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EXS 24 INSTRUMENTS SAMPLE-AID


I hope you enjoy these custom EXS24 instruments and environments. You may use them freely
in your projects, but there is of course a licence agreement. I know lots of people hate these
and ignore them but this is all in aid of charity - please read this bit.

END USER LICENCE AGREEMENT


*** PLEASE SUPPORT SAMPLE AID BY NOT DISTRIBUTING THESE FILES ILLEGALLY THANK YOU***
1. You agree not to sell, lend, hire or give these to anyone else. All the money goes to charity so
it is not very nice to break this agreement. If you have been given this instrument by someone
else please visit contact me via the support address above so that you can arrange to pay.
2. You may use these instruments and samples freely in your music. If you use the samples on
a commercial recording, please credit me as the author of the samples and /or link to my site if
you are in a position to do so. Please also let me know if you have used the instrument on any
commercial releases so I can list it on my site. Thank You
*** PLEASE SUPPORT SAMPLE AID BY NOT DISTRIBUTING THESE FILES ILLEGALLY THANK YOU***

SUPPORT PAGE
As a supporter of Sample Aid you are entitled to various free updates and bugfixes. This is at
http://www.petethomas.co.uk/sample-aid-support.html
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out of this list.

INSTALLATION:
NB: If you are installing the full version and you already installed any of the download
demos, it is advisable to removed the demos before installation in order to avoid confusion.

To Install:
Close Logic or Garageband. Click on the installer file (.pkg) to automatically install Logic and
Garageband. Follow the onscreen instructions. Thats it.
The installer will install to the locations shown in the table below.

Optional:
If you are only using Garageband you can safely delete the files installed into Logic Sampler
Instruments if you wish. If you are only using Logic you safely can delete the files installed
into Garageband Sampler Instruments and Track Settings/Software. Logic User can move the
sample folder from Garageband to any location.

MANUAL INSTALLATION
If you would like to install manually, CTRL + click on the installer file, and choose show
package contents. You can then click on Archive.pax.gz to unpack all the files and use the ..
Each instrument usually contains contains three folders.
1) Sample folder (***_demo_samples) - contains the raw samples
2) Instrument folder (***_demo_instruments) - contains exs files
3) Track Settings folder (***_demo) - contains the Garageband track settings
SA jazz guitar folder - Logic only (Garageband users please ignore)
This should be in (User)/Library/Application Support/Logic/Channel Strip Settings/
Instrument. These contain some settings for Guitar Amp Pro

Folder
Sample folder
(***_demo_samples)

Location (GB)

Location (Logic)

(User) Library/Application
Support/Garageband/
Instrument Library/Sampler/
Sampler Files

Same as GB

Instrument folder
(***_demo_instruments)

(User) Library/Application
Support/Garageband/
Instrument Library/Sampler/
Sampler Instruments

(User)/Library/Application Support/
Logic/Sampler Instruments.

Track Settings folder


(***_demo)

(User) Library/Application
Support/Garageband/
Instrument Library/Track
Settings/Software

N/A

(You can move to location of your


choice)

GARAGEBAND VERSIONS
Due to limitations in Garageband, these cannot contain all the settings that the Logic instruments do (e.g. modwheel crossfades)
Currently the Garageband conversion means that release times are sometimes not quite the
same as the original Logic EXS24 instruments. You can adjust these to taste by clicking on the
Details triangle at the bottom of the track info. You will then see a pencil icon on the right, which
opens up a window with a release slider that you can adjust for faster or slower release.

ABOUT THE SAMPLES:


NB: Some of the instruments which include keyswitches, modwheel switches, crossfades etc, are Logic only. However all the basic samples will work in garageband.

SET 1:
SPANISH GUITAR
This was sampled on every note (in semitones) up to A#4. This is different to most Spanish guitar samples as there is finger vibrato on every note. This was recorded in stereo at 24 bit
44.kHz. The mics (Neumann KM84s) were placed at a slight angle as this sounded best, so the
instrument sounds like it comes slightly from the right hand side. I have left it like this as you
can experiment with the pan, balance or stereo width in Logic.
There are two velocity layers, the loudest (127) gives you a slap on the string, there are also
some fret noises lower down the keyboard (C0 - G0) which let you give a very live sounding
performance.
Epiphone Jazz Guitar
This is a 1952 Epiphone Zephyr Regent with New Yorker pickups. Every note sampled at 44.1
kHz 24 bit via a TLA C-1 valve preamp (no compression) and Metric Halo MIO converter. The
"trem"instrument has the modwheel routed via volume instead of pitch so that tremelo can be
applied in stages via modwheel. There is a (Logic only) Channel Strip Setting included which
works very well (Guitar Amp Pro)

RHYTHM SET
These are samples I've made over the years and used in my productions. Although some are
looped or downsampled for disk space they still sound good and seem to have more life than
many commercial samples. I considered these my "secret weapons". All used extensively on
Atmosphere/BMGs best selling production/library music CD.
Vintage Ambient Gretsch
This kit was recorded at the Elephant Sudios using overhead M & S AKG 414 microphones. It is
very live sounding. The bass drum on C1 is usually a bit too live and boomy with its full decay,
so I have also put a less ambient on on B0. I have included a snare roll from another kit on
D#1. Unlike the other notes which play to sample end (one shot), the length of this note is determined by MIDI note off. This is very useful for realistic snare effects. This kit has been used
on many recordings and fooled many drummers who could believe it was a sampled kit.
Bass
This is a sampled Fender Jazz Bass, that I have found extremely useful. No hat on, just a very
useable solid bass sound.
Bongos
There are 16 hits played by a top Brazilian percussionist. I recorded the rhythm then divided the
notes for the 16 separate samples so you can use them to get a really live unsequenced sounding feel. The included MIDI file plays the original rhythm, but you can adapt the rhythm, notes
and velocities.

Cymbal performance
Lots of cool and funky cymbals, spashes, rolls, flourishes and effects
Big Rainstick
I hired this enormous rainstick just to sample it - nice big wide stereo spread.
Conga roll and rub
A couple of conga rolls and rubs recorded in my old London studio

KEYBOARDS & GUITARS - More "secret weapons"


Honky Tonk Piano
This was sampled in stereo at the now sadly closed Elephant Studio at Wapping, London
home to many Pogues recordings. It was an old but nice upright with drawing pins stuck in the
hammers. It was recorded using MS stereo by Nick Robbins. The basic piano is reasonably in
tune, the detuned one is, well, a bit detuned for extra tonk.
Elephant Bechstein
A mellow sounding grand that just sits very well in a mix - very good for adding warmth.
Accordion
There are two sets of reeds. The Combo instruments (Logic only) use the modwheel to switch
between set 1, set 2 and both together. Keyswitch (ks) instrument uses G1 and A1 to select set
1 or 2.
Polyorgan
This is very useful to add some surreal cheesiness. Built in LFO wobble - LoFi but great fun.
Bluegrass banjo
Includes some arpeggios
Elfolk Acoustic
This is an acoustic guitar with built in amp, speaker and tremelo effect. A very strange sound.

BRASS & WOODWINDS


All of these are quite short looped samples and the flute and clarinet are resampled for efficiency of disk space. Not quite up to VSL quality, however these are extremely useful sounding
instruments and they work really well for quirky character performances rather than for an accurate classical sound.
Flute
The flute was sampled with and without vibrato. This is programmed so that the modwheel
gradually applies real sampled flute vibrato not LFO pitch modulation. (Logic only - GB version
has two separate instruments for vi & no vib)
Clarinet
This a Boosey & Hawkes wooden Regent. Good for jazz, klezmer etc.
Bass Trombone - Modwheel and keyswitch (ks) versions

This only contains two basic note samples and one beefy downward glissando sample. The basic notes are assigned to a group and the glissando is assigned to another group. The Modwheel or keyswitch (notes C0 and C#0) are used to switch between the two. Garageband version has no modwheel switching, only keyswitches.
Harmon Mute Trumpet - Modwheel (logic only) and keyswitch (ks)
This uses the modwheel (Logic) or keyswitches (Logic & GB) to switch between samples with
tube in, tube out (for a sharp shimmering sound), tube 1/3 out and tube 2/3 out. Keyswitches
are C2, C#2, D2 and D#2

HUMAN SAXOPHONES:
Each note is sampled at 44.1hHz, 24 bit using an AKG C12VR microphone and TLA C1 mic
preamp (no compression). Long notes, no loops. These samples do not sound like saxophone
samples you get on MIDI modules or saxophone synths. Every note is sampled. This sometimes leads to certain inconsistencies between notes, as some respond differently to other
notes - even when the pitch is quite close. There is a big difference in sound between the two
registers, so the notes either side of the "break" will usually be quite different in character. On
the tenor these are B2 - C3. Saxophone players often use this to an advantage when playing,
but you may find it a bit strange on a keyboard. Some notes "speak" better than others, some
have very different overtones. I used an AKG C12VR valve microphone set to cardioid/omni
about 2 - 3 feet away from the horn, but still some notes that sounded the same volume in the
room have quite different levels on the input meter. I have partially evened out some of the dynamics, but there are still a few "quirks" - that's the saxophone!
Tenor Saxophone Realbend
These notes are played with a bend up to the note, unlike the Envelope Bend instrument which
uses a synthesized upward bend.
ts_realbend.exs
Tenor Saxophone Ballad
The samples are articulated with soft tonguing, When using subtone the notes have a tendency
to speak late. I have edited the fronts very slightly to make them useful for keyboard, but you
may find you need to play the notes slightly early to sound really on the beat. This is consistent
with the way they are played on the actual instrument. As well as being useful for melodic
saxophone passages, the subtone samples make a very interesting pad. Try applying varying
amounts of filter.
ts_ballad.exs (no vibrato)
ts_ballad_vib.exs ( with vibrato)
ts_ballad_xfade.exs (modwheel crossfade from no vib to vib - Logic only)
Tenor Saxophone mf Vibrato
These samples use quite a gentle vibrato.
ts_mf_vib.exs
ts_mf_vib_envbend.exs ( Env1 to simulate a bend up into the note, unlike the Real Bendup
Instrument which is played with a bend
Tenor Saxophone Growl
This uses a technique called growling, which involves humming a different note at the same
time as playing to induce interference (distortion) into the sound. This style is used a lot in R &
B styles. It does not work consistently on every note - it's a human performance. Samples have
been tuned by ear. Sometimes the tuning changes during the playing very slightly so feel free to
adjust this to suit your own ears.
ts-growl.exs
ts_mf_vib_mod_growl.exs (modwheel crossfade from mf vib into growl - Logic only)
Soprano saxophone
A vintage (1925) Conn curved soprano saxophone.

Free Saxophones
Alto Saxophone mf vibrato (looped)
This is the entire range from Db 2 to Ab4 plus altissimo notes up to Eb5. The instrument is a
rare and sought after vintage Buescher 400 "Top Hat & Cane" alto. It is sampled every semitone (24 bit 44.1 kHz) and looped. Technically this has a few imperfections in tuning. Some
notes start flat or sharp then end up in tune - it's the "human" saxophone. This adds quite a lot
of realism and feel. The volume of the notes is sometimes inconsistent, but I have compensated by changing the gains of some zones.
Saxophone Laugh
This novelty technique was made famous by the early pioneers of the vaudeville saxophone,
among them the great Rudy Wiedoft. The notes are played in the upper register and articulated
with a "k" rather than the regular "t", followed by a short downwards bend. It works best played
as a downward chromatic scale. The notes sampled here go from D#4 done to F3 on a 1944
Conn 10M "Naked Lady" tenor saxophone.
Bass and Bari Low Notes
Ive just sampled the very low notes, bass from its lowest note (G#0 up to C1) and baritone
from its lowest note (C#1 up to G#1).
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