Since its debut in 2005, Steven Slate’s drum samples have become a cornerstone in the creation of powerful drum tones for top industry producers. With the introduction of Steven Slate Drums 5, users gain access to the largest and most refined SSD library to date, making the task of building dynamic drum tracks easier than ever, even for those who aren’t drummers. SSD5 features a completely redesigned user interface, an expanded collection of 50 precision-sampled Deluxe 2 drum instruments, and a new groove library containing 1,000 drag-and-drop rhythms and fills. This makes SSD5 a streamlined solution for achieving professional-quality drums and backing tracks. Users can select from various artist-modeled preset kits for instant inspiration or assemble their ideal kit from 84 kicks, 77 snares, and hundreds of toms, cymbals, and percussion sounds. The revamped mapping section, including detailed velocity and dynamics curves for each drum, positions Steven Slate Drums 5 as the ultimate engine for electronic drum kits.

What’s New in SSD5

Steven Slate Drums 5 introduces several improvements over its predecessor, offering enhanced sounds, a refined playback algorithm, and a host of user-requested upgrades. Here’s a closer look at what SSD5 has to offer:

• Streamlined Interface: The updated user interface simplifies the process of loading drums and shaping tones. This intuitive design minimizes obstacles, allowing users to focus on creating high-quality drum tracks quickly and efficiently.
• Advanced Playback Algorithm: SSD5 features an advanced playback engine that enhances the sound quality of drum libraries from SSD4 and earlier versions. This new algorithm offers higher resampling capabilities for improved audio fidelity.
• Deluxe 2 Drum Library: The inclusion of 50 new instruments, comprising 10 kicks and 10 snares, highlights SSD5’s Deluxe 2 library. These samples are some of the most precisely recorded drums available, chosen for their superior performance quality.
• Adjustable Snare Ring: SSD5 allows for flexibility in snare ring with an adjustable overring control. Users can modify the snare ring to fit the tempo of their song or emphasize flams and rimshots, enhancing the drum’s adaptability.
• Quicker Routing: The revamped routing matrix in SSD5 makes it easier to map, back up, and restore drum controllers, streamlining workflow and improving efficiency.
• Master Volume Control: In response to user feedback, SSD5 now features a master fade control for simplified level matching and gain staging, eliminating the need to adjust individual faders.
• Fader Grouping: SSD5’s mixer section includes fader grouping options, allowing users to effortlessly adjust the balance between overheads, room mics, snare, and toms.
• Live Preview: SSD5 enables users to preview drum sounds by clicking an instrument within the browser. The single knob control balances close and ambient mics, offering a real-world application for sound design.
• 32-Channel Instrument Loader: The Drumkit/Pad Cells view allows for loading up to 32 Slate instruments or user one-shots simultaneously, facilitating the creation of custom kick and snare tones.

Drum Sounds and Library

Steven Slate Drums 5 provides a diverse range of production-quality drum sounds, including hundreds of kicks, snares, cymbals, toms, and percussion samples, all recorded in top studios with multiple velocity layers. This extensive collection caters to various music genres, from jazz and blues to rock and metal.

• 84 Kicks
• 77 Snares
• 58 Toms
• 11 Hi-Hats
• 6 Rides
• 14 Crashes
• 4 Splashes
• 3 Chinas
• 9 Various Percussion (Including 1 Cowbell)
• 4 SFX

Deluxe 2 Library

The Deluxe 2 sound library in SSD5 features some of the most accurate drum tones in the virtual drum market. Slate’s selection process ensured that only the finest samples from the best performances were included. Notably, the adjustable snare ring control enhances the versatility of each snare drum, allowing for tailored adjustments to fit any production needs.

Artist Presets and Groove Library

SSD5 includes premixed artist kits modeled after iconic and sought-after drum tones. These presets offer a great starting point for achieving specific sounds, with onboard effects and mic blending options available for further customization. The integrated groove library facilitates easy song construction, allowing users to drag in parts and fills from various genres, tempos, and time signatures. The autoplay and dynamics features help audition parts on the fly, and once the song is complete, it can be exported as MIDI for additional tweaking.