Siege Drum: Cinematic Medieval Drum Instrument by Loot Audio

Loot Audio recorded the drum in two venues: a studio, for very dry recordings, and an 1896 hall, which adds a distinct sense of room. Each strike was captured with hands, a large leather mallet, a rattan cane and traditional sticks, and each method gives the drum a different timbre.

The instrument has 14 patches. Every hit uses 4 round robins and up to five velocity layers, which helps reduce repetition in fast or repeated passages. Depending on the patch, the drum can deliver deep low end or take on the character of a tom, an open snare or a frame drum.

Layering several patches together produces a much bigger sound, which suits the largest moments in a score. A series of FX and rolls is also included.

The interface includes an arpeggiator, pitch control, 13 custom impulse responses, and a dry/wet control for blending the room sound. You can also adjust EQ, attack and release on the samples.

The pitch control is the feature that changes how the instrument works. Shifting pitch lets you turn one drum into a range of different voices, so a single instrument can cover several roles in a cue. The impulse responses and dry/wet control let you move between a tight studio hit and a large hall sound without loading a second library.