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Elevate your grooves with vibrant detail
Remarkable clarity and intricate performances using 62 different percussive instruments. Abbey Road Orchestra High Percussion provides an exquisite range of high-end percs, from the crisp snap of three pristine snare drums, captured with meticulous attention to detail, to congas, timbales, rototoms and more to bring your rhythms to life. The Core version offers the full suite of instruments, techniques and articulations, concentrating on one essential microphone mix that locks the incredible sound of Abbey Road Studio One into your grooves.
Engineered by GRAMMY® -Award-winner Simon Rhodes (Skyfall, Avatar) and performed by virtuoso percussionist Joby Burgess, whose credits include blockbuster scores like Black Panther, The Avengers and The Batman, video games such as Indiana Jones and performances on dancefloors from from Wembley Stadium to Berghain, this library captures the realism of each drum, performed with multiple techniques over the full dynamic range.
- You can buy now and download any time
Listen to Abbey Road Orchestra: High Percussion Core
Pitter Patter - Daniel Almeida-Linke
A Balearic Orchestra - Alejandro Naranjo
Bembe - Daniel Almeida-Linke
Trailer Music - Paul Thomson
The Victor - Dan Keen
Alive With the Sun - Homay Schmitz
To further enhance your creative workflow, this product includes a free MIDI pack of essential drum rudiments. These building blocks of percussion technique are programmed specifically for Abbey Road Orchestra Percussion, leveraging the intuitive right/left hand mapping for authentic performance. Drag and drop these rudiments into your compositions at any tempo, and freely edit them within your DAW, adding realistic drum techniques with ease.
Up to 12 round robins and 10 velocity layers deliver unrivalled realism in this suite of orchestral and indigenous drums. Extremely responsive and highly tactile, High Percussion explores the timbral and textural range of 20 drums, with up to seven beater options
per drum, performing hits, rolls, swirls and sweeps sampled in incredible detail. All performed by virtuoso percussionist Joby Burgess.
This untuned percussion library will expand your percussive palette, with a range of highly tactile instruments — a true to life selection especially curated and performed by Joby Burgess that provides an immediate natural feel, sounding authentic and cinematic.
High Percussion re-emphasises the nuanced features of Low Percussion, demonstrating their dynamic responsiveness. Soft takeover, voice choking and two handed mapping all allow for an instinctive and gratifying performance. Expertly captured by Grammy-winning engineer Simon Rhodes (Skyfall, Avatar), High Percussion offers an agile, responsive and intuitive experience.
Dynamic precision
- Up to 11 dynamic layers
- Up to 16 round robins
- 391 articulations including discrete right and left hand performances
- A wide selection of materials (hammered steel, maple, CoB) and beaters (nylon brushes, hands, thin timbale sticks) even a 1924 Ludwig snare drum!
Natural feel
Key features to ease playability
- Soft Takeover triggers roll dynamics intuitively via key velocity whilst also retaining modwheel functionality
- Two Handed Layout which mirrors mapped keys further up the keyboard to enable flexibility and speed when playing
- Right/Left Mapping recalls left and right hand performances on adjacent keys for playing and programming true-to-life rudiments
- Voice Choking precisely controls the end of roll techniques when pressing the corresponding hit keys
Clarity and quality
Revitalise your rhythm section
- 62 percussive instruments, from orchestral drumming staples to contemporary hybrid scoring essentials
- Multiple beater options
Professional
Hear every strike in pristine detail with Abbey Road Orchestra: Percussion Professional. Take full control of your sound with 16 different microphone signals to sit perfectly in the mix in any professional recording.
Studio One: Icon of the past, innovator for the future
A host to celebrated classical recordings from Elgar to Prokofiev, as well as iconic film scores from The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy*, The Empire Strikes Back*, and more recent releases Avengers: End Game and Black Panther, Studio One is one of the most in-demand recording studios in the film scoring landscape. Home to one of the greatest in-house collections of vintage and modern microphones and a control room fitted with a 72-channel Neve 88 RS console with a unique and comprehensive surround monitor
section, Studio One was the perfect setting for our recording sessions, meticulously curated, recorded and programmed to deliver you the world's most detailed sampling orchestra.
"The opportunity to perfect every strike and roll in the glorious acoustic of Studio One was not missed and we took time to make the best microphone choices and hone their positions."
- Simon Rhodes, Senior Engineer, Abbey Road Studios
DECADES OF EXPERTISE
This library has been formed by some of the world’s best producers in music recording, created for professional composers of film, television, game and performance.
JOBY BURGESS
Black Panther, Mission: Impossible
One of Britain’s most diverse percussionists, Joby is equally at home performing with Peter Gabriel at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Who at Wembley Stadium as reimagining Blade Runner at Sydney Opera House and Ibiza Classics at the Royal Albert Hall. Joby’s playing can be heard on major film and TV scores, notably leading the percussion sections on the Black Panther and Ant-man franchises, Spirited, The Harder They Fall, Rocketman, Ad Astra, The Darkest Hour, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Doctor Who.
SIMON RHODES
Titanic, Skyfall
Simon joined the EMI Abbey Road Studios in 1987. He is now Senior Engineer and has a long standing association with various composers including the late James Horner with whom he worked for 18 years on over 40 projects including Avatar, one of the highest grossing films of all time.
What's Included
Key Features
A notable list of features to extend the playability and natural realism of this sample library
Soft Takeover
Useful when playing in rolls and hits as part of a passage, and wants to trigger rolls sympathetically and intuitively to the dynamic of the hits being played quickly without having to set the position of the modwheel (whilst also having the option to crescendo/diminuendo if desired). Having the rolls velocity sensitive is great for triggering short rolls to portray drags, flourishes and pickups etc. as part of longer rhythmic passages when physically playing on the keyboard.
Right/Left Mapping
Most of the drums in High Percussion have been recorded with both right and left hand sticking. How much difference does this actually make? Some drums and beater types do have a distinct timbral difference between the two hands which contributes to the feel and realism especially when programming or playing true-to-life rudiments.
Two Handed Layout
This duplicates the main original mapping blocks to a higher octave, allowing you to play using two hands (spacing the keys out further to feel more like actually playing a drum).
NOTE: Two handed layout is not available on ‘All in One’ techniques.
Vocal Choking
Playing a hit when a roll key is held will choke the roll. This allows for very tight roll ends to be played in using a single hit.
Instruments
Snare
A vintage 15" diameter snare drum with a chrome over brass shell producing a full-bodied sound with a detailed top end
Sticks (Snares On) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged
Sticks (Snares Off) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell
BrushesTechniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Field Drum
A 15” field snare drum with a deep maple shell, producing a much lower tone than a regular snare drum with a rounded character
Sticks (Snares On) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged
Sticks (Snares Off) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell
BrushesTechniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Piccolo Snare A
A 12" diameter piccolo snare drum with a shallow hammered steel shell producing an extremely tight sound to cut across even the densest arrangements
Sticks (Snares On) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged
Sticks (Snares Off) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell
BrushesTechniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Piccolo Snare B
A 13" diameter piccolo snare drum with a shallow maple shell producing a crisp and articulate sound with present upper mids
Sticks (Snares On) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares of the drum engaged
Sticks (Snares Off) Techniques performed with drumsticks and the snares off, producing the pure sound of the head and shell
BrushesTechniques performed with wire brushes and the snares engaged for a more delicate timbre
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Bongos
A pair of Cuban bongos adept at carrying strong rhythms with a very focussed and articulate tone
HandsSingle strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents
SticksSingle strikes and rolls performed with wooden drum sticks producing a well defined attack with added presence
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Mini Bongos
A pair of miniature bongos - a lighter, delicate alternative the traditional bongo drums
HandsSingle strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents
Congas
A Latin American staple, congas combine a forward tone with balanced and controlled resonance presented here in a set of 3
HandsSingle strikes and rolls performed with the hands on the head of the drums in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents
Darbuka
An Arabian hand drum ideally suited to fast intricate rhythms, producing bright overtones with a distinctive colour
HandsSingle strikes performed with the palm and fingers on the head of the drum in various striking positions for the traditional darbuka sound
BrushesSingle strikes and rolls performed with brushes on the head of the drum which accentuate the instrument’s top end
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Djembe
A traditional African hand drum, the djembe produces a deep fundamental and strong overtones
HandsSingle strikes performed with the hands on the head of the drum in various positions to produce a variety of textures and accents
BrushesSingle strikes and rolls performed with brushes on the head of the drum for a brighter, crisper timbre with reduced fundamentals
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Log Drums
Hollow hardwood instruments with 6 pitched ‘tongues’ struck with beaters producing a very organic, woody sound
Rubber MalletsSingle hits performed with rubber mallets producing a balanced and articulate tone which brings out the character of these instruments
Octobans
A set of 4 Octobans - and unpitched alternative to boobams - producing a fast attack with a clear fundamental and a tight resonance
SticksSingle strikes and rolls performed with wooden drum sticks producing a well defined attack with added presence
RodsHits and rolls performed with wooden rods producing an articulate attack with reduced fundamentals
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Plastics
A set of 3 plastics (Tub, Jerry Can, Bucket), struck with sticks spread across the hall creating a punchy ‘street ensemble’
SticksSingle hits performed with wooden drumsticks in different striking positions
Roto toms
A classic set of 5 rototoms producing a clear and well-defined tone with plenty of carrying power (sizes 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”)
SticksTechniques performed with wooden drumsticks producing a well-defined, punchy attack
BrushesTechniques performed with dense nylon brushes producing a crisp attack with reduced fundamentals
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Shime Daiko
A traditional Japanese drum with a very tight, focussed sound which lends itself to energetic rhythmic patterns
Taiko SticksTechniques performed with traditional taiko sticks on the head of the drum
RodsTechniques performed with wooden rods producing an articulate attack with reduced fundamentals
HandsTechniques performed with the hands on the head of the drum
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Temple Blocks
Hollow blocks struck with mallets producing woody sounds with a focussed midrange
Hard MalletsSingle hits performed with hard mallets producing a bright attack
Soft MalletsSingle hits performed with hard mallets producing a mellow attack
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Timbales
Latin American drums with a single head on a metal shell, played with light sticks and producing strong overtones
SticksTechniques performed with thin timbale sticks on the heads and shells producing a range of interesting textures
Wood BlocksHardwood instruments instruments struck with mallets producing high pitched sounds which cut above the orchestra
Hard MalletsSingle hits performed with hard mallets producing a bright attack
Soft MalletsSingle hits performed with hard mallets producing a mellow attack
All in OneAll available beaters and techniques for the drum presented across the keyboard
Toys
A collection of smaller percussion instruments for adding additional colours and textures
Claves x 6Pairs of pitched wooden sticks struck together
Castanets(Pairs: Machine + Handle)Synonymous with Spanish folk music, castanets produce a distinctive ‘clap’, particularly adept at fast flourishes
RatchetTurned with a handle, the ratchet produces a distinctive rotating ‘clicking’ sound
VibraslapA modern alternative to the ‘Donkey’s jawbone’, the vibraslap produces a signature rattle when struck
Whip x 2 (Heavy / Light) Wooden boards clapped together producing a very short, loud ‘crack’
Guiros x 2 (Wood / Plastic)Ridged instruments which are either scraped or tapped to produce characterful rhythms
Shakers x 4‘Pop’ style shakers for creating driving rhythmic motion
Caxixi (Basket Shakers) x 2Of African origin and popularised in Brazilian music, caxixi are hand instruments filled with seeds, presented here in a pair
Maracas (pair)A staple of Latin American folk music, maracas are extremely agile shakers, presented here in a pair
Effects
ReverbA bespoke IR developed at Abbey Road Studios
Testimonials
This new library is OUTSTANDING. The biggest compliment I can pay to ANY library is if any of it makes it into my main templates. Well I spent yesterday replacing ALL of my orchestral percussion libraries with a combo of the High/Low libraries.
Ty Unwin - Composer
While there are many other percussion sample libraries on the market, High Percussion provides a number of unique aspects. First and foremost it gives you access to the sound of Abbey Road Studio One. Second, it provides a level of detail that allows you to create realistic performances that (if programmed correctly) will be indistinguishable from the real thing.
Digifreq
I really feel like I'm in the control room of Abbey Road listening to a percussionist tracking in the live room. The playability is also first rate, with clear sample mapping, and the included mix presets are very handy for switching between a bigger, more open sound, and a smaller, more intimate one.
Dan Diaz - Composer
It's a great library! I was about to start using it on some mockups for a new project. Sounds very live and intuitive to work with.
Ruth Barrett - Composer (Bodyguard, The Terminal List)
I have indeed enjoyed the library and have to congrats the whole team for this development. I really haven't come across any issues or downsides so i can only say good things about the sound and production quality - perfect release!
Johannes Winkler - Composer (Dogs, Someone Like Me)
FAQs
What is the difference between Abbey Road Orchestra and Abbey Road One?
Abbey Road Oårchestra - Low Percussion is part of the Abbey Road Orchestra product line. Crafted for professional composers, producers, sound designers and music editors, Abbey Road Orchestra brings you every section of the orchestra in breathtaking detail. It’s the culmination of over 20 years of sampling experience and innovation.
Abbey Road One is a range of ensemble libraries captured in Studio One at Abbey Road, created by Spitfire Audio in partnership with Abbey Road Studios. This is made up of a core library called Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations, and then smaller libraries called Abbey Road One: Film Scoring Selections series.
The Selections are smaller and more focused libraries inspired by classic films, offering pre-orchestrated instrument pairings and themes. Featuring pre-arranged ensembles of classic orchestral pairings, each Selection is designed to help you accomplish a simple task phenomenally well.
What makes Abbey Road Orchestra modular?
Over the coming years, Spitfire will release each section of the orchestra, bit by bit in huge detail. Similar to that of the BML / Sable range in Spitfire's history, each section can be purchased separately to suit your needs. The practical difference is that each Abbey Road Orchestra release will install into the same plugin, ensuring you don't need to load multiple different libraries as it will all be housed in one plugin.