Music software stalwarts fxpansion have been rolling out a new downloadable line of expansion packs for their BFD2 platform.

Though the newly (re)released 8BitKit is sure to gather a lot of deserved attention, what I’d like to single out here JEX expansion pack as a particularly nice add-on.

Don’t get me wrong, I would heartily recommend the 8BitKit to anyone. You’ll remember it was one of fxpansion’s early BFD (iteration uno) boxed products. But they let it fall out of print for about a year, and for a little while people such as myself who bought the box thought for a little while they had a collectors item. Now they’ve tidied it up for BFD2 – which really is the business, if I haven’t mentioned it – and if you have the bandwidth it’s a bargain at $125. It’s also a free update for us previous owners; again proving that fxpansion are a really stellar company.

But even if you just use the stock kits in BFD2, or maybe have one or two expansion packs, the JEX drums are really, really nice sounding. The kick has some real weight to it. “The Kicks were micced with a Yamaha sub kick mic that looks like a 10″ tom – this is the secret behind the devastating bass,” quote SKoT_FX. No cymbals or hats, and only one “bonus” snare (from the Jazz & Funk pack), but the toms and kick are well worth the $30 it will set you back.

You know, just this morning I was thinking to myself, I wonder what happened to BFD 2.

Well, I will wonder no more. Here it is, available for ordering if you need it.

While working last night, I reminded myself I did not need this update – I’m trying to get the full use out of the version I already own, and it is certainly more than capable for my needs.

That said, this looks totally bitchin’.