummer (just kidding!) contribute to the authenticity of the output.

Drum kits can be placed in all sorts of environments, from booths to studios, cathedrals to clubs. You can fine tune every aspect of every drum and then run the lot through an expansive range of audio processors, effects and create the perfect mix. If you’re not sure where to start then MODO Drum has a library of over 1400 MIDI patterns that you can audition and drag into your DAW.

MODO Drum is ridiculously detailed and sounds amazing. The only limitation on the “Custom Shop” free version is that you start with one studio kit. You can always buy more, down the line.

MODO Drum: VST/AU plugin for MacOS and Windows.