Percussion Ensembles

Bigger Bangs!

Big, fat percussion sounds are an essential part of a large sounding orchestra, lending epic size, power and drive to any track. As with the previous tutti recordings of the Big Bang Orchestra series, we sampled up to six percussionists playing together in the large hall of Synchron Stage Vienna, capturing the human liveliness and musicality that’s one of the cornerstones of the entire series. The instruments were selected from Synchron Stage Vienna’s own climate-controlled drum and percussion vault that matches the atmospheric conditions of the recording stages, and where they are meticulously maintained to be ready for film music sessions at all times.

By combining and balancing the frequency spectrums of various instruments and placing them in the room, we achieved powerful and fresh sounds – not only when striking in fortissimo, but also at softer, more subtle volumes. What’s more, we were able to isolate each instrument during the recording sessions with close microphones while playing together in the ensemble, so you have more control and creative options using the Synchron Player’s internal mixer.

Skin & Metal

BBO: Dorado contains several categories of set-ups, with two main divisions: skins and metals. By combining instruments from both groups you’ll cover the entire frequency spectrum, in addition to reaping the intoxicating energy of a large percussion ensemble consisting of up to twelve musicians! The skin categories include Monster Drums, Bass Drums, Thunder Toms, Special Drums, and Snare Drum Ensemble. In the metal group you’ll find Suspended Cymbals, Super Crashes, Big Metal, and Small Metal.

The instruments were lined up at three main positions on stage (left, center, right). All positions, with one or two instruments each, were played at once and recorded with multiple microphones, including an overhead mic for every stage position and close mics for every instrument. The overheads as well as the individual instrument signals are available separately in the Synchron Player’s mixer, in addition to the Decca tree, surround and high surround mics.

You can select from a variety of articulations and their variations, including ringing or secco (damped) single hits, played tightly or loosely between the musicians of the ensemble, with hard or soft beaters, one to four upbeats, and rolls as well as crescendo rolls in various lengths. What’s more, the included collection of MIDI loops can be played with the Synchron Player’s internal MIDI player.

As you might expect, BBO: Dorado plays extremely well with the previous installments of the series, energizing your Big Bang Orchestra with punchy strikes, metal hits and cymbal crashes.