Abbey Road Orchestra: Low Percussion Core

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

Bass Drum

A vintage concert bass drum with a single 32” head on a shallow open shell. This drum 

combines a defined attack, woody overtones and balanced resonance.

Sticks

Wooden drum sticks producing a hard and immediate attack with a powerful tone

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallets producing a strong attack and a balanced tone

• Hits
• Rolls

Hard Felt (Damped)

Hard felt mallets with cloth placed over the drum head, producing a muted sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Medium Felt

Medium felt mallet with a less immediate attack, revealing clear undertones

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Brushes

Fine metal brushes for a more delicate timbre

• Open hits
• Closed hits
• Open edge hits
• Closed edge hits
• Short Sweeps
• Long Sweeps
• Swirls

Rods

Wooden rods producing an articulate sound with reduced resonance

• Hits
• Rolls
• Rim hits
• Rim rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Bass Drum presented across the keyboard

Bass Drum (Gran Cassa)

An orchestral staple, this 36” gran cassa is a two-headed concert bass drum with huge dynamic range and a very deep, complex sustain.

Sticks

Wooden drum sticks producing a hard and immediate attack with a powerful tone

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Hard Felt

Defined attack and a balanced tone

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Medium Felt

A less immediate attack revealing clear undertones

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Poly Beater

Plastic/poly beater to create a narrower sound with less low frequency information

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Super Soft

An extremely mellow attack and a boomy resonance

• Hits
• Hand damped hits
• Rolls

Brushes

Fine metal brushes for a more delicate timbre

• Hits
• Closed hits
• Rolls
• Short Sweeps
• Long Sweeps
• Swirls

Rute on Rim

Wooden rute, creating an intricate and earthy high pitched 'tap'

• Hits
• Flams
• Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Gran Cassa presented across the keyboard

Bombo

An Argentinian bass drum with a 20" hide head tuned with rope. It produces a low, organic sound with a very short sustain.

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallet producing a defined attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Hard Felt (Damped)

Hard felt mallet with a cloth placed over the drum head to produce a muted sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Soft Felt

Soft felt mallet producing a rounded attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Soft Felt (Damped)

Soft felt mallet and a cloth placed over the drum head to produce a muted sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Sticks (Sides)

Performances with wooden sticks on the sides of the drum

• Hits
• Flams

Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Bombo presented across the keyboard

Buffalo Drum

Constructed from a shallow wooden frame clad with a 22” buffalo skin head, this drum produces strong overtones with a rich, blooming sustain.

Hard Beater

Producing an articulate attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Soft Beater

Producing a rounded attack

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Buffalo Drum presented across the keyboard

Dhol Drum

A two-headed drum from the Indian subcontinent. Each head is struck with a different beater to produce the dhol's signature tones, typical in Bhangra and other Indian genres.

Dhol Sticks

Traditional wooden dagga and tihli sticks

• Dagga closed hits
• Dagga closed hits
• Thili hits

Djuns

A pair of djuns (dundun) hailing from West Africa, these instruments are adept at carrying strong rhythms with a balanced, 'forward' tone.

Hard Felt

Producing a defined attack with a balanced tone

• Hits
• Closed hits
• Rolls

Dragon Drums (Dagus)

Originating from China, thIs large pair of dagu drums (or ‘Dragon Drums’) produce strong and characterful tones with lengthy sustain.

Sticks

Wooden sticks to produce the traditional dagu sound

• Hits
• Rolls
• Rim hits
• Rim rolls

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallet for a less pronounced attack

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Dragon Drums presented across the keyboard

Epic Toms

A pair of floor toms positioned on opposing sides. These drums provide a tight, powerful attack and an explosive, hard-hitting tone.

Taiko Sticks

Taiko sticks producing a hard attack and accentuated top end

• Hits
• Rolls

Taiko Sticks (Damped)

Taiko sticks and a hide skin placed over the head of the drum for a muted sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Rods

Wooden rods producing an articulate sound with reduced resonance

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Epic Toms presented across the keyboard

Giant Taiko

With its 60” diameter shell this giant taiko (or O-Daiko) produces deep, controlled lows whilst remaining dexterous and agile.

Taiko Sticks

Taiko sticks producing a hard attack

• Hits
• Rolls
• Rim hits
• Rim flams
• Rim rolls
• Shell hits
• Shell flams
• Shell rolls

Taiko Sticks (Damped)

Taiko sticks and a blanket covering the rear head of the drum to reduce resonance

• Hits
• Rolls

Medium Felt

Felt mallets for a variation on the classic taiko sound

• Hits

Medium Felt (Damped)

Felt mallets and a blanket covering the rear head of the drum to reduce resonance

• Hits
• Rolls

Hands

Performances with fists on the head of the drum producing a softer attack with a darker tone

• Hits

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Giant Taiko presented across the keyboard

Gong Bass Drum

This gong drum is constructed with a single oversized head, producing a very fat and 'modern' sound with a fast attack and punchy low end.

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallets producing a strong attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Soft Felt

A soft felt mallet producing a rounded attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Puili

Bamboo puili sticks, creating a detailed, high pitched attack with a tight resonance

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Gong Bass Drum presented across the keyboard

• Hits
• Rolls

Surdo

A Brazilian instrument which traditionally provides the lower rhythms in samba music. This 22" aluminium shell variant produces a dense sound with a distinctive attack.

Medium Felt

Performances with a felt beater to produce the signature surdo sound.

• Hits 
• Closed hits
• Rolls

Hands

Performances with the hands on the head of the drum

• Hits 
• Closed hits

All-in-one

All available beaters and techniques for the Surdo presented across the keyboard

Taikos

A pair of Japanese solid Siam oak taiko drums producing a very focussed sound to create impactful, driving rhythms.

Taiko Sticks

Performances with wooden taiko sticks to produce the traditional taiko sound

• Hits
• Rolls
• Rim hits
• Rim flams
• Rim rolls

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallets for a variation on the classic taiko sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Medium Felt

Medium felt mallets producing a mellower attack

• Hits
• Rolls

Brushes

Performances with brushes for a more delicate timbre

• Hits
• Edge hits
• Rolls
• Short sweeps
• Long sweeps
• Swirls
• Shimmers

Hands

Performances with the hands on the head of the drum

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one (Taiko Low)

All available beaters and techniques for the Low Taiko drum presented across the keyboard

All-in-one (Taiko High)

All available beaters and techniques for the High Taiko drum presented across the keyboard

Toms

A spread set of vintage silver single headed toms, adept at both slow and rapid accented passages owing to their extremely clear and resonant tone.

Sticks

Wooden drum sticks producing a hard and immediate attack with a powerful tone

• Hits
• Rolls

Sticks on Rims

Wooden drum sticks on the rim of the drum to produce a 'tapping' sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Sticks (Damped)

Wooden drum sticks and a tea towel placed over the head of the drum for a muted sound

• Hits
• Rolls

Hard Felt

Hard felt mallets producing a strong attack with a balanced tone

• Hits
• Rolls

Rods

Wooden rods producing an articulate sound with reduced resonance

• Hits
• Rolls

Brushes

Performances with dense nylon brushes producing a softer attack but with plenty of body

• Hits
• Rolls

All-in-one (Low Toms)

All available beaters and techniques for the lower pitched Toms presented across the keyboard

All-in-one (High Toms)

All available beaters and techniques for the higher pitched Toms presented across the keyboard

Effects

Reverb

A bespoke IR developed at Abbey Road Studios