NDK

TableofContents
Licenseagreement&copyrightinformation:.....................................................................................................3
IntroducingNDK:...............................................................................................................................................4
Preprocessingand2buscompression:...................................................................................................................4
Themostextensivelysampledacousticinstrument,ever!........................................................................................4
Featuredinstruments:................................................................................................................................................5
Thanksto:..................................................................................................................................................................5

Nomenclature:...................................................................................................................................................6
Abbreviationsexplained:..............................................................................................................................6
Filenamesexplained:..................................................................................................................................8
Fordrums:.................................................................................................................................................................8
Forcymbals:..............................................................................................................................................................9
Forhihats:.................................................................................................................................................................9
Forkickdrum:..........................................................................................................................................................10
Preroll:....................................................................................................................................................................10
Alternatesamplesofthesamearticulation:............................................................................................................11
Misshits:..................................................................................................................................................................11
Preandreleasesamples(brushsnaresonly):........................................................................................................11

_misc:.............................................................................................................................................................12
Airswipes:...............................................................................................................................................................12

Folderhierarchy:.............................................................................................................................................12
Installingthesamples:.....................................................................................................................................12
Kitsetupdiagrams:........................................................................................................................................13
Samplers:........................................................................................................................................................15
WhyHALionandKontakt?:.......................................................................................................................15
HALionPlayer:.........................................................................................................................................................15

Nomenclature:............................................................................................................................................15
LoadingHALionpresets:............................................................................................................................15
AbouttheFXPs:.........................................................................................................................................15
AbouttheFXBs:.........................................................................................................................................16
Preload:..................................................................................................................................................................16
MIDIchannelnumbers:............................................................................................................................................16
Audiochannels:.......................................................................................................................................................16

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FXPvolume:............................................................................................................................................................16
Randomrobinandassociatedmappingdifferences:............................................................................................16

Howtoplaythekits:...................................................................................................................................16
Universalkeymapping:...........................................................................................................................................16
modulationwheel:....................................................................................................................................................17
Hihats:....................................................................................................................................................................17
Voicegroups&polyphony:......................................................................................................................................19

Afewfinalwords:............................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX1:instrumentspecifications..........................................................................................................20
Snares(5359uniquesamples):................................................................................................................20
Kickdrums(668uniquesamples):............................................................................................................22
Hihats(4204uniquesamples):................................................................................................................23
Cymbals(1858uniquesamples):..............................................................................................................23
Toms(5894uniquesamples):...................................................................................................................26
Percussion(253uniquesamples):............................................................................................................27
APPENDIX2:articulationcharts.....................................................................................................................28
Snares:......................................................................................................................................................28
Kickdrums:................................................................................................................................................29
Hihats:......................................................................................................................................................29
Cymbals:....................................................................................................................................................30
Toms:.........................................................................................................................................................31
Percussion:................................................................................................................................................32
APPENDIX3:hihatopennesschartsforHALionmappings...........................................................................33
hh13,sticks:...............................................................................................................................................33
hh13,malletsandbrushes:........................................................................................................................33
hh13,hands:..............................................................................................................................................33
hh14,sticks:...............................................................................................................................................34
hh14,malletsandbrushes:........................................................................................................................34
hh13,hands:..............................................................................................................................................34
APPENDIX4:samplecountbreakdown.........................................................................................................35
APPENDIX5:universalmappingchart...........................................................................................................36

2008,AtelierRobin

NDK
Licenseagreement& copyrightinformation:
IMPORTANTREADCAREFULLY:ThisAtelierRobinEndUserLicenseAgreement("EULA")isalegalagreement
betweenyou(eitheranindividualorasingleentity)andAtelierRobinfortheNDKSampleLibraryyouhavelicensed.
NDKSampleLibraryreferstotheentirecontentsoftheNDKDVDsandthatwhichismadeavailabletotheenduser
throughthemembersresourcesectionofthenaturaldrum.comwebsitehttp://naturaldrum.com.
Copyrightlawsandinternationalcopyrighttreaties,aswellasotherintellectualpropertylawsandtreatiesprotectNDK
SampleLibrary(hereafterreferredtoastheLibrary)anditislicensed,notsold.Therightsgrantedherearevalidated
byproofofpurchasefromAtelierRobin,orfromadealer/distributorauthorisedbyAtelierRobin.Allrightsnotexpressly
grantedtoLicenseearereservedbyAtelierRobinoritslicensors.TheLibraryremainsthepropertyofAtelierRobin.
1.GRANTOFLICENSE.Inconsiderationofpaymentofthelicensefee,whichisaportionofthepriceyoupaid,Atelier
Robin(Licensor)grantstoyou(Licensee)throughthisEULAthelimited,lifetime,nonexclusiveworldwiderightto
usethesoundsthatmakeuptheLibraryinthecreationofarecordedorliveperformancethatincludesthelicensed
samplesaspartofaderivativemusicalworkcreatedbythelicensedenduser.
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(c)Youmayclaimcopyrightonaderivativemusicalworkcreatedbythelicensedenduser(asoutlinedin
section1above);however,oneormoresamplesfromtheLibrarymaynotbemixedsolelywithoneormore
samplesfromtheLibraryorthirdpartysoundeffectstocreateaderivativesoundeffectonwhichyouclaima
separatecopyright(i.e.youcannotmakenewsamplesusingoursamplesasbuildingblocksandthenexploit
themasapartofathirdpartysoundeffectslibrary,compilation,orotherwise).
(d)Samplerpresetsorsimilar(including,butnotlimitedto,presetsforsoundreplacementplugins,
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expresspermissionfromAtelierRobin.
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anotherpartywithoutpriorwrittenconsentofAtelierRobin.AnypartyauthorisedbyAtelierRobintoreceivethe
2008,AtelierRobin

NDK
samplesmustagreetobeboundbythetermsandconditionsofthisAgreement.
5.TERMINATION.Withoutprejudicetoanyotherrights,AtelierRobinmayterminatethisEULAifyoufailtocomplywith
thetermsandconditionsofthisEULA.Insuchevent,youmustdestroyallcopiesofthesamplesandallofits
componentparts.

IntroducingN D K :
TheguidingprinciplesbehindeveryNDKdesigndecisionwere:
1.TheusershouldbeabletoplayNDKliveasafulldrumkit.
2.Ifit'spossibletoplaysomethingonarealdrumkit,itshouldbepossibletoplayonNDK.
3.NDKshouldsoundutterlyconvincingandtheendusershouldfeeltheyactuallyownthesourceinstruments.
4.Itshouldbeusablestraightfromthebox.
5.NDKshouldrepresentextremevalueformoney.
Furthertotheabove,aconceptthathasbeenatthecoreofNDKsinceitsinception:theusershouldforgetthatheor
sheistriggeringsamplesandfeelliketheyareplayingarealinstrument.Thisisachievedthroughcloseattentionto
detail,athoroughknowledgeoftheinstrumentbeingreplicatedandincisivesamplermapping.
Considerthis:theNDK13hihatcontainsover3500individualhitsandthestereobouncedownofthesesamples
weighsinatamassive4.43GB.Ifwewentforthemultiplemicoption,youcouldendupwithwellover20,000samples
takingupover20GB;justforthehihats!
WithNDK,theabilitytoplaysampledinstrumentslivehasalwaysbeentheorderoftheday.Allthedrumsand
cymbalsinNDKwererecordedasafullkitthroughmultiplemicrophones,Thenwehavedonethehardwork,pre
mixedandbouncedthemdowntostereofilesforthefinallibrary.ForNDK,theemphasiswasputonprovidingmany
extraarticulationsorvelocitylayers.Webelievethismakesforamoreexpressivekitandonewhichiseminentlymore
playable.

Preprocessingand 2busco mpression:

Asmentionedearlier,thefilesinthislibraryhavebeenpremixed.Additionally,theyhavebeenpreprocessed
accordingtostyle.Forexample,therockkithassomeaudiblecompression,whereasthebopkithasonlylight
compressionandsubtleEQsweetening.Again,thishelpsprovideyouwithakitthatsoundsgoodstraightfromthebox.
Importantly2buscompression/limiters/maximisershaven'tbeenusedinotherwords,nodynamicprocessingwas
usedacrossthemasterouts.2buscompressioncanbeanimportantpartofgettingacohesivedrumsound,butit
worksmosteffectivelywhenappliedtoacompletedrumtrack,ratherthanindividualsamples.Thisallowsyouto
chooseattack/releasetimes,thresholdandratiosappropriatetotheparticularprojectathand.
The m ostextensivelysampledacousticinstrument,ever!

Asfarasweareaware,NDKisthemostextensivelysampledacousticinstrumentevermade.Toclarify:manyofour
singlekits(6pieceshellpack,snare,hihatandcymbals)havemoreindividualhits,asadirectbyproductofthesheer
numberofarticulationsandvelocitylayers,thananyothersampledacousticinstrumentcurrentlyonthemarket.
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NDK
Featuredinstruments:

AdetailedlistofallthedrumsandcymbalssampledcanbefoundinAppendix1,buttherearethreeinstrumentswefeel
warrantamoredetailedexamination:

hh13(a.k.a.dreamhats)UFIP13BionicSerieshihats.

A firstforsampleddrumkits:asetofhihatswhichmirrortheexpressivequalitiesoftherealthing.

Inreality,thesehihatsaremostversatileanddynamicallyunsurpassed.Whenweweregoingthroughtheplanning
stagesofns_kit,wewantedtodothatsoundjusticeandknewthatthehihatsweregoingtobeveryextensive.We
wantedtobeabletodoeverythingontheNDKhihatsthatyoucoulddoonrealhihats.Thatdreamhasbecomea
realityhence,dreamhats!
Notonlyareyoupresentedwithtop,edgeandbellhits,youalsoget16degreesofopenness;thefirst13degreesof
whichhaveleftandrighthandsamplesforordinaryandtophits!Addtothatpedalchicks,splashesandgrabs(allwith
varyingdegreesofopenness),rimhits,brushesandmallets(thoughtheseonlyhave6degreesofopenness.)and
youcanseewhythe13hihatsweighinatalmost4.5GB.

sn12PearlMastersAllMaple12x7snare.

Somethingofalandmarkinsampledsnaredrums,containingover3400samples.

Whilemanydrumlibrariespresenttheenduserwithmultiplesnares,therearerarelydifferenttuningsofthesamedrum.
Wehavetakenissuewiththatandprovidedyouwithnolessthanfivedifferenttuningsoneofwhichisavailablein
mutedandopenvariations.
Wefeelthat12inchsnaresgenerallyrecordbetterthan14s,givingtighterimagingandgreaterclarity,whichiswhywe
choseitastheNDKmastersnare.Theriskwith12inchsnaresisthattheaddedfocusisattheexpenseofafull
sound;notsowiththisparticularsnare.PartlywhatmakesthePearl12x7soversatileisit'sunusuallydeepshell,
allowingittosupportdifferenttuningswithease.

cy19rideUFIP19ExperienceSeriesthinvintageride.

Ifthere'soneareathat'salwaysbeenlackinginsampleddrum libraries,it'stheridecymbal.Untilnow...

Considerthatformanystyles,particularlyjazz,theridecymbalisasimportant(ifnotmoreimportant)thananyother
partofthekit.Fromthequietestaccentstothunderingcrashes,thereislittletocompetewiththevariationoftonethat
canbeextrudedfromarideandthis19UFIPisnoexception.
Toachievethishighdegreeofexpression,werecorded49velocitylayersontheordinaryhits,26onthebell,29elvin
shots,114rimhitsand46hitandgrabs.Thiscymbalalsosoundsreallynicewhenyoucrashit,sowerecorded36
velocitylayersofthattoo!
Butitdoesn'tstopthereyoualsogetasimilarlyextensivesetofsamplesforbrush,malletsandhandhits.Andthen
there'sthesizzleride,butwethinkwe'vesaidenough...
Thanksto:

DouglasWhatesfromnaturalstudio.co.ukforcreatingtheprecursortoNDK,thens_kit7drumsampleslibrary,all
samplesinNDKandNDCongasoriginatefromns_kit7.
JamieFlanaganforprovidingakillersetofdrums,cymbalsandpercussionandnotleastforperformingalltheNDK
1

Seeappendix2Forarticulationdescriptions

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NDK
(ns_kit7)samples!
EveryonewhomadeNDKfreepresets.

No m e nclature:
Pleasetakeafewmomentstofamiliariseyourselfwiththefollowinginformationitisfundamentaltotheunderstanding
ofNDK.Asolidgraspofthenamingconventionsandabbreviationsusedwillenableyoutodecipherthefilenameof
anyNDKsamplewithease.

Ab breviationsexplained:
bel=bell

mlt=mallets

slp=slap

brs=brushes
cls=closed

opn=open
ord=ordinaryhit

spl=splash
stn=stand

crs=crash
cy=cymbal

p=prerollorpresample
ped=pedal/chick

stx=sticks
swc=circularsweep

e2c=edgetocenter
elv=elvinshot

pn=percussion
prs=presshit

swl=legatosweep
sws=staccatosweep

grb=hit&grab
grc/grt=crash/tophit&grab

r=releasesample
r=righthand

swu=undersweep
t2l=tighttoloose

hnd=hands
hh=hihat

rim=rim
rmh=highrimshot

tm=tom
top=top

kd=kickdrum
l=lefthand

rms=rimshot
rol=roll

w=snare(wire)on
x=misshit

m=muted

shl=shell

xtk=crossstick

Whilemostofthetermsaboveareselfexplanatory,thetablebelowmayhelpwiththemoreobscureterminology.
Ordinaryhit:

Edge tocentre:

(snares&

progresses

toms):

fromtheedge

Appliestoall

oftheskinto

snaresand

thecentreas

toms.

thehits
become
louder.

Ri m shot:

High rimshot:

stickmakes

featuredon

contactwiththe

someofthe

skinandrimat

snares.

thesametime.

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NDK
Crossstick:

Crossstick,

thedrummer

stickshot:

restsoneendof

tipofleftstick

thestickonthe

restsonskin,

skinandstrikes

righthand

therimwiththe

strikesstick.

other.
Ri m:

Ordinaryhit

stickshafthits

(hihats):

therimofthe

stickshafthits

drum.

thetophihat
attheedge.

Top

Bell

(hihats):

(hihats):

sticktiphitsthe

stickshafthits

topofthehi

thebellofthe

hat.

hihat.

Ordinaryhit

Ordinaryhit

(crashes&

(rides):

splashes):

tipofthestick

shaftofthe

hitstopofthe

stickhits

cymbal(same

cymbalvery

forcrash&

neartheedge.

splashtophits)

Elvinshot

Hit& grab

(rides):

(cymbals):

shaftofthe

thecymbalis

stickhitsthetop

firsthitand

ofthecymbal.

thenquickly
grabbed
(choked).

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NDK
Ri m

Bell

(cymbals):

(cymbals):

theshaftofthe

Forquiethits,

stickhitsthe

thesticktipis

cymbalrim.

used;for
louderhits,the
shaftofstickis
used.

Closedbrush

Staccatoand

hits:

legatosweep

Thebrushisleft

(snare):

incontactwith

Thebrushis

theskinafter

sweptacross

hit.Openhits

thesnareskin.

allowthebrush
torebound.
Circularsweep:

Staccatosweep

Thebrushis

(cymbals):

swirledina

Thebrushis

continuous

sweptacross

motionaround

thesurfaceof

theskin.

thecymbal.

Closed

O pen

(kickdrum):

(kickdrum):

Afterthestrike,

Afterthestrike,

thebeaterisleft

thebeateris

incontactwith

lefttorebound

theskin.

fromtheskin.

Filena mes explained:

WehaveusedthefollowingtemplatesfornamingNDKfiles:
Fordru ms:
[instrumenttype][drumsize][snareon/off][style]_[sticktype][hand]_[articulation]_[samplenumber]

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NDK
example:

sn14wrock_stxl_ord_021.wav(i.e.[sn][14][w][rock]_[stx][l]_[ord]_[021])
=14inchrocksnare,snareon,ordinaryhit,usingastickinthelefthand.Samplenumber21.
tm10bop_brsr_rms_013.wav
=10inchboptom,snareoff,rimshot,usingabrushintherighthand.Samplenumber13.

Asyoucansee;snareonissignifiedbyaw,whereasSnareoffomitsthew.2
Inadditiontotheabove,thebopsnareaddsamutedvariationwhichisindicatedbythelettermafterthestyle
parameter.
example:

sn12wbopm_mltr_ord_017.wav
=12inchbopsnare,snareon,muted,ordinaryhit,usingamalletintherighthand.Samplenumber17.
Forcymbals:

Thetemplateusedforcymbalsisverysimilartotheabove,butthereisnoneedforsnareon/off,handorstyle.So:
[instrumenttype][cymbalsize][type]_[sticktype]_[articulation]_[samplenumber]
example:

cy12splash_stx_bel_006.wav
=12inchsplash,onthebell,usingastick.Samplenumber6.
cy18crash_brs_grb_012.wav
=18inchcrash,hit&grab,usingabrush.Samplenumber12.
Forhihats:

Thetemplateusedforhihatsinverysimilartothatusedforcymbals,butremovesstyleandaddshandandopen
nessparameters.So:
[instrumenttype][hihatsize]_[sticktype][hand]_[openness][articulation]_[samplenumber]
example:

hh13_stxr_ctop_025.wav
=13inchhihats,hitonthetop,usingastickintherighthand,copenness.Samplenumber25.
hh13_stx_mped_033.wav
=13inchhihats,pedal,mopenness.Samplenumber33.

Itisworthpointingoutherethathihatopennessisgradedalphabetically,withabeingthemostclosed.However,with
regardstothe13inchhihats,thesamelettersbetweendifferentsticksdon'trelatetothesamedegreeofopenness.
Thatistosaythatanopennessofdwithsticksonthehihatsisn'tthesameasanopennessofdwithmallets.This
isduetothefactthatthereare16degreesofopennesswithsticksonthehihats(i.e.ap)and6withmallets(i.e.a
2

Thedeadtoms(tmdead),funksnare(sn12funk),deadsnare(sn12dead),tightsnare(sn12tight),piccolosnare(sn12piccolo),noreso'kick(kd22noreso)andfullkick(kd20full)
wereonlyrecordedwithsnareon.Despitethat,thesesamplesomitthewfromthefilename.

2008,AtelierRobin

NDK
f).
Forkickdru m:

Thetemplateusedforkickdrumisverysimilartothatusedforsnare,butremoveshandandsticktype.So:
[instrumenttype][drumsize][snareon/off][style/type]_[articulation]_[samplenumber]
example:

kd20wpunch_cls_031.wav
=20inchkickdrum,snareon,closedhit.Samplenumber31.
Preroll:

Ifyou'veeverscrutinisedakickdrumrecording,you'llnoticethat,precedingthedrum'smainattack,thereisa
significantamountofnoisecausedbythekickdrumpedalthisisparticularlyevidentforthelouderhits.3Whileina
normalrecordingthiswouldn'tbeaproblem,wheneditingsamplesitrepresentssomethingofaquandarywheredo
youcropthefile?wefoundthatcroppingfromthefirstsignofpedalnoiseresultedinasamplethatwasverydifficultto
triggerwithanytimingaccuracy.Thereasonforthisisquitesimple:whenadrummerplaysarealkit,theyare
subconsciouslyaccountingforthedelaybetweenapplyingpressuretothepedalandthebeaterhittingtheskin.This
can'tbedoneonaMIDIinstrumentasthefirstitknowswhatyouwantisaftertheevent(noteon).Therefore,when
triggeringkickdrumsamplesviaaMIDIcontroller,theMIDInoteonshouldtriggerthesamplestartingfromthemain
attackofthedrum;nottheprecedingpedalnoise.
However,thisresultsinasoundwhich,tothediscerningear,seemsslightlycroppedandunnatural;whereas,theun
croppedfilesoundsfullerandmorenatural.So,wherenecessary,wehavepresentedyouwithtwodifferentversionsof
thesamesamplesonecroppedandonewithacertainamountofprerolltocapturethepedalnoise.Thepreroll
samplesareavailabletodownloadfromthemember'sresourceareaofthenaturaldrum.comwebsiteandcanalsobe
foundontheDVDs.Here'showtousethosefiles:
Forlivetriggering,playingbackexistingMIDIfiles,generalsequencing,drummachines/stepsequencers,etc.usethe
normal,croppedsamples.
WhereyouhavetheoptiontomanuallyedityourMIDInotes,usetheprerollsamples.Then,selectallyourkickdrum
hitsandmovethemearlierbytherelevantamount,asindicatedinthefilename(seebelow).Inessence,whatyouare
doinginthisfinalstepisanticipatingtheattackofthekickdrum,inmuchthesamewayarealdrummerwouldonareal
kit.
Prerollsamplesareindicatedinthefilenamebytheletterp,followedbytheamountofprerollinmilliseconds.So:
[instrumenttype][drumsize][snareon/off][style]_[preroll]_[articulation]_[samplenumber]
example:

kd20wpunch_p50_cls_031.wav
=20inchkickdrum,snareon,closedhit.50mspreroll.Samplenumber31.

AparticularlygoodexampleofthissoundcanbeheardinJamesBrown'sGetUp,IFeelLikeBeingaSexMachinewherethelistenercanclearlyhearthepedalnoise,
squeaksandall!

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NDK
Toreiterate:kd20wpunch_cls_031.wavandkd20wpunch_p50_cls_031.wavareexactlythesame,exceptthelatter
hasa50mspreroll.
Thissamephenomenaalsoappearsinhihatpedal(andsplash)andsnarecrosssticksamples(thistime,ratherthan
pedalnoise,itisthehandandstickmovingagainstthesnareskinthatthelistenerhearsbeforethemainattack).For
boththeabovewehaveprovidedalternativeprerollversionsofthesamplesandnamedtheminasimilarfashiontothe
kickdrumsamples.
Alternatesamplesofthesame articulation:

Occasionallytherearealternativesamplesofthesamearticulation.Thisisindicatedbyaletterinfrontofthesample
number.
example:

tm14rock_stxl_ord_a013.wav
=14inchrocktom,snareoff,ordinaryhit,usingastickinthelefthand.Samplenumber13,seta.
tm14rock_stxl_ord_b013.wav
=14inchrocktom,snareoff,ordinaryhit,usingastickinthelefthand.Samplenumber13,setb.
Misshits:

Includedinthislibraryarerimshotmisshits.Misshitsareindicatedwiththeletterx,whichisappendedtothefile
nameaccordingly.
example:

sn12funk_stxl_rms_002x.wav
=12inchsnare,rimshotmisshit,usingastickinthelefthand.Samplenumber2,misshit.
Preand releasesamples(brushsnaresonly):

Certainbrushsnarearticulationshaveassociatedpreandreleasesamples,indicatedinthefilenamebythelettersp
andrrespectively.
First,let'sdealwiththereleaseorliftoffsamples:Whenadrummerplaysaclosedbrushhit,thebrushisleftonthe
drumskin.Liftingthebrushfromtheskinmakesanoise.wehaveprovidedtheseliftoffnoisesasseparatesamples,
indicatedbytheletterraftertheassociatedsamplenumber.
example:

sn12wbop_brsl_cls_033r.wav
=12inchbopsnare,snareon,closedbrushhitrelease(liftoff)sample.Associatedwithsamplenumber33.

Next,let'sdealwiththepresamples:Thesedifferslightlyfrompreroll,thoughtheyaresimilarinconcept.Whena
drummerplaysasnaresweepwithabrush,thebrushmustfirstmakecontactwiththeskin.Wehaveprovidedthese
contactnoisesasseparatesamples,indicatedbytheletterpaftertheassociatedsamplenumber.

2008,AtelierRobin

11

NDK
example:

sn12wbop_brs_sws_013p.wav
=12inchbopsnare,snareon,staccatosweepcontactnoise,usingabrush.Associatedwithsamplenumber13.

_ misc:
TheNDKsamplelibrarycontainsa_miscfolderinwhichyouwillfindanassortmentofsamplesthatdefied
categorisation.
Thesilentsampleis2msofsilence,andisusedasaspartofaworkaroundforimplementingmutegroupsincertain
HALion3mappings(seetheHALionsectionlaterinthemanualformoredetails).Hihatstand,snaremechanism,stick
countinsandsilenceareallselfexplanatory.Theairswipesamplesrequireabitmoreexplanation...
Airswipes:

Asanaddedbonus,wehaveincludedairswipesamples.Thereasoningbehindtheinclusionofthesesamplesis
relatedtothatofthekickprerollsample:inarealrecording,precedingthemainattackoflouderhits(bethatwith
sticks,brushesormallets),thediscerniblelistenerwillnoticeadefinitepreattacksound;furtherinvestigationrevealsit
tobethesoundoftheparticularstick/mallet/brushswipingthroughtheair.
Astoucheduponearlier,croppingsamplesfromthispreattackwouldresultinasamplewhichtriggersinavery
unnaturalfashion.Assuch,wehavecroppedthesamplesfromthemainattackofthesound,butprovidedyouwithair
swipesampleswhichcanbeaddedlater.
Whilethestickandmalletsamplesare,admittedly,somethingofagimmick,wefindthatagreatdealofwhatdefinesthe
brushsoundcomesfromtheseairswipesthereisnodoubtthatcorrectlyimplementingthemwillimproverealism
greatly.Themethodfordoingthisissimilartothatoutlinedintheprerollsection.

Folderhierarchy:
Foldersarealsonamedusingthetemplatesdescribedaboveand,withoutexception,arenestedasfollows:
dru m/cy m balna me

sticktype
openness(hihatonly)
muted/open(bopsnareonly)
snareon/off
articulation

Installingthesamples:
MSWindows:Runthesetup.exeprogrampresentoneachofthe2DVDs.
MACOSX:Runthesetupprogrampresentoneachofthe2DVDs

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NDK
Whenpromptedbythesetupprogram,selectthedestinationdisk/folderforthesamples.Thesoundfilesonthe
DVDsarecompressedinFLAClosslessformat.ThesetupprogramwilldecompresstheFLACsoundfilesto
wavformatandstoretheminyourdestinationfolder.Youneed19GBoffreespaceonyourharddisktostore
allsamples.
DVDcontent:
DVD1kicks,percussion,cymbals,hihats,congas,thismanual,misc.samplesandanarchiveofcurrent
member'sresourcedownloads.
DVD2snares,toms,presets

Kitsetup diagra ms:

Thedrumsandcymbalswererecordedascompletekitsandappearinthestereofieldaccordingly.Thediagramson
thefollowingpageillustrateshowthekitsweresetupduringtherecording:

2008,AtelierRobin

13

ns_kit 7
cymbals

funk kit
A = 8 splash

B = 9 splash

C = 12 splash

F
D = 15 crash

E
C
I

orleans kit

J
F = 19 china
G = 19 ride

bop kit

H = 19 sizzle ride

12 x 7

E = 18 crash

I = 20 ride

5P

J = 13 hi-hat

12 x 7

K = 14 hi-hat

12 x 7
L = 8 rock tom

rock kit

M = 10 rock tom

U
N = 12 rock tom

jungle kit

O = 14 rock tom

P = 16 rock tom

R
Q = 8 bop tom

14 x 5

R = 10 bop tom

10 x 2
S = 12 bop tom

tight kit

T = 14 bop tom

U = 16 bop tom

piccolo kit
V = 10 dead tom

2
M

W = 12 dead tom

X = 14 dead tom

12 x 7
K

Y = 10 noreso tom
Z = 12 noreso tom

dead kit

10 x 4

Zz = 14 noreso tom

metal kit

1 = 20 punch kick

4
2 = 20 full kick

3 = 22 noreso kick

4 = 22 boom kick

12 x 7
K

2005, naturalstudio

5 = 14 bop kick

- 14 -

14 x 5.5
J

Zz

NDK
Sa m plers:
W h y H A Lion and Kontakt?:
Asmentionedearlier,oneofthemostimportantaspectsofNDKistheabilitytoplayitlive.Notonlythat,wewantedto
allowtheendusertoswitcharticulationsonthefly,utilisemultichanneloutputs,changevolumeandpanningon
individualdrums,buildtheirownkitsandtriggerconvincingdrumpartsfromedrums.Allthatrequiresasampler
capableoftriggeringgigabytesofdataatthepushofafewbuttonsand,assuch,diskstreamingtechnologyisneeded.
Alsoimportantiscrossplatformcompatibility.Webeganlookingatexistingsamplersandthenecessityfordisk
streamingandcrossplatformcompatibilityleftuswithveryfewoptions.Intheend,bothHALion3.1andKontakt
seemedideal:theyhaveaproventrackrecordofreliablediskstreaming,goodcrossplatformsupport,reasonable
price,acomprehensivefeaturesetand,mostimportantly,fillsalltherequirementswehadplannedforourlibrary.
H A Lion Player:

TheicingonthecakeisSteinberg'srecentintroductionofHALionPlayer.ThisisastrippeddownversionofHALion,
butcontainsnoneoftheplaybackrestrictionsoftenfeaturedwithdevelopers'budgetversionsoftheirfullscale
samplers.PutsimplyifwehaveprogrammedapresettoworkinthefullversionofHALion3.1,wecanbeconfident
thatanyoneusingHALionPlayerwillbenefitfromsaidpreset'sparameters.Furthermore,likethefullversion,HALion
Playerallowstheusertobuildandsavetheirownkits,adjustpanning,volume,audiooutputsetc.Combinedwith
HALionPlayer,NDKcanbeconsideredaveryreasonablypriced,superchargedvirtualinstrumentwhichhastheability
toruninstandalone,VSTi,DxiorAUformat.

No m e nclature:
Thepresetfilenamesuseaverysimilarnamingstructuretothatdescribedintheprevioussection,butwithafew
importantadditions:
rr=randomrobin.Essentially,thisallowsformorerealistictriggeringandisparticularlyaimedate

drumsusers.Moreinfoonthesepresetscanbefoundlaterinthissection.
m o nophonic=wherethisisappendedtothefilename,thepresethasaforcedpolyphonyof1.
pedchk =pedalchoke.Appendedtohihatpresetswherethepedalchickandsplashcutoffany

soundinghihatnotes.(includingthemselves).
xf=crossfade.Again,hihatspecific.Indicatesthatthehihatopennesslevelsarefadedintoeach

othercanprovidemorerealistichihatresponse.Moredetailslaterinthissection.

LoadingH A Lion presets:

LoadingNDKpresetsisnodifferenttoloadingupanyotherHALionorKontaktpreset.Additionally,thevarious
elementsthatmakeupNDKhaveallbeenmappedinsuchawaythatyoucaneasilycreateacustomkitbyloadingin
thevariouskitpartswithouthavingtoworryaboutdifferentdrums/cymbalsbeingassignedtothesamekey.

AbouttheF X Ps:
TheHALionFXPsareforsingledrumsandcymbals(asopposedtofullkits)andwillgenerallybeusedtocompile
customkits.TherearealsoFXPsforfullsetsoftoms(shellpacks)andcymbals(cymbalpacks).AllFXPshavetheir

2008,AtelierRobin

15

NDK
volumesetatHALion'sdefaultthisis6dbbelowunity.

AbouttheF X Bs:
FXBsallowthelibrarydevelopertocreatepresetscontaininganumberofdifferentFXPs.Italsoallowstheenduserto
savetheircustomkitsandrecallthematalaterdate.OneadvantageofFXBsisthatitallowsyoutoembedthe
followinginformationinthesavefile:
Preload:

Thisistheamountofeachsamplewithinthebankthatwillbepreloadedintoram.Thehigherthebuffer,thelesswork
theharddrivehastodo.Thelowerthebuffer,themoreramyouneed.AllNDKpresetshavebeensetupwitha.3s
preload.Thisshouldbegoodforsystemswith1GBoframormore.
M I DI channelnu m bers:

ItispossibletosetupdifferentMDIchannelsfordifferentpartsofthekit.Wehavechosentokeepeverythingonthe
sameMIDIchannelthisaidsliveperformanceofthekit.
Audiochannels:

Wehavesetallkitpartsto1stereooutput.Thisallowsforaquickandeasyauditionofthekitandmeansyoudon't
havetousemultipleaudiochannelsinyoursequencer.Itisverysimpletochangetheoutputsifyouwish.
F X P volume:

Wehaveadjustedthevolumeoneachkitpart(i.e.FXPswithintheFXB)tohaveanaturalbalancethatshouldbea
goodstartingpoint.Ofcourse,youmaywanttochangethisonaprojectbyprojectbasis.
Rando m robinand associatedm ap pingdifferences:

Whentriggeringfromakeyboard,wewouldrecommendusingnonroundrobinpatchesandsimplygettingusedto
usingleftandrighthandstrokes,modwheelswitching,usingdifferentarticulationsandmakingsuretomakesubtle
variationsinvelocity(e.g.don'talwayshitvelocity127!).Wehavefoundthatthecontrolthisgives,particularlyfor
sequencing,isdesirable.Foredrums,thismethodcanbeproblematicasthereisoftenonlyonepadtotriggerone
drum.Tohelpovercomethisproblem,certainFXBsalsohaverandomrobinvariations.Forthoseunfamiliarwiththis
concept,itisasystemwhichmakestriggeringthesamesampleconsecutivelynighonimpossible.Forthesemappings,
wehaveassignedleftandrighthandsamplestothesamekeyandsetthemtorandomrobin.Certainsnaresalsohave
edgetocenterhitsthesehavealsobeenassignedtothesamekeyandsettorandomrobin.Kickdrumsrandom
robinthroughthealternativeclosedandopenhits.
Inallinstances,themappingscomplywiththoseshownin5,exceptthelefthandsampleshavebeenpushedupa
coupleofoctaves.

Ho w toplaythekits:
Universalkeym a pping:

AllpresetsandbankswithinNDKusethesamekeymapping.Thisnotonlygreatlyaidsthecreationofcustomkits,it
meansthatonceyou'velearnedhowtoplayandsequenceonekit,you'veprettymuchlearnedthemall.
Asyou'llseefromthechartinAppendix5,theNDKmappingsaren'ttoofaroffGeneralMIDIspecifications,withthe

2008,AtelierRobin

16

NDK
followingalterations:

Handclap(MIDInote#39)becomessnarerimshot.

Snaredrum2(MIDInote#40)becomessnarepresshit.

Lowfloortom(#41)becomesordinaryhihat.

Tambourine(#54)becomes12splash.

Vibraslap(#58)becomes9splash.

Highbongo(#60)becomes19ridebell.

WhatmakesNDKmappinguniqueisthatthesamemappinginalsomirroredtwooctavesdown,withthefollowing
exceptions:

Righthandarticulationsswaptothelefthand.

Whereavailable,snareshavealternativecrosssticksamples.

Whereavailable,kickdrumshavealternativesamplesofthesamearticulations.

Crashandsplashordinaryhitsbecometophits.

Hihatpedalchickbecomespedalsplash.

Hihatopenbecomeshihatbell.

20Rideordinaryhitbecomeselvinshot

19Rideordinaryhitbecomescrashhitand,forsticks,transposeddownasemitone.

Cowbellordinaryhitbecomestophit.

Wehavefoundthismakesforanextremelyplayablekitwhichallowstheperformertothinkandplaylikeadrummer.If
you'reusedtoplayingGeneralMIDIdrumsfromakeyboard,moveyourlefthanddownacoupleofoctavesandyou'll
beperforminglivetakesinnotime.
m o dulationwheel:

Furthertotheabove,NDKusesextensivemodulationwheelswitchingtoaccessevenmorearticulations.Wehave
mappedthekitsinsuchawaythatyouwillbeabletouseallthekitpartsononeMIDIchannelandcontrolthem
simultaneouslywiththemodwheelthisisbecausewe'vesetitupinphases.Forexampleifyoupushthemod
wheelforwardtohitatomrimshot,you'dstillbeabletoplayanordinarycymbalhit.Keeppushingthemodwheel,and
onlythenwillyougethit&grabs.
ForliveperformanceofNDK,it'shighlyrecommendedthatyousetupanexpressionpedalandassignittoCC#01.See
Appendix5forthemappingchartwhichillustratesthevariousmodulationcontrollerphases.
Hihats:

Aswellasmodulationwheelswitching,thehihatsalsoemployfootcontroller(CC#04)switchingtocontrolthedegreeof
hihatopenness.SeeAppendix3forhihatmodulationandfootswitchmappingcharts.
footcontroller(CC#04)tocontrolopennessofthehihats,youneedtousesomesortofMIDI

continuouscontrollerandassignittoCC#04.Typically,edrumshavetheirhihatfootpedalsetupto
sendoncontinuouscontroller4bydefault.Also,manykeyboardsallowyoutoassigntheir
modulationwheels(ordataentryfaders)todifferentcontinuouscontrollers.Alternatively,many
sequencersallowyoutodrawinCCeventsthiswillgenerallybeasubsectionofthepianoroll
screen.

2008,AtelierRobin

17

NDK
xfexplainedasmentionedearlier,certainpresetshaveanxfappendedtothefilename.This

standsforcrossfadeandinprincipalit'safairlysimpleconcept,allowingtheperformertousethefoot
controller(CC#04)tocrossfadebetweenthedifferentdegreesofopenness.Forexample:let'ssayI
openthefootcontrollerandhitawideopenhihat.IfIthenbegintoclosethefootcontroller,thewide
opensamplewillbegintofadeintoaslightlylessopenhihat.IfIcloseitsomemore,thewideopen
hihatsamplewillbegintofadeout.IfIkeepclosingthehihat,itwillkeepcrossfadingdownthough
allthesamples.
Thereisalimitation,though,governedbythewaythissystemisimplemented.Tocomprehendthis
limitation,youneedanunderstandingofhowthecrossfadesystemworks:triggeringonehihatnote
withaparticularvelocitylayeronaparticulararticulationandopennessdegreesimultaneouslytriggers
allsamplesassignedtothatsamevelocityandarticulationthroughouttheremainingopenness
degrees.4Thecrossfadeworksbyonlylettingyouhearoneopennessdegreewhichaccordstoyour
footcontrollerMIDIvalue.So,whenyoumovethefootcontroller,itisn'ttriggeringanothersample,
butcrossfadingintoonewhichisalreadythere(triggeredbytheinitialnoteonevent).So,let'ssayI
hitacompletelyclosedhihatthesounddecaysinunderhalfasecond.Yet,ifIopenthefoot
controller,Iwouldcrossfadeintothelongerdecayingopenhihats.Clearlythisisanunrealistic
characteristicandshouldbeconsideredwhenprogrammingyourhihats.Conversely,ifIhitanopen
hihatandleaveittoolongbeforeIclosethepedal,thetighterhihatswillhavealreadydecayedand
youwouldbecrossfadingintonothing.Inpractice,thesescenarioscomeupveryrarely.Toreduce
thefrequencyofsuchincidents,ensurethatwheneveryouclosethehihat,youalsotriggeraclosed
pedalsoundthiswillcutoffanyhihatsamplesringingon.

Thisalsomakesxfbanksandbresetsveryresourcehungryasithastostreamalotofsamplessimultaneously.

2008,AtelierRobin

18

NDK
Voicegroups& polyphony:

HALiondemandsthateachinstrumentbeassignedagroupnumberwhichisgivenapolyphonylimit.Wehaveusedthe
followingsettingforallNDKpresets:

INST R U M E N T

V OI C E G R O U P

PO L Y P H O N Y

Kickdrums:

Snaredrum:

Toms

Percussion

Hihats

12

Hihats,crossfade,stx

2*

Hihats,crossfade,mlt,brs&hnd

9,10,11,12,13,14

19Ride

15

12

20Ride

16

12

Crashes&Splashes

*thethreemosttightlyshutopennessdegreesofthethe13hihatsdonotcrossfadeand
keepapolyphonyof12.

A few finalwords:
Wehopeyouhavefoundthismanualinformativeandeasytounderstand.
IfyoudecidetomakeyourownpresetsusingNDKsamplesandsharethemwithothers,weencourageyoutousethe
mappingslaidoutintheuniversalmappingchart(Appendix5).Thatway,potentialuserscandownloadthismanualand
quicklyseehowthemappingandsamplesworks.YoucanalsoshareyourmappingswithotherNDKusersbyposting
themonthewikioruserforumonnaturaldrum.com
Allfeedbackismuchappreciatedandifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasedon'thesitatetogetintouch.
GoodluckwithyourNDKprojects!
http://naturaldrum.com

2008,AtelierRobin

19

NDK
A P P E N D I X 1:instrumentspecifications.
Snares(5359uniquesamples):
name: sn10jungle
instrument: SonorJungleSnare,10x2.
description: Asnappydrumwithhighpitchedsnare.Itisauniquedrumandhas16jinglesattachedtoit,
notunlikeatambourine.Thoughclassedasaneffectsdrum,thejinglesarehardlynoticeable,
exceptonrimshotsandwhenplayingwithhands.
ambience:
samplecount: 881
size: 502MB

name: sn10piccolo
instrument: YamahaPeterErskineSignatureModel,10x4.
description: Despiteit'sdiminutivesize,thisisarichsnareandpacksasignificantpunch.Thesnarewire
waspulledtightresultinginaquickdecay.Greatstickresponseandanicewoodytonethanks
tothe8plymapleshell.
ambience:
samplecount: 200
size: 64MB

name: sn12bop,twoversionsofthesametuningmutedandopen
instrument: PearlMastersAllMaple,12x7.
description: Areallyexpressiveandmusicalsnare.Inthisparticulartuning,thesnarewireandskin
resonanceplayamoreprominentrolethantheshellindefiningthesound;althoughtherim
shotsandcrossstickshaveareallysweet,woodytone.Theopenvariationhasafull
wonderfulsustainandisalivewithovertones.Themutedversionkeepsthetoneofthedrum
buthushestheovertoneswhichmaybetoomuchfordensermixes.
ambience:
samplecount: 2347
size: 1.25GB

name: sn12dead
instrument: PearlMastersAllMaple,12x7.
description: Tunedlowandheavilymuted.Verylittlesnarewireresonance.
ambience:
samplecount: 164
size: 43MB

2008,AtelierRobin

20

NDK
name: sn12funk
instrument: PearlMastersAllMaple,12x7.
description: Tunedtobringoutthetoneoftheshellandletthelistenerknowthissnareis7deep!Top
skinpulledfairlytightforaquickstickresponse.Therimshotshaveimmensepowerand
overallthedrumhasincrediblefocusandpunch;thiswillbesuretocutthroughanymix.
ambience:
samplecount: 407
size: 171MB
name: sn12orleans
instrument: PearlMastersAllMaple,12x7.
description: Tunedaslowasthedrumandskinwouldhandle.Snarewireandresonantheadadjustedto
allowformaximumsustain.Abig,fat,wetsound.
ambience:
samplecount: 186
size: 134MB
name: sn12tight
instrument: PearlMastersAllMaple,12x6.5.
description: Acrossbetweensn12funkandsn12dead.
ambience:
samplecount: 347
size: 159MB
name: sn14metal
instrument: GretschCrystalTone,14x5.5.
description: Adirty,roughroundtheedgessteelsnaresound.Tunedhightogetanicefastattackand
highovertones.
ambience:
samplecount: 293
size: 218MB
name: sn14rock
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,14x5.
description: Whatthissnarelacksinstickresponse,itmakesupforinmeat;thissnareisthedefinitionof
beef.Nothingsubtleheretunedlowandfat.Chunkyrimshotsound.
ambience:
samplecount: 534
size: 253MB

2008,AtelierRobin

21

NDK
Kickdru ms (668uniquesamples):
name: kd14bop
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,14x11floortom,positionedandplayedasakick.
description: Althoughthisstartedasanexperiment,thisfloortomprovetobeagreatsoundinghighkick
drumperfectforbop.
ambience:
samplecount: 229
size: 95.4MB
name: kd20full
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,20x16.
description: Resonantandbatterheadtunedlowforafullsound.Heavilydampened.Goodallround
soundwhichwillcutthroughamix.
ambience:
samplecount: 95
size: 18.3MB
name: kd20punch
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,20x16.
description: Resonantheadtunedhigherthanbatterheadtightbeaterresponse.Layintothisdrumand
thereasonbehindthenamewillberevealed!Mediumdampeningallowsforsomeresonance
inthelowmids.
ambience:
samplecount: 194
size: 52MB
name: kd22boom
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,22x18.
description: Explosive;definitelynotatypicalstudiokick.Thebatterheadistunedlowforameatybeater
sound,whilethehigherpitched,unmuted,unportedresonantheadproducesalotofsustain
andbody.
ambience:
samplecount: 107
size: 36.8MB
name: kd22noreso
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,22x18.
description: Heavilymutedandtunedlow.Resonantheadremoved.
ambience:
samplecount: 43
2008,AtelierRobin

22

NDK
size: 6.91MB

Hihats(4204uniquesamples):
name: hh13,a.k.a.ns_dreamhats
instrument: UFIP13"BionicSeries.
description: Weareyettohearabettersetofhihats:enormousdynamicrange,focusedsticksound,tight
andcleanchick(thankstothethreeairholes),massivesustain,eventoneacrossthe
registerandanimpossiblecombinationofwarmthandpresence.Thesearealso(byfar)the
loudesthihatswe'veeverheardbutremaindetailedandfullofresponserightthroughthe
dynamicrange.Acceptnosubstitutesthisistherealdeal.
samplecount: 3504
size: 4.43GB
name: hh14
instrument: Meinl14OneofaKindmedium.
description: Aslightlytamerhihat,butonlywhencomparedtothens_dreamhats!Theseoozeexpression
andhavegreatplayability.Sticksoundisn'ttoopronouncedwhichcanhelpthesehihatssitin
amix.Hasamediumsustainandarelativelyquietchickandsplashsound.Aperfect
alternativetothe13hihats,withagreatlydifferentcharacter.
samplecount: 700
size: 397MB

Cy m b als(1858uniquesamples):
name: cy8splash
instrument: UFIP8"NaturalSeriessplash.
description: NothingcomparestotheuniquesoundofUFIPsplashesandthis8beautyisnoexception.
Slightlydarkersoundingandmoresticksoundthanthe9splash.
samplecount: 144
size: 149MB
name: cy9splash
instrument: UFIP9"NaturalSerieslightsplash.
description: Areallysmoothresponseandanevendecay.Richinhighovertones.
samplecount: 134
size: 143MB
name: cy12splash
instrument: UFIP12"NaturalSeriessplash.

2008,AtelierRobin

23

NDK
description: Similarincharactertothe8splash,butwithastrongerfundamentalandmorepronounced
sticksound.Fullmidrange.
samplecount: 160
size: 300MB

name: cy15crash
instrument: UFIP15"NaturalSeriescrash.
description: Adarkcymbalwithaquickdecay.Strongundertonesandthicksticksound.
samplecount: 196
size: 541MB

name: cy18crash
instrument: UFIP18"RoughSeriescrash.
description: Thisisanexceptionallyloudcymbalthattakesallyoucanthrowatit.Thisisthebrightest
cymbalinthepackandhasafullsustain.Canalsoworkasanauxiliaryride.Handlewith
care!
samplecount: 194
size: 673MB

name: cy19china
instrument: Zildjian19"KSerieschina.
description: Atrashychinasoundwithafastdecay.Handlesquiteabitofforcebeforebreakingup.
samplecount: 183
size: 418MB

name: cy19ride
instrument: UFIP19"ExperienceSeriesthinvintageride.
description: Anextraordinarilyexpressivecymbal.Craftedintheoldstyle,thishasawarm,darkand
mellowsound.Exceptionallyarticulatesticksound.Opensuptoacrashsoundwhenpushed.
samplecount: 418
size: 1.57GB

name: cy19sizzle
instrument: UFIP19"ExperienceSeriesthinvintageride.
description: Asabove,butwithasizzlechainattached.
samplecount: 243
size: 638MB

2008,AtelierRobin

24

NDK
name: cy20ride
instrument: UFIP20"NaturalSeriesheavyride.
description: Verypronouncedsticksoundand,onaccountofitsthickness,almostimpossibletocrash.
Veryarticulateandevenacrossthedynamicrange.Strongfundamental,incrediblesustain
andremarkablepowermakethisoneofthemostcharacterfulUFIPsavailable.
samplecount: 181
size: 859MB

2008,AtelierRobin

25

NDK
To ms (5894uniquesamples):

name: tm_bop
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,8x7,10x8,12x9,14x11&16x16
description: Tunedtightlywithsomemoderatemutingonthehighertoms.Stickresponseissecondto
noneandrimshotshaveanalmosttimbalelikesound.Thedrumsweretunedtohavean
open,ringysound,ideallysuitedtobopandstyleswhereahigherpitched,moremelodictom
isrequired.Brushesandmalletshaveaparticularlypleasingtimbreonthesetoms.
ambience:
samplecount: 2484
size: 2.16GB

name: tm_dry
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,10x8,12x9&14x11
description: Heavilydampenedonboththebatterandresonanthead.Acrisp,tightstudiosoundwith
plentyofattack.
ambience:
samplecount: 384
size: 159MB

name: tm_noreso
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,10x8,12x9&14x11
description: Theresonantheadisremovedandthebatterheadistunedaslowaspossible.Mic'swere
alsousedinsidethetoms.Possiblythemostunsubtletomsoundeverrecorded!
ambience:
samplecount: 135
size: 131MB

name: tm_rock
instrument: GretschUSAMaple,8x7,10x8,12x9,14x11&16x16
description: Tunedtogetoptimalpower,punchandvolumefromthedrumwiththebatterheadstuned
slightlyhigherthantheresonant.Themoretaughtheadhelpsgiveamorebitingstick
response,particularlynoticeableonthelouderhits.Eachtomistunedinsympathywiththe
fundamentaloftheshelltogetareallyfulltoneandhelpthedrumsingatlowervelocities.
Somemoongelusedtotamethehigherovertones.
ambience:
samplecount: 2891
size: 2.35GB

2008,AtelierRobin

26

NDK
Percussion(253uniquesamples):
name: pn8cowbell
instrument: Meinl8OriginalRealPlayersteelbell
description: Adeep,powerfulcowbellwithexcellentprojectionandacuttingattack.
samplecount: 253
size: 110MB

2008,AtelierRobin

27

NDK
A P P E N D I X 2:articulationcharts.
Snares:
instrument

sticks
stx

mlt

brs

snarewire
hnd

sn10jungle

on

stx

sn10piccolo

mlt

brs

hnd

stx

on

mlt

brs

hnd

on

mlt

brs

hnd

on

sn12bop(open)

mlt

brs

hnd

on

mlt

brs

hnd

on

sn12orleans
sn12tight

mlt

brs

brs

hnd

hnd

stx

brs

hnd

sn14metal

mlt

brs

2008,AtelierRobin

e2c

rms

on

on

hnd

on

cls

opn

sweeps

rmh

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

prs

rim

xtk

ord

e2c

rms

rmh

prs

rim

xtk

rol

rim

xtk

rol

e2c

rms

rmh

prs

off

ord

off

e2c

rms

ord

e2c

rmh

prs

rms

rmh

prs

rim

xtk

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

rim

xtk

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

off

ord

e2c

off

off

rmh

prs

e2c

rms

rmh

prs

ord

e2c

rms

rmh

prs

off

ord

rms

ord

sn14rock

on

stx

ord

mlt

mlt

slp

stx

off

stx

sn12funk

ord

stx

sn12dead

rol

stx

xtk

off

rim

prs

rmh

rms

stx

e2c

off

brusharticulations

ord

sn12bop(muted)

off

articulations

rim

xtk

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

xtk

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

xtk

rol

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

slp

cls

opn

sweeps

xtk

rol

28

rms

rim

e2c

rim

rmh

prs

rim

NDK
Kickdru ms:
snarewire

instrument

articulations

on

off

cls

opn

kd14bop

kd20full

kd20punch

kd22boom

kd22noreso

Hihats:
instrument

sticks
ord,l

ord,r

top,l

top,r

bel

hh13

(ns_dreamhats)

2008,AtelierRobin

mlt

brs

articulations
openness

(hh13)

stx

hnd

29

grb

ped

spl

rim

sws

NDK

hnd

openness

ord,l

ord,r

top,l

top,r

bel

(hh13)

stx

mlt

brs

(hh13)

hh14

(hh14)

(hh14)

(hh14)

grb

ped

spl

rim

sws

Cy m b als:
instrument

sticks
stx

mlt

articulations
brs

hnd

ord5

crs

top

elv

bel

grb

cy8splash

stx

mlt

brs

hnd

ord

hnd

ord

cy9splash

stx

mlt

brs

crs

top

elv

bel

grb

rim

top

elv

bel

grb

sws

rim

crs

rol

rol

sws

rim

rol

sws

Thisarticulationdiffers,dependingontheparticularcymbale.g.acrash/splashordhitwouldbeusingtheshankofthestickontheedge.Aride,ontheotherhand,would
behitontopwiththesticktip.

2008,AtelierRobin

30

NDK

cy12splash

bel

grb

rim

bel

grb

rim

grb

rim

...cymbalscontinuedonnextpage...

stx

mlt

brs

hnd

ord

hnd

ord

hnd

ord

hnd

ord

crs

hnd

ord

crs

hnd

ord

cy15crash

stx

mlt

brs

cy18crash

stx

mlt

brs

cy19china

stx

mlt

brs

cy19ride

stx

mlt

brs

cy19sizzle

stx

mlt

brs

cy20ride

crs

top

elv

crs

top

elv

crs

top

elv

bel

crs

top

top

top

rol

rol

sws

rol

sws

elv

bel

grb

rim

elv

bel

grb

rim

elv

bel

grb

rim

sws

rol

sws

rol

sws

rol

sws

To ms:
instrument

tm8rock,tm10rock&
tm12rock.

tm14rock&tm16rock

tm8bop&tm10bop

2008,AtelierRobin

sticks
stx

mlt

articulations
brs

hnd

on

off

ord

rms

rim

31

rhonly

rhonly

NDK
tm12bop&tm14bop

tm12bop

stx

mlt

brs

rms

rim

hnd

on

off

ord

tm16bop

tm_dry

tm_noreso

Percussion:
instrument

pn8cowbell

pn8cowbellm

2008,AtelierRobin

sticks
stx

mlt

articulations
brs

hnd

ord

top

32

NDK
A P P E N D I X 3:hihatopennesschartsforH A Lion m a p pings.
hh13,sticks:
articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

degreeof
openness

ord/top

bel

07

015

815

1623

2431

3239

4047

4855

5663

6471

7279

8087

8895

96103

104111

112119

120127

ped*

grb

spl*

rim

1631
039

3263
07

4063

6479

839

6479

095

80119

40119

80119

96119

120126

120127

120127

120127

127

*controlledwithmodwheel

hh13,m alletsand brushes:

articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

degreeof
openness

ord

021

2243

4465

6687

88109

110127

grb

045

46127
0127

hh13,hands:
degreeof

articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

openness

ord

063(midinote#42)

64127(midinote#42)

2008,AtelierRobin

bel

33

NDK
c

0127(midinote#46)

hh14,sticks:
articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

degreeof
openness

ord

bel

025

025

2650

26101

5176

77101

102127

102127

hh14,m alletsand brushes:

degreeof

articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

openness

ord

045

4685

86127

hh13,hands:
degreeof

articulationsandassociatedCC#04value

openness

ord

0127(midinote#42)

0127(midinote#46)

2008,AtelierRobin

34

NDK
A P P E N D I X 4:samplecountbreakdo w n.
Instrument
stx/ord

mlt

brs

hnd

cy8splash

52

36

34

29

cy9splash

42

38

35

27

cy12splash

74

41

33

21

cy15crash

94

47

50

17

cy18crash

96

56

39

15

cy19china

82

42

42

25

cy19ride

201

102

104

22

cy19sizzle

89

54

80

24

cy20ride

86

32

54

17

hh13

2513

647

688

258

hh14

494

110

140

84

kd14wbop

133

kd14bop

96

kd20full

95

25

15

kd20wpunch

91

kd20punch

103

kd22wboom

59

kd22boom

48

kd22noreso

43

pn8cowbell

74

36

pn8cowbellm

75

28

sn10wjungle

421

sn10jungle

321

sn10piccolo

200

sn12wbopm

575

sn12bopm

136

sn12wbop

444

57

385

46

58

381

46

sn12bop

407

sn12dead

164

sn12funk

348

sn12orleans

190

sn12tight

351

sn14wmetal

164

sn14metal

129

sn14wrock

203

146

41

156

sn14rock

179

tm_wrock

677

323

303

205

tm_rock

639

338

303

194

tm_wbop

794

353

tm_bop

776

334

tm_wdry

189

tm_dry

195

tm_noreso

135

2008,AtelierRobin

35

259
413

258

ns_kit 7

APPENDIX 5: universal mapping chart.

13
15

20

18
22
25
27
30
32
34
37
39
42
44
46
49
51
54
56
58

11

M O D U L A T I O N

cy12splash_ord
pn8cowbell_ord

W H E E L

sn_e2cl
sn_rol
hh_ordl
tm16_rmsl
tm14_rmsl
tm12_rmsl
tm10_rmsl
tm8_rmsl
cy19china_top/rol
hh_grb
cy8splash_bel/rol
cy15crash_rim/rol
kd_cls_bxxx
kd_opn_bxxx
sn_e2cr
sn_rolr
hh_ordr
tm16_rim
tm14_rim
tm12_rim
tm10_rim
cy19china_grb
cy20ride_bel
cy8splash_ord
cy15crash_ord

sn_xtx_axxx

hh_topl
hh_spl
hh_bel

cy18crash_rim/rol

cy20ride_rim/rol

cy12splash_rim/rol

pn8cowbell_top

cy19ride_rim/rol

sn_xtk_xxxa

sn_rmhr

hh_topr
hh_ped

hh_opnr

cy18crash_ord

cy20ride_ord

cy12splash_ord

pn8cowbell_ord

cy9splash_ord

cy19ride_bel

cy19ride_grt

cy15crash_grb

cy8splash_grb

cy20ride_bel

cy19china_grb

tm8_rim

tm10_rim

tm12_rim

tm14_rim

tm16_rim

hh_ordr

sn_rolr

sn_e2cr

kd_opn_bxxx

kd_cls_bxxx

cy15crash_rim/rol

cy8splash_bel/rol

hh_grb

cy19china_top/rol

tm8_rim

tm10_rim

tm12_rim

tm14_rim

tm16_rim

hh_ordl

sn_rol

sn_e2cl

kd_opn_axxx

kd_cls_axxx

hh_topl
hh_spl
hh_bel
cy18crash_bel
cy20ride_elv
cy12splash_bel
pn8cowbell_top
cy19ride_elv
sn_xtk_bxxx
sn_rmsr
hh_topr
hh_ped
hh_opnr

kd_opn_axxx

127

sn_xtx_axxx

kd_cls_axxx

sn_e2cr

kd_opn_bxxx

kd_cls_bxxx

cy15crash_bel

cy8splash_bel

hh_grb

cy19china_top

tm8_rmsl

tm10_rmsl

tm12_rmsl

tm14_rmsl

tm16_rmsl

hh_ordl

sn_prsl

sn_e2cl

kd_opn_axxx

86

sn_xtx_axxx

kd_cls_axxx

sn_ordl

hh_topl
hh_spl
hh_bel
cy18crash_top
cy20ride_elv
cy12splash_top
pn8cowbell_top
cy19ride_crs
sn_xtk_bxxx

sn_prsr
hh_ordr
tm16_rmsr
tm14_rmsr
tm12_rmsr

cy19china_ord
cy20ride_bel
cy8splash_ord
cy15crash_ord

cy9splash_ord

sn_rmhl

46

14
sn_prsl

sn_ordr

sn_rmsr
hh_topr
hh_ped
hh_opnr

tm10_rmsr

sn_rmsl

kd_cls_axxx

16
hh_ordl

tm8_ordl

38
sn_prsr

sn_rmsl

17
tm16_ordl

kd_opn_axxx

19
tm14_ordl

C0

21
tm12_ordl

12

23
26
cy19china_top

tm10_ordl

28
hh_grb

C1

29
cy8splash_bel

24

31
cy15crash_top
kd_cls_bxxx

33
35

40

hh_ordr

kd_opn_bxxx

41

tm16_ordr

C2

43

tm14_ordr

36

45

tm10_ordr

tm12_ordr

C3

47
48

tm8_ordr

cy12splash_ord
pn8cowbell_ord
cy9splash_ord

tm8_rim

50

cy19china_ord

cy18crash_ord

52

cy20ride_bel

cy19ride_ord

tm8_rmsr

53

cy8splash_ord

cy19ride_bel

cy18crash_ord

55

cy15crash_ord

cy19ride_ord

cy20ride_ord

57

cy19ride_bel

cy20ride_ord

59

cy19ride_ord

C4

cy19ride_bel

60

sn_xtx_axxx

sn_rim

hh_topl

hh_spl

hh_rim

cy18crash_rim/rol

cy20ride_rim/rol

cy12splash_rim/rol

pn8cowbell_top

cy19ride_grc

sn_xtk_xxxa

sn_rim

hh_topr

hh_ped

hh_opnr

cy18crash_grb

cy20ride_grb

cy12splash_grb

pn8cowbell_ord

cy9splash_grb

NB: for brush kits, the following substitutions are made: sn_ord -> cls, sn_prs -> opn, sn_xtx_xaaa -> swl, sn_xtk_bxxx -> sws, hh_top -> ord, hh_ordl -> sn_swc, hh_ordr -> sn_swu, cy_rim -> sws.
Articulations shown after slashes are for mallets only.

- 35 -

2005, naturalstudio