While SD 2.0 can be driven by a standard MIDI track, the separate EZ Player Pro plug–in provides additional options for managing, auditioning and sequencing MIDI loops, and this serves a similar function to parts of the Grooves page within BFD2. SD 2.0 is supplied with five custom plug–ins including the Five–band EQ, Gate and Compressor shown here.SD 2.0 comprises five main components: the drum sample playback engine itself a 60GB sample library the EZ Player Pro MIDI loop manager and sequencer (including a library of MIDI loops) a bundle of five audio plug–ins and Toontrack Solo, which is designed to allow stand–alone operation of any of Toontrack's drum instruments.

SD 2.0 comes hot on the heels of its obvious competitor - BFD2 - so how does Toontrack's latest offering shape up against FXpansion's flagship product? Bundle Of Fun With SD 2.0, Toontrack are attempting to marry the best of both these earlier products - the meticulous sampling and user control found in DFH Superior with a more accessible user–interface based on EZ Drummer.

To their credit, Toontrack responded with EZ Drummer, based upon a narrower range of drum sounds than DFH Superior but with a much more user–friendly interface. However, it is probably true to say that some potential users were put off by what was perceived as a somewhat complex user interface. Toontrack's Superior Drummer 2.0 essentially represents a second generation of DFH Superior and, when Paul White reviewed the original release back in March 2005, he was very impressed by the realism of the sound and the extraordinary level of detail in the sampling. Will the drums and cymbals of their new Superior Drummer 2.0 make a greater splash?

Toontrack's DFH Superior received excellent reviews but perhaps didn't really make the impact that it deserved.

Toontrack superior drummer reviews