Abbey Road Orchestra: High Percussion

Key Features

A notable list of features to extend the playability and natural realism of this sample library

Soft Takeover

Useful when playing in rolls and hits as part of a passage, and wants to trigger rolls sympathetically and intuitively to the dynamic of the hits being played quickly without having to set the position of the modwheel (whilst also having the option to crescendo/diminuendo if desired). Having the rolls velocity sensitive is great for triggering short rolls to portray drags, flourishes and pickups etc. as part of longer rhythmic passages when physically playing on the keyboard.

Right/Left Mapping

Most of the drums in High Percussion have been recorded with both right and left hand sticking. How much difference does this actually make? Some drums and beater types do have a distinct timbral difference between the two hands which contributes to the feel and realism especially when programming or playing true-to-life rudiments. 

Two Handed Layout

This duplicates the main original mapping blocks to a higher octave, allowing you to play using two hands (spacing the keys out further to feel more like actually playing a drum). 

NOTE: Two handed layout is not available on ‘All in One’ techniques.

Vocal Choking

Playing a hit when a roll key is held will choke the roll. This allows for very tight roll ends to be played in using a single hit.

Instruments 

Snare

A vintage 15" diameter snare drum with a chrome over brass shell producing a full-bodied sound with a detailed top end

Sticks (Snares On) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged

Sticks (Snares Off) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell

Brushes

• Techniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Field Drum

A 15” field snare drum with a deep maple shell, producing a much lower tone than a regular snare drum with a rounded character

Sticks (Snares On) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged

Sticks (Snares Off) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell

Brushes

• Techniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Piccolo Snare A 

A 12" diameter piccolo snare drum with a shallow hammered steel shell producing an extremely tight sound to cut across even the densest arrangements

Sticks (Snares On) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged

Sticks (Snares Off) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell

Brushes

• Techniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Piccolo Snare B

A 13" diameter piccolo snare drum with a shallow maple shell producing a crisp and articulate sound with present upper mids

Sticks (Snares On) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged

Sticks (Snares Off) 

• Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell

Brushes

• Techniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Bongos

A pair of Cuban bongos adept at carrying strong rhythms with a very focussed and articulate tone

Hands

• Single strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents

Sticks

• Single strikes and rolls performed with wooden drum sticks producing a well defined attack with added presence

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Mini Bongos

A pair of miniature bongos - a lighter, delicate alternative the traditional bongo drums

Hands

• Single strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents

Congas

A Latin American staple, congas combine a forward tone with balanced and controlled resonance presented here in a set of 3

Hands

• Single strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents

Darbuka

An Arabian hand drum ideally suited to fast intricate rhythms, producing bright overtones with a distinctive colour

Hands

• Single strikes performed with the palm and fingers on the head of the drum in various striking positions for the traditional darbuka sound

Brushes

• Single strikes and rolls performed with brushes on the head of the drum which accentuate the instrument’s top end

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Djembe

A traditional African hand drum, the djembe produces a deep fundamental and strong overtones

Hands

• Single strikes performed with the hands on the head of the drum in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents 

Brushes

• Single strikes and rolls performed with brushes on the head of the drum for a brighter, crisper timbre with reduced fundamentalS

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Log Drums

Hollow hardwood instruments with 6 pitched ‘tongues’ struck with beaters producing a very organic, woody sound

Rubber Mallets

• Single hits performed with rubber mallets producing a balanced and articulate tone which brings out the character of these instruments

Octobans

A set of 4 Octobans - and unpitched alternative to boobams - producing a fast attack with a clear fundamental and a tight resonance

Sticks

• Single strikes and rolls performed with wooden drum sticks producing a well defined attack with added presence

Rods

• Hits and rolls performed with wooden rods producing an articulate attack with reduced fundamentals

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Plastics

A set of 3 plastics(Tub, Jerry Can, Bucket), struck with sticks spread across the hall creating a punchy ‘street ensemble

Sticks

• Single hits performed with wooden drumsticks in different striking positions

Roto toms

A classic set of 5 rototoms producing a clear and well-defined tone with plenty of carrying power (sizes 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”)

Sticks

• Techniques performed with wooden drumsticks producing a well-defined, punchy attack

Brushes

• Techniques performed with dense nylon brushes producing a crisp attack with reduced fundamentals

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Shime Daiko

A traditional Japanese drum with a very tight, focussed sound which lends itself to energetic rhythmic patterns

Taiko Sticks

• Techniques performed with traditional taiko sticks on the head of the drum

Rods

• Techniques performed with wooden rods producing an articulate attack with reduced fundamentals

Hands

• Techniques performed with the hands on the head of the drum

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Temple Blocks

Hollow blocks struck with mallets producing woody sounds with a focussed midrange

Hard Mallets

• Single hits performed with hard mallets producing a bright attack

Soft Mallets

• Single hits performed with hard mallets producing a mellow attack

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Timbales

Latin American drums with a single head on a metal shell, played with light sticks and producing strong overtones

Sticks

• Techniques performed with thin timbale sticks on the heads and shells producing a range of interesting textures

Wood Blocks

Hardwood instruments instruments struck with mallets producing high pitched sounds which cut above the orchestra

Hard Mallets

• Single hits performed with hard mallets producing a bright attack

Soft Mallets

• Single hits performed with hard mallets producing a mellow attack

All in One

• All available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard

Toys

A collection of smaller percussion instruments for adding additional colours and textures 

Claves x 6

• Pairs of pitched wooden sticks struck together

Castanets

(Pairs: Machine + Handle)

• Synonymous with Spanish folk music, castanets produce a distinctive ‘clap’, particularly adept at fast flourishes

Ratchet

• Turned with a handle, the ratchet produces a distinctive rotating ‘clicking’ sound

Vibraslap

• A modern alternative to the ‘Donkey’s jawbone’, the vibraslap produces a signature rattle when struck

Whip x 2 (Heavy / Light) 

• Wooden boards clapped together producing a very short, loud ‘crack’

Guiros x 2 (Wood / Plastic)

• Ridged instruments which are either scraped or tapped to produce characterful rhythms

Shakers x 4

• ‘Pop’ style shakers for creating driving rhythmic motion

Caxixi (Basket Shakers) x 2

• Of African origin and popularised in Brazilian music, caxixi are hand instruments filled with seeds, presented here in a pair

Maracas (pair)

• A staple of Latin American folk music, maracas are extremely agile shakers, presented here in a pair

Mics and Mixes

Mix 1

• A full-sounding room mix by Simon Rhodes, formed from Tree 1, Overheads, Outriggers 1, and a curated blend of spots.

Mix 2

• A tighter mix by Simon Rhodes, formed from Tree 2, Mids and Outriggers 2 with a curated blend of spots.

Section Overhead

• A set of large diaphragm condenser microphones above the orchestral section capturing a clear representation of the instruments in the space.

Close 1

• A blend of spot mics close to the source. Used in conjunction with the other close mics and section overhead to achieve the desired close sound.

Close 2

• An alternative blend of spot mics which add body and air to the source.

Close Ribbons

• A pair of close ribbon mics capturing a rounded and detailed image.

Tree 1

• A decca tree formed of Abbey Road’s finest trio of classic valve omnidirectional microphones creating a lush and full sound.

Tree 2

• A tighter, closer decca tree formed from mics with a more directional pattern, suited to faster, more detailed material.

Outriggers 1

• Used in conjunction with either tree to obtain a wider image. This pair utilises omnidirectional mics to reproduce the full width of Studio One.

Outriggers 2

• Used together with either tree to obtain a wider image. This pair uses mics with a more directional pattern, pulling the edges of the room inwards.

Mids

• A pair of valve REDD mics placed between the conductor and the source which adds extra focus to the sound when combined with the Tree and Outriggers.

Ambients

• A pristine pair of small diaphragm omnidirectional microphones to the rear of the room for a natural ambience.

Vintage 1

• A pair of original 1940s RM1B ribbon microphones placed in front of the conductor to create a vintage scoring stage sound

Vintage 2

• A pair of classic 44BX ribbon microphones placed by the conductor for an alternative vintage scoring stage sound

Pop Close

• A Simon Rhodes mix of close mics panned centrally to give a flexible image not restricted to the orchestral layout.

Spill

• A summation of spot mics placed around the other sections. These capture the natural 'spill' from the source across the orchestra for added realism.