New Module Is No Mimic

The long-awaited Pearl mimicPRO module has started shipping and Allan Leibowitz put one through its paces.

WHAT DO E-DRUMMERS want in a module? They want real samples and lots of them. They want universal trigger compatibility. They want onboard FX and recording. And they want separate outputs for each drum or cymbal.

Not rocket science, is it?

A couple of recent modules have come close, most notably the Alesis Strike (of which we still haven’t managed to get a review sample). And now there’s the Pearl mimicPRO with real samples from Steven Slate Drums.

On paper, this is a winning formula, so let’s check out if it lives up to the hype.

What’s in the box?

The mimicPRO is actually now packed in a new box after some early modules were damaged in shipping. The box is sturdy and surprisingly small – especially for a $2,000-odd piece of gear.

There’s no messing around or wastage: inside, you’ll find a module, a power adapter (with various plugs for different countries) and a card directing you to the website where you can download the owner’s manual.

The module itself is a sleek uncluttered unit dominated by a 7” colour touchscreen and its single control wheel.

The back panel has 16 stereo inputs (plus a hihat control jack), MIDI In and Out connectors, six ¼” outputs plus an additional eight outputs via a DB25 slot, an Aux In and Headphone Out. There’s also a USB slot and an RJ45, the function of which is a mystery.

The left-hand side has an on/off switch and an SD card slot.

Under the hood, there is a class-leading 120 GB solid state hard drive.

Getting it together