Orchestral Percussion SDX

ORCHESTRAL PERCUSSION SDX

Captured in the same room, with the same scrutiny for detail and the same 11.1 microphone positioning philosophy as the Superior Drummer 3 core library, the Orchestral Percussion SDX (Toontrack) complements other drum libraries for Superior Drummer 3.

• More than 120 individual instruments
• Recorded at the same studio as the Superior Drummer 3 core sound library
• A complete immersive experience
• Playback in stereo up to 11-channel surround systems
• Sampled with extreme attention to detail and articulation
• Optional tools available for selected instruments
• A comprehensive collection of MIDI

TWO LIBRARIES. TWO INTERFACES.

The Orchestral Percussion SDX comes comes as two separate SDX libraries.

Volume I includes the more fundamental or leading instruments, such as timpani, bass drums, taikos, snares and toms. Volume II covers the triangles, wood blocks, various shakers, chimes and other instruments often used as effects or to embellish or accentuate arrangements.

INSTRUMENT LIST


THE MICROPHONES & SIGNAL CHAINS.

For the Orchestral Percussion SDX sessions, each instrument was carefully placed in the room as if it were to be recorded in its natural position in a full orchestral session setup. The microphones were handpicked, and after careful consideration ultimately whittled down to the selection that performed the best on each instrument. Finally, each chain was run through the state-of-the-art pre-amps of the resident Neve 88D console at Galaxy. No audio processing was performed before or after the recording stage, making all samples completely transparent and ready for mix in any session. See also Know your microphone.

Close position.
Very close and intimate. The intent is to make you feel like you’re right there – on stage or in the hall.

Conductor’s position.
This is intended as the general, “go-to” mix option that would likely be the default choice for most engineers mixing an orchestral piece. It offers a natural amount of room and was engineered to how the conductor would perceive the distance to the percussion section in a full orchestra.

Audience position.
Lots of ambience and range, perceived as if you were listening to the percussion from an audience perspective.

Stereo, Surround, and height
All three main preset options are also engineered and optimized for use in three levels, from traditional stereo to surround (5.1) and all the way up to an immersive ‘Height Surround’ (3D) option. Note that the wide range of additional ambience channels that the Orchestral Percussion SDX offers can be used in many creative ways, although you may be mixing or composing on a traditional stereo setup.

The MIDI Library.
The Orchestral Percussion SDX does not only provide the sounds, it also comes with an MIDI library containing essential patterns, rudiments, rolls, crescendos and diminuendos.

INSTRUMENT PATTERNS.
Patterns and combination grooves for all instruments commonly associated with playing steady, rhythmic roles in an arrangement.

ROLLS & RUDIMENTS
Snare drum patterns as well as rolls, crescendos and diminuendos.

4/4
Fundamental snare drum patterns.

4/4 and 6/8
Plain rolls, accentuated start rolls, accentuated end rolls as well as long and short crescendos/diminuendos.

THE STUDIO.

The Orchestral Percussion SDX was recorded in the same room as the Superior Drummer 3 core sound library, the main hall at Galaxy Studios in Belgium. With its 330-square-meter room measuring eight meters from floor to ceiling, it is the ideal location for capturing immersive audio of the utmost quality. In addition, the entire studio complex is built on springs to ensure that the outside interference is literally nonexistent. In fact, with only 14 dBA of environmental noise, the main hall at Galaxy Studio is the most quiet recording space of this size in the world.