PSI Cymbals: Sampled Cymbal Library for Kontakt by Loot Audio

The hi-hats are sampled with up to 40 velocity layers, which lets softer and harder strikes sound distinct. The five rides were recorded with both sticks and softbeaters, giving you two contrasting attacks for the same instrument.

Each sample is captured in three mic positions: a close mic, an overhead pair and a room pair. The close mic is a Flea 47 running into a BAE 1073D, the overheads are an AKG 414BULS pair into an API 3124 preamp, and the room is a Neumann KM184 pair into an ISA 428 preamp. All signals are converted through PRISM converters, so you can blend the close, overhead and room sound to suit the mix.

PSI Cymbals suits producers building drum tracks in Kontakt who want acoustic cymbal textures rather than synthesized ones. Because the library covers hi-hats, rides, crashes and effect cymbals, it can handle a full kit's top end within one instrument.

The multi-mic approach also makes it useful when you need to shape the space of a cymbal, for example a tighter close sound for a dense mix or a wider room sound for a more open feel.