The iconic records we all know and love, from any era, all utilized the resources available to them at that time. Not only the talent, but the instruments, the mics, the rooms, and the production tools were all major factors in making these recordings last.
At Reverb, we are celebrating the sonic zeitgeist of classic recording studios with a new series of sample-based sounds—referential to those exact studios and their remarkable music. The Studio Sampled Series begins with the iconic drum sounds of some of the most famous studios from the 1960s—Hitsville, USA, Stax Records, Muscle Shoals/FAME Studios, Olympic Studios, and Chess Records—celebrating the unique aspects of their recording techniques.
This series compiles a vast collection of one-hits, samples and loops that explore and emulate these tracking spaces, drum kits, recording practices, and mixing techniques made famous by these landmark studios.
From Chicago to Detroit—London to Alabama—this collection captures the essence of these five studios, produced by faithfully recreating the spaces, drum kits, microphone techniques, tracking processes, and mixing tricks of these legendary rooms. Each volume contains information on the original space, including production techniques and recording limitations, as well as any other unique variables that led to the development of the sound for which these studios are known.
Take a trip through the groundbreaking sounds of some of the most memorable blues, rock, and soul records with this collection of drum hits, phrases, and loops. Containing both original mono-style recordings as well as stereo files, you can add these classic drum sounds to any modern production.
This collection recreates the famous Motown Sound, inspired by drummers Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin, Uriel Jones, Richard "Pistol" Allen, James Gadson, and Earl Palmer, as well as Jack Ashford’s energetic tambourine style.
The kits of Motown were always a mix of various brands, so a mixture of Gretsch, Tama, and vintage Ludwig drums are carefully tuned and muffled to get the sounds needed in this collection. Cymbals are vintage and modern Zildjian As and Ks.
Hitsville was a normal Midwestern American bungalow house, modified to Motown CEO Barry Gordy and engineer Russ Terrana’s needs. This Motown sound they pioneered was so unique it led to an entire new genre of music, paving the way for modern pop music production.
Production techniques pioneered by Gordy and company included the use of tambourines accenting the backbeat, melodic electric bass lines, gospel-styled call and response musical phrasing, heavy use of horns and strings, the doubling of instruments, including drum tracks, instruments higher in the mix to accent the rhythm section for the most effective danceability of the records—and the use of parallel compression on vocal tracks by producer/engineer Lawrence T. Horn.
These drum sounds featured in this first volume can be heard on famous recordings from "Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas, "Shotgun" by Junior Walker, to "Let’s Get it On" by Marvin Gaye, "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5, and many more.
Reverb Studio Sampled Sounds - Drum Series Vol. 1 | Hitsville, USA - Detroit, MI features snare, kick, tom, cymbal, and tambourine one-hits, stereo and mono files, dozens of groove loops and drum fills from Motown hits, groove loops with and without tambourine parts—all emulated to be historically accurate.
