Studio Jazz Drums
Studio Jazz Drums is based on the original Vienna Jazz Drums collection and includes the updated sample database recorded in the tight and controlled ambience of our first recording studio, the Silent Stage. The drum set can therefore be placed in any acoustic environment and at any position in a room, from dry closets to halls and venues such as the rooms provided by Vienna MIR Pro 3D.
The entire sample database was optimized for the Vienna Synchron Player and its advanced algorithms and features. The set was furnished with customized impulse responses so that it can easily be placed in its ideal spot on the virtual Synchron Stage Vienna. The volume levels of all articulations have been precisely adjusted and matched to achive a balanced overall sound for seamless, natural performances when switching through various articulations.
The drum set consists of kick drum, snare drum, hi-hat, high and low toms, ride and crash cymbals played with sticks, mallets, and brushes, as well as several effect sounds. The mallet samples are a new addition and were not included in the Vienna Jazz Drums collection. Unlike its predecessor, Studio Jazz Drums does not need Vienna Ensemble in order to have the complete drum set in one player.
In order to guarantee ease of use, the library not only offers Flow and Precision Presets including all recorded samples, but also ones that conform to the standard mapping of General MIDI.
The Library provides two different kinds of Presets, accessible by clicking on the icons “Flow” resp. “Precision” in the Synchron Player’s top bar. Flow Presets offer an intuitive, graphic approach to the library’s contents, with instrument, articulation, and sound parameters displayed in a single window.
Precision Presets are what you already know if you own other VSL libraries. They allow you to explore the depths of the library, adjusting and tweaking parameters as you see fit.
As mentioned above, Flow Presets give you instant access to the most important parameters of an instrument, its articulations, and general sound settings in the Synchron Player’s Flow view. The display is subdivided accordingly, with the graphic keyboard underneath. On the Flow Browser page, you can click on “Start Tour” to step through explanations of the different Flow elements and parameters. Alteratively, you can click on the Info Hub icon in the instrument pane as shown below, where you can start the tour or connect to our online instrument academy.
The Flow Preset for Studio Jazz Drums combines many different articulations of several instruments. Changes to some parameters will therefore not affect all the patches, but only those with the relevant option. The virtual keyboard shows brief descriptions of what is mapped where (with the individual instrument ranges at the very bottom), and you can click on the keyboard icon in the top right menu bar to get a detailed overview. Of course, the General MIDI Preset contains only the articulations defined in that standard and is much easier to handle, but also restricted in its range of expression!
The Instrument section shows a symbolic image of the selected instrument – in this case, the Jazz Drums – headed by the name of the loaded Preset. You can return to the Flow Browser to select another instrument by clicking on the field. Clicking on the Info circle will connect you to the Vienna Academy, our instrumentology site.
The Dynamics fader under the instrument in this case is by default set to keystroke velocity.
In the Tone field, you get access to two more items pertaining with overall dynamics and volume:
Dynamic Range (MIDI CC31) lets you determine the sensitivity of the drum set to keystroke velocity, which can thus be narrowed or expanded.
Expression (MIDI CC11) is an additional volume control defining a percentage of CC7 (volume), and can be used for automation.
The Beaters pane holds all the samples, so to speak. In the upper field, you see the choice of sticks, mallets, or brushes with their keyswitches, which are also marked on the Synchron Player’s virtual keyboard. Of course, you can also click on a button to switch to that articulaton.
Close balance displays fader knobs for the set’s individual drums and the hi-hat, so that you can fine-tune the balance between their close microphones. To do that, you can either turn the knobs with the mouse or use MIDI CC42 to 46.
The Performance field is only active for sticks and brushes, as the mallets only have single left/right hand strokes. It contains all the playing choices using four different parameters:
With Snares on/off you can turn the drum's snares on and off using the keyswitches A0/B0.
Playing zone (MIDI CC1) controls where snare and toms are hit: center (snare only), offcenter, edge, rim, and kettle.
Timing (keyswitches C1/C#1) can be tight or loose. This option affects articulations such as flams, ruffs, etc.
Dynamic rolls also uses keyswitches starting from C1 for the snare drum to switch between roll durations (center, offcenter, edge) from 1 to 12 seconds.
In the Sound pane, you can select a basic Category on the top left, and one of the Mixer Presets from that category on the right.
Mic Balance (MIDI CC61) adjusts the relation between room and close microphoning.
Convolution Amount (MIDI CC62) adjusts the dry/wet balance and is only available when one of the convolution mixer presets is loaded.
FX/Reverb (MIDI CC5) sets the amount of reverb, which is different in intensity according to the selected preset.
Output Volume (MIDI CC63) takes care of how much of what you do comes out of the Synchron Player.
Finally, there is the choice of Output Routing represented by the four buttons Standard, Category, Multi, and Reverb+:
Standard is the standard Stereo configuration where all microphones are routed to the master output.
Category: here, only room microphones and reverb are routed to the master output. The close microphones go to output 2.
Multi routes all microphones to different outputs.
Master + reverb out – Room
Output 2 – Bass Drum
Output 3 – Snare Drum
Output 4 – Hi-Hat
Output 5 – High Tom
Output 6 – Low TomReverb+ is routed like the Multi configuration, but has the Reverb channel routed to its own output 11, provided output 11 isn’t already routed.
If you’re not sure about the routing options, you can also click on the information button next to the heading.
An instrument’s Precision Presets comprise all recorded Patches in articulation groups, which again contain types of the respective articulation, with further options if available. The general structure adheres to that of our other Synchron Collections, making it easy to switch or combine instruments without major adaptations.
Articulations are disabled by default. Enabling an articulation means that all the types contained will be activated, too, so if you happen to be short of RAM it is advisable only to activate what you really need (you can always add more types later).
The basic method for changing articulations are keyswitches, e.g., those mapped from A1 to B1 for switching between sticks, mallets, and brushes. Additional options within articulations or types are offered by Dimension Controllers. The controller function is indicated by the respective caption, as of course it may take on different tasks as needed.
For a perfect sound “out of the box” Studio Jazz Drums offers three categories of Mixer Presets.
01 Standard: Natural player, Natural public, Smokey jazzclub, Just a little ROCK, Players perspective, For brushers, Mono ribbon, No bleed, No bleed but reverb.
02 Convolution: Behind the band, Close in the room, Drums with depth, Mono ribbon, No bleed.
03 Mir Unprocessed: This Mixer Preset is intended for for use with the concert halls and studios of our renowned convolution engine, but blends equally well into any other recording environment.
To make your life easier, we created a few rhythmic loops for use with the built-in MIDI loops player. Just click on the Play icon in the Synchron Player's top right button bar! You can listen to the grooves in the MIDI loops player and drag & drop them into your DAW. The grooves work in Flow and Precision mode alike.
Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and adapt them to your specific requirements. For further information on constructing Presets, please see the Synchron Player manual.
Like other unpitched percussion instruments, the set’s snares, toms, etc. have single strokes, rolls, und dynamic rolls distributed to different patches, but stacked in the Preset. Repetitions (with the exception of dynamic repetitions) are generally mapped to two adjacent keys. For best effect, these should be played alternately.
The Preset combines all patches of the drum set’s instruments. Its first Dimension consists of the beaters used – sticks, mallets, brushes – which can be changed via keyswitches. The instruments themselves are stacked, and their mapping areas with brief descriptions displayed above the virtual keyboard. For a detailed mapping overview, klick the keyboard icon in the top right button bar.
Beaters: A1–B1.
Bass drum
The bass drum has open and closed hits, and no other options.
Open/closed: C2/C#2.
Snare drum
Single strokes, flams, ruffs, pressrolls, rimshots, stick-on stick, X-stick closed and open, static rolls, medium and strong dynamic rolls (snares-on; center, off-center, edge). Where applicable, played off center, center, edge, rim, and kettle. The Timing dimension is not only used to switch between tight and loose articulations where applicable, but also determines the duration of dynamic rolls.
Play range: D2–B3.
Snares on/off: A0/B0.
Playing zone: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, Modwheel).
Timing / dynamic roll duration: C1–G#1.
Mapping
Hi-Hat
Single strokes, bell/top/edge closed/half-open/open, foot, and foot swish.
Play range: C4–B4.
Tight/loose: C1/C#1.
Mapping
Hi Tom, Low Tom
Single strokes, flams, ruffs, rimshots, pressrolls, stick-on stick, X-stick open and muted, static rolls. Where applicable, played on center, edge, rim, and kettle.
Play range: high tom C5–B5; low tom C6–B6.
Playing zone: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, Modwheel).
Tight/loose: C1/C#1.
Mapping
Ride Cymbal, Crash Cymbal
Ride cymbal: single strokes, top near bell and near edge, edge, edge shaft, bell tip, bell shaft; tremolo. Speed controller for articulation switching between slow and fast crotchets and quavers, and very fast strokes.
Crash cymbal: single strokes, top tip and shaft, edge, edge shaft, bell tip and shaft.
Play range: ride cymbal C7–F#7; crash cymbal G7–C8.
Ride speed: Dim.Ctrl/B (playing speed).
Mapping
Effects
Several effect sounds including stick noises, clapping, finger snaps, and counting.
Play range: C#8–G#8.
Single strokes left and right on snare drum, high and low toms; cymbals top open and muted, crescendo 1/2/3/4 sec., ride only 6 sec. Addition: bass drum open/closed.
Play ranges
Bass drum open/closed: C2/C#2
Snare left/right: C3/D3
High tom left/right: C5/D5
Low tom left/right: C6/D6
Ride cymbal: C7–F#7
Crash cymbal: G7–C8
Cymbals mapping
Bass drum
Open and closed hits.
Open/closed: C2/C#2.
Snare drum
Open and muted ticks and taps, flat strokes, bounces, swishes, legato swishes, and swished repetitions. Played on center, off-center, edge, and rim. The timing of single swishes is controlled by keyswitches, that of performance swishes by playing speed.
Play range: D2–B3.
Playing zone: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, Modwheel).
Open/muted: A0/B0.
Timing single swishes: C1–E1.
Timing performance swishes: Dim.Ctrl/C (playing speed).
Mapping
Hi-Hat
Single strokes, edge/top/bell closed/half-open/open, bark tight, foot, and foot swish.
Play range: C4–B4.
Tight/loose: C1/C#1.
Mapping
Hi Tom, Low Tom
Ticks, taps, flat and rim strokes, and bounces.
Play range: high tom C5–B5; low tom C6–B6.
Mapping
Ride Cymbal, Crash Cymbal
Single strokes top, edge, bell, and bell backside; swishes slow and fast; circle (ride only).
Play range: ride cymbal C7–F#7; crash cymbal G7–C8.
Ride speed: Dim.Ctrl/B (playing speed).
Mapping
Effects
Tremolo normal, accelerando and ritardando, bouncing, rolled slow, fast, and very fast.
Play range: D8–A8.
The Preset conforms to the General MIDI standard and consequently offers a select set of articulations, making it easier to handle but naturally somewhat less expressive than the full Preset. Here, too, the first Dimension’s keyswitches control the use of sticks, brushes, or mallets, and the instruments are stacked, with brief mapping descriptions displayed above the virtual keyboard. For a detailed mapping overview, klick the keyboard icon in the top right button bar.
One of the toms was pitched so as to get a third tom as defined by the General MIDI standard. (This also applies for the Flow Preset.)
Play range: B1–B3.
Beaters: A1–B1.
The snare drum can be played with snares on and off. Snare and toms have playing zone options: center (snare only), off-center, edge, rim, and kettle. The ride cymbal has a control using playing speed to determine the samples played.
Snares on/off: A0/B0.
Playing zone: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, Modwheel).
Ride speed: Dim.Ctrl/B (playing speed).
Mapping
The snare drum offers open and muted hits. Snare and toms have playing zone options: center, off-center (snare only), edge, and rim. The ride cymbal uses playing speed to determine the samples played.
Snares open/muted: A0/B0.
Playing zone: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, Modwheel).
Ride speed: Dim.Ctrl/B (playing speed).
Mapping
The mallets have no other Dimensions apart from the instrument stack. The single strokes played on snare, toms, and cymbals are complemented by articulations played with sticks according to the General MIDI standard.
Mapping
