Drum Werks VII and Drum Werks VIII Drum Recording Details

Many people often and write to us asking for some of the behind-the-scenes technical details of how some of the samples were engineered and recorded. With that in mind, here are some of the specifications behind the recording of Drum Werks VII and Drum Werks VIII (often referred to as “The River Sessions”).

Smith custom maple drumkit in recording session for River Sessions (Drum Werks VII and VIII).

  • Technical Information: Drum Werks VII and Drum Werks VIII stereo loops were mixed down from Pro Tools HD multitrack recordings, with the source material being captured at 24/96. The two discs are derived from the SAME recording sessions, so any loop from either disc will work seamlessly with any other loop from the other disc. In other words, you can mix and match grooves, fills, and samples from both Drum Werks VII and Drum Werks VIII – it is all from the same kit, same drummer, same room, and the same day.
  • Drums: Smith Custom Maple Recording 5-piece with Zildjian and Paiste cymbals, Sabian and Paiste rides, Zildjian and Sabian crashes. Snare was a Ludwig Black Beauty 5×14 (a few other Ludwig snares were sampled but not used for the loop sets)
  • Microphones: Kick: AKG D112, Snare Top: Shure SM57, Snare Bottom: Shure SM57, Shure SM81. Hats: Audio Technica AT4031, Shure SM81, AKG C451B. Toms: Sennheiser 421’s. Cymbals/Overhead Pairs: AKG C414EB, A-T 4050. Stereo Room: Neumann U67