Toontrack The Rock Foundry SDX

90
GEAR REVIEW
T
oontrack has long been known for
its collaborations with household
name producers and engineers,
and it seems that the company
has got this down to a fi ne art. Thanks to the
already well-stocked range of products we
have access to drum sounds recorded in the
world’s greatest studios, using the best gear
and, crucially, captured by ears of gold.
Following hot on the heels of the game-
changing Superior Drummer 3 comes the
latest – and undoubtedly to some – greatest
collaboration to date, in the form of The
Rock Foundry, produced by none other than
Bob Rock.
Build
If you’re unsure of who Bob Rock is, take a
quick look at the discography, which spans
some of the biggest and most infl uential rock
productions of the last 30 years: Aerosmith
Permanent Vacation , Bon Jovi Slippery When
Wet
, Mötley Crüe Dr Feelgood , Metallica’s Black
Album
and many more covering everything
from pop to modern metal. One thing that
£122 Want to trigger one of the most revered producers’
drum sounds from your kit? Rock on!
TOONTRACK THE
ROCK FOUNDRY SDX
unites Bob’s production and engineering work
is the phenomenal drum sound: huge ambient
snares, powerful kicks and toms and an
overriding clarity that means they not only cut
through a mix, but punch you to the gut as
they do so. You’ll need a copy of Toontrack’s
Superior Drummer 3 in order to run them, but
as seen in these very pages, Superior 3 is
practically a must-have for serious e-kit users
who want to record.
Hands On
The pack was recorded at The Warehouse in
Vancouver (chosen by Rock himself), and
features his tried-and-tested recording
techniques. You get a mixture of seven kits,
including a Yamaha Absolute Maple Hybrid,
plus three 60s and 70s Ludwigs, and toms
from Ayotte and Gretsch. One of these kits – a
Premier 202 outfi t – has been recorded in
mono only, a technique that shows a different
side to the bombastic production Rock is
largely associated with. Equally impressive is
the list of snares with sought after and rare
models from Dunnett (titanium, bronze), Tama
PRICE
£122
KITS
7
SNARES
12
CYMBALS
6x hi-hats, 15x crashes,
6x rides
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
68GB free space, 4GB
RAM (minimum),
Superior Drummer 3
CONTACT
Time And Space
01873 55200
www.timespace.com
www.timespace.com
VERDICT: The Rock Foundry is a
masterclass in rock drum sounds, and
while many packs exist with a similar
claim, this is the most all-round we’ve
tried – dynamic, instantly useable and
extremely versatile.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
SDX PACK
This is the fi rst SDX add-on
to be released since Superior
Drummer 3’s arrival, and
requires SD3 to run
BOB ROCK
The Rock Foundry was recorded
by Bob Rock, known for his
engineering and production work
with the likes of Metallica, Black
Veil Brides, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi
and many more
SNARES
Bob Rock has compiled a dream
list of snares including a Ludwig
Black Beauty, Dunnett Titanium,
Tama Bell Brass and more
WORDS: STUART WILLIAMS
(bell brass) and Brady (solid-shell jarrah).
Sonically, the pack is a rock fan’s dream. The
sounds here range from vintage Bonham/
Ward-style warmth, to punchy ambience in the
style of the albums mentioned above, all the
way up to seriously-cutting modern rock and
metal sounds.
One of the greatest things about The Rock
Foundry is the fact that the sounds are there
instantly. Whether you’re looking to jam with
some of your favourite rock albums, apply their
fl avour to your own recordings or bolster your
live sound with triggers, you’ll fi nd it here.
| MAY 2018 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
Essential spec
RHY280.gear_rockfoundry.indd 90 19/03/2018 12:09