How to Use Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 in Cubase - YouTube
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110: A Review
If you are looking for a virtual drum machine plugin that can deliver realistic and diverse sounds for your music production, you might want to check out Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. This plugin is a successor of the original LM-4 by Steinberg, which was one of the first drum sampler plugins for Cubase. The new version offers improved features, more sounds, and better compatibility with modern systems. In this review, I will explore what Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 can do, what are its pros and cons, how it compares with other drum plugins, and whether it is worth buying.
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110
Features of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is a 32-bit drum module plugin that can be used as a standalone application or as a VSTi plugin in any compatible host. It has 18 channels or pads, each of which can be assigned a different drum sound from the over 50 drum kits included with the plugin. Each pad can have up to 20 velocity zones, which means that the sound will change depending on how hard you hit the pad. This allows for more realistic and expressive drumming. You can also customize the sound of each pad by adjusting the volume, pan, pitch, and filter parameters, as well as applying effects such as BitCrusher and Reverse. Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 has 12 outputs (3 stereo and 6 mono), which can be routed to different tracks or buses in your host. You can also automate the volume, pan, and pitch of each output for more dynamic mixing. One of the coolest features of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is that you can drag and drop audio files from your computer or browser directly into the pads, and the plugin will automatically convert them into drum sounds. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format, and edit them as you wish. This way, you can create your own custom drum kits with your own samples, or mix and match sounds from different sources.
32-bit drum module with 18 channels/pads
The core of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is the 32-bit drum module, which is responsible for generating and processing the drum sounds. The drum module has 18 channels or pads, each of which can be assigned a different sound from the over 50 drum kits that come with the plugin. The drum kits cover a wide range of genres and styles, such as acoustic, electronic, hip hop, rock, jazz, world, and more. You can also create your own drum kits by importing your own samples or using the drag and drop feature. Each pad can have up to 20 velocity zones, which means that the sound will change depending on how hard you hit the pad. For example, if you hit a snare pad softly, you will hear a quiet rimshot sound, but if you hit it hard, you will hear a loud snare hit with more reverb and sustain. This feature adds more realism and expression to your drumming, as you can control the dynamics and nuances of each sound. You can also adjust the volume, pan, pitch, and filter parameters of each pad to fine-tune the sound to your liking. For example, you can lower the pitch of a kick drum to make it deeper and heavier, or increase the filter cutoff of a hi-hat to make it brighter and sharper.
Over 50 drum kits included with up to 20 velocity zones per pad
One of the main advantages of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is that it comes with over 50 drum kits that are ready to use in your music production. The drum kits are divided into categories based on their genre and style, such as acoustic, electronic, hip hop, rock, jazz, world, and more. Each category has several subcategories that offer more specific variations of the sounds. For example, in the acoustic category, you can find subcategories such as studio kit, vintage kit, brush kit, jazz kit, etc. Each subcategory has several presets that offer different combinations of sounds for each pad. For example, in the studio kit subcategory, you can find presets such as pop kit 1, rock kit 1, funk kit 1, etc. Each preset has its own name and description that tells you what kind of sounds it contains and what kind of music it is suitable for. The quality and diversity of the drum kits are impressive, as they cover a wide range of musical genres and styles. You can find sounds that are realistic and natural sounding, as well as sounds that are synthetic and processed sounding. You can also find sounds that are classic and vintage sounding, as well as sounds that are modern and cutting edge sounding. The sounds are sampled from high-quality sources such as real drums, drum machines, synthesizers, and more. Each sound has up to 20 velocity zones, which means that the sound will change depending on how hard you hit the pad. This feature adds more realism and expression to your drumming, as you can control the dynamics and nuances of each sound. You can also customize the sound of each pad by adjusting the volume, pan, pitch, and filter parameters, as well as applying effects such as BitCrusher and Reverse. You can also create your own drum kits by importing your own samples or using the drag and drop feature.
12 outputs (3 stereo and 6 mono) with volume, pan, and pitch automation
Another feature of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is that it has 12 outputs (3 stereo and 6 mono), which can be routed to different tracks or buses in your host. This gives you more flexibility and control over the mixing and processing of your drum sounds. For example, you can send the kick drum to a separate track and apply compression and EQ to make it punchier and clearer, or you can send the snare drum to a different track and add reverb and delay to make it wider and more spacious. You can also automate the volume, pan, and pitch of each output for more dynamic mixing. For example, you can create a fade in or fade out effect by automating the volume of an output, or you can create a panning effect by automating the pan of an output. You can also create a pitch bend effect by automating the pitch of an output. These features allow you to create more interesting and creative drum patterns and grooves.
Integrated BitCrusher and Reverse effects
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 also has two integrated effects that can enhance the sound and create interesting textures: BitCrusher and Reverse. BitCrusher is an effect that reduces the bit depth and sample rate of the sound, resulting in a distorted and lo-fi sound. You can use this effect to add some grit and character to your drum sounds, or to create a vintage and retro vibe. You can adjust the amount of bit reduction and sample rate reduction with two knobs, as well as the dry/wet mix with another knob. Reverse is an effect that reverses the sound, resulting in a backward sound. You can use this effect to create a reverse reverb effect, or to create a psychedelic and trippy vibe. You can adjust the length of the reverse sound with a knob, as well as the dry/wet mix with another knob. You can apply these effects to any pad or output individually, or to the whole drum kit globally.
Drag and drop audio files and compatibility with AIFF, WAVE, or SD II formats
One of the coolest features of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is that you can drag and drop audio files from your computer or browser directly into the pads, and the plugin will automatically convert them into drum sounds. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format, and edit them as you wish. This way, you can create your own custom drum kits with your own samples, or mix and match sounds from different sources. For example, you can drag and drop a vocal sample into a pad and use it as a snare sound, or you can drag and drop a guitar riff into a pad and use it as a kick sound. The possibilities are endless. You can also save your custom drum kits as presets for future use.
Pros and Cons of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110
Now that we have seen the features of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110, let's evaluate its pros and cons. Like any product, this plugin has its strengths and weaknesses, and it may not suit everyone's needs and preferences. Here are some of the pros and cons of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 that you should consider before buying it.
Pros
Sound quality: The sound quality of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is excellent, as it uses 32-bit processing and high-quality samples. The sounds are realistic, diverse, and rich in detail. You can also customize the sound of each pad and output to your liking.
Usability: The usability of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is high, as it has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate and operate. You can access all the parameters and functions with a few clicks or knobs. You can also drag and drop audio files into the pads, which is very convenient and fast.
Versatility: The versatility of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is impressive, as it offers over 50 drum kits that cover a wide range of genres and styles. You can also create your own drum kits by importing your own samples or using the drag and drop feature. You can also apply effects such as BitCrusher and Reverse to create interesting textures.
Compatibility: The compatibility of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is good, as it can be used as a standalone application or as a VSTi plugin in any compatible host. It also supports AIFF, WAVE, or SD II formats for importing audio files.
Cons
Price: The price of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is relatively high, as it costs $199. This may be too expensive for some users who are on a tight budget or who are looking for a more affordable option.
Limitations: The limitations of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 are few, but they exist. For example, the plugin only has 18 pads, which may not be enough for some users who want more sounds or layers. Also, the plugin only has two effects (BitCrusher and Reverse), which may not be enough for some users who want more variety or options.
Compatibility issues: The compatibility issues of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 are rare, but they happen. For example, some users have reported that the plugin does not work well with some hosts or systems, such as Logic Pro X or Mac OS X Catalina. Also, some users have reported that the plugin does not recognize some audio files or formats, such as MP3 or FLAC.
Comparison with Other Drum Plugins
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is not the only drum plugin on the market. There are many other options that offer similar or different features and functions. How does Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 compare with some of the other popular drum plugins? Let's take a look at three of them: DR-008 by Fxpansion, Battery by Native Instruments, and Attack by Waldorf.
DR-008 by Fxpansion
DR-008 by Fxpansion is another 32-bit drum module plugin that can be used as a standalone application or as a VSTi plugin in any compatible host. It has 16 channels or pads, each of which can be assigned a different sound from the over 100 drum kits that come with the plugin. Each pad can have up to 32 velocity zones, which is more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. Each pad can also have up to 8 effects, such as distortion, filter, delay, reverb, etc., which is also more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. DR-008 has 16 outputs (8 stereo and 8 mono), which is more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. You can also automate the volume, pan, pitch, and filter of each output for more dynamic mixing. DR-008 also has a drag and drop feature that allows you to import your own samples or use the ones from the plugin. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format, as well as REX files. You can also save your custom drum kits as presets for future use.
The main advantages of DR-008 over Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 are that it has more pads, more velocity zones, more effects, more outputs, and supports REX files. The main disadvantages of DR-008 are that it is more expensive ($249), more complex, and less compatible with some hosts or systems.
Battery by Native Instruments
Battery by Native Instruments is another 32-bit drum module plugin that can be used as a standalone application or as a VSTi plugin in any compatible host. It has 54 channels or pads, which is much more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. Each pad can be assigned a different sound from the over 200 drum kits that come with the plugin. Each pad can have up to 128 velocity zones, which is much more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. Each pad can also have up to 4 effects, such as compressor, EQ, saturation, etc., which is less than DR-008 but more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. Battery has 12 outputs (6 stereo and 6 mono), which is the same as Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110. You can also automate the volume, pan, pitch, and filter of each output for more dynamic mixing. Battery also has a drag and drop feature that allows you to import your own samples or use the ones from the plugin. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format, as well as REX files and Kontakt files. You can also save your custom drum kits as presets for future use.
The main advantages of Battery over Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 are that it has more pads, more velocity zones, more drum kits, and supports REX files and Kontakt files. The main disadvantages of Battery are that it is more expensive ($199), more complex, and less compatible with some hosts or systems.
Attack by Waldorf
Attack by Waldorf is another 32-bit drum module plugin that can be used as a standalone application or as a VSTi plugin in any compatible host. It has 24 channels or pads, which is more than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 but less than DR-008 and Battery. Each pad can be assigned a different sound from the over 100 drum kits that come with the plugin. Each pad can have up to 16 velocity zones, which is less than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110, DR-008, and Battery. Each pad can also have up to 2 effects, such as distortion, filter, delay, reverb, etc., which is less than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110, DR-008, and Battery. Attack has 8 outputs (4 stereo and 4 mono), which is less than Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110, DR-008, and Battery. You can also automate the volume, pan, pitch, and filter of each output for more dynamic mixing. Attack also has a drag and drop feature that allows you to import your own samples or use the ones from the plugin. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format. You can also save your custom drum kits as presets for future use.
The main advantages of Attack over Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 are that it has more pads and more drum kits. The main disadvantages of Attack are that it has less velocity zones, less effects, less outputs, and does not support REX files or Kontakt files.
Conclusion and Recommendations
After reviewing the features, pros and cons, and comparison of Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 with other drum plugins, I have reached the following conclusion and recommendations.
Conclusion
Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110 is a virtual drum machine plugin that can deliver realistic and diverse sounds for your music production. It has a 32-bit drum module with 18 channels/pads, each of which can be assigned a different sound from the over 50 drum kits included with the plugin. Each pad can have up to 20 velocity zones, which adds more realism and expression to your drumming. You can also customize the sound of each pad and output by adjusting the volume, pan, pitch, and filter parameters, as well as applying effects such as BitCrusher and Reverse. You can also drag and drop audio files from your computer or browser directly into the pads, and the plugin will automatically convert them into drum sounds. You can use any audio file in AIFF, WAVE, or SD II format. You can also save your custom drum kits as presets for future use.
The plugin has 12 outputs (3 stereo and 6 mono), which can be routed to different tracks or buses in your host. You can also automate the volume, pan, and pitch of each output for more dynamic mixing.
The plugin is easy to use and has a simple and intuitive interface. It also has good compatibility with most hosts and systems.
The plugin is relatively expensive ($199), but it offers high-quality sound and features that justify its price.
The plugin has some limitations, such as only having 18 pads, only having two effects (BitCrusher and Reverse), and not supporting REX files or Kontakt files.
The plugin may have some compatibility issues with some hosts or systems, such as Logic Pro X or Mac OS X Catalina. It may also not recognize some audio files or formats, such as MP3 or FLAC.
The plugin is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a virtual drum machine plugin that can deliver realistic and diverse sounds for their music production. It is especially suitable for those who want to use their own samples or mix and match sounds from different sources. It is also suitable for those who want to have more control and flexibility over the mixing and processing of their drum sounds.
Recommendations
If you are interested in buying Steinberg LM4 Mark II VSTi V11110, here are some recommendations on how to get the best out of it:
Try the demo version first: Before you buy the plugin, you can download and try the demo version from the official website. The demo version has all the features and functions of the full version, except that it will produce a noise every 30 seconds. This way, you can test the plugin and see if it works well with your host and system, and if you like the sound and features.
Read the manual: The plugin comes with a detailed and comprehensive manual that explains all the parameters and functions of the plugin, as well as some tips and tricks on how to use it. You can find the manual in the installation folder of the plugin, or you can download it from the official website. Reading the manual will help you understand how the plugin works and how to get the most out of it.
Explore the presets: The plugin comes with over 50 drum kits that cover a wide range of genres and styles. You can browse through the presets and see what kind of sounds they offer, and how they are arranged and edited. You can also use the presets as a starting point for creating your own drum kits, or as a reference for learning how to use the plugin.
Experiment with your own samples: One of the coolest features of the plugin is that you can drag and drop audio files from your computer or browser directly into the pads, and the plugin will automat