The Simmons drums app whether for the sd350 or sd600 and between, does NOT work with Garage Band at all, unlike as advertised. GarageBand will not recognize it at all, as inter audio app or effect or anything whether connected as midi (the best and proper way to connect) via Bluetooth or the midi USB. Yes of course the kit can let GarageBand CONTROL it’s midi sounds under drums instruments in GB, but won’t let you use your Simmons drum module, in ANY non analog, MIDI connection or the app either, as the midi master or controller. Thus you can only use the entire kit and app, itself, BUT you can’t use the built in Simmons kits or your saved kits or ANYTHING to record or use digitally/ MIDI with GarageBand.
Gotta admit Simmons kits, esp. 550 and 600, both of which I’ve purchased are excellent for the money, perhaps the best out there as a pro drummer (who doesn’t care about practice functions or learning functions) but NEEDS to use these kits to properly record and otherwise use in GarageBand. But you can’t actually record ANY Simmons kit via midi at all. Plenty of other free apps even crappy DRUMS apps can be used in GarageBand.
But it won’t recognize at all, any Simmons drum kits- so Simmons needs to revamp or update the brains of their kits or at least the app so that GarageBand will allow players from beginners to pros, to actually use the Simmons brains and/ or app for MIDI RECORDING- too many drummers are wasting time and money to buy useless accessories to record their electronic Simmons kits in an ANALOG mode- but now Simmons needs to make sure we record in GarageBand in MIDI- the only way drummers should be recording or using as Simmons brains or apps, etc. for years past and present- too many drummers don’t realize the enormous difference including sound quality and editing after recordings. Simmons mis advertises to drummers that their “app” allows you to use GarageBand- it’s tricky and technical- but this is FALSE. Any drum kit with any midi out (just about any brains made in last 20 plus years) lets you use GarageBand as the midi controller- and GarageBand drum sounds are amazing and that’s terrific! But for one they don’t recognize dual zone drums, cymbals, etc. other than the snare if that= huge difference. But Simmons needs to make this right so that you can use any Simmons brains whether via usb midi or the app or Bluetooth- to be the controller in GarageBand like Alexis and their other competitors- please straighten out your advertising with your features Simmons and please get this fixed ASAP! Otherwise the app in and of itself is really cool as are the brains and the kits Simmons has been coming out with esp. the sd600 which was only $380 during Black Friday! Please figure this out guys ASAP it is a HUGE deal for pro drummers! Thanks.
NOTE: The developers response was that “hello this app was not made to be used with garage band. The Simmons app controls garage band.”
That is like saying that the Simmons app won’t work with GarageBand. But that the Simmons app works with garageband.
Pretty weird management at Simmons. Guitar center owns and manafactures Simmons. Guitar center bought the name “Simmons” over 20 years after Simmons went out of business. It’s also misleading and should just be called a guitar center drum kit. Also guitar center and/or Simmons sold me a sd550 but both lied about it being an 11 piece kit and I got a 8 piece kit, missing dual zone 2 tons and floor toms (except for snare none were dual zone but both companies openly advertised that they were). That is getting an 8 piece drum kit when you paid for 11 drums- same thing in digital drum kits. The excuses from guitar center, their managers regional managers and corporate for making me buy a new sd600 kit at my own expense just to get what I originally bought in the store and paid for, have been absurd. For nearly a year now. It’s my fault because I relied on them even what’s on the box and website and then didn’t tell them soon enough they claim. Pretty absurd.
My point is both Simmons and guitar center have serious false and misleading advertising which is fraud and that’s illegal. Especially when both are the manufacturers and did it deliberately. Yes hands down great PRO kits these aren’t amateur kits and hands down the best prices period since they entered the market a few years ago- forcing competitors to lower prices by 50% or more.
But just look at the developers response here. Either they just don’t get what they are manafacturing or talking about- or they’re engaging in fraud deliberately and knowingly. Either way a class action lawsuit ought to straighten them out- come on guitar center just get it straight and tell the truth! Thanks.
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