Virtual Drummer

Virtual Drummer is a drum-focused instrument collection for producers building programmed parts from styles and phrases. It is best suited to people who want grooves they can edit or route through MIDI rather than a kit built from their own samples. Its appeal is the combination of ready-made material and mixing controls, with 64-bit compatibility worth checking before buying.

Overview

The collection combines built-in drum samples with genre-oriented styles and phrases, keeping the emphasis on assembling drum tracks rather than providing a general-purpose instrument. MIDI drag and drop into a DAW and Direct MIDI Out to another instrument or MIDI track make the parts usable in different production workflows.

The Drummer’s Bundle is the broadest route into the range: eight drummers, 35 drum kits, 301 styles, 6,941 phrases, 895 presets and 36 mix presets. Individual plug-ins are a more focused purchase, but narrow the choice to a single title. Across the collection, the inability to import personal samples is a meaningful constraint for producers whose sound depends on a specific drum library.

Key features

Styles and phrases: The titles cover Nu Disco, 70s, rock, grunge, punk, contemporary 60s and 70s sounds, and urban or funky grooves. That makes the range useful for producers seeking genre-led starting points; it is less suitable when a track calls for a sound outside the supplied palette.

MIDI workflows: Drag-and-drop MIDI into a DAW supports further editing, while Direct MIDI Out can feed another instrument or MIDI track. This flexibility matters if the plug-in is a source of patterns rather than the final drum sound.

Mixing controls: Each drummer includes five drum kits, six mix presets, individual sound-shaping controls, multiple audio outputs and a master section. The outputs and per-sound shaping offer room to fit parts into a mix; they do not remove the limitation on importing custom samples.

Studio One integration: Studio One users can see style and drum-element names on piano-roll keys, with style and instrument ranges highlighted. That extra visual guidance is specific to that DAW workflow.

Trial and compatibility: The user guide describes a 30-day trial with no plug-in limitations, while the pricing note says 7-day trial. Current UJAM plug-ins require 64-bit software, and UJAM recommends trying the free trial to check compatibility before purchase. The legacy Virtual Drummer 2 Rack Extension lacks newer features such as MIDI drag and drop.

Pricing

Virtual Drummer is sold as one-time purchases, with a free Odd Meter MIDI Pack also available. The pricing note gives a starting price of $119 and a 7-day trial; the product pages also show $119.00 for some individual titles while plan prices vary. Treat the displayed plan price as the relevant amount for the title you choose.

PlanPriceWhat it includesOdd Meter MIDI PackfreeOver 30 MIDI drum stylesVirtual Drummer HEAVY 2, SOLID 2 or PHAT 2$9.52, paid once eachOne individual Virtual Drummer plug-inVirtual Drummer DEEP, LEGEND, HOT or BRUTE$28.56, paid once eachOne individual Virtual Drummer plug-inDrummer’s Bundle$99.50, paid onceEight drummers, 35 kits, 301 styles, 6,941 phrases, 895 presets and 36 mix presetsVirtual Drummer NEON$119, paid onceOne individual Virtual Drummer plug-inThe free pack is a low-commitment option for someone who needs MIDI styles, not the full instrument collection. A single plug-in suits a producer who wants one particular drummer; the Bundle makes more sense for someone seeking variety across the range. The listed plan prices and the broader $119 starting-price note differ, so confirm the selected title’s price before purchase. No seat or usage quota is specified for these plans.

Platforms

Virtual Drummer supports macOS and Windows. UJAM provides standalone installers for both platforms as well as installation through the UJAM App. Because current plug-ins require 64-bit software, the trial is the practical compatibility check before committing.

Who it's for

Choose Virtual Drummer if you want pre-built drum styles and phrases, MIDI you can edit or route, and controls for shaping the included sounds. The Bundle is the strongest fit for producers who want the widest spread of drummers and grooves. Skip it if importing your own samples is central to your workflow, or if your software is not 64-bit compatible.

Pros and cons

Pro: The Bundle combines eight drummers with hundreds of styles and thousands of phrases, giving producers substantial material to draw from.

Pro: MIDI drag and drop and Direct MIDI Out support both editing in a DAW and routing to other tracks or instruments.

Pro: Multiple outputs, per-sound shaping and a master section provide useful ways to manage the included drum sounds.

Con: User sample import is unavailable, ruling out workflows built around personal drum libraries.

Con: Current plug-ins require 64-bit software, so compatibility may exclude older setups.

Con: Virtual Drummer 2’s Rack Extension lacks newer features such as MIDI drag and drop.

Alternatives

Browse virtual instruments for a wider category comparison. Choose Voltage Modular instead if you want a freemium modular instrument with free software and Nucleus plans. Vital is a better fit for a free synth with full features, 75 presets and 25 wavetables, or a paid subscription with store credit and subscriber-only packs. Choose Dexed if you want a free instrument under GPL v3 rather than a paid drum collection. Pianoteq suits someone seeking a paid instrument with a free trial and instrument packs. BBC Symphony Orchestra is the alternative for orchestral instruments, with a free Discover edition and a paid Core tier. IK Multimedia ReSing is the choice for voice and instrument modeling, with a free tier and a paid edition. Pick Repro for a paid synth available on Linux as well as macOS and Windows. PREMIER SOUND FACTORY is another option.

Verdict

Virtual Drummer is a strong choice for producers who want a broad library of ready-made grooves, flexible MIDI routing and practical mix controls in a drum-focused collection. The Bundle is the clearest way to get variety across the range. Look elsewhere if custom sample import is essential, and use the trial to confirm 64-bit compatibility before paying.