Music Tech Reviews KJ Sawka's Drumming
Seeing KJ Sawka play live is a unique experience. Using only his twto hands and two feet he is able to create incredibly complex jungle rhythms and fills, proving that he is undoubtedly one of the best D’n’B drummers out there. For this sample pack he has teamed up with Hospital Records and Loopmasters to provide more than 400 drum loops and 100 drum hits taken from 14 different drum sets and recorded through a vintage Neve console.
The DVD contains 570MB of 24-bit/44.1kHz audio in WAV, Apple Loops and REX formats, plus 19 sampler patches for all the major software samplers. The majority of the loops focus on drum’n’bass and jungle beats between 160 and 180BPM, but there’s also a large selection of half-speed dubstep and 125BPM breakbeats. While most of the drums have been mixed dry, there is the odd hint of effects, extreme compression and computer edits which offer some interesting variations. Certain kits, such as the LBS Super Pro, have been mixed to sound like sampled drums, whereas others, like the White Pearly kit, have a much more live sound.
This sample pack will appeal to drum’n’bass producers who have become bored of using the same old Amen and Scorpio breaks, as KJ Sawka manages to put a unique twist into just about every jungle rhythm he plays. While the beats may be a little too raw-sounding and frantic for some, there are enough inspiring ideas to give your tracks a fresh, live edge.
Verdict: A great choice for adding a raw live sound to your DnB productions.
Rating: 8/10
