Drum Kit Reference

Kit

Description

Use...

Soft

Warm, soft kit, ranging from very low to mid dynamics (soft to medium hits)

… whenever you need subtle drums that don’t dominate the song and where the drummer never hits hard.

Deep

Deep, full drum kit, providing a strong foundation.

… particularly in grooving acoustic music, but generally anywhere where you need the drum kit to provide bottom end and foundation.

Natural

The most natural, generic kit.

… for a wide range of styles, because it’s a great starting point and very versatile. If you’re unsure, start with Natural kit.

Tight

Small, tight kit, with a light, punchy snare.

… in Funk, Hip Hop, R’n’B and generally when you need the kit to support the groove with lots of punchy transients and without sounding too deep or hard.

Hard

Very punchy kit, hit extra hard, lots of attack transients

…in Rock and Modern Rock. Pretty much the opposite of Soft Kit – use this one when you need a kit cutting through with a strong foundation and

lots of punch.

Kit

Description

Use...

Dry

Warm, balanced and natural-sounding drum kit with a deep snare.

… as your go-to kit for natural, unprocessed- sounding

material.

Fresh

Open-sounding kit with more room, a small open kick and a snare that glues in nicely.

… to make drums shine in sparse, uncluttered arrangements with not too many tracks.

Deep

Low-tuned, ultra-fat kit with an almost electronic- sounding kick and a snare with lots of low end.

… for 70s and generally retro dance material, but also modern pop and rock - whenever you need deep drums.

Hip

Hard-knocking sound, tuned a little higher with a resonant kick, light, almost electronic-sounding hats.

… for modern dance styles.

Works perfectly with low synth basses/subs.

Fat

Natural kit with a low- thrusting kick and a fat-yet- tight snare.

… anything 4-on-the-floor and generally pop, rock and dance that needs a fat kit.

Kit

Description

Use...

Open

Very natural and open-sounding kit, warm and fat, with unobtrusive snare and big toms.

… for general-purpose pop, rock and acoustic power

drums.

Fat

Kit with huge force, a powerful snare and a fat, deep kick.

… for more rock-oriented material that needs a strong kick foundation and a snare that cuts

through.

Punch

Tight and very punchy kit with the snare tuned high and accent on the kick, slightly more processed.

… wherever you want the drums to stick out or hold up against walls of guitars.

Deep

Low-tuned, resonant kit, played

medium-hard.

… if you’re after a more old-fashioned drum sound.

Hard

The hard rock kit, with a punchy rock snare and a

present kick drum.

… for hard rock to metal, where subtlety would get in the way

Kit

Description

Use

Wide

Long and resonating. A wooden snare with extremely long sustain meets a ridiculously big bassdrum.

Loose and relaxed soul, late 70s session drums or as extra flavour on urban Hiphop grooves.

Rich

Traditional tuning used by many funk and soul drummers in the late 60s and early 70s.

Whenever you want a “historic” vibe, be it for main drums or drumloop aesthetic, this is a good place to start.

Classic

The “one size fits all” drumkit, very natural yet processing friendly.

This works for pretty much everything.

Short

Damped drums, prepared with towels and that classic Ringo wallet.

Damping is either very 60s, or very pop, depending on the mix preset you run this through. Best suited for slightly lower velocities.

Punch

Used to be known as the “Disco Kit” - Extremely short and punchy tuning and preparation.

Obviously great for what the name suggests, but also the best starting point for “electronic drums that are alive” with lots of processing.