UJAM NEON

Hits like a drum machine. Grooves like a drummer.

NEON is UJAM's Virtual Drummer plugin for nu disco drums and dance-pop grooves. These are defined by their tight, snappy, on-top-of-the-mix drum sound in combination with a driving, forward rhythmic feel.

Referring to the legends of 1970s disco like Chic and The Bee Gees, NEON's rhythm engine gives you that organic liveliness only an actual human drummer can deliver. The recorded drum kits are original vintage kits from the most legendary makers like Ludwig and Rogers.

We recorded them in a small booth using era-specific mics and outboard processing like the Sennheiser MD 421 and Neve 1073. That pristine vintage drum quality is then processed by a state-of-the-art mixing console under the hood of Virtual Drummer NEON, which is macro-controlled by 6 mix presets. The combination of vintage recording and modern processing is what gives NEON its signature sound.

Built-in style phrases

Unlike standard acoustic sample libraries that require meticulous velocity layering and manual ghost-note programming, a Virtual Drummer acts as a studio collaborator that responds dynamically to performance intensity and style input.

Pick one of NEON's 30 styles to match your genre or song's energy level, and select and combine drum phrases for intros, verses, choruses, and more to quickly build your drum arrangement.

Drag any of the 23 phrases per style into your DAW as a MIDI clip to edit and refine it. Or stay in the zone and trigger ready-made grooves – built from human performances – through single MIDI keys in time with your DAW's tempo.

Special control

UJAM's nu disco drum plugin NEON comes with a special Real/Glam-slider that allows you to change a drum kit's sound from natural and acoustic to processed and almost electronic. The more "Glam" you add, the bigger and slappier the drums sound.

Drum kits & mix modes

NEON's five drum kits were selected, tuned, and recorded to sound as dry, tight, and punchy as possible. Each drum kit comes with its own vibe and includes seven individual drum instruments like kicks, snares, hats, toms, and cymbals, plus overhead and room mics.

Choose the right one for your track or combine drums from different kits to create your unique drum kit. Then pick one of six mix presets and shape your drum sound instantly, from snappy and dry to crunchy and slammed.

Did we mention claps? Hand clapping is a key feature of classic and modern disco sound. Recorded live by a trio, NEON's authentic claps combine a direct mono signal with stereo room and overhead mics to construct an ultra-wide stereo image. The original recording is designed to blend seamlessly with your snare.

Presets

Stay in the zone and use one of NEON's 100 presets as a starting point that needs little tweaking to get you to the finish line. Just trigger a few drum phrases, all perfectly in time with your DAW, to match your production's energy and elevate your song's groove.

Or play NEON's drums with your MIDI controller, edit the phrases in your DAW, and use separate outputs for each drum sound to dial in your mix your way.

Features

• Choose from 5 acoustic drum kits and 690 drum grooves in 30 different styles
• 5 acoustic 1970s vintage drum kits
• 690 drum phrases in 30 nu disco styles: ready-made grooves for intros, verses, choruses, fills, and more
• Real/Glam-slider: change the drum sound from natural and open to processed and punchy
• 6 mix presets like Snap, Crunch, or Glossy to make the drums pop
• A professional-grade virtual session musician that follows your direction
• Optional separate outputs for close mics, overheads, and room
• Specialized in nu disco, dance-pop, house, and adjacent styles
• For pro producers and enthusiasts seeking production-ready drums

FAQ

Who is NEON Virtual Drummer intended for?

NEON is built for professional producers and enthusiasts seeking production-ready drums, especially those working in nu disco, dance-pop, house, and adjacent styles. It suits anyone who wants a virtual session musician that follows their direction and delivers tight, danceable grooves without requiring deep drum programming skills.

What sound quality advantages does NEON deliver?

NEON starts with original 1970s vintage drum kits recorded in a small booth using era-specific mics and outboard processing such as the Sennheiser MD 421 and Neve 1073. This pristine vintage quality is then routed through a state-of-the-art mixing console, combining warm acoustic character with modern punch. Each kit is tuned to sound dry, tight, and on top of the mix, while the Real/Glam slider lets you shape the tone from natural and open to processed and almost electronic.

Why choose NEON over other virtual drum plugins?

NEON stands out because it behaves like a real studio collaborator rather than a static sample library. It responds dynamically to performance intensity and style input, offers 690 drum phrases across 30 nu disco styles, and lets you drag any phrase into your DAW as MIDI for detailed editing. Its unique blend of vintage drum recording, authentic live-recorded claps, the signature Real/Glam control, and 100 mix-ready presets makes it a specialized and immediate tool for crafting dance-pop and nu disco productions from start to finish.