Kong Drum Designer : The Drum modules
The Drum modules
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Note that only four pre-defined parameters per Drum Module can be automated!
NN-Nano Sampler
The NN-Nano Sampler is based on the NN-XT Sampler and was designed to be ideal for drums and percussion sounds.
The NN-Nano can handle samples or sets of samples for each of the four different Hit Types described in “Assigning Hit Type to Pads”. Each Hit Type can contain one or several samples which can be layered and/or altered and controlled individually via velocity.
Loading samples
1.
Select the Hit you want to load the sample(s) into by clicking in the display.
2.
Click the Browse Samples (folder) button and select one or several WAV, AIFF or SoundFont Samples or REX slice files.
3.
Click the Load button in the Browser.
The sample(s) are loaded in the selected Hit.
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Alternatively, drag a sample, a REX slice or a SoundFont file from the Browser and drop on the NN-Nano panel.
The NN-Nano panel is dimmed in blue and a Sample Replace symbol appears in the center.
If you selected several samples in the Browser, these will be loaded as separate Layers in the selected Hit.
If you like you can load additional samples, either into another Hit or into a new Layer in the same Hit. To load a new sample in a new Layer in the same Hit, proceed as follows:
1.
Select the Hit and then click the Add Layer button.
An additional space is created in the Hit.
2.
Select the empty Layer in the display and load a new sample according to the description in “Loading samples” above.
The NN-Nano Sampler module in Kong can read and play back sample files of the following formats:
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In Windows 7:
.wav, .aif, .mp3, .aac, .m4a and .wma.
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In Mac OSX 10.7:
.wav, .aiff, .3g2, .3gp, .mp1, .mp2, .mp3, .mpeg, .mpa, .snd, .au, .sd2, .ac3, .aac, .adts, .amr, .caf, .m4a .m4r and .mp4.
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SoundFonts (.sf2)
SoundFonts are an open standard for wavetable synthesized audio, developed by E-mu systems and Creative Technologies.
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REX file slices (.rx2, .rex, .rcy)
REX files are music loops created in the ReCycle program or when editing audio clips inline in Reason (see “Bounce Clip to REX Loop”). The NN-Nano lets load separate slices from REX files as individual samples.
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Any sample rate and practically any bit depth.
Replacing samples
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To replace one or several samples, select the sample(s) in the display and then load new samples according to the description in “Loading samples”.
This way it is possible to e.g. replace three selected samples with three new samples in one go.
Adding and Removing Layers
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To add a new Layer to a Hit, select the Hit and click the Add Layer button.
An additional space is created in the Hit for the created Layer.
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To remove a Layer from a Hit, select the Layer and click the Remove Layer button.
The Layer is removed together with its sample (if any).
Sampling into the NN-Nano
The sampling procedure is generic for all devices that can sample (Kong, NN-19, NN-XT and Redrum). The sampling and sample editing procedures are described in detail in the “Sampling” chapter.
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To sample your own sound and automatically load it into the NN-Nano, click the Sample button.
Refer to the “Sampling” chapter for details on how to set up and use the sampling feature.
The Edit Sample button
If you click the Edit Sample button with a sample selected in the display, the sample will open in the generic Edit Sample window. In this window you can edit the sample and save as a self-contained Song Sample. See “The Edit Sample window” in the Sampling chapter for details about editing samples.
Sample parameters
There are a number of parameters that are unique to each individual sample and Hit in the NN-Nano. These parameters are visible in the display for the selected (highlighted) sample:
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Velocity
The Velocity range can be set, either by clicking and dragging the Velocity bar sideways to the right of the sample, or by clicking and dragging the Vel Lo and Hi values vertically at the bottom of the display.
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Level
Set the sample level by clicking and dragging the Level value up or down in the display.
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Pitch
Set the sample pitch by clicking and dragging the Pitch value up or down in the display.
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Alt
Click the Alt box for several samples in the same Hit to make them play back alternating.
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Hit Name
Edit the Hit Name if you like by clicking in the Hit Name box, typing in a new name and then pressing [Enter]. The name will appear in the Hit Type display on the main panel (see “Assigning Hit Type to Pads”).
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It’s also possible to select multiple samples and edit them together. If the selected samples have different Level, Velocity, Range and/or Pitch values this is indicated by an “M” (for multiple) symbol next to the parameter:
If you change the values of any of the “M” parameters, all selected samples will get the exact same value.
Global parameters
The parameters located on the panel, outside the display, are global and affect all samples in all Hit groups equally.
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Polyphony
“Full” is, as the word implies, full polyphony. This means that all Hits can sound with full polyphony. Several Hits can also sound together if controlled from separate Pads that are assigned to different Hit Types.
“Exclusive Hits” means that when one Hit plays it will automatically mute any other sounding Hits. The polyphony is still full within each Hit, though.
“Monophonic” is... well, monophonic.
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Mod Wheel
If you want the Mod Wheel to affect the pitch and/or decay of the sound, you can set this with the Mod Wheel -> Pitch and/or the Mod Wheel -> Decay knobs. Both parameters are bipolar (+/-).
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Velocity
In the Velocity section you can control how the velocity should affect a number of parameters. The parameters are: Pitch, Decay, Level, Bend and Sample Start. All parameters are bipolar (+/-).
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Pitch
Here you can set the global Pitch, Pitch Bend Amount and Pitch Bend Time for all samples. The Pitch and Pitch Bend Amount parameters are bipolar (+/-).
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Osc
In the Osc section you can set the global Sample Start and Reverse parameters for all samples in the NN-Nano.
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Amp Env
The Amp Env section contains an Attack-Decay Envelope and the global Level parameter for all samples. There is also an envelope trig mode selector for choosing between Gate and Trig mode. In Gate mode (the square symbol), the Decay time defines the minimum gate time. If you hold down a key or pad on your MIDI keyboard/control surface, the Decay stage will set in after you released the key/pad.
Nurse Rex Loop Player
The Nurse Rex Loop Player is based on the Dr. OctoRex Loop Player but has been modified to be ideal for playing and triggering drum and percussion sounds.
The Nurse Rex can load standard REX files and play back the loops and/or slices in a variety of ways depending on the selected Hit Type (see “Assigning Hit Type to Pads”).
Loading REX files
1.
Click the Browse Samples (folder) button.
2.
Select a REX file and click the Load button in the Browser.
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Alternatively, drag a REX file from the Browser and drop on the Nurse Rex panel.
The Nurse Rex panel is dimmed in orange and a Patch Replace symbol appears in the center.
The REX file is loaded in Nurse Rex with the loop shown in the display.
Hit Types (playback modes)
Depending on selected Hit Type, the REX loop will play back differently. The editing possibilities also differs depending on selected Hit Type for the assigned pad.
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Loop Trig
In Loop Trig mode, you trig the REX loop to play one single cycle every time you hit the assigned pad. Loop Trig can also be used together with the “Stop” mode on another pad to immediately stop the loop playback, see “Stop” below.
A REX loop with “Loop Trig” as Hit Type.
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Set Start and End slice, either by clicking and dragging the S and E numerical values up/down in the boxes, or by clicking and dragging the handles sideways in the “ruler” above the REX loop in the display.
Different ways of editing the Start and End Slice values.
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Chunk Trig
In Chunk Trig mode, you can assign several pads to play back shorter sections - chunks - of the REX loop. The number of chunks is determined by the number of pads you have assigned to the REX loop using the Chunk Trig Hit Type. The chunks are distributed in equal sections across the REX loop. Chunk Trig can also be used together with the “Stop” mode on another pad to immediately stop the chunk playback, see “Stop” below.
In the picture below, we have assigned four pads to the same REX loop and we have selected “Chunk Trig” as Hit Type on all four pads:
Four pads assigned to the same REX loop and Hit Type set to “Chunk Trig”.
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Set the size of the chunks by clicking and dragging the right edges of the “tabs” above the REX loop in the display.
Doing so will automatically move the start position of the subsequent chunk so that the chunks will always be adjacent to each other.
Editing the sizes of the chunks.
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Change the Start position of the first chunk and the End position of the last chunk by changing the REX loop Start and End values.
In effect, this is the same as setting the overall REX loop start and end position.
Editing the start position of the first chunk and end position of the last chunk.
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Slice Trig
In Slice Trig mode, you can assign a pad to play back one single slice of the REX loop - or several slices alternatingly. By default, Slice 1 of any REX loop loaded into the Nurse Rex is set to play back when you have selected “Slice Trig” as Hit Type.
A REX loop with “Slice Trig” as Hit Type.
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Change the slice to play back by first removing the tick in the Trig checkbox and then clicking on another slice in the display and ticking the Trig checkbox for that slice.
Slice 3 selected for playback in Slice Trig mode.
Another way of assigning a slice for playback, or to assign several slices to play back alternating, is by using the mouse in combination with the [Ctrl](Win)/[Cmd](Mac) key.
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Hold down [Ctrl](Win)/[Cmd](Mac) and click on the slice(s) in the display you want to assign or deassign.
Slices 3, 5, 8 and 11 selected for playback in Slice Trig mode, forcing them to play back alternating.
Selected slices are displayed with a red background. The currently “focused” slice is displayed with an orange background. Selected slices also get their corresponding Trig checkbox ticked automatically.
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Stop
The fourth Hit Type is named “Stop”. The Stop mode can be used if you want to use a pad for immediately stopping the currently playing REX loop or Chunk. The Stop mode should be used in combination with any of the Hit Types “Loop Trig” or “Chunk Trig”, otherwise it won’t be useful.
“Stop” selected as Hit Type for a pad assigned to a Nurse Rex module.
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Assign one pad to a REX loop in Nurse Rex and select any of the Hit Types “Loop Trig” or “Chunk Trig”.
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Assign another pad to the same Nurse Rex module and select “Stop” as Hit Type.
Now, when you play the first pad, the loop or chunk will play. Once you hit the second pad, the loop/chunk playback will immediately stop.
Combining Hit Types
By combining the different Hit Types for the Nurse Rex module you can create really interesting setups. For example, you could load a REX loop and assign a couple of pads to the “Chunk Trig” Hit Type, one pad to Loop Trig, another one to Slice Trig and another pad to Stop. Playing the different pads can now generate really inspiring results. The picture below shows an example of this type of setup:
Eight pads assigned to the same Nurse Rex module, with the pads set to different Hit Types (in Quick Edit mode).
If we click the Hit Type Quick Edit button, we can see that Pad 1 is set to Loop Trig, Pads 2-6 are set to Chunk Trig, Pad 7 is set to Slice Trig and has four slices set to Trig in the REX loop display for alternate playback. Finally Pad 8 is set to Stop so we could stop the loop and chunks playback whenever we like.
Editing Slice Parameters
In the REX loop display you can edit parameters that are unique to each separate slice:
Slices parameters for a loaded REX loop.
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To select a slice for editing, click on the desired slice in the REX loop display.
Alternatively, click and drag up/down in the Slice number box or use the Slice Select knob below the Slice item.
The Slice Parameters are:
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Trig
Click the Trig check box for the slices you want to alternate between using the Slice Trig Hit Type.
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Pitch
Set the pitch for each individual slice in the REX loop by clicking and dragging the Pitch value up/down.
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Level
Set the level for each individual slice in the REX loop by clicking and dragging the Level value up/down.
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Reverse
Click the Reverse box for the slices you want to play back backwards.
The Nurse Rex panel parameters
On the Nurse Rex panel you can edit parameters that are common to all slices in the loaded REX loop:
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Env Type
Sets the amplitude envelope type to “Gate” or “ADSR” (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release). In Gate mode, the gate time is set with the Decay parameter.
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Attack with Velocity control
Sets the attack time for the amplitude envelope when ADSR is selected as Env Type. The attack time can also be velocity controlled according to the sensitivity set with the Vel knob.
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Decay with Velocity and Modulation controls
Sets the decay time for the amplitude envelope when ADSR is selected as Env Type. When Gate is selected as Env Type, the Decay parameter sets the gate time. The decay/gate time can also be velocity controlled according to the sensitivity set with the Vel knob. You can also control the decay/gate time from the Mod Wheel with the amount set with the Mod knob.
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Sustain
Sets the sustain level of the amplitude envelope when ADSR is selected as Env Type. In Gate mode, the Sustain parameter has no effect.
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Release with Velocity and Modulation controls
Sets the release time for the amplitude envelope when ADSR is selected as Env Type. The release time can also be velocity controlled according to the sensitivity set with the Vel knob. You can also control the release time from the Mod Wheel with the amount set with the Mod knob. In Gate mode, the Release parameter has no effect.
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Pitch with Velocity control
Sets the overall pitch of all slices in the REX loop. The pitch can be velocity controlled according to the Vel knob setting. A negative Vel setting will lower the pitch with increasing velocity and a positive setting will raise the pitch with increasing velocity.
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Level with Velocity control
Sets the overall level of all slices in the REX loop. The level can be velocity controlled according to the Vel knob setting. A negative Vel setting will lower the level with increasing velocity and a positive setting will raise the level with increasing velocity.
At the top of the Nurse Rex panel is a button for setting the polyphony:
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Polyphonic means full polyphony
Retriggering the same slice/chunk will keep on adding more voices without muting any sustaining sounds.
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Monophonic will make any new triggered loop/slice/chunk mute any currently playing/sustaining sound.
Physical Bass Drum, Snare Drum and Tom Tom
The Physical Bass Drum, Snare Drum and Tom Tom use very faithful mathematical models for generating acoustic drum sounds. The sounds of the PM drums are generated using physical modelling; mathematical real-time calculations of physical acoustic phenomena. The physical modelling technique allows for a lot more creative freedom, and much wider sonic ranges, compared to sample playback.
General parameters
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Level
This controls the overall output level of the Drum module to the FX1 and FX2 Slots (see “Signal flow”). The Level is also affected by velocity.
Drum head and shell parameters
The Physical Modelling Drums feature the following drum head and shell parameters:
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Pitch
Sets the overall pitch of the drum. The Pitch parameter can be considered the total size of the drum and affects all other head and shell parameters.
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Tune 1 and Tune 2 (PM Bass Drum and PM Tom Tom)
The Tune 1 and Tune 2 parameters set the drum’s harmonic character, similar to the effect of individually adjusting the rim tension screws of the top drum head.
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Tune (PM Snare Drum)
This controls the top drum head tension and thus affects the harmonic character of the sound.
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Bend Amount (PM Bass Drum and PM Tom Tom)
This sets the dynamic “pitch bend” effect you get when hitting a drum head.
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Damp
This controls the damping of the drum head.
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Decay
The Decay parameter doesn’t have any actual counterpart in real life. It simply controls the decay time of the drum sound.
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Shell Level (PM Bass Drum and PM Tom Tom)
This controls how much of the drum shell sound should be present in the sound.
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Shell Size (PM Tom Tom)
This controls the depth (“length”) of the shell.
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Edge Tune (PM Snare Drum)
This controls the head tuning when Hit Type 4 (Edge Hit) is selected for the pad (see “Assigning Hit Type to Pads”).
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Snare Tension (PM Snare Drum)
This controls the tension of the snare and the distance between the snare and bottom drum head.
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Bottom Pitch (PM Snare Drum)
This controls the pitch of the bottom drum head.
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Bottom Mix (PM Snare Drum)
This controls how much of the bottom head sound should be present in the drum sound.
Beater and Stick parameters
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Density (PM Bass Drum)
This controls the “hardness” of the bass drum pedal beater.
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Tone (PM Bass Drum and PM Tom Tom)
This is a filter which controls the tone of the hit.
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Beater Level (PM Bass Drum)
This controls how much of the beater hit sound should be present in the drum sound.
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Stick Level (PM Tom Tom)
This controls how much of the drum stick hit sound should be present in the drum sound.
Synth Bass Drum, Snare Drum and Tom Tom
The Synth Bass Drum, Snare Drum and Tom Tom use analog modelling to generate classic synth drum sounds. The Synth Tom Tom was faithfully modelled after a famous hexagonal shaped analog drum system from the 80’s.
General parameters
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Level
This controls the overall output level of the Drum module to the FX1 and FX2 Slots (see “Signal flow”). The Level is also affected by velocity.
Drum parameters
The Synth Drums feature the following parameters:
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Pitch
This sets the overall pitch of the drum. The Noise pitch is not affected by this parameter.
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Tone (Synth Bass Drum)
This is a filter similar to the one used in Redrum and affects the tone of the drum. The Noise is not affected by this parameter.
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Attack (Synth Bass Drum)
Sets the attack time of the drum sound. This also affects the Noise.
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Decay
Sets the Decay time of the drum sound. This also affects the Noise decay on the Synth Bass Drum and is added to the Noise Decay parameter on the Synth Snare and Synth Tom Tom drums. It is also added to the Harmonic Decay value on the Synth Snare Drum. The Decay time is also affected by velocity.
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Harmonic Balance (Synth Snare Drum)
Sets the level balance between the fundamental tone and the harmonic tone.
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Harmonic Frequency (Synth Snare Drum)
Sets the frequency of the harmonic tone.
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Harmonic Decay (Synth Snare Drum)
Sets the decay time of the harmonic tone. This is also affected by the Decay parameter.
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Click Frequency (Synth Bass Drum)
Sets the frequency of the click sound in the attack.
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Click Resonance (Synth Bass Drum)
Sets the resonance amount of the click sound in the attack.
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Click Level (Synth Bass Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
Sets the level of the click sound in the attack.
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Bend Time (Synth Bass Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
Sets the time it should take to change the pitch from the Bend Amount value (se below) back to the original pitch.
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Bend Amount (Synth Bass Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
Sets the upper pitch to bend from. The Bend Amount is also affected by velocity.
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Noise Tone (Synth Snare Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
This is a filter which sets the frequency content of the noise.
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Noise Decay (Synth Snare Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
This sets the decay of the noise in the sound. The Noise Decay is also affected by the regular Decay parameter.
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Noise Mix (Synth Snare Drum and Synth Tom Tom)
Sets the noise level in the drum sound.
Synth Hi-hat
The Synth Hi-hat uses analog modelling to generate sounds. The Synth Hi-hat can be used for generating the typical hi-hat sounds of the early analog drum machines.
Parameters
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Pitch
This sets the overall pitch of the hi-hat sound.
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Decay
This sets the decay time of the hi-hat sound.
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Level
This controls the overall output level of the Synth Hi-hat module to the FX1 and FX2 Slots (see “Signal flow”). The Level is also affected by velocity.
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Click
This controls the click level in the attack of the hi-hat sound.
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Tone
This is a filter similar to the one used in Redrum and affects the frequency content of the hi-hat sound.
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Ring
Sets the level of the resonance peaks in the sound. The higher the value, the more “metallic” the sound.
Kong Drum Designer : The Drum modules