Simmons has announced the introduction of the new Stryke6, an iPad controller that delivers a full drum kit playing experience without the kit.
Combining Simmons' expertise in electronic drum kits with their ergonomic design, Simmons say that the Stryke6 is "the only product of its kind that works in concert with your iPad to deliver a real tactile playing experience in a compact, tabletop design".
Equipped with six velocity-sensitive pads plus two foot pedals for kick and hi-hat control, the laptop-sized Stryke6 is perfect for on-the-go playing, portable practice, and other times when a full kit is not a viable option.
Using the free Simmons Stryke Drums app, the Stryke6 easily connects to an iPad for an immediate, out of the box playing experience, including a wide range of sounds. Or connect via USB to any computer to trigger a variety of DAW applications and sample programs, including Garage Band, EZ Drummer, Logic, Ableton Live, and more.
For drummers and percussionists, Stryke6 is an ideal portable setup for small acoustic gigs, or as a compact practice kit for small spaces or mobile music making. For small project studios and songwriting setups, it makes a great tactile instrument for tracking drums into a DAW or sequencing program.
"Stryke6 is a great vehicle for drummers who need a way to practice their instrument that's portable, compact, economical, and quiet, " observes Simmons Product Manager Jim Norman.
With its color-coded pads and intuitive app-based tutorials, Stryke6 is also an ideal vehicle for students and beginning drummers. The Stryke Drums app offers an interactive, video game type environment that provides beginning drummers with a powerful and versatile learning tool.
The Stryke6 control surface features six drum pads, each with colored LED light rings, along with kick drum and hi-hat pedals that map to standard MIDI drum pad protocols found in most samplers and computer music applications. Drum sticks are included, and Stryke6 is equipped with connections for Lightning and 30-pin iPads, as well as a USB port for maximum versatility.
"With Stryke6, drummers and hobbyists can play or practice virtually anywhere they can take an iPad, " says Norman. "With a host of sounds courtesy of the Stryke Drums app, Stryke6 is the only totally portable iPad-based solution for drummers looking for a realistic setup for playing, recording, and practicing."
Stryke6 is available now and carries a street price of $129.99.