IK Multimedia MODO DRUM 1.5 drum plug-in: features and spec-based rating

IK Multimedia’s MODO DRUM 1.5 is a drum instrument plug-in that, instead of playing recordings, makes the sound on the spot with modal synthesis (physical modeling). It has up to 13 kits, more than 1,400 grooves (rhythm patterns) and a mixer with 19 kinds of effects.

A drum instrument plug-in lets you play the sound of real drums on a computer. Even if you cannot play drums, you can put drums in your songs.

In this article we compare MODO DRUM 1.5 with 10 drum instrument plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Image: from the IK Multimedia official website (product image for the press)

Summary

Among the 10 drum instrument plug-ins, MODO DRUM 1.5 is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 4.0.

Strengths

• Realism and depth (4 points): you can shape the drum sound in detail.
• Range of kits (5 points): there are many kits to choose from for each genre.

Who it suits: people who want to freely reshape the drum sound itself, such as the size and material of the drums.

Main features of MODO DRUM 1.5

Played by modeling, not by recordings

MODO DRUM is a drum instrument plug-in that makes sound by calculating how a drum rings (modeling), instead of playing recorded sounds. You can reshape the sound itself by changing things such as the size, material and tuning of a drum. Your operations are reflected in the sound immediately, so you can design the sound while it plays.

13 drum kits

MODO DRUM 1.5 includes 13 drum kits. There are also reasonably priced SE and CS editions, and you can add just the kits you need from the Custom Shop. In the mixer you can also adjust how the microphones are mixed and the effects.

More than 1,400 grooves

It includes more than 1,400 grooves, and you can choose a pattern that suits the genre. Even after you reshape a kit, you can play the same groove and compare.

Where it is useful

• Changing the size and tuning of the drums to make a drum sound that fits a song
• Choosing a groove to make a draft of a drum track
• Reshaping the same kit and reusing it in songs of different genres

Rating by criterion

Realism and depth: 4 / 5

We look at how extensively it was recorded and how far you can shape the sound.

Because it makes sound by modeling rather than recordings, you can reshape the sound itself, such as the size and material of the drums. It also has a mixer.

Speed of programming: 3 / 5

We look at whether you can quickly build drums that suit a song (finding phrases, creating them automatically and so on).

It includes more than 1,400 grooves.

Range of kits: 5 / 5

We look at the number of drum sets (kits) you can choose to suit a genre.

It has up to 13 kits.

How we score (Drum instrument plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Realism and depth	Scale of the recordings, and how far the sound can be shaped	A library of 200 GB or more, plus a mixer, effects and loading your own samples	Drum sounds can be reshaped part by part, and there is a mixer	A library of 10 to 20 GB and a mixer	A smaller library	—
Speed of programming	How quickly you can build drums that suit a song	A feature that suggests fitting grooves and one that builds a song structure	Song building plus aids such as audio-to-MIDI conversion	Many grooves (1,000 or more), or a feature that varies grooves	Few grooves	—
Range of kits	Number of kits you can choose to suit a genre	10 or more kits	Around 7 kits, plus extra snares and kicks	5 to 7 kits	3 to 4 kits	2 kits or fewer

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: programming the drums for a song. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Realism and depth" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent.

MODO DRUM 1.5 screens and images

Image: from the IK Multimedia official website (product image for the press)

Image: from the IK Multimedia official website (product image for the press)

Trade-magazine review (for reference, not part of the score)

We summarized the main points from a review in an overseas music-production magazine.

Sound On Sound (December 2019)

• Introduced the reviewer’s own test: even when small notes were hit repeatedly at the same strength, no mechanical repetition could be heard
• Introduced that you can change details such as the position that is hit and the type of stick tip

Source: Sound On Sound review

MODO DRUM 1.5 system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 7 or later (64-bit) / Mac (macOS 10.9 or later)
Plug-in formats	Windows: VST2, VST3, AAX / Mac: AU, VST2, VST3, AAX (64-bit)
Standalone	Yes

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other drum instrument plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• EZdrummer 3: features and rating (rank A)
• BFD3.5: features and rating (rank A)
• Superior Drummer 3: features and rating (rank S)
• Studio Drummer: features and rating (rank B)