EASTWEST LIBRARIES Stormdrum 2 Virtual Instrument User Manual
- June 13, 2024
- EASTWEST LIBRARIES
Table of Contents
- EASTWEST LIBRARIES Stormdrum 2 Virtual Instrument
- Product Information
- Product Usage Instructions
- Welcome
- Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2, An Overview
- The Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2 User Interface
- Instruments and MIDI Performance Files
- EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP LICENSE AGREEMENT
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
EASTWEST LIBRARIES Stormdrum 2 Virtual Instrument
Product Information
- Product Name: EASTWEST | STORMDRUM 2
- User Manual Version: 1.0.3
The EASTWEST | STORMDRUM 2 is a virtual instrument that is powered by the Opus software engine. This revolutionary software engine replaces the Play engine and offers a range of new features and improvements. It supports all EastWest Libraries (with the exception of the original Hollywood Orchestra, the original Hollywood Solo Instruments, and the MIDI Guitar Series), providing a faster, more powerful, more flexible, and better-looking software engine.
Opus comes with incredible new features such as individual instrument
downloads, customized key-switches, new effects for the mixer page, scalable
retina user interface upgrades for legacy products, a powerful new script
language, and many more features that allow you to completely customize the
sound of each instrument. Using Opus and Play together, you can load up saved
projects in the Play version of the plugins. You have the option to update
your current/existing projects to Opus or leave them saved within Play. For
new compositions, it is recommended to use Opus. All East West Libraries have
their own user manuals specific to their respective libraries. For East West
Libraries supported for use within Opus, it is highly recommended to refer to
the Opus Software Manual for controls and features specific to Opus.
For more information and details about the EASTWEST | STORMDRUM 2 virtual
instrument, refer to the user manual provided.
Product Usage Instructions
- If you have purchased or upgraded to Opus, you can choose to use either Opus or Play for your projects.
- If you want to make small adjustments to an older composition, it may be more convenient to load the instruments saved in Play instead of replacing them with Opus.
- For any new composition, it is recommended to use Opus.
- Refer to the user manual specific to the EASTWEST | STORMDRUM 2 library for details on how to use the instruments and controls.
- For controls and features common to all EastWest Libraries, refer to the Opus Software Manual available at https://media.soundsonline.com/manuals/EW-Opus-Software-Manual.pdf
IMPORTANT COMPATIBILITY NOTE!
Our Revolutionary New Opus Software Engine
Our brand new Opus software engine has been years in development, and replaces
the Play engine. All EastWest Libraries (with the exception of the original
Hollywood Orchestra, the original Hollywood Solo Instruments, and the MIDI
Guitar Series) are supported in Opus, allowing them to take advantage of a
faster, more powerful, more flexible, and better looking software engine.
Opus comes with some incredible new features such as individual instrument
down-loads, customized key-switches, new effects for the mixer page, scalable
retina user interface upgrades for legacy products, a powerful new script
language, and many more features that allow you to completely customize the
sound of each instrument.
It’s one of the most exciting developments in the history of our company and
will be the launching pad for many exciting new products in the future.
Using Opus and Play Together
Opus and Play are two separate software products, anything you have saved in
your projects will still load up inside the saved Play version of the plugins.
You can update your current/existing projects to Opus if you so choose, or
leave them saved within Play.
After purchasing or upgrading to Opus you do not need to use Play, but it may
be more convenient to make small adjustments to an older composition in your
DAW loading the instruments saved in Play instead of replacing them with Opus.
For any new composition, just use Opus.
A Note About User Manuals
All EastWest Libraries have their own user manuals (like this one) that refer
to instruments and controls that are specific to their respective libraries,
as well as referencing the Play User Manual for controls that are common to
all EastWest Libraries.
For EastWest Libraries supported for use within Opus, we highly recommend
taking advantage of all the powerful new features it has to offer.
Reference this user manual for details related to the instruments and controls
specific to this library and, in place of the previously mentioned Play
Software Manual, refer to the Opus Software Manual from the link below
instead.
OPUS SOFTWARE MANUAL: https://media.soundsonline.com/manuals/EW-Opus-
Software-Manual.pdf
EASTWEST | STORMDRUM 2
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does
not rep-resent a commitment on the part of East West Sounds, Inc. The software
and sounds described in this document are subject to License Agreements and
may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied,
reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without
prior written permission by East West Sounds, Inc. All product and company
names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
© East West Sounds, Inc., 2007. All rights reserved.
East West Sounds, Inc.
6000 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
USA
For questions about licensing of products:
licensing@eastwestsounds.com
For more general information about products:
info@eastwestsounds.com
http://support.soundsonline.com
Welcome
About EastWest
EastWest (www.soundsonline.com) has been
dedicated to perpetual innovation and un-compromising quality, setting the
industry standard as the most critically acclaimed producer of Sample CDs and
Virtual (software) Instruments.
Founder and producer Doug Rogers has over 30 years experience in the audio
industry and is the recipient of many recording industry awards including
“Recording Engineer of the Year.” In 2005, “The Art of Digital Music” named
him one of “56 Visionary Artists & Insiders” in the book of the same name. In
1988, he founded EastWest, the most critically acclaimed sound developer in
the world, and recipient of over 50 industry awards, more than any other sound
developer. His uncompromising approach to quality, and innovative ideas have
enabled EastWest to lead the sound-ware business for 20 years.
In 1997 Rogers partnered with producer/composer Nick Phoenix and set up
Quantum Leap, a wholly owned division of EastWest, to produce high-quality,
no-compromise sample libraries and virtual instruments. Quantum Leap virtual
instruments are mostly produced by Nick Phoenix. Some of the larger
productions, such as Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Choirs and Quantum Leap
Pianos are co-produced by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix. As a composer, Phoenix
began scoring film trailers and television commercials in 1994. To date, he
has either scored or licensed music for the ad campaigns of over 1000 major
motion pictures including Tomb Raider 2, Terminator 3, Lord of the Rings
Return of the King, Harry Potter 2, Star Wars Episode 2, Spiderman 3, Pirates
of the Caribbean 3, Blood Diamond, Night at the Museum, and The Da Vinci Code.
Quantum Leap has now firmly established itself as one of the world’s top
producers of high-end sample libraries and virtual instruments.
In 2006, EastWest purchased the legendary Cello Studios (formerly United
Western Recorders) on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, re-naming it EastWest
Studios. The 21,000 sq. ft. facility, since remodelled by master designer
Philippe Starck, houses five recording studios and is the world headquarters
for EastWest.
Producer: Nick Phoenix
Nick began scoring film trailers and television commercials in 1994. To date,
he has either scored or licensed music for the ad campaigns of over 1000 major
motion pictures. “Rendition,” “Spider-Man 3,” “Golden Compass.” “The
Assassination of Jesse James,” “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” “Babel,”
“Hitman,” “I Am Legend,” “300,” “No Country For Old Men,” “Harry Potter 5,”
“The Brave One,” “Wall-E,” “Blood Diamond,” “Speed Racer,” and “Night at the
Museum” are a few recent examples. Nick and Thomas Bergersen founded the
ultimate trailer music company “Two Steps From Hell” in 2006.
www.twostepsfromhell.com.
Nick has also scored numerous TV shows for NBC, CBS, Showtime, and Fox. “In
Pot We Trust,” a Showtime original film, is playing in the fall of 2007.
The journey as a composer has also inspired Nick to record and program his own
sounds and samples. Nick founded Quantum Leap Productions in 1997 and Quantum
Leap has since grown to be the world’s top producer of high-end virtual
instruments. A 10-year partnership with Doug Rogers and East West has yielded
countless award winning soft-ware titles such as Stormdrum, Symphonic
Orchestra, Symphonic Choirs, RA, Voices of Passion, Ministry of Rock, Gypsy,
QL Pianos, VOTA, QL Brass, QL Guitar and Bass, Hardcore Bass, Goliath, and
Colossus.
Nick’s studio is located in Venice, California, and is 100% solar powered.
www.nickphoenix.com
Credits
Producer
Nick Phoenix
Executive Producer
Doug Rogers
Engineering
Nick Phoenix, Rhys Moody
Editing and Programming
Justin Harris, Mike Dimatteo, Pierre Martin, Nick Phoenix, Troels Follman
Additional Recordings
Troels Follman
Art Direction
Steven Gilmore, Thomas Merkle, Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix
Software
Klaus Voltmer, Patrick Stinson, Stefan Kersten, Klaus Lebkücher,
Thomas Merkle, Sam Fischmann, David Miller, Stefan Podell, David Kendall, Doug
Rogers, Nick Phoenix, Nick Cardinal, Stefan Leiste, Rhys Moody, Jonathan
Kranz, Jason Coffman
MIDI Performances
Nick Phoenix
Additional MIDI Performances
Troels Follman
Manual
John Philpit
How to Use This and the Other Manuals
All documentation for the EastWest PLAY Advanced Sample System and its
libraries is provided as a collection of Adobe Acrobat files, also called
PDFs. They can be viewed on the computer screen or printed to paper.
Each time you install one of the PLAY System libraries, two manuals are copied
to the file system on your computer:
- The manual that describes the whole PLAY System. The largest of the manuals, it addresses how to install and use all aspects of the software that are common to all libraries.
- The library-specific manual, such as the one you are currently reading. This smaller document describes aspects that differ from one library to the next, such as the list of included instruments and articulations.
Using the Adobe Acrobat Features
By opening the Bookmarks pane along the left edge of the Adobe Acrobat Reader,
the user can jump directly to a topic from the section names. Note that some
older versions of Acrobat Reader might not support all these features. The
latest Acrobat Reader can be downloaded and installed at no cost from the
Adobe web site. (As an example of a hyperlink, you can click on the last word
of the previous sentence to be taken directly to the Adobe site.)
When reading this and other manuals on the computer screen, you can zoom in to
see more detail in the images or zoom out to see more of the page at once. If
an included picture of the user interface, or a diagram, seems fuzzy or
illegible, then zoom in using one of several means provided in the Acrobat
Reader software.
Online Documentation and Other Resources
For the most up to date information, visit the support pages at EastWest’s web
site. There you can find:
- information made available after these manuals were written
- FAQ pages that may already list answers to questions you have
- suggestions from EastWest and other users of the EastWest PLAY System
- news about upcoming releases
The address is: http://support.soundsonline.com
Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2, An Overview
The Design Concept For the Stormdrum 2 Virtual Instrument
QUANTUM LEAP SD2 – THE NEXT GENERATION is the sequel to Quantum Leap Storm-
drum (one of the best selling acoustic percussion based virtual instruments
ever re-leased). SD2 is over twice the size of the original, featuring over 12
Gigabytes of all new acoustic percussion instruments (except the included
Metallica black drum kit from Ministry Of Rock). The unique selection of
included drums and percussion exceeds all other collections. As a sequel to
Stormdrum, it sets new standards that will exceed the expectations of everyone
who owns a Quantum Leap product.
Included is the new advanced EastWest PLAY sample engine offering both 64-bit
and 32-bit support. Also included are 100+ film score oriented MIDI
performances, each with dozens of variations, plus intros and endings, varying
from bombastic to hypnotic. The PLAY software allows for millions of
variations of each MIDI performance so you can create custom performances at
any tempo without any loss of sound quality because the samples are not time-
stretched, only the sequencer tempo is changed.
- Want to slow it down from 120 BPM to 50 BPM? Simply change the tempo of your sequence; the sounds will remain pristine.
- Want to change the tone to something more aggressive, or something more subtle? Simply change the dynamics and marvel as 24 velocity multi-sampled percussion creates a completely new sound.
- Want to tune, add effects or filters to specific drums? No problem.
- Want to mute specific sounds and play in your own parts? No problem.
- Sound replacement? No problem.
- Like the sound of a performance, but don’t like the rhythm? Simply use the provided multi-instrument .ewi file but create your own rhythms.
Drawing from the secret collections of 3 percussionists, SD2 – The Next Generation features some of the most amazing—and unique—multi-sampled percussion imaginable, all recorded in the famous EastWest Studio 1 (formally United-Western) for that unmistakable Hollywood soundstage vibe and a sound far beyond any other commercial percussion collection.
What’s Included
This Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2 library you purchased includes all the
following:
One required item not usually included is an iLok security key. If you already have one from an earlier purchase of software, you can use it. Otherwise, you need to acquire one. They are available from many retailers that sell EastWest and Quantum Leap products, or you can buy one online at www.soundsonline.com.
Notes from the Producer
Quantum Leap Stormdrum provided composers with a sound only found previously
in top Hollywood films. It has even made its way into many Hollywood
blockbusters. Quantum Leap SD2 – The Next Generation takes the concept to a
whole new level.
Recording the Samples
Studio 1 at the new EastWest Studios (formally United-Western) is one of the
best sounding percussion recording studios anywhere. It is very similar to the
top Hollywood sound-stages, but with a more refined sound. The studio has one
of the best mic collections in the world, and rare vintage recording equipment
that is sonically superior to any I have used previously. Digital transfers
were done through very expensive Meitner converters. I got access to some
fantastic percussion collections and purchased everything I could. I even
contacted Remo and had them build me the largest floor tom ever built (42″×42″
plus legs)! As a teenager, I remember seeing Mickey Hart play some gigantic
Remo rack toms with the Grateful Dead. That sound always stuck with me. SD1
had a cool patch called “Thunder Ensemble.” This was six musicians hitting
large drums in unison in a warehouse. SD2 has “Earthquake Ensemble,” which is
eleven musicians hitting huge, large and sometimes smaller drums in unison in
Studio 1.
A Wide Range of Instruments
There are many gems in SD2 and lots of subtle, beautiful sounds as well. I
collected many small Tibetan bells over the years and you’ll find these
together in one beautiful patch. Troels Follman contributed his hang-drum
samples which are very unique. Other unique instruments are the Whale Drum,
Giant Tongue Drum, and Octaplus 9 action toms. The sound design percussion is
pretty special too, as is the Glitched Electronic Percussion. There is plenty
of very detailed conventional percussion included, also.
Generally, a lot of velocity switching is going on as well as some round robin
(alternate sample) switching. The sounds are usually organized with the middle
of the drum hits on the lowest keys, and as you move up the keys the hits move
to the outside of the drum. Use CC11 (volume) and CC12 (pan) inside your
sequencer, because they work per MIDI channel, unlike CC7 and CC10 which
control the entire instance of PLAY’s volume and pan. The Mod Wheel controls a
fantastic filter which can give the sounds more life and sound design options.
The MIDI Performances
The MIDI performances in SD2 are standard MIDI files. A maximum of 16 tracks
are contained within each file. It is crucial that you set up a template or
have 16 tracks available in your sequencer, all assigned to one instance of
PLAY. Each track needs to be assigned to a unique MIDI channel (track 1 to
MIDI channel 1, track 2 to channel 2, and so on), all pointing to one instance
of PLAY. After installing SD2, drag the “SD2 MIDI Performances” folder onto
your hard drive, from DVD #1. Inside this folder you will find all 100+ midi
performance files and a folder named “SD2 Audition.” This audition folder
contains a short snippet (.mp3) from each of the 100+ MIDI performances to
give you an idea of what each one sounds like. Please note that the .mp3 is
low quality and only represents one small part of the MIDI performance. Drag
any .mid file from the “SD2 MIDI Performances” folder into your sequence, and
up to 16 named tracks will spread out onto the empty PLAY tracks you have set
up in advance.
In the PLAY Browser, go to the “Midi Perf Multis” folder located with all the
SD2 pro-grams. Load the .ewi file with the same name as the MIDI performance
file. Now set the time signature and tempo to match the midi file name: for
example, “Warriors 4 4 120” means the time signature is 4/4 and the tempo is
120 bpm. Of course, you are free to change the tempo, but it’s important to
start with the intended tempo, so you know what we were going for. Each
sequence contains CC11 volume control and CC12 pan control for each track,
allowing you to hear a good mix of the MIDI performance without doing
anything. If you hear any distortion, reduce the volume of the entire instance
of PLAY slightly.
CRITICAL NOTE: It is important to confirm your sequencer is receiving CC11,
CC12 and CC1. To test this, load any program and confirm that CC11 changes
volume, CC12 changes panning and CC1 (the Mod Wheel) opens and closes the
filter. If this is not functioning, change the settings in your sequencer that
filter out MIDI messages. These controls are crucial to the playback of the
MIDI performance files. See the section on MIDI Control Codes in the next
chapter for more information on CC11, CC12, and CC1.
Changing tempo, muting instruments, adding instruments and parts, changing the
tone using velocity and controllers, quantizing note, and so on: all are
possible. If you are not experienced with creating MIDI percussion
performances, they might be educational, too. The multi-instrument .ewi files
that contain the 16 sound patches for each MIDI performance are also useful as
templates to create your own MIDI performances.
You may want to add some reverb on top of the natural sound-stage ambience, as
is typically done in film-scores. Sounds in SD2 have varying levels of
ambience and you’ll find that this works well to create a 3-D sound image.
However, if you need to add some reverb to give the sound more sheen and
depth, the built-in convolution reverb in PLAY is excellent for this, albeit
processor hungry. Choose a reverb, hit the “Master” button, and then each
program’s reverb level will send to the same master reverb, saving computer
resources. Adding a master limiter or compressor will also further improve the
sound. Of course, another option is to process each track separately and
really develop the sound.
The Delay control is useful also. Use the Stereo Spread control to widen the
soundstage, and channel sourcing to get a mono signal for exact placement in
the stereo field. You’ll find that the left and right channels often sound
quite different, which is useful. SD2 is a timeless Virtual Instrument that I
am very proud of. Make it your own by customizing the performances! Enjoy it!
—Nick Phoenix
Hardware Requirements
See the Play System manual for a complete list of the Hardware and Software
Requirements for installing and running any PLAY System library. In addition,
the available space on the hard drive required for a full installation of
Stormdrum 2 is approximately 12.5 GB (Gigabytes).
The Quantum Leap Stormdrum 2 User Interface
Each library presents its own interface when one of its instruments is the
current one, as specified in the Instruments drop-down in the upper right
corner. The image at the bot-tom of the page provides an overview of the
entire window when in Player View.
Much of this interface is shared by all PLAY System libraries, and the common
features are described in the PLAY System manual. The controls described here
are:
-
Round Robin Reset
-
Stereo Spread
-
Filter
-
Reverb
-
Sensitivity
-
the graphical representation of the Envelope
Round Robin Reset Button
A round robin articulation is one in which several different samples are
recorded with all parameters, such as volume, speed of attack, and so on,
being essentially constant. The PLAY Engine then knows to alternate between
the two or more samples during playback. The goal is to avoid what’s often
called the “machine gun effect,” in which playing the same sampled note
repeatedly causes the unnatural sound of consecutive notes being mechanically
identical.
There’s one potential problem with round robin technology, and one way to
solve it is the Round Robin Reset button. The PLAY Engine remembers which
sample should be played the next time the note sounds. If, for example, a
round-robin patch contains two samples, A and B, and a piece uses that note 7
times, the PLAY Engine plays A B A B A B A. If the piece is played again from
the beginning, the engine will play starting with B, because that’s next in
order. The second rendition will be subtly different. Being able to reset all
round-robin articulations to the beginning of the cycle allows for consistent
playback.
You can use this button to reset all round robin instruments on demand. Or use
your choice of a MIDI note or MIDI control code to reset them one instrument
at a time from a MIDI keyboard or the data stored in a sequencer project. See
the description of the Settings dialog for more information about this
instrument-specific approach.
Stereo Spread Controls
The knob in this set of controls affects the apparent width of the sound of
the instrument within the soundscape. Turning the knob all the way to the left
makes the sound seem to come from a specific location as indicated by the Pan
control. The more this knob is turned to the right the wider the apparent
source of the sound, making it harder to pinpoint in the stereo field. The
Left and Right buttons specify the source of the input for this control, the
left or right channel. Note that by clicking the button that is on, you can
turn it off, which means that neither channel is selected.
Filter Controls
The Filter controls take the sound of the instrument, and modify it by
filtering out some of the sound above a certain frequency. This type of effect
is commonly called a Low Pass Filter.
The Frequency knob determines where the sound starts to be filtered out. The
Resonance knob specifies how much the filter “rings” at the dialed frequency.
The higher the reso-nance knob is set, the more focused this ringing becomes.
The graph gives you visual cues about the frequency distribution you are
creating with the settings you select.
Reverb Controls
A generic Reverb control is described in the main PLAY manual, and that
description applies here as well.
The Reverb control in Stormdrum 2 contains an extra knob, Predelay, not
present in most other PLAY UIs. Increasing the level with this knob delays the
onset of the reverb so that the initial section of the sample is unaffected.
This feature allows the sound of each attack to maintain its true color while
the rest of the note still gains the benefit of the reverb effect.
Sensitivity
This control defines a mapping between the velocity of the MIDI notes and the
velocity of the notes that sound. Being able to control the sensitivity is
primarily useful when playing live, for example on a keyboard, drum pad, or
Zendrum. Suppose you want to use mostly percussion sounds at the high end of
the velocity range (maybe 80 to 120, out of 127) for some instrument, but find
it difficult to play the keyboard in a way that lets you consistently play the
sounds you want. Drag up with the mouse over the Sensitivity graph so the
graph looks like the picture at the left. A medium touch on the keyboard
sounds louder than it would otherwise and a wider range of touches will all
generate sounds in the louder range you want. Conversely, drag the graph
downward to gain more control over the lower half of the velocity range.
The Graphical Representation of the Envelope
The Envelope Controls are described in the main PLAY System manual because
they are common to all PLAY System libraries. Only some libraries include the
graph, as shown here, so it is included in the manuals for those libraries
only. Note that the total width of the graph represents the total length of
all phases of the envelope.
Therefore, when you change something in one part of the graph, for example,
the decay, you may see the slopes of other components, the attack and the
release, change as well because those phases become a larger or smaller
percent of the whole; this is as expected.
The Browser View
The Browser behaves identically among all PLAY System libraries. Read the main
PLAY System manual for information about how to use that view.
MIDI Control Codes in Stormdrum 2
This library uses special behavior for MIDI control codes compared to other
PLAY libraries. The reason for this difference is that some users will want to
select sounds from multiple SD2 instruments to create a kind of ad hoc drum
kit and trigger all the notes within a single track in the sequencer.
Individual SD2 instruments within an instance of PLAY respond independently to
CC11 and CC12 messages to affect the volume and the pan position,
respectively. This is in contrast to CC7 and CC10, which affect all notes in
the track.
Instrument-level Panning Control
Let’s say you load 3 instruments into one instance of PLAY—Indonesian Bongos,
Roman War Drums, and Tambourines—and assign them to MIDI channels 1, 2, and 3
in PLAY. In a single track of the sequencer, assign the bongo notes to channel
1, the Roman drum notes to channel 2, and the tambourine notes to channel 3.
(Check your sequencer’s documentation if not sure how to do that.)
Continuing that example, say you want to simulate the tambourine player
walking back and forth across the stage. Set up an envelope on the track (or
physical slider/knob, if preforming live into the sequencer) and assign it to
MIDI channel 3 (the tambourine) and control code 12 (pan position). As the
value of that control code changes, it affects the pan position of the
tambourine without affecting the drums in the same track. If you had used the
standard control code for panning, CC10, all three drums would have moved
together. [Note that as of this writing, PLAY does not respond to CC10
messages, but will at some point. If CC10 does not seem to work yet, you are
probably not doing anything wrong. Wait for an update.]
Instrument-level Volume Control
It is also possible to control the dynamics of one SD2 instrument at a time
when two or more share a single track in the sequencer. Using the same example
as above, if you want the Roman War Drums to get louder without affecting the
bongos or the tambourine, create an envelope (or slider/knob) and assign it to
MIDI channel 2 (Roman war drums) and control code 11 (expression). As this
control changes, the volume of only the war drums changes, not the bongos or
tambourine. Use CC7 to change the dynamics of all three together.
The 6-Pole Filter
The Mod Wheel (MIDI control code 1) engages a 6-pole filter in order to reduce
the upper frequencies during playback of the samples. The effect is similar to
that of the Frequency knob in the Filter control except that it can be
modified in real time, including while a note is still playing. For example,
you can push the Mod Wheel all the way on, then hold down a note to play it
almost silently, and then pull the Mod Wheel downward to reveal the note
(starting with its lowest frequencies) while the note is still held. This
example assumes the recorded sound lasts long enough to be revealed this way.
In a sequencer, the Mod Wheel can be controlled with an envelope assigned to
CC1 to achieve the same effects as using the Mod Wheel on a keyboard or
control surface.
Instrument-level Controls and MIDI Performance Files
The MIDI Performance Files supplied with Stormdrum 2 are good examples of
where these instrument-level control codes are appropriate. They include CC11
(expression), CC12 (pan position), and CC1 (Mod Wheel) messages that affect
the instruments in the performances.
Instruments and MIDI Performance Files
This chapter provides specific information about each of the many instruments in the Stormdrum 2 library. First, the six collections are briefly described. The main part of this chapter is the six tables that list all the instruments. You might want to print out the pages containing these tables as a reference. The chapter ends with a list of abbrevia-tions used in instrument names.
The Stormdrum 2 Collections
The PLAY System browser lists seven collections of instruments from which an
individual instrument file (.ewi) can be selected:
Drumkits and Related: A variety of rock, orchestral, and specialized drumkits.
Each SD2 in-strument contains samples from multiple drums and maybe other
percussion that might be used together to form a drummer’s kit.
- Ethnic Drums: Various drums from around the world.
- Ethnic Metals: Various metallic instruments from around the world, including bells, bowls, cymbals, gongs, and others.
- Midi Perf Multis: Each .ewi file in this collection loads up to 16 instruments (selected from the other collections) at the same time. They are designed to be used with the MIDI Performance Files, as described at the end of this chapter, but can also be used on their own.
- Sound Design Percussion: Sound bites created with digital effects such as filters, panning, and distortion to achieve sounds and patterns that do not occur naturally.
- Woods and Shakers: A variety of samples from tambourines, wood blocks, rattles, and the like.
- Zendrum Programs: Copies of instruments in other SD2 collections, but specially programed for live performance on the Zendrum.
Tables of the Instruments
The tables of SD2 instruments are grouped into the 6 collections described
above. The tables include the name, the lowest playable note, the number of
playable notes, and some descriptive text. An asterisk (*) in front of the
number of notes means that black keys are included in the playable notes.
Individual notes within an instrument are not named or described here but, as
a general principle, as the notes go from low to high, the sounds range from
the inside to the out-side of the physical instrument followed by special
effects.
Generally, only the white keys on the keyboard are used when there are 52 or
fewer playable notes in a patch, but there are exceptions to this rule. The
black keys are used when there are not enough white keys, up to a maximum of
the full 88 keys on a piano. Audition the sounds to decide which ones are best
for your work.
Unless there is a reason not to do so, C1 (MIDI note 36, two octaves below
middle C) was usually selected as the lowest playable note in SD2 instruments.
Where the section symbol (§) occurs in a description, samples from the same
instrument are also available for the Zendrum. The sixth table below lists all
the Zendrum instruments.
DRUMKITS AND RELATED
Black Kit Basic MOR| A#0| 25| Kit Metallica used to record the “Black”
record. A simplified version of one of the kits in QL Ministry of Rock.
---|---|---|---
Black Toms Power 6| F1| 6| 6 Black action toms from the Ministry of Rock
recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Black Toms Soundstage 6| F1| 11| 6 Black soundstage (EW Studio 1) toms from
the Ministry of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Ludwig Toms Soundstage 3| F1| 6| 3 Ludwig soundstage (EW Studio 1) toms from
the Ministry of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Octaplus Mallet Toms 9| F1| 9| 9 Octaplus mallet (EW Studio 1) toms from the
Ministry of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Octaplus Rod Toms 9| F1| 16| 9 Octaplus rod (EW Studio 1) toms from the
Ministry of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR). Single hits (white keys)
and double hits (black keys).
Octaplus Stick Toms 9| F1| 16| 9 Octaplus stick (EW Studio 1) toms from the
Ministry of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR). Single hits (white keys)
and double hits (black keys).
Octaplus Toms Monster 9| F1| 9| 9 Octaplus action toms from the Ministry of
Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Octaplus Toms Power 9| F1| 9| 9 more Octaplus action toms from the Ministry of
Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR).
Octaplus Toms Soundstage 9| F1| 16| 9 Octaplus soundstage (EW Studio 1) toms
from the Minis- try of Rock recording sessions (but not in MOR). Single hits
(white keys) and double hits (black keys).
Orchestral Cymbal Rolls| C1| *30| Various orchestral cymbal rolls.
DRUMKITS AND RELATED
Orchestral Marching Kit | C1 30 An orchestral soundstage marching kit. § |
---|---|
The Beast SR | C1 *44 The largest tom on earth, built for this project by |
Remo.
Using sticks. Short release. 11 notes (C to A#) with 4 varia- tions over 4 octaves.
The Beast| C1 *44 The largest tom on earth, built for this project by Remo. Using sticks. 11 notes (C to A#) with 4 variations over 4 octaves. §
ETHNIC DRUMS
African Bowl drums| C1| 9| 3 African kettle drums made of wood and goat skin.
18, 24, and 36 inches.
---|---|---|---
Brushed Drums| C1| 16| The largest tom on earth built for this project by Remo
and many other drums, all played with brushes. §
Chinese Kettle Drums| C0| 28| 7 Chinese kettle drums made of wood and goat
skin. 4 sounds on each of 7 drums, laid out the same in 7 octaves.
Custom Bongos| C0| *46| Custom bongo set. Two groups (25 + 21) repeating
similar articulations. Note: in each group, no black keys in lowest octave,
but playable above that.
Custom Congas| C0| 49| Custom conga set. Lowest notes (C0-B3) panned left;
rest (C4-B6) panned right.
Darabuka with Metals| C1| 34| Medium size Egyptian metal darabuka with
rattles. With both resonant “doum” (low-pitched) and “tek” (higher) sounds.
Hits and brushes. §
Dholak| C1| 38| 2-headed drum from northern India, also used in Caribbean
“chutney” music. Hits and brushes. §
Dynasty O Daiko| C1| 6| Huge Ambient taikos.
Earthquake Ensemble| C1| 28| 11-man percussion ensemble.
Giant Ambient Dumbek| C1| 12| Large ambient goblet drum, often used in Balkan
Europe and the Middle East.
Indonesian Bongos| C1| 18| Small Indonesian drums. Hits and rolls. §
Malaysian Djembe| C1| 43| Medium size Malaysian djembe. Lowest notes (C1-C4)
are hits; the rest (D4-C7) are brushes. §
Moroccan Darubaka| C1| 20| Moroccan darubaka. §
Nagado Fortissimo| C1| 4| Largest Taiko, ambient.
Nepalese Two-Headed Drum| C1| 10| Small Nepalese two-headed drum. Hits and
rolls. §
O Daiko Set SR| C1| 11| 2 large taikos. Short release. First taiko is C1-A1.
Second taiko is C2 to G2.
O Daiko Set| C1| 11| 2 large taikos. First taiko is C1-A1; second taiko is C2
to G2.
Roman War Drum| C1| 7| Ancient Roman kettle drum.
Table Hits| C1| 2| Table strikes.
Timbales| C1| 7| Timbale set. First one is C1-E1; second one is C2-F2.
Tong Zi Set| C1| 12| 3 Tong Zi drums, played with sticks. §
Udu| C1| 20| Fantastic large Udu, a west African drum that resembles a water
jug with a hole in the side. §
ETHNIC METALS
11 Bowl Gongs | C1 | 20 | 11 bowl gongs struck and bowed. 5-15 inches. |
---|---|---|---|
Action Melody rev | A-1 | *17 | Staccato low piano, played in reverse. |
Action Melody | A-1 | *17 | Staccato low piano. |
Aluminaphone | C0 | 47 | Alternate scale metal tube instrument. Scale effects. |
Bowed Bowl Timp | C1 | 6 | Bowl on timpani bowed. Very long release trails. |
Bowed Cymbal | C1 | 18 | Bowed cymbal. |
Bowed Superball Gongs | C0 | 46 | Gongs rubbed with superballs. |
Brake Drums | C1 | 13 | 3 brake drums. |
Cajun Triangle | C1 | 2 | Large Cajun triangle. |
Chinese Cymbal | C1 | 12 | Small Chinese cymbal. |
Finger Cymbal 1 | C1 | 39 | Small finger cymbal. |
Finger Cymbal 2 | C1 | 25 | Small finger cymbal. |
Finger Cymbal 3 | C1 | 12 | Small finger cymbal. |
Finger Cymbal 4 | C1 | 4 | Small finger cymbal. |
Giant Buddha Bell | C1 | 5 | Huge 4-foot bowl struck and bowed. |
Gongs 7inch to 22inch | C0 | 50 | Various small gongs, various techniques. All |
played “in place” on the stage in EW Studio 1.
Gongs 24inch to 35inch| C0| 49| Various large gongs, various techniques. All
played “in place” on the stage in EW Studio 1.
Hang Drum| C1| 35| One of a kind metal drum courtesy of Troels Follman. In two
groups: C1-D3 and C4-G6. §
Indian Hi Bells| C1| 26| I found these fantastic Indian cowbells on the Big
Island of Hawaii.
Indian Low Bells| C1| 33| I found these fantastic Indian cowbells on the Big
Island of Hawaii.
Large Riq| C1| 26| Large middle eastern tambourine.
Mallet Waterphone| C1| 23| Waterphone rods struck individually with a metal
hammer.
Metal Bridge| C1| 58| 80 ft. metal bridge struck with a metal hammer.
Metal Objects| C1| 29| Various metal objects.
Opera Gong| C1| 5| Chinese opera gong.
Persian Castanets| C1| 38| Large persian castanets.
Prepared FX| C0| 81| Concert grand “prepared piano” effects.
Spring Drum| C1| 31| 2 spring drums.
Tibetan Prayer Circle| C0| 44| Nick Phoenix collected various Tibetan bells
over the course of 5 years and sampled them in position on a large table. §
Waterphone| C0| 64| Waterphone effects. The waterphone is a metal canister
filled with water with many metal rods on the outside. The rods are bowed.
Whale Drum| C1| 27| Large metal fuel tank modified to make many tones. §
SOUND DESIGN PERCUSSION
120 bpm glitched drone | C1 *44 Glitched synth effects at 120 bpm |
---|---|
120 bpm glitched drums | C1 *53 Glitched drum effects at 120 bpm |
125 bpm glitched drone | C1 *44 Glitched synth effects at 125 bpm |
125 bpm glitched drums | C1 *53 Glitched drum effects at 125 bpm |
130 bpm glitched drone | C0 *63 Glitched synth effects at 130 bpm |
130 bpm glitched drums | C1 *54 Glitched drum effects at 130 bpm |
135 bpm glitched drone | C1 *44 Glitched synth effects at 135 bpm |
135 bpm glitched drums | C1 *53 Glitched drum effects at 135 bpm |
140 bpm glitched drone | C1 *66 Glitched synth effects at 140 bpm |
140 bpm glitched drums | C1 *59 Glitched drum effects at 140 bpm |
150 bpm glitched drone | C1 *44 Glitched synth effects at 150 bpm |
150 bpm glitched drums | C1 *53 Glitched drum effects at 150 bpm |
160 bpm glitched drone | C1 *44 Glitched synth effects at 160 bpm |
160 bpm glitched drums | C1 *53 Glitched drum effects at 160 bpm |
Ambient Contortion | C0 *60 Sound design percussion. |
Ambient Largeness | C0 *85 Sound design percussion. Large ambient. |
Deja Vu | C0 *85 Reversed sound design percussion. |
Distorbia | C0 *85 Distorted sound design percussion. |
Fuzzbox | C0 *84 Distorted analogue drums. |
Godzilla Hits SR | C1 44 Huge hits. Short release. |
Godzilla Hits | C1 44 Huge hits. Full release. |
Neural Exposure | A-1 *88 Sound design percussion. |
Old Skool Neve | A-1 *88 Old Skool analogue drum machines recorded through a |
Neve console.
Panic Attack| C0 83 Reversed sound design percussion.
Psycho FX| C1 24 Psycho scratching (C3-A4) and moving (C1-F2) effects
Radiostatic Anamoly| C0 85 Sound design percussion.
Rumpfs| C1 15 Crescendo hits.
Stutter Maker high| C0 78 Short glitches for stutter construction.
Higher pitches.
Stutter Maker low| C0 78 Short glitches for stutter construction. Lower
pitches.
Stutter Maker reg| C0 78 Short glitches for stutter construction.
Regular pitches.
Swoosh Maker high| C0 79 Crescendos. Higher pitches.
Swoosh Maker low| C0 79 Crescendos. Lower pitches.
Swoosh Maker reg| C0 *79 Crescendos. Regular pitches.
WOODS AND SHAKERS
12 ft Log Drums | C1 11 Giant logs. |
---|---|
Aboriginal Percussion | C1 8 Aboriginal shakers, bones etc. |
Anklungs | C0 11 Various Anklungs, bamboo instruments that generate a |
rapidly repeating, pitched sound when shaken. Originally from Indonesia. 4
groups start at C0, F3, C5, G#5. §
Bamboo Sticks| C1 9 Bamboo sticks.
Chinese Noisemaker| C1 28 Wacky Chinese instrument.
Chinese Opera Blocks| C1 12 Chinese Opera block set
Clacks| C1 15 Various wooden ambient strikes.
Danmo| C1 23 Vietnamese wooden mallet instrument. Hits and grates. §
Devil Chasers| C1 14 Wooden hollow sticks with grooves. §
Tambourines| C1 12 Various tambourines. Hits and shakes.
Ticki-Ticki| C1 16 High pitched wooden clicky, ticky sounds for fast
rhythms. §
Tongue Drum| C1 *25 Large wooden box with carved wooden tongues, played
with rubber mallets.
Vietnamese Shakers n Rattles| C1 18 Various shakers and rattles from
Vietnam.
To learn more about the Zendrum, go online to check out
www.zendrum.com. The instruments in this collection
are copies of instruments in other SD2 collections, but specially programed
for Zendrum owners. Map your Zendrum to white keys only starting at C1 (MIDI
note 36). (East West has no affiliation with Zendrum.)
If you do not own a Zendrum, there’s no need to use these instruments.
Instruments with “m” in the name use a “mute group,” meaning that the start of
some notes will end (or mute) an already playing note. The classic example of
such a group is that the start of a closing high-hat sound needs to end the
sound of an open high-hat to sound realistic. To hear that effect in a Zendrum
patch, open the “Brushed Drums ZEN m” instrument. Hold the note F1 to hear a
long-lasting drum hit. Then hold down the F1 note again quickly followed by a
very short B1 note; the second note stops the sound of the first note even
while the first key is still held. Contrast that with “Brushed Drums ZEN” (no
“m” at the end) where F1 continues to reverberate after B1 is played.
ZENDRUM PROGRAMS
Anklungs ZEN m | C1 24 Various Anklungs. |
---|---|
Brushed Drums ZEN m | C1 16 The largest tom on earth built for this |
project by Remo and many other drums, all played with brushes.
Brushed Drums ZEN| C1 16 The largest tom on earth built for this project
by Remo and many other drums, all played with brushes.
Danmo ZEN m| C1 23 Vietnamese wooden mallet instrument. Hits and grates.
Darabuka with Metals ZEN m| C1 34 Medium size Egyptian metal darabuka
with rattles. Hits and brushes.
Darabuka with Metals ZEN| C1 34 Medium size Egyptian metal darabuka with
rattles. Hits and brushes.
Devil Chasers ZEN| C1 14 Wooden hollow sticks with grooves.
Dholak ZEN| C1 37 2-headed Indian drum. Hits and brushes. No sound on F2.
Earthquake Ensemble ZEN| C1 22 11-man percussion ensemble. §
Godzilla Hits ZEN| C1 Huge hits. Full release. §
Hang Drum ZEN| C1 28 One of a kind metal drum courtesy of Troels
Follman. Plus D#5, E5, G#5, A5, B5 (33 notes total).
Indonesian Bongos ZEN m| C1 18 Small Indonesian drums. Hits and
rolls.
Malaysian Djembe ZEN| C1 43 Medium size Malaysian djembe.
Moroccoan Darubaka ZEN| C1 20 Moroccan darubaka.
Nepalese 2hd Drum ZEN m| C1 10 Small Nepalese two-headed drum. Hits
and rolls.
Orchestral Marching ZEN| C1 30 An orchestral soundstage marching
kit.
Taikos ZEN| C1 11 Large taikos. No sound on B1
The Beast ZEN| C1 26 The largest tom on earth, built for this
project by Remo. Us- ing sticks. No sound on B3
Tibetan Prayer Circle ZEN| C1 26 Nick Phoenix collected various Tibetan bells
over the course of 5 years and sampled them “in position” on a large table.
Plus C0, E0, F0, G0, A5, B5, C6, D6 (34 notes total)
Ticki-Ticki ZEN| C1 16 High pitched wooden clicky, ticky sounds
for fast rhythms.
Tong Zi Set ZEN| C1 12 3 Tong Zi drums, played with sticks.
Tongue Drum ZEN| C1 25 Large wooden box with carved wooden tongues,
played with rubber mallets.
Udu ZEN| C1 20 Fantastic large Udu.
Whale Drum ZEN| C1 25 Large metal fuel tank modified to make many
tones. No sound on F3, G3.
Abbreviations Used In Instrument Names
The names of instruments are sometimes shortened to fit in the browser list.
The following table provides a way to look up any unfamiliar abbreviations
until you become familiar with the shortcuts.
ABBREVIATIONS IN INSTRUMENT NAMES
Abbreviations| Full Words
bpm| beats per minute
m| mute group, see a full explanation above the Zendrum table
MOR| copied from Ministry of Rock
SR| short release
MIDI Performance Files
Stormdrum 2 includes 100+ MIDI files that capture performances with the SD2
instruments. You can load these MIDI files into your sequencer and have ready-
made percussion tracks that you can run once in a song or loop them. You can
also use them as a starting point and customize them to your needs. Each of
these MIDI files includes an East West multi-instrument file (with extension
.ewi) that should be loaded into the PLAY instance running on the matching
MIDI track. In this way, you will be hearing the exact same instruments and
articulations the perfor-mance designer heard. The Matching MIDI and
instruments files have the same name, but with extensions .ewi and .mid.
Also included is a short audio file in MP3 format so you can hear at least
part of the MIDI performance without having to load it into a sequencer.
Note that to play some of the more complex performance files with their multi-
instrument files can require very capable hardware in terms of both a fast
processor and a lot of RAM, for example, a 2.5 GHz processor and up to 4 GB of
RAM on an Intel Mac.
Finding the MIDI Performance Files and Matching Files
The MIDI performance files are delivered on one of the Stormdrum 2 DVDs and
written to the hard drive automatically. After installation, you can find them
on your hard drive in the “SD2 Midi Performances” folder.
The matching East West instrument files for these MIDI performances are
written along with the other .ewi instrument files during installation and
into the same folder, though in a subfolder called “Midi Perf Multis.”
The MP3 files are in a folder called “SD2 Audition” and need to be copied
manually off the DVD.
Using the Performance Files
Within your sequencer, create 16 MIDI tracks and assign them all to the same
instance of PLAY. Assign each track a unique MIDI channel: 1 to 16. Load the
MIDI file you want to use into your sequencer, so the different channels will
be placed in the 16 tracks you set up, one channel per tack.
Load into this instance of PLAY the .ewi instrument file with the matching
name. You will see these names in the Browser view within a subfolder of QL
Stormdrum 2, which is in the Favorites folder. (Note that because these .ewi
files may contain more than one instrument, they are sometimes called a
“multi-instrument,” or “multi” for short.)
The files contain a beats-per-minute number in the name and were designed to
be played at the specified tempo, for example, 130 BPM. It is not a
requirement, but always a good starting point to hear what the designer had in
mind.
These performances may inspire you to write your own loops, or you might want
to use them as they are. Note, however, the licensing agreement for Stormdrum
2 states that you cannot use any performances in a music library without
putting other music on top of it. See the agreement at the end of this manual
for the legal wording of the restriction.
EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP LICENSE AGREEMENT
EASTWEST END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: Please read the terms of the following audio samples and MIDI files License Agreement before using these audio samples or MIDI files. By opening the packaging and installing these audio samples or MIDI files, you agree to become bound by the terms of the License Agreement. If you do not agree with the terms of the License Agreement, do not open the packaging or use these audio samples or MIDI files. East West Sounds, Inc. (“Licensor”) guarantees that all of the samples and MIDI files with these discs have been created and recorded specially for this project, and any similarity to any other recording is unintentional.
- The audio samples and MIDI files recorded with these discs remain the property of Licensor and are licensed, not sold, to you for use with your sampling software or equipment.
- A right to use the enclosed sounds and MIDI files is granted to the original end-user of the product (Licensee) and is NOT transferable.
- The Licensee may modify the sounds or MIDI files. LICENSEE MAY USE THE SOUNDS AND MIDI FILES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES WITHIN MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS.
- The following terms apply to the use of the included MIDI Performances (MIDI files) used in ‘music or production libraries’ that are relicensed to multiple third parties.
- Loops (compositions that contain a combination of sound samples triggered by the included midi files) must be used in a musical context together with at least two other instruments that contribute significantly to the compostion.
- The entire loop cannot be left exposed at any time in the composition.
- If you have any doubts a composition meets this criteria, you may submit it to licensing@eastwestsounds.com for written approval. Please do not send audio or MP3 files, send a link to your composition on your web server.
- This license expressly forbids resale, re-licensing or other distribution of these sounds or MIDI files, either as they exist on these discs, or any modification thereof. You cannot sell, loan, rent, lease, assign, upload to or download from any server, or transfer all or any of the enclosed sounds or MIDI files to another user, or for use in any competitive product.
- Licensor will not be responsible if the contents of these discs does not fit the particular purpose of the Licensee. If in doubt over usage, please contact East West Sounds, Inc. by fax: (USA) 323-957-6966 or email: licensing@eastwestsounds.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©2007 EAST WEST SOUNDS, INC.
- PLAY is a trademark of East West Sounds, Inc.
- Windows XP/Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel. VST Instruments is a registered trademark of Steinberg Media technologies AG. OS X, Audio Units and Core Audio are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks of their respective holders. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
References
- Welcome to EastWest Sounds (soundsonline.com)
- Nick Phoenix
- DAW Plugins: Orchestral Instruments, Drums & More | EastWest
- Two Steps From Hell | Official Website
- Zendrum
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