Native Instruments has announced the release of Abbey Road 50s Drummer, a new Kontakt 5 Player-powered instrument featuring the sound of two classic drum kits from the 1950s.
The kits provide the distinctive drum sound of the era, which was necessary to compete with the electrified instruments gaining popularity at the time. Recorded with both state-of-the-art and period equipment at Abbey Road Studios in London, 50s DRUMMER also includes a groove library, mixer presets, and a new set of brush articulations, delivering the authentic feel of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and jazz from the 1950s.
ABBEY ROAD 50s DRUMMER features rare instruments from the very earliest years of popular music. The first kit is an early 1950s Gretsch Cadillac Green Nitron with a 20″ bass drum, 12″ rack tom and 14″ floor tom. Its toms are tuned low, providing a smooth, open sound that still allows excellent placement in a mix full of amplified instruments. The second drum kit is a late-1950s WFL kit. The WFL provides 20″ kick drum, 12″ and 13″ rack toms, and a 16″ floor tom. The WFL kit’s toms are tuned high, offering a brighter tone that perfectly complements the Gretsch. Each kit features three different snare drums from the same period, offering a wide tonal variety and added degree of customization. The kits are outfitted with a selection of 1950s Zildjian A and K cymbals to round out their authentic vintage tone.
50s DRUMMER was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios in the legendary Studio Two. Alongside traditional microphone techniques, vintage RCA 44-BX and AKG D12 microphones, a REDD.17 valve mixing console and valve tape machine were used for 50s DRUMMER’s vintage channels. Users can dial in these ‘vintage channels alongside the modern state-of-the-art equipment for a seamless tone spectrum, ranging from completely modern to period-accurate vintage and anywhere in between.
New brush articulations were also recorded especially for 50s DRUMMER to reflect the playing techniques of the decade. Its extensive groove library encompasses early rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and jazz, as well as a wealth of contemporary rhythms, affording users an effortless way to begin sketching out complete drum recordings. Regardless of genre, producers looking to add original 50s flavor to their productions will relish the recording quality, ease of use, and attention to detail in ABBEY ROAD 50s DRUMMER.
The Abbey Road 50s Drummer library is available to purchase for $99 USD / 99 EUR.
More information: Native Instruments / Abbey Road 50s Drummer
