BBO 2.0 Percussion – Precision Presets

BBO Percussion includes the full sample content of the previously available BBO Packs Dorado (Percussion Ensembles) and Fornax (Pitched Percussion Ensembles) in one easily accessible package. The powerful collection gives you instant access to the driving force of the Big Bang Orchestra – a vibrant world of rhythm, resonance, and sheer orchestral impact. It also includes a collection of MIDI loops that can be played within the Synchron Player and customized in your DAW.

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library's series of Synchron Instruments! As the name says, Big Bang Orchestra furnishes you with a selection of full-orchestra articulations, at the same time allowing you (if you haven't done so already) to explore our powerful Synchron Player software. If you're looking for that extra dramatic effect or want to highlight a passage in your composition, this bonus library could be the solution, or at least point you in the right direction.

There are three types of Precision Preset: In “VelXF rolls - MOD” presets, velocity crossfading is activated for rolls, so that their volume can be controlled with the Modwheel (MIDI CC 1) while they are being executed. In “VelXF – MOD”, velocity crossfading is activated in general, and “Velocity” presets are controlled by keystroke.

Presets which combine instruments of one family or similar timbre have more or less the same layout: Monster Drums, Bass Drums, Thunder Toms, Special Drums, Snare Ensemble, and Suspended Cymbals. With all of them you can choose between hard and soft beaters; only the snare ensemble has sticks and hotrods.

The other presets have no selection of beaters (except Big Timpani): Super Crashes, Big Metal, Small Metal, Drums and Pianos, Big Timpani, Low Bells, and High Bells.

If you’re looking for more extravagant sound qualities, you can find special Mixer Presets for each set in the player's browser tab “MIXERPRESET” under the heading “04 Processed”.

• Range: C4–G6; snares, cymbals C4–D6

These sets which have largely the same layout are named Monster Drums, Bass Drums, Thunder Toms, Special Drums, Snare Ensemble, and Suspended Cymbals. With all of them you can choose between hard and soft beaters, only the snare ensemble has sticks and hotrods.

• Range: C4–G6; snares, cymbals C4–D6

• Keyswitches hard/soft beater (snare sticks/hotrods): C3/D3

• Mixer Presets: You can find special Mixer Presets for each set under the heading "04 Processed" (MIX tab) if you're looking for special sound qualities.

Mapping

Snare Ensemble and Suspended Cymbals do not feature “no Xfade” rolls mapped to F6–G6.

Super Crashes, Big Metal, Small Metal: only one slot and therefore no keyswitches. The crashes have sizzles instead of rolls, resulting in a somewhat different mapping layout.

Mapping Super Crashes

• Range: C4–D#6

Mapping Big Metal, Small Metal

• Range: C4–D6

These presets offer single hits and rolls of pitched percussion. Two of them are reinforced by three grand pianos to lend even more body to these powerful sounds.

Single hits ringing and secco, rolls ringing and secco, rolls crescendo 1/2/4 sec, and clusters. The clusters have a special mapping (see below).

• Instruments:
  Left 1: Grand piano 1 (Bösendorfer Imperial)
  Left 2: Big taiko (Original 36")
  Center 1: Grand piano 2 (Steinway D-274)
  Center 2: Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Light)
  Right 1: Grand piano 3 (Yamaha CFX)
  Right 2: Bass drum (Kolberg “Dicke Bertha” 36")

• Range: A#1–D4

• Articulation: C1–G1

Mapping Clusters

• Range: C3–D#6

Played with hard and soft beaters: single hits ringing and secco, rolls ringing and secco, and rolls crescendo 1/2/4 sec.

• Instruments:
  Left: Big taiko (Original 36")
  Center: Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Light)
  Right: Bass drum (Kolberg “Dicke Bertha” 36")

• Range: A#1–D3

• Beaters: A0/B0

• Articulation: C1–F#1

Single hits and rolls, ringing and secco.

• Instruments:
  Left 1: Grand piano 1 (Bösendorfer Imperial)
  Left 2: Low plate bells (Kolberg, C2–B4)
  Center 1: Grand piano 2 (Steinway D-274)
  Center 2: Tubular bells (Bergerault C25, F4–F6)
  Right 1: Grand piano 3 (Yamaha CFX)
  Right 2: Burma gongs

• Range: A#1–D4

• Articulation: C1–D#1

Single hits ringing and secco.

• Instruments, High Bells
  Left: High plate bells (Kolberg, C4–C7)
  Center: Tubular bells (Bergerault C25, F4–F6)
  Right: Vibraphone (Musser M55)

• Instruments, High Gongs
  Left: Medium suspended cymbal (Zildjian, 16")
  Center: Triangles (Kolberg)
  Right: Burma gongs

• Range: High Bells C4–D7, High Gongs C4–D6

• Ringing/secco: C1/C#1