Samples and Instruments
Last Updated: August 13, 2013
Note: The files hosted here have all been archived in .RAR format; if after downloading you cannot open them, I might suggest looking on google for a free archival program supporting .RAR files; or you can always download and try WinRAR here. All are listed alphabetically according to the sound's name. While it's assumed that tracking composers shall be the primary audience using this section, everyone is able to use the provided WAV samples for any reason. :) Lastly -- While not currently available, the ability to 'preview' what these sound like shall likely be implemented soon,,, ;)
Cathedral Organ
This is a sound I've created using my Roland SH-201 synth, which sounds similar to an organ one might find in a cathedral somewhere in Europe (I've seen some in the UK, Praise God!). There's a hint of 'vastness' in the sound provided by light reverb; and it's been multisampled at a 2xOctave level (one sample serves for C-F, another for F#-B -- for each octave supplied).
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Closet Bass
This is the factory 'Closet Bass' sound I sampled from my Alesis Micron synth -- and by 'factory' I also mean the knobs/sliders were left in their default positions. This one's also been multisampled at a 2xOctave level (one sample serves for C-F, another for F#-B -- for each octave supplied).
NOTE: Currently only available in .ITI Instrument format; if you'd like it in one of the other formats not yet posted, contact me (see the menu to the right) and I'll be happy to oblige!
[Select desired format: [
WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Finger Cymbals
This rather uncommon sample (I couldn't find one when I needed one...) was sampled by me, thanks to the short loan of the cymbals themselves from my home church. :) There are 2 seperate intensities or dynamic 'weights' supplied; and this one's only going to be available in WAV format, though if anyone comes up with a creative or clever usage of these to make a tonal instrument, please share it with me -- it could even wind up posted here! ;)
Glass Harp
Here you've got the featured 'crystal wineglass organ' instrument! The .ITI/.XI versions both have the samples mapped so that a tonal instrument is made; and both also include the volume envelope and timed-vibrato (via the "pitch/filter" envelope) as demonstrated in my Video Blog #6. :)
There were 3 seperately played and recorded samples used to make the instruments here. The main difference was the frequency of harmonic resonation from the glass (in other words, how fast I moved my finger around the rim). The slower/lower ones form the lower notes in the instruments; check into the note mappings and reference the sample used for the low/mid/high ranges, if you'd like to see more on this.[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
new! Hurdy Gurdy - "Groove 6" (110 BPM)
Now THIS is a pretty uncommon sample/instrument set..! First off, for those who have no clue what a Hurdy Gurdy is...: discover it for yourself! :)
*UPDATE* The comments previously provided here which explained my (incorrect) understanding of how these kinds of "grooves" are produced on a hurdy gurdy -- well, yeah... they weren't accurate! After having first created this instrument pack i next proceeded to write some music with it -- and (as is the case for many instruments i write for, but do not PLAY myself...) i next proceeded to obtain some technical know-how for all-things "hurdy gurdy" -- so that the resulting performance of the hurdy gurdy would be true to the accuracy/character of an actual hurdy grudy. In other words -- i didn't just want to play with the hurdimajiggy thing... i wanted it to sound as if a hurdy gurdy were being played (properly -- at least, as best that my understanding of the technique combined with the whacky concepts and ideas that protrude from my mind...!)
So, i began "doing my homework" on the topic; and along the way, came across an outstanding, concise, and complete video of an overview/demonstration by Matthias Loibner -- one of the world's best/most recognized players of the hurdy gurdy! He discusses and demonstrates the mechanics of the instrument and how it operates, how to play it, and how some of the characteristically unique aspects of the instrument (drones, groove, etc) are accomplished -- and then masterfully begins a short, sweet, and honestly AMAZING performance that showcases the gamut of the instrument and all the sounds/techniques that it is capable of producing..! So, for me to say to you that the video i speak of is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VIEWING FOR ALL AUDIENCES would.. well, that doesn't even seem to do it justice. IF EVER you desired a quick-yet-complete answer (that you'll appreciate; rather than simply wonder: "why did i just click that?...") to the questions you likely have (or will come to have, sometime down the road..) of the instrument known as the hurdy gurdy... then...
*DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!*
Watch it right now!
OK -- so... bare in mind, this is NOT simply a "stock sampling" of the "Hurdy Gurdy Groove 6" patch from within EastWest/Quantum Leap's "RA" virtual instrument...! Were i to provide such a sample set, i would of course be violating my licensing agreement... which would be piracy. If these samples WERE the stock set from "RA" they would be all different tempos/speeds; each pitch/key would run the groove at it's own tempo (this is because, on this instrument, the developer/engineer was lazy and decided to simply use ONE source to generate [via simple pitch shifting..] each of the originally provided notes in the sampler)... and so, of course, i got it into my mind that such a setup wouldn't be very useful. It would be much nicer if, for example, the groove/rhythm always played back at a consistant tempo; allowing each key/pitch to sound the proper key/pitch whilst maintaining a uniform tempo.
SO... being the nitt-picky control freak that i am, i decided to sample the "Groove 6" instrument from within RA... but THEN (in a unique and also perfectly LEGAL twist that no one [no, not even you!!] could see coming..!...) i used a combination of OpenMPT sample editing tools and/or effects within Audacity to adjust the sampled "groove" wavs so that they each shared a uniform tempo (speed at which the "groove" rhythm plays). This allowed me to not only make a worthwhile "groove 6" instrument, but additionally i was able to extend the range of it, too! The originally-sampled Hurdy Gurdy had a mere range of C3 thru E4; while my expanded sample/instrument set boasts a range from G2 thru A4! (NOTE: the ITI/XI instruments are key-mapped using G4 through A6, respectively tied to the range of WAV files which go from G2 through A4.... All samples/pitches have been set to play at 110 beats per minute.)
Why on earth would i go to the effort of all this, some of you might be asking yourselves..? Perhaps because an upcoming song/track i may be working on might itself include a hurdy gurdy..? :) Maybe!
** Final note -- using Audacity (or perhaps your own WAV editor of choice..) you should easily be able to adjust the individual WAV sample files to your own custom tempos.... My only suggestion would be to be persistent -- if at first you don't succeed... keep trying till you get it..! And LASTLY -- kindly note that these samples do NOT include loop points, as they're all able to be re-triggered at regular intervals in the event that extended/repeating "groove" measures are desired. The tracker instruments (ITI/XI file formats) additionally include a defined volume envelope which makes the creating of custom (even synchopated!) rhythmic patterns a piece of cake. ;)[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Junkie Bass
This is the factory 'Junkie Bass' sound I sampled from my Alesis Micron synth -- and by 'factory' I also mean the knobs/sliders were left in their default positions. This one's also been multisampled at a 4xOctave level (one sample serves for C-D, 1 for D#-F, 1 for F#-G#, and the fourth for A-B -- for each octave supplied) -- though the uppermost octave is mapped using only ONE sample (the C note -- does that make it worth $100? lol).
NOTE: Currently only available in .ITI Instrument format; if you'd like it in one of the other formats not yet posted, contact me (see the menu to the right) and I'll be happy to oblige!
[Select desired format: [
WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Les Paul Deluxe Solos
This pack includes stereo wavs of three guitar solos i've written; each using the Les Paul patch from EWQL's Ministry of Rock. Now, i can't copy the library or give it somehow to others.. but i can freely use it to create my own stuff, and use the sounds without worry... so it occurred to me that exporting a WAV of my guitar solos might become handy to some others out there looking for a track to sample.
The files give you the guitar solo as heard in the release versions of Changes, Believe!, and Pandora's Box; as well as "Dry" versions for both Believe! and Pandora's Box (dry meaning without delay/reverb effects). Currently only WAV files can be available as sampling the instrument and making it into a tracking instrument would be against license..
Mini Twin Bass
This is the factory 'Mini Twin' sound from my Micron; it's a smooth and almost sine-like sound with a bit of a twist.. ;) Sampled 2xOctave.
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Organ P
This, the factory 'Organ P' sound from my Micron, has been multisampled only at a 1xOctave level (meaning each octave uses one sample -- also the C note.. sheesh, some of these'd be expensive if I could charge for them..!) :P
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Roland V-Drums Set: 73 JzThet X
While the old band were set up at 'The Garage' we had another drummer associated with us who had left his V-Drums set there for a while. Days when I had little to do back then, I recorded many of our favorite kit settings!
This set includes multiple dynamic levels; each of the v-drum pads was struck with varying intensities to get the desired result. The WAV samplepack includes all samples individually archived into the one file; The instrument packs each contain 4 instruments: 1 is Bass and Snare (including another sampleset for rimshots!), one for the Hi-Hat (struck Open, struck closed, and pedal closing/stomp), one for the cymbals (crash/ride & ride), and the 4th for the toms (high, mid, low/floor). All instruments are set to map the samples from loudest to quietest starting chromatically from C and ascending, in octaves 4, 5, and 6 -- the 'common' keymappings used in most trackers will work great!
This is the second of 15 recorded sets which could appear here over time. :D
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Roland V-Drums Set: 75 GigaHall
This set includes multiple dynamic levels; each of the v-drum pads was struck with varying intensities to get the desired result. The WAV samplepack includes all samples individually archived into the one file; The instrument packs each contain 4 instruments: 1 is Bass and Snare (including another sampleset for rimshots!), one for the Hi-Hat (struck Open, struck closed, and pedal closing/stomp), one for the cymbals (crash, crash/ride, ride, splash), and the 4th for the toms (high, mid, floor/low). All instruments are set to map the samples from loudest to quietest starting chromatically from C and ascending, in octaves 4, 5, and 6 -- the 'common' keymappings used in most trackers will work great!
(Unfortunately, this setup [frankenstein-like though it was!] at the Garage had issues... if you have your volume up way too loud on the softer samples in this set, you'll notice artifacts in a few places -- those used to be radio waves from a baseball game if memory serves... lol.. but I was able to remove almost all of them prior to making this pack. :) Good thing, too, as we haven't had access to this in a few years..! This is the first of 15 recorded sets which could appear here over time. :D
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
RubberBullet Bass
This is the factory 'RubberBulletBass' sound from my Micron; it's similar in sound to a saw wave, makes for a nice bass with a bit of a bounce... ;) Sampled 2xOctave.
[Select desired format: [WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]
Zorgan
Last one for the moment: the 'Zorgan' sound from my Micron (factory settings/not modified). It's multisampled at a 2xOctave level (see usage in sounds listed above for clarification!)
NOTE: Contact me if you can't use the instrument versions but would like this sound in WAV format instead, and I'll be happy to oblige!
[Select desired format: [
WAV Samples]-=-[.ITI Instrument]-=-[.XI Instrument]]