Classic Gear, Classic Sound

The equipment used for the recording source of American Heartland was done with high quality vintage mics and mic pres direct to DAT. The goal was to capture a sound similar to a classic studio recording session. Using vintage recording equipment lends a character to the samples which is desirable by many producers. Old API's and Neve's aren't always the quietest recording devices but somehow it is all a part of the sound that has made great records since the seventies. You will find that these sounds are extremely flexible for adding your own external processing. This is because the samples were done direct to DAT with very little, if any, extra processing. They were also close miked for an intimate sound and can be put in various ambient spaces with the use of reverbs.

Recording Equipment Used:

• Panasonic SV3700 DAT
• API 312 mic pre's
• Neve 1272 mic pre's
• Neuman U47 & other tube mics
• AKG 414EB, D12, 451, Tube C28's. C12
• Shure SM57's

Performance Highlights:

Although American Heartland is geared toward being a straight forward "load and play" type library, there are a few occasions where we've involved special interactive layers and performance elements. The Taylor 910™ 6 string acoustic guitar has some nice velocity switching between finger and pick with slide off noises that sometimes occur on note-offs (so it just happens with out you having to think about it). Since it is a separate note-off slide program, you can load it and use it with the 12 string or other guitars too. There are also some interesting combinations with guitar harmonics as well as some layered guitars (you can also get a really good sound layering the various electric and acoustic guitars on this library). The Dobro™ guitar has some interesting note-off elements as well for extra realism. The acoustic 6 & 12 string major and minor chord up/down stroke strums can be used to create rhythms with an alternating left and right hand approach.

Bonus Material: Riffs

When recording American Heartland, there were just too many tasteful flavors flying around and we couldn't resist putting a little of this essence on the disc as an added bonus. There are several ways we intend for them to be useful. With the abilities many samplers and software programs (like Acid™ for example) have to change key and do time stretching, there are many options for fitting some of these riffs into a performance within a piece of music. You might be sequencing a multi-sampled dobro part and add in a slide riff to "fool the ear" into thinking it's the real thing for instance. The riffs are also handy as a reference for stylistic playing of the instrument which could help you think a certain way when you do your own performances. But, overall, don't take the riffs too seriously as there are mostly in there for fun and for those who can find inspiration with them.

The blues harp riffs are a lot of fun. If you want to get this kind of sound with a playable multi-sample, try running the dry harmonica through a distortion box or an old tube amp as much of the sound is how it reacts with harmonic distortion. The fiddle has some unique "sampling world" possibilities here (although it is a very difficult instrument to simulate). It has alternate bowing techniques and special pitch bending on the attacks. The bass selection is a nice compilation of upright and acoutic bass as well as some nice electrics as well. The drums and percussion are conveniently mapped to the GM standard and there are brush snares and Blasticks™ plus vibes, tambourine, washboards & "country" percussion as well. With American Heartland, you have great musical tools for performance and composition in the styles of folk rock, country, blues and more.