How about “Cymbals & Hi hats”?

[Tony Salkeld]

I have the Kicks & Snares expansion. It has become my “go to” for snare samples in particular.

Quite often I was finding that I was happy with the midi that I was using or had created myself but the result didn’t sound right because the snare sound from the standard drum sets provided didn’t have the right sound. Kicks & Snares solved that, to a large degree, by giving me a good range of snares to try.

Given that Toontrack saw fit to provide such an expansion, I’m sort of wondering why it hasn’t been followed by a “Cymbals and Hi Hats” (or a “Toms” for that matter)?

When I bought my first real kit (and it was a “learners kit”), the guy said the said that the hi hats and cymbals were rubbish and that I would upgrade before too long. He was right.

While I am impressed, in general, with the Toontrack samples. I have struggled to find hi hats that have any clarity and cymbals that have any articulation other than “smash”. Everything seems very heavy and none of it has a light touch. Try putting some headphones on and listening to the BTO track “Not Fragile” just before it goes into the guitar solos there are just the bass and hi hat tracks to be heard. The pinging of the hats is just so clear,… the engineer must have been pretty pleased with himself.

As for the Toms, not everyone likes big echoey toms. I am willing to be corrected but I am yet to find a really good dull toms sample,… think   just about any Ringo or Mick Fleetwood on the track “Tusk”.

Regards to all

Topic

[Mick Avoidant]

I hadn’t thought of a cymbal and a tom pack. I like your thinking.

[Drummy_8]

I had the same thought and was actually wondering how the kicks and snares expansion works within existing kits. If they were recorded in a different room with different mics etc. do they clash sound wise? Do they work well within an existing kits mixer?

Operating system: Windows 10

[Tony Salkeld]

Thanks for your support Mick.

I know Toontrack market their products towards songwriting,… and that is prerogative,… but some of us just want an easy to use, high quality audio VST for our DAW.

Toontrack have products that, mostly, fill the requirement. Where they are let down is that they have some spectacular samples (and good sound engineering) mixed with some very average sounds. Plus they are a bit like many software developers in that they tell you want you want and how you should use it versus asking the user what they want.

For example,… I did get into a bit of an exchange with one of the Toontrack experts and he said I should be using their mixer. I found it non-intuitive and usually end up using Reaper. Reaper is also considered to be a bit complex for we who are only amateurs but at least there are many youtube vids that show you how to use Reaper. I’ve found the Toontrack support videos to hit the highlights (more like a vid from a “Sales” team) but be very light on details of “how to”,… .

Regards

[Tony Salkeld]

Drummy_8

That is a great question.

Yes, that can be an issue.

Some of the snares seem to fit quite seamlessly into other drum mixes that I have selected. Other times, I have found a snare sound that I like but that when mixed with the other instruments it can sound “off” due to the different recording/engineering. I guess we can’t have everything… .

 

Regards

 

[Drummy_8]

Thank you for the reply, Tony!

[Mick Avoidant]

Drummy_8 wrote:

I had the same thought and was actually wondering how the kicks and snares expansion works within existing kits. If they were recorded in a different room with different mics etc. do they clash sound wise? Do they work well within an existing kits mixer?

Operating system: Windows 10

I have a snare and a ride from Rock Solid in a kit from Metal, with no problems.

[Author]

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