Drumport StompTech Laser-Stomp IR 2 in 1

I have tried various options for my acoustic duo, including a manual wooden stomp box with a simple pickup, and a small floor pedal called a Beat Buddy. Nothing comes even close to this incredible and very flexible “foot drummer” .
The 12 very high quality sound options do give a wide range to suit whatever you’re playing, but be warned, there is quite a volume variation on some of the different settings, and there is no volume control on the kit itself…… so you cannot make easy volume adjustments on the fly.

My Drumport 2 in 1 arrived with me in the UK, in a cardboard box with only
a minimal amount of paper packing material to guard against impact, so both control knobs had suffered hairline cracks where the grub screw inserts are positioned. I tried to include photos here, but can’t see a way of doing that. ( I will take this up with Thomann as a separate issue )

For well over £400, I was also quite surprised to find that there was no manual or user guide included. Perhaps not everyone needs such a thing, but a document of handy tips for getting the best results would have been a helpful, and time saving item to include as standard. I had to email both Thomann and the manufacturer to get any help in that direction, and in fairness , the guys at Drumport , did send me some further info.

In use, this has so much potential. Being triggered by a beam between the two arms, it is much more comfortable to play than many floor mounted stomp boxes that you have to hit with your foot at a higher angle. With the Drumport , the beam sits only just above floor level, so longer stints of foot tapping are less tiring.
There is only a small amount of info on the internet regarding this product, and most of it clearly describes, or very clearly shows a RED laser beam as the light source from the left hand arm. This was apparently superseded two years ago by an invisible beam that cannot be seen…… so if you don’t see the red light , don’t worry ! It will still work. It would have been helpful to have known this , and even more helpful if this unit had a small LED “power on” indicator.

This is not really a “take out of the box and play” type of product. To get the best out of it, some practice and getting to grips with all the options will be a worthwhile effort. The interaction between the left hand “beats” knob and the two toggle switches below it, takes some time to fully understand, but once mastered, this is a fantastic, albeit very expensive bit of equipment.

Conclusion:
Positives……Really good, authentic sounds. Physically easy to use. High degree of flexibility. Probably one of the best, if not THE best stompbox on the market

Negatives…..very pricey. No user guide. Needs a “power on” indicator.
Also needs a volume control. Mine came with cracked knobs.

So there's going to be either good reviews or bad, no inbetween in my opinion.

Starting off, the box which it comes in is very basic, I was surprised it didn't get damaged in shipping. No good user manual or anything, just the stompbox and a 9V cable to start your stomping journey.

Immediately get a power adaptor and maybe think about a case or something, so it wont get hurt while in transport.

To me, it needed some time getting used to, but it feels amazing compared to everything else i've tried! I can either stomp with my heel or my toes, which ever is more comfortable at the time. I usually use this stombox with my heel and my leg will not get tired, it's kind of like a good workout. The IR beam responds well to the taps and could not be happier.

Having said that, when you are performing on a stage that has plank floors which have higher and lower parts, the drumport, while stomping with your heel, WILL MOVE AROUND (up and down) and you WILL GET double hits and all that mess, so I added a wooden base plate to keep it in place.

Also, be warned. When trying to use it in daylight, the IR beam may not work for you at all, since the light may be too bright and the beam will not respond and is blocked by the sunlight.

But, a mayor pro is that this is an eye-catcher! I've had many people come and ask about this device! Especially kids who love tech stuff, they will not leave you alone after seeing this!

The sound are good enough, automatic rhythm is something i do not use cause it need a lot of practice or you may need it in certain scenarios, which I don't have and most likely will not use. But since I wanted to add a stompbox, this was the best option for me. Easy to carry around, really comfortable to use and will get people talking to you easily!

So 8/10 would recommend!