Who are Iconic instruments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5dcd78_606af840debb49c9a7b2c60b79ab4657mv2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile New York-based Iconic Instruments may be a new name to many, for those in the know, this dedicated developer has, for some time been bringing rare and historically important vintage hardware and instruments to peoples DAW’s. Their first products, launched in 2019, were accurate recreations of some lesser-known vintage drum machines, including the Syndrum and an intriguing early-80s handclap synth manufactured by Simmons. They have since expanded their drum machine offering with accurately modelled versions of the Ult-Sound DS-4 as well as Roger Linn’s iconic LM-1 (of which only 500 units were ever produced) with their Levines Machines<\/a> instrument. For this Iconic Instrument worked with seminal 80s British producer Steve Levine, directly sampling his multi hit featured machine as well as incorporating many of his classic patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-07-110036.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs well as drum instruments, Iconic Instruments currently offer six pieces of vintage analogue equipment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Model 350 Tube Preamp<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Transport Vintage Tape Machine Emulator<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Model 660 X Exciting Compressor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Parametric EQ<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- SP 140 Steel Plate Reverb<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- GF 240 Gold Plate Reverb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While these plugins can be purchased separately, they’re also bundled together in a couple of packages: the Tube and Tape Bundle<\/strong> and the Detroit FX Bundle<\/strong>. For those wanting to capture that warm, slightly imperfect sonic character, these plugins should have you covered, as it’s clear that Iconic Instruments have gone to great lengths to capture the essence of these machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith their latest release, Iconic Instruments are now venturing into the world of acoustic instruments, bringing their vintage-focused approach to a virtual drum kit. So, let’s take a trip to the home of Motown and see how well Iconic Instruments have fared in capturing the sound and character of this magical era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The power of drums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to recreating the sound of an old recording, the one aspect that can affect the illusion more than anything else is the drum track. You can almost date a record by its drum sound, and as the drums tend to be the backbone of a recording, getting them right is essential. The advent of sophisticated sampled drum kits has made fully editable drum environments possible entirely in the box. There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to virtual drum kits, but while many vintage kits and environments are available, achieving a truly authentic sound often involves additional processing and a fair amount of dirtying up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On loading up Iconic Instruments’ Detroit Drums, however, it was immediately obvious that there would be no such need for additional processing. These drums have that golden, aged feel straight out of the gate. So, how have Iconic Instruments managed to nail this instantly authentic drum sound? Let’s take a look at how these drums were created and how they function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hq720-4.jpg\")
Marvin Gaye getting loose in a Motown recording session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDrum kit capture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Despite the name, these drums were not recorded in a dingy Detroit studio, but in New York City’s home of vintage drums, the legendary Good Hands Drum Shop. It’s one thing to source two extremely rare 60s-era kits, but quite another to find long-defunct original 60s drum heads. In this case, Iconic Instruments managed to source NOS Weathermaster and Sound King heads. The result is a pair of kits that are about as authentic to the era as it’s possible to get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Good-Hands-Drum-Shop_5a7dbd4c5a465ad3b1454e88458cbb7e.jpg\")
New York’s famous Good Hands Drum Shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnd then there’s the processing. Recorded at Good Hands Drum Shop, the recording environment and signal chain were similarly true to the techniques engineers would have used in the 1960s. Iconic Instruments studied and replicated the recording methods and miking techniques used on Motown and similar R&B records, adding another layer of authenticity to the final sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of this attention to detail has been captured and faithfully recreated in the virtual realm. So, with this in mind, let’s open up Detroit Drums and examine the functionality of this intriguing virtual instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detroit Drums in action<\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe kits<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
As previously mentioned, Detroit Drums is available as two separate kits. While they both feature the same software features and architecture, they are based on multisamples from two completely separate drum sets. You have the L-Model, which is based on a 60s Ludwig kit, and the S-Model, which samples an authentic Slingerland kit. Sonically, the L-Model has a slightly more polished and detailed sound overall, particularly on the snare, while the S-Model is a touch darker offering a little more welly and attitude. The S-Model is perhaps better suited to a tighter funky jazzy sound, as typified by James Brown recordings, while the L-Model seems more at home with a hard Motown and R&B sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dd-l-model-drums-1024x785.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThat said, both kits are highly editable, with tuning and dampening controls that really set them apart from other virtual drum kits. By combining the drum tuning and dampening with the authentic vintage effects chain, you have the power to create a wide range of tones, from 50s rock and roll right through to a tight, clean 70s yacht rock sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dampening in particular is unique to this instrument and, when used in practice, the effect is unnervingly realistic. (Thankfully I have been assured that no tea towels were hurt in the process)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what of the hi-hats and cymbals? Don’t worry, they have not been neglected. You can adjust the hi-hat through six stages of openness, while individual cymbal tuning and dampening controls let you fully shape the sound. You can achieve everything from bright, ringing crashes to short, tightly controlled vintage tones. You can even automate the level of hi-hat openness using the mod wheel for a truly natural feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you set the kit to chromatic mode, you even get multiple permutations for the way the drumstick or kick pedal interacts with the drum. With four variations for the hi-hat and six for the snare, this goes beyond most established virtual drum kits. Combine these permutations with switchable round-robin playback where a new sample is triggered every time the drum is struck, revolving through a cycle, and you get an exceptional level of realism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detroit Drums also offers a selection of presets for both kit setups and mixing settings to get you started. There’s even a neat feature where the displayed preset name changes colour as soon as you perform a tweak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drum miking<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The first thing to acknowledge is that Detroit Drums has been recorded using a traditional 60s miking setup, so don’t expect to fine-tune the sonics of each drum element independently. But then, that’s the point. The magic of those old drum tracks lies in the way everything blends together into that distinctive audio soupiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detroit Drums features a four-mic setup. There are two overheads with one positioned directly above the kit to capture the overall sound, while the second is an asymmetrical over-the-shoulder mic, adding another perspective to the overall image. Alongside these, there are dedicated mics for the kick and snare. The snare mic was positioned underneath the drum to capture the snap and detail that wouldn’t otherwise be picked up by the overheads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was a common microphone set up during this period but as you will see in the next section you have the ability to choose which mics you use and their respective levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mixing chain<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Before we get into all of the various elements included in the mixing chain, it’s worth acknowledging the well-thought-out and intuitive layout of Detroit drums. All of the separate processing elements are clearly visible, with the four separate mic faders sitting at the bottom, along with dedicated faders for the reverb and main master volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mixer channels feature separate processing units, all based on stripped-down versions of Iconic Instruments’ vintage existing outboard plugins. Just above the faders, you have the mixer consolette section, where you can adjust the drive, sends and panning for each channel. You also have VU meters for each individual channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/create.routenote.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dd-l-model-mix-1024x785.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAbove the consolette, you have the mix bus FX strip. Each unit can be switched on or off independently, apart from the reverb, which is controlled via the consolette send. The FX strip features the following units: a simple one-knob compressor based on the architecture of their Model 660 X, a high and low shelf EQ based on their Parametric EQ, and a simplified version of the SP140 Steel Plate Reverb. This features control over the tail length, as well as filters for the high and low frequencies. Finally, at the end of the chain, you have the all-important tape saturator. Again, this uses a one-knob control and is based on their ‘ Transport Vintage Tape plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to these controls, you have a bussing matrix that determines how the separate mic and reverb signals are sent out to your DAW. This makes routing easy, allowing you to send each individual mic channel out into your DAW for more extensive control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, when it comes to processing the sound of your drum kits, you have both a high level of internal control and the option to take each channel out into your DAW for even greater flexibility. And with the right processing, it’s possible to dramatically shape these drums, taking them from relatively clean to super grungy and unpolished, akin to a rare 1968 garage rock record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you’re looking for that authentic, highly coloured vintage drum sound, this really does deserve your attention. And with a relatively affordable price tag, it makes a great option for those who can’t quite stretch to Addictive Drums 2 or Superior Drummer 3. Despite there currently only being two modelled kits, you have plenty of scope to shape them dramatically through the tuning and dampening controls, as well as the vintage processing channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The applications for these drums are considerable. For over 40 years, people have been using sampled breakbeats from old records, and this instrument, possibly more than any before it, allows you to literally fake the funk and create your own original breaks. So, if you make Hip-Hop, lo-fi, R&B, Breakbeat, Jungle or any music that utilises break beats, this offers a great new way to approach drums. Especially when you consider how easy it is to convert drum break audio into MIDI using DAWs such as Ableton. That aside, this is also perfect for any wannabe Mark Ronson’s looking to inject their productions with a classic vintage feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s hard not to be impressed by the attention to detail and the highly convincing nature of these drums. I even did a quick A\/B test against a Smokey Robinson record and was surprised by just how similar the sound was. The only trick I think they have missed is the inclusion of a tambourine. It would have been nice to somehow layer one in using the internal routing, rather than having to add a third-party tambourine on a separate channel. Minor gripe, I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully, now that Iconic Instruments have developed this software, they will be able to expand their kit offerings and establish themselves as a go-to place for authentic-sounding 60s and 70s drum kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if this sounds up your street head over to Iconic instruments<\/a> and check them out for yourself. At the time of publishing they are offering an introductory price of $79 per kit or $129 for both (plus tax) so don’t hang around, or you may find yourself shedding tears of a clown. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFor a full demo of everything Detroit Drums has to offer check out the following video<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile New York-based Iconic Instruments may be a new name to many, for those in the know, this dedicated developer has, for some time been bringing rare and historically important vintage hardware and instruments to peoples DAW’s. Their first products, launched in 2019, were accurate recreations of some lesser-known vintage drum machines, including the Syndrum and an intriguing early-80s handclap synth manufactured by Simmons. They have since expanded their drum machine offering with accurately modelled versions of the Ult-Sound DS-4 as well as Roger Linn’s iconic LM-1 (of which only 500 units were ever produced) with their Levines Machines<\/a> instrument. For this Iconic Instrument worked with seminal 80s British producer Steve Levine, directly sampling his multi hit featured machine as well as incorporating many of his classic patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as drum instruments, Iconic Instruments currently offer six pieces of vintage analogue equipment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these plugins can be purchased separately, they’re also bundled together in a couple of packages: the Tube and Tape Bundle<\/strong> and the Detroit FX Bundle<\/strong>. For those wanting to capture that warm, slightly imperfect sonic character, these plugins should have you covered, as it’s clear that Iconic Instruments have gone to great lengths to capture the essence of these machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With their latest release, Iconic Instruments are now venturing into the world of acoustic instruments, bringing their vintage-focused approach to a virtual drum kit. So, let’s take a trip to the home of Motown and see how well Iconic Instruments have fared in capturing the sound and character of this magical era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to recreating the sound of an old recording, the one aspect that can affect the illusion more than anything else is the drum track. You can almost date a record by its drum sound, and as the drums tend to be the backbone of a recording, getting them right is essential. The advent of sophisticated sampled drum kits has made fully editable drum environments possible entirely in the box. There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to virtual drum kits, but while many vintage kits and environments are available, achieving a truly authentic sound often involves additional processing and a fair amount of dirtying up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On loading up Iconic Instruments’ Detroit Drums, however, it was immediately obvious that there would be no such need for additional processing. These drums have that golden, aged feel straight out of the gate. So, how have Iconic Instruments managed to nail this instantly authentic drum sound? Let’s take a look at how these drums were created and how they function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the name, these drums were not recorded in a dingy Detroit studio, but in New York City’s home of vintage drums, the legendary Good Hands Drum Shop. It’s one thing to source two extremely rare 60s-era kits, but quite another to find long-defunct original 60s drum heads. In this case, Iconic Instruments managed to source NOS Weathermaster and Sound King heads. The result is a pair of kits that are about as authentic to the era as it’s possible to get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there’s the processing. Recorded at Good Hands Drum Shop, the recording environment and signal chain were similarly true to the techniques engineers would have used in the 1960s. Iconic Instruments studied and replicated the recording methods and miking techniques used on Motown and similar R&B records, adding another layer of authenticity to the final sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this attention to detail has been captured and faithfully recreated in the virtual realm. So, with this in mind, let’s open up Detroit Drums and examine the functionality of this intriguing virtual instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As previously mentioned, Detroit Drums is available as two separate kits. While they both feature the same software features and architecture, they are based on multisamples from two completely separate drum sets. You have the L-Model, which is based on a 60s Ludwig kit, and the S-Model, which samples an authentic Slingerland kit. Sonically, the L-Model has a slightly more polished and detailed sound overall, particularly on the snare, while the S-Model is a touch darker offering a little more welly and attitude. The S-Model is perhaps better suited to a tighter funky jazzy sound, as typified by James Brown recordings, while the L-Model seems more at home with a hard Motown and R&B sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, both kits are highly editable, with tuning and dampening controls that really set them apart from other virtual drum kits. By combining the drum tuning and dampening with the authentic vintage effects chain, you have the power to create a wide range of tones, from 50s rock and roll right through to a tight, clean 70s yacht rock sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dampening in particular is unique to this instrument and, when used in practice, the effect is unnervingly realistic. (Thankfully I have been assured that no tea towels were hurt in the process)<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what of the hi-hats and cymbals? Don’t worry, they have not been neglected. You can adjust the hi-hat through six stages of openness, while individual cymbal tuning and dampening controls let you fully shape the sound. You can achieve everything from bright, ringing crashes to short, tightly controlled vintage tones. You can even automate the level of hi-hat openness using the mod wheel for a truly natural feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you set the kit to chromatic mode, you even get multiple permutations for the way the drumstick or kick pedal interacts with the drum. With four variations for the hi-hat and six for the snare, this goes beyond most established virtual drum kits. Combine these permutations with switchable round-robin playback where a new sample is triggered every time the drum is struck, revolving through a cycle, and you get an exceptional level of realism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detroit Drums also offers a selection of presets for both kit setups and mixing settings to get you started. There’s even a neat feature where the displayed preset name changes colour as soon as you perform a tweak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing to acknowledge is that Detroit Drums has been recorded using a traditional 60s miking setup, so don’t expect to fine-tune the sonics of each drum element independently. But then, that’s the point. The magic of those old drum tracks lies in the way everything blends together into that distinctive audio soupiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Detroit Drums features a four-mic setup. There are two overheads with one positioned directly above the kit to capture the overall sound, while the second is an asymmetrical over-the-shoulder mic, adding another perspective to the overall image. Alongside these, there are dedicated mics for the kick and snare. The snare mic was positioned underneath the drum to capture the snap and detail that wouldn’t otherwise be picked up by the overheads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a common microphone set up during this period but as you will see in the next section you have the ability to choose which mics you use and their respective levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get into all of the various elements included in the mixing chain, it’s worth acknowledging the well-thought-out and intuitive layout of Detroit drums. All of the separate processing elements are clearly visible, with the four separate mic faders sitting at the bottom, along with dedicated faders for the reverb and main master volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mixer channels feature separate processing units, all based on stripped-down versions of Iconic Instruments’ vintage existing outboard plugins. Just above the faders, you have the mixer consolette section, where you can adjust the drive, sends and panning for each channel. You also have VU meters for each individual channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Above the consolette, you have the mix bus FX strip. Each unit can be switched on or off independently, apart from the reverb, which is controlled via the consolette send. The FX strip features the following units: a simple one-knob compressor based on the architecture of their Model 660 X, a high and low shelf EQ based on their Parametric EQ, and a simplified version of the SP140 Steel Plate Reverb. This features control over the tail length, as well as filters for the high and low frequencies. Finally, at the end of the chain, you have the all-important tape saturator. Again, this uses a one-knob control and is based on their ‘ Transport Vintage Tape plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to these controls, you have a bussing matrix that determines how the separate mic and reverb signals are sent out to your DAW. This makes routing easy, allowing you to send each individual mic channel out into your DAW for more extensive control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when it comes to processing the sound of your drum kits, you have both a high level of internal control and the option to take each channel out into your DAW for even greater flexibility. And with the right processing, it’s possible to dramatically shape these drums, taking them from relatively clean to super grungy and unpolished, akin to a rare 1968 garage rock record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re looking for that authentic, highly coloured vintage drum sound, this really does deserve your attention. And with a relatively affordable price tag, it makes a great option for those who can’t quite stretch to Addictive Drums 2 or Superior Drummer 3. Despite there currently only being two modelled kits, you have plenty of scope to shape them dramatically through the tuning and dampening controls, as well as the vintage processing channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The applications for these drums are considerable. For over 40 years, people have been using sampled breakbeats from old records, and this instrument, possibly more than any before it, allows you to literally fake the funk and create your own original breaks. So, if you make Hip-Hop, lo-fi, R&B, Breakbeat, Jungle or any music that utilises break beats, this offers a great new way to approach drums. Especially when you consider how easy it is to convert drum break audio into MIDI using DAWs such as Ableton. That aside, this is also perfect for any wannabe Mark Ronson’s looking to inject their productions with a classic vintage feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s hard not to be impressed by the attention to detail and the highly convincing nature of these drums. I even did a quick A\/B test against a Smokey Robinson record and was surprised by just how similar the sound was. The only trick I think they have missed is the inclusion of a tambourine. It would have been nice to somehow layer one in using the internal routing, rather than having to add a third-party tambourine on a separate channel. Minor gripe, I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hopefully, now that Iconic Instruments have developed this software, they will be able to expand their kit offerings and establish themselves as a go-to place for authentic-sounding 60s and 70s drum kits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if this sounds up your street head over to Iconic instruments<\/a> and check them out for yourself. At the time of publishing they are offering an introductory price of $79 per kit or $129 for both (plus tax) so don’t hang around, or you may find yourself shedding tears of a clown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a full demo of everything Detroit Drums has to offer check out the following video<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
The power of drums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Drum kit capture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Detroit Drums in action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The kits<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDrum miking<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Mixing chain<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVerdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n