Hugh Padgham’s history of hit making is seriously impressive. Combining a collection of period‑accurate acoustic drum kits, a goodly crop of classic drum machines, the undeniably magnificent equipment and recording space of British Grove Studios (based in London and owned by Mark Knopfler), and Padgham’s recording and engineering expertise (oh, and a Ball & Biscuit read on.), the Hitmaker SDX is a mouthwatering prospect. Now, with Toontrack and Hugh Padgham collaborating on the latest SDX for Superior Drummer 3 - simply titled Hitmaker - you can bring the same approach, and the same epic sounds, to your own recordings.

Indeed, with production and engineering credits that include an all‑star list of 1980s and 1990s musical greats, he created an approach to drum recording and mixing that influenced a whole generation of hit records and can be heard even to this day. While Collins undoubtedly worked magic with the sticks, the sonics of that memorable drum recording - with its understated electronic elements, unforgettable tom sound and massive snare with gated reverb - was very much a Hugh Padgham design. If the iconic tom fill halfway through Phil Collins’ 1981 hit ‘In The Air Tonight’ doesn’t give you chills every time you hear it, then please check your pulse.

Toontrack and Hugh Padgham bring the drum sounds that defined the 1980s to Superior Drummer 3.

Mixing superior drummer 3