DRUM! Exclusive! New Five-Piece Electronic Drum Kits feature onboard drum, percussion and cymbal libraries and drum sample software

Tomorrow morning it will be official: The Music Group will unleash Behringer XD Series drum kits, which start at around $299 and go up to $499, are released at the 2012 Winter NAMM show. It’s important because these kits further push the price boundary down for electronic drums, perhaps introducing them to a whole new audience of drummers. Gregg Stein, the former Zildjian and Alesis marketer, who heads the consumer electronics initiatives at Behringer, in addition to drum development, says this is just the beginning of The Music Group’s push. “This make it affordable,” he says, adding, “it gets the product down to a new level where anyone can get involved in electronic drums.” Behringer XD kits feature extensive sound libraries, rubber surface pads, and triple-zone ride surfaces. DRUM! will get to try them later in the show but for now we’re the first to have our hands on the product specs. Read about them in the official press release below.

January 19, 2012, Bothell, WA – MUSIC Group announces the BEHRINGER XD Series drum kits, including the XD60-LE, XD60-USB, XD70-USB and XD80-USB.

Feature packed, yet highly affordable, this series offers four high-quality electronic kit options that are as easy to play as they are to transport and set up.

BEHRINGER designed the XD series to feature true-to life feel, perfect for drummers who use electronic drums for practice and then return to an acoustic kit for live performance. The pads feature a natural rubber surface, which mimics the feel of real skins and minimizes false triggering. All kits feature sturdy extruded aluminum frames, which provide a solid foundation for the drum and cymbal pads.

Packed with vast libraries of top-notch studio and live drum, percussion and cymbal sounds, XD Series drums sound realistic and clean. The ultra-compact XD60-LE or full-size XD60-USB feature 110 sounds each, and the XD70-USB and XD80-USB with 385 and 750 sounds respectively. In addition to these offerings, the XD’s MIDI capability enables the user to build their own library via external MIDI sound modules. The kits also feature the capability to program and store “favorite kits” for instant recall.

BEHRINGER has included Toontrack’s EZDrummer® Software with every XD kit. The most popular drum software available, this multi-microphone drum sampler was designed specifically for musicians and producers seeking an easy to use plug-in that provides uncompromising sound quality and control. The extensive drag and drop MIDI library (featuring 8000+ MIDI files) enables users to create a great drum track in just a few clicks. And for more advanced scenarios, users can control microphone bleed and levels between drums via the internal mixer.

A common issue faced by drummers is that of volume, especially in a small club or when there is a need to practice at home late at night. XD Series drum kits provide the ideal solution, allowing users to control the volume and still satisfy the desire to play hard. The XD kits also feature built-in metronome for practice, and users can even play along with tunes thanks to the convenient Aux inputs and USB connectivity. Output options abound including headphones (your neighbors will thank you), stereo and mono Main Outs, plus USB/MIDI for hooking up external sound modules.

More about the XD Series Electronic Drum Kits:Common Features:

  • Hundreds of studio-grade drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds
  • Works with iPad / iPhone via Apple USB Adaptor (sold separately)
  • USB / MIDI output for use with drum module software
  • Includes Toontrack EZ Drummer Lite Plus
  • Seamlessly connects directly to your iPod, iPhone, iPad, or CD player via 1/8” input for play along use
  • All sounds are velocity sensitive for natural dynamic response
  • Ships ready to rock with everything you need to start immediately

XD60-LE Easy to use, all-in-one Electronic Drum Kit

  • Compact 5-piece electronic drum set with XD60-USB sound module
  • 110 studio-grade drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds
  • 15 programmable drum sets
  • Natural response trigger pads
  • Dual-zone snare pad for rim-click and rim shot capability
  • Includes XD60-USB sound module; kick / hi-hat momentary trigger pedals; 8” dual-zone snare pad; (3) 6” single-zone tom pads; (3) 8” cymbals; small footprint lightweight drum rack with hardware (preset for quick setup); multi-pin breakout audio cable snake for easy set up; pair drumsticks; Quickstart guide and assembly instructions

XD60-USB High Performance Five-Piece Electronic Drum Kit

  • Five-piece electronic drum set with XD60-USB sound module
  • 110 studio-grade drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds
  • 15 programmable drum sets
  • Realistic feeling, natural playing trigger pads
  • Dual-zone snare pad for rim-click and rim shot capability
  • Includes XD60-USB sound module; kick pedal, pad and stand; hi-hat trigger pedal; 8” dual-zone pad; (3) 8” single-zone pads; (3) 12” cymbals; drum rack with mounting hardware (preset for quick setup); multi-pin breakout audio cable snake for easy set up; pair drumsticks; drum key; Quickstart guide and assembly instructions

XD70-USB High Performance Five-Piece Electronic Drum Kit

  • Five-piece electronic drum set with XD70-USB sound module
  • 392 studio-grade drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds
  • 40 programmable drum sets, plus 11 general MIDI kits
  • Realistic feeling, natural playing trigger pads
  • Triple-zone snare pad
  • Built-in sequencer
  • Includes XD70-USB sound module; kick pedal, pad and stand; hi-hat trigger pedal; 8” triple-zone snare pad; (3) 8” single-zone tom pads; (2) 12” cymbals; drum rack with mounting hardware (preset for quick setup); multi-pin breakout audio cable snake for easy set up; pair drumsticks; drum key; Quickstart guide and assembly instructions

XD80-USB Professional Five-Piece Electronic Drum Kit

  • Five-piece electronic drum set with XD80-USB high-definition sound module
  • More than 750 studio-grade drum, cymbal, and percussion sounds
  • DSP samples
  • 50 programmable drum sets
  • Realistic feeling, natural playing trigger pads
  • Built-in sampler
  • Includes XD80-USB sound module; kick pedal, pad and stand; hi-hat trigger pedal; 8” dual-zone snare pad; (3) 8” single-zone tom pads; (3) 12” cymbals; drum rack with mounting hardware (preset for quick setup); multi-pin breakout audio cable snake for easy set up; pair drumsticks; drum key; Quickstart guide and assembly instructions

For more information, please visit http://www.BEHRINGER.com

About MUSIC Group

The MUSIC Group is one of the world’s largest holding companies for pro audio and music products brands. As the corporate parent for world-recognized brands such as MIDAS®, KLARK TEKNIK®, BEHRINGER® and BUGERA®, the MUSIC Group owns and manages some of the finest brands in the industry. The MUSIC Group provides a comprehensive product range covering multiple product categories to a wide spectrum of end-users including professionals, corporations and amateurs, as well as for public and commercial applications. They include loudspeakers, amplifiers, mixers, powered mixers, computer-based recording and DJ products, microphones, headphones, wireless systems, musical instruments and professional lighting systems.