SDX Drumopolis

Eight kits recorded by legendary producer Tony Visconti.

Few producers have left a mark on music history quite like Tony Visconti. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, he has continually expanded sonic boundaries, revitalized the sound of rock and shaped groundbreaking works of musical art. From landmark albums with artists such as David Bowie, T. Rex and Thin Lizzy to multiple Grammy Awards and a Music Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Contribution, his influence is woven into the fabric of modern music.

For this SDX, Visconti brought his fearless creativity and relentless curiosity to London’s legendary Metropolis Studios. Alongside his longtime drummer Stephen Gilchrist and engineer Liam Nolan, he directed the recording of eight drum kits, each carefully chosen to reflect defining moments from his remarkable career.

Two distinct environments in Studio A were captured: the expansive main room and the tighter, damped iso booth. In the main room, vibrant and edgy kits inspired by Visconti’s Bowie era took shape. In the booth, the focus shifted toward rawer, grittier tones reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and T. Rex. Both spaces feature a wide range of ambient and additional microphones, offering flexible tonal options for shaping your mixes. The natural reverb of the adjacent stone room was also recorded with a stereo ribbon microphone, adding another organic dimension to every kit.

Together, these recordings deliver eight distinct expressions of rock, ranging from bold and open to tight and gritty. Whether you are working in glam, classic, alternative, art, prog or beyond, the foundation is here.

Beyond the core sounds, the SDX includes a comprehensive collection of presets crafted by Tony Visconti himself, along with a MIDI library of grooves and fills performed by Stephen Gilchrist. Each element draws inspiration from the eras and projects that established Visconti’s legendary status.

FEATURE SPOTLIGHT

• Produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex, Thin Lizzy), legendary and Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer/mixer

• Engineered by Liam Nolan (Adele, Rihanna, Drake, Stormzy)

• Recorded in two different rooms at the iconic Metropolis Studios in London, UK

• Sampled by drummer Stephen Gilchrist (The Damned, Cardiacs, Graham Coxon)

• Eight (8) complete drum kits, including a total of 11 kicks, 13 snares, 34 toms, 22 cymbals and 4 sets of hi-hats

• Kit selection loosely based around some of Visconti’s most seminal productions

• Sounds ideal for all types of rock: glam, classic, alternative, art, prog and beyond

• Selected kits recorded with additional ambience and surround mics

• Comes with a collection of MIDI tailored specifically for the kits in this SDX

• Includes mix-ready presets by Tony Visconti, Liam Nolan and Toontrack

The Drumopolis SDX captures Tony Visconti’s legacy through drums, preserved with precision, character and a deep passion for the instrument. Ready to create? Welcome to kit city.

To use this product, an installed and activated Version of Superior Drummer 3 (or higher) is required.