How many velocity samples to capture?

[wishtheend]

I'm going to be sampling a kit prior to tracking (not a lot of inputs available) and curious for guys who capture samples to blend in, how many velocities is a safe number? I know technically TCI's can do 127 but just wanted to hear from someone who might do it regularly if there's a good bare minimum. I'm going to be sampling with a PR20, PR40, C214 and maybe some others for kick in/out, snare top/bottom, and 10, 12 rack and 14, 16 floors on a Pearl Masters Custom maple.

 

[J.L.BeelerMusic]

The last session I did I recorded 4 sample hits for 4 different velocities. As in the drummer struck the shells 4 times at Low, medium-low, medium-high, and high velocities. Seemed to work out fairly well.

I've bought drum samples before that were 3x3 but I wouldn't do any less than that.

 

[FIXXXER]

127x127

 

[Studdy]

Depending on the music , I tend to like consistent hard hits on kick drum, so will track 6 hard hits or more depending on the music a few medium/light. I tend to like one shots as well blended in. On snare and toms I would say you can't have to many but realistically probably 4 hard , 4 medium, and a bunch of light hits and small "ghost" type hits would suffice. I think it matters what your going to do with the samples come mix time. 100% replace all shells? Blend in some samples for reinforcement? Just have samples replace bad/weak hits? If you are going to replace all shells and it is very dynamic music you will need a lot of samples to make it realistic and dynamic. If replacing kick only and using a one shot behind the original snare then you could take some killer kick samples and a couple solid snare samples to choose from. Cheers.

 

[wishtheend]

Thanks I'm thinking 4x4 is a good minimum. I'll be replacing kick 100 and snare/toms at least 50/50 with mic maybe more depending on how good the sampling turns out/results with Trigger 2.

 

[DavePiatek]

I'd say 4/4 is probably pretty good. Just be sure that you don't make the top layer too hard. It's tempting, but remember that the top layer should represent how hard the player would normally play on a hard hit, not "how hard can i possibly strike this drum".

 

[acappa]

For replacing 5 layers 4 samples is good, for blending I am more and more into one shots

 

[abt]

I don't know the answer but I do know that those last two posts were by the best in the business.

 

[Jordon]

I do 6 samples per layer. Kick and toms get 4-5 layers, snare gets 7-8.

 

[acappa]

I don't know the answer but I do know that those last two posts were by the best in the business.

Thanks for the compliment

 

[Studdy]

Thanks for the compliment

Can you elaborate a little on your one shot techniques? What are you listening for when creating one shot samples. Do you literally use 1 sample behind all snare and Tom hits? Thanks for any insight.