EDIT : There are now various versions of this kit out at :
www.smmdrums.wordpress.com
These included kontakt, sfz, tx16wx and 2 reaper versions (all of which are 32 velocity layers with upto 8 round robins).
Only the version called MegaReaper Drumkit has 127 velocity layers and 2 to 4 round robins, with the wav files being multichannel.
So we have versiosn to suit each and every need and taste.
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After much blood, sweat and tears its finally ready :
SM MegaReaper Drumkit !
This is a VERY deeply sampled classic / vintage Ludwig 65 / 69 drum kit that has exclusively been developed for Reaper (no add-ons required). It may well be one of the deepest sampled kits in the world. And it is completely dry for you to sculpt as you like using Reaper’s superior processing.
And if you don't have Reaper , you can use the included 1.9 GB of open 24 bit wav samples in whatever sampler you choose.
The samples are precisely named so mapping should be a breeze. But you should at least try the included Reaper kit even if you are not a Reaperite.
A demo running the Lite Version (with zero processing barring eq for high passing) :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxI...ew?usp=sharing
What makes it so special ?
Glad you asked. The instrument has :
Kick : 127 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Snare No Ring : 127 velocity layers x 4 round robins
Snare Studio Ring : 127 velocity layers x 4 round robins
Snare Rimshots : 51 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Tom 1 : 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Tom 2 : 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Tom 3 : 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Hihat - Closed : 127 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Hihat - Foot Closed : 46 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Hihat - Foot Open : 46 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Hihat - Loose : 127 velocity layers x 4 round robins
Hihat - Open : 26 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Ride 17 - 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Ride 17 Bell - 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Ride 20 : 49 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Ride 20 Bell : 45 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Crash 15 : 45 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Crash 17 : 45 velocity layers x 2 round robins
Yes, you read that correct. The main snare (a classic 1965 Ludwig 5"x14" Jazz Festival Snare drum) has 127 velocity layers and 4 round robins !! The kicks and hats also have 127 velocity layers and 2 round robins !! And I can confirm, it is a pleasure to play and program.
Pick up your jaw off the floor and let’s move on.
The mic channel layout is as follows :-
The Snare: four separate mics (Top, Bottom, Stereo combining Left & Right overheads mic).
The Kick Drum: one close mic as well as Stereo combining Left & Right overhead mics.
The Toms: one close mic as well as Stereo combining Left & Right overhead mics.
The Hats : One Stereo combining Left and Right mics.
The Cymbals : One Stereo combining Left and Right mics
Yes, that is correct. Each of those 127 x 4 snare samples have 4 mic channels (it’s a 4 channel / track wav file). So effectively its 127 x 4 x 4 = 2032 samples just for just one snare articulation !!
ALL of the samples are multi-channel with the minimum being hats and cymbals (2 channel true stereo) and the main drums being 4 channels. ALL of the samples are unprocessed and un-normalized to preserve their natural dynamics. You can tweak them in a myriad of ways to your liking.
The Reaper instrument provides control over EACH mic channel. Example : for the snare you can mix in some more top mic channel , apply compression to the bottom mic channel and reverb to the overhead channels. Then you can further process these 4 channels combined in the snare bus.
The general flow is :
MIDI In / Drum Sequencer
|
V
Samples (multi channel wav files having upto 127 velocity layers and 4 round robins)
|
V
Samplers (RS5K instances where the basic sample playback behavior /ADSR / MIDIMap can be tweaked)
|
V
Drum Mic Channels (where you can set the mix amount and processing for each mic depending on what’s available)
|
V
Drum Buses (where you can process the combined bus for each kit piece)
There is a very clear and helpful manual to get you started :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxI...ew?usp=sharing
You should read it cover to cover (it’s a short 21 pages only) to understand the instrument (which has a lot of levels).
There are 2 versions available for you to choose from based on your requirement and system specs :
SM MegaReaper Drumkit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxI...ew?usp=sharing
It requires a minimum of 6 GB RAM and 2 GB HDD space
This is the full kit with all the details as mentioned above.
SM MegaReaper Drumkit Lite
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxI...ew?usp=sharing
It requires a minimum of 4 GB RAM and 1 GB HDD space
This is the kit with no round robins (yet ALL of the velocity layers) and only 1 Crash, 1 Ride and no HH Loose articulation. It still sounds fantastic.
Note : Make sure that the mixer (Ctrl + M) and the screensets (Ctrl + E) windows are visible and docked in Reaper at the bottom to maximize your experience. And please do read the manual.
Please use this thread for any queries and clarifications or email me (mentioned in the manual).
CREDITS
All sampling done by the extremely generous forum member SMM (details in the manual)
All sample editing by Suleiman
All instrument development by Suleiman
Technical Advise by Tod and SMM
There are plans for an even better sampled kit with more articulations, but that may take a while.
Legal note:
These samples were recorded and created by Reaper forum member SMM.
SMM is offering these drum and cymbal samples to the public royalty free (free of charge) to use in any audio/video production
for both commercial and private use. This is a "free use" license. No payment is required to use these samples in any production.
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If you do not have enough RAM
OR
do not want multi-mic control
OR
do not want 127 velocity layers (yes I admit it’s a slight overkill)
THEN
please use Tod’s excellent stereo samples based kit for Reaper, made from the same set of raw files by SMM, but completely differently edited / normalized and with much less velocity layers.
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If you have the full Kontakt , he has shared a multi-mic version for Kontakt, but again these are completely differently edited samples from mine and with much less velocity layers.
Links to both his RS5K and Kontakt instruments are here :
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=150868