API Drums
API pre-amps. API compressors. API analog summing.
These are my favorite drums in a small kit setup, recorded with my favorite microphones, going through my favorite outboard. I’ve recorded a 4-piece kit with five cymbals. The final results make me smile every time I hear them!
I've also included more than fifty MIDI files I recorded while creating the presets. Use them as the backbone of your song or as a jumping-off point to edit into your next drumming masterpiece!
API pre-amps. API compressors. API analog summing.
These are my favorite drums in a small kit setup, recorded with my favorite microphones, going through my favorite outboard. I’ve recorded a 4-piece kit with five cymbals. The final results make me smile every time I hear them!
I've also included more than fifty MIDI files I recorded while creating the presets. Use them as the backbone of your song or as a jumping-off point to edit into your next drumming masterpiece!
API pre-amps. API compressors. API analog summing.
These are my favorite drums in a small kit setup, recorded with my favorite microphones, going through my favorite outboard. I’ve recorded a 4-piece kit with five cymbals. The final results make me smile every time I hear them!
I've also included more than fifty MIDI files I recorded while creating the presets. Use them as the backbone of your song or as a jumping-off point to edit into your next drumming masterpiece!
No additional processing. Everything you hear is built into Decent Sampler.
Some of the included MIDI files and kit presets:
MAIN INTERFACE
ADVANCED
BACKGROUND
I've been a drummer all my life, but have only ever owned five different drumsets. The first three were more tangential - following the course of a broke student trying to piece together things the best he could. But my last two purchases, the first in 1993 in college (mahogany jazz kit) and the second in 2013 (maple/walnut rock kit), will definitely be with me forever.
I was tasked with composing a film score about car racing in 2013. I liked the idea of using a "rock band" to score the film, even if most of the music would be more in the vein of underscore and less of a verse/chorus/verse song structure. And, of course, I would perform and record all the guitars, basses and drums myself.
Thus began the search for the ever-elusive "best rock kit ever." My final search ended with this kit. It's punchy and warm with plenty of sustain and power. And adding the Paiste Signature Series of cymbals was the icing on the proverbial percussive cake.
I've never really found sampled cymbals to be very musical so I was anxious to hear the results of me, well, simply playing all the cymbals at two different velocities four times over. Made sure to let every cymbal ring out properly. Some are more than 15 seconds long. Sounded like me playing the cymbals on my kit! I added another round of sampling from the drums (again, just two velocities and four RR).
We've elected for processing that adds some weight and balance to the whole kit, but still left plenty of room for you to make your own creative choices (especially for those who wish to utilize the MULTI-OUT option).
PRESETS
All ten drum kits and some of their associated MIDI files:
THE DRUM KIT
Mapex Black Panther Blaster
Maple shells with Walnut rings
Kick 22x18
Aquarian Super Kick II
Aquarian Regulator
Tom 12x9, 16x16
Remo Pinstripes & Aquarian Classic Clear
Snare 6.5x 14
Ludwig Black Beauty
Remo Powerdot & Clear Ambassador
Paiste Signature Series Cymbals
14" Signature Dark Energy Hi-Hats
12" Signature Splash
19" Signature Full Crash
20" Signature Full Crash
20" Signature Dry Ride
PRODUCED BY
Jason Graves
Joël Dollié
Frederic Poirier
MICROPHONES
OH: AKG B-ULSII Transformer x2
Room: AEA R-88a
Kick: Audix D6
Snare Top: Shure SM57
Snare Bottom: Audix i5
Tom High: Audix D2
Tom Low: Audix D4
Hi-Hats: Shure SM7B
Ride: Beyerdynamic M 160
OUTBOARD
API 3124V & Neve 1073 mic preamps
API 2500 Bus Compressor
API Analog Summing Mixer
RME M-32 AD converters (24-bit, 48k)
CREDITS
Performed, recorded and edited
by Jason Graves
Decent Sampler scripting and GUI
by Frederic Poirier
Mixed by Joël Dollié
DECENT SAMPLER
Decent Sampler is a free sample player plugin that allows you to play sample libraries in the Decent Sampler format, available on the following platforms:
Windows (32-bit/64-bit): VST, VST3, AAX, Standalone
Mac (Intel & M1): VST, VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone
Linux (Intel 64-bit): VST, VST3, Standalone
iOS: AUv3, Standalone
GIVING
If you enjoy this free instrument, please consider a small, one-time donation to The NC Sulcata Sanctuary on our GIVING page. Every little bit helps :)
