Spectre Digital have announced the release of what they say is the ultimate drum library for producers who demand the best-sounding drums for their classic and modern rock productions. The aptly named Icon Drums Classic Rock has been captured in a world-class studio, and comes loaded with everything users need to craft their ideal mix-ready drum sounds.
The company say that no corners were cut in the making of the library, capturing high-end drums from the likes of Pearl and Ludwig alongside Zildjian, Sabian and TRX hi-hats and cymbals. Users are offered a choice of two kick drums and three snares, and it’s possible to load in custom one-shot kick and snare samples to augment the built-in options. The library also offers signals created using the Glyn Johns overhead microphone technique, mimicking the sound that can be heard on classic tracks by the likes of The Kinks, The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.
Realism was a key focus when developing the library, so along with what the company describe as a “ridiculous number” of dynamic layers, Icon Drums Classic Rock also benefits from a large selection of round robins that promise to deliver authentic-sounding results even with fast, repeating hits. Another standout feature is the inclusion of full mic bleed signals for every kit piece, something that many libraries exclude in order to save on disk space and processing power. A healthy selection of articulations are included, making it possible to program realistic hi-hat patterns, snare rudiments and so on.
The library’s built-in mixer is equally comprehensive, and comes packed with all of the tools needed to craft a final drum sound. Every mic signal is available on its own channel strip that offer a choice of two EQs, saturation, 1176-style compression, a transient designer, an ADSR envelope and a pair of sends that feed non-linear and plate reverb effects. There’s also a dedicated master section that houses a Pultec-style EQ, SSL-inspired bus compression, tape saturation and master reverb controls.
There’s an onboard MIDI groove player that comes complete with a range of grooves performed by real drummers, and it’s possible to trigger the library from a whole host of controllers or electronic drum kits thanks to its MIDI mapping facilities.
Compatibility
Icon Drums Classic Rock runs in Native Instruments’ free Kontakt Player 8, which is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or higher and Macs running macOS 12 and above. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available, along with a standalone application.
Pricing & Availability
Icon Drums Classic Rock is available now, and is currently (1 December 2024) being offered for an introductory price of $80, reduced from its full cost of $110.
