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# Free and Libre Drum Kit Sample Libraries :::info :bulb: Currently, this list is only concerned with sample libraries of acoustic drum sets. **Last updated:** 2024-08-09 ::: ## General Kits, usable with SFZ or SF2 Sample Players ### Open licensed * [AVL Drumkits](http://www.bandshed.net/avldrumkits/) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) * Wilkinson Audio [Naked Drums](https://wilkinsonaudio.com/products/naked-drums) (CC-BY-4.0) * [The Open Source Drumkit](https://github.com/crabacus/the-open-source-drumkit) (Public Domain, original download site for samples not available anymore, more info in this [KVR forum thread](https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=277132)) * [Salamander Drumkit](https://sfzinstruments.github.io/drums/salamander/) ([CC0](https://rytmenpinne.wordpress.com/2022/03/04/good-news-everyone/)) * [Sam Greene Sonor Force 3001](https://sfzinstruments.github.io/drums/sams_sonor/) (CC-BY-SA-4.0) * [Tchimera Drum Kit](https://github.com/michaelwillis/tchimera-drum-kit) (CC BY-SA 4.0) * [Virtuosity Drums](https://versilian-studios.com/virtuosity-drums/) (Jazz Drum Kit, SFZ, CC0) * [Big Rusty Drums](https://shop.karoryfer.com/pages/free-big-rusty-drums) by Karoryfer ([GitHub repo](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/karoryfer.big-rusty-drums/), CC0 1.0) ### License to be determined * Bandshet Records [Brushkit](https://www.bandshed.net/sounds/sfz/) * Naturalstudio [ns_kit7free](https://archive.org/details/samples-nskit_20211118161722) (original download site (`www.naturalstudio.co.uk`) for samples not available anymore) * [NSA Drumkit](https://rekkerd.org/nsa-custom-series-drumkit-free-acoustic-drumkit-samples-by-dean-aka-nekro/) ([Bundle with SFZ mapping](http://www.bandshed.net/sounds/sfz/nsa.zip) by Bandshed Records) The author of the web article (Ronnie of *rekkerd.org*), which provides the download, says [in the comments](https://rekkerd.org/nsa-custom-series-drumkit-free-acoustic-drumkit-samples-by-dean-aka-nekro/#comment-168506): *"@Kendall, you can use the samples in commercial songs, no problem."* * [SM Drums](https://smmdrums.wordpress.com/) (Ludwig Vintage Kit, Kontakt, Reaper, SFZ) (alternative [SFZ Mappings](https://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=13591&start=15) from linuxmusians.com forum) ### Free (as in free beer, but redistribution restricted) * AnyDayLong M#TOWN7 DRUMS (original download site not available anymore) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/AnyDayLong%20Motown%20Drums%20Vol%207)) * [GSCW DRUMS Library Vol.1](https://archive.org/details/samples-gscw_20211118171201) (original download site not available anymore) * PastToFutureSamples [Motown Drums Vol.6](https://pasttofuturesamples.gumroad.com/l/MeUUo?layout=profile) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/PastToFuture%20Motown%20Drums%20Vol%206)) * PastToFutureSamples [Disco Drums](https://pasttofuturesamples.gumroad.com/l/XggvXs?layout=profile) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/PastToFuture%20Disco%20Drums)) * PastToFutureSamples [Dr. Aliensmith Drums](https://pasttofuturesamples.gumroad.com/l/eNmAz) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/SpotlightKid/sfz-workshop/tree/master/mappings/PastToFutureSamples%20Dr.%20Aliensmith%20Drums)) * PastToFutureSamples [Indie Lo-Fi Drums](https://pasttofuturesamples.gumroad.com/l/uDkBC?layout=profile) * Pettinhouse [Brush Kit Free](http://www.pettinhouse.com/html/download.html) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/Pettinhouse%20Brush%20Kit%20Free)) * Pettinhouse [Yamaha 9000 Kit](http://www.pettinhouse.com/html/download.html) ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/Pettinhouse/Yamaha%209000)) * Orange Tree Samples [Jazz Funk Kit](https://www.orangetreesamples.com/blog/free-jazz-funk-drum-sample-library) ([SFZ mappings](http://www.drealm.info/sfz/GregJazz/9), [another one](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/Gregjazz%20Jazz%20Funk%20Kit)) * [Ruffrider Soundfont](http://michaelkingston.fi/kingstondrums/ruffrider.html) by Michael Kingston * Pianobook [Soft Drums](https://www.pianobook.co.uk/library/soft-drums/) by Jon Meyer ([SFZ mapping](https://github.com/sfzinstruments/mappings/tree/master/Pianobook%20SFZ/Soft%20Drums)) ## Drumgizmo Kits ### From DrumGizmo Project All kits available on the [DrumGizmo web site](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits) (all CC-BY-4.0 licensed): * [CrocellKit](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:crocellkit) * [DRSKit](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:drskit) * [MuldjordKit](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:muldjordkit) * [The Aasimonster](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:the_aasimonster) * [ShittyKit](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:shittykit) * [Sommerhack 2016-Kit](https://www.drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits:sommerhack-kit) ### Third-Party * [Tchackpoum DrumGizmo Kit](https://forums.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=233402) (based on same sample set as Tchimera Kit above, Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License, Version 2) ## Other lists * https://sfzinstruments.github.io/drums/ ## Notes ### Conversion Tools * [ConvertWithMoss](https://mossgrabers.de/Software/ConvertWithMoss/ConvertWithMoss.html) ### SM Drums #### English (deepl.com) First of all: this is not a plug-and-play drum kit! Basically, the sampled kit is a Ludwig drum set with a definite vintage character. It is therefore not suitable for all styles. But it is ideal for R&B/soul, Motown, garage, indie pop etc. There are three versions on the website (Kontakt, Reaper, Sforzando). The Reaper version is of no interest here as it cannot be used with FLOSS. That leaves Kontakt and Sforzando. The Kontakt version contains approx. 4.2 Gb of samples, 7418 files, 24-bit 44100 Hz, mono or stereo (e.g. overhead mics), up to 32 velocity levels per drum, and 2-8 round robins and several microphones/microphone positions for individual drums. This is therefore difficult to map in a single SFZ mapping for a drum kit. The SFZ version for Sforzando has somewhat reduced samples: approx. 3.5 Gb, 3614 files, no different microphones/microphone positions and possibly fewer round-robin variants (?). There is only one sidestick variant (8 RR), but an additional floor tom (I assume these are the samples of tom 3 simply pitched lower). The cymbal samples take up more than half the space, and even three quarters if you include the hi-hats. As the sample files are not normalized 24-bit audio files, conversion to FLAC does not make sense without further adjustments. Due to the high sample resolution, compression would be inefficient and would only slow down the loading of the samples. You should therefore first convert the resolution to 16-bit and possibly upsample to 48 kHz so that the latter does not have to be done by the SFZ player. If you want to make the drum kit a little more memory-friendly, it would make more sense in my opinion to reduce the number of velocity steps and possibly also the number of round robins. However, this would require extensive adjustments to the existing SFZ files of the Sforzando version, as the velocity thresholds for the individual sample regions would then have to be recalculated and set. In my opinion, doing this manually would be an unreasonable effort. The problem with the existing amount of samples is that sfizz is currently not able to load the drum kit, but the plugin simply crashes. With liquidsfz it works, but it doesn't support some useful SFZ opcodes, e.g. `output` for single outputs per drum sound. #### German (original) Vorneweg: das ist kein Plug-and-play Drumkit! Grundsätzlich handelt es sich bei dem gesampleten Kit um ein Ludwig-Drumset mit definitiv Vintage-Charakter. Es ist also nicht für alle Stile problemlos einsetzbar. Aber für R&B/Soul, Motown, Garage, Indie-Pop usw. ist es ideal. Es gibt auf der Webseite drei Versionen (Kontakt, Reaper, Sforzando). Die Reaper-Version ist hier uninteressant, da nicht mit FLOSS einsetzbar. Bleibt also Kontakt und Sforzando. Die Kontaktversion enhält ca. 4,2 Gb an Samples, 7418 Dateien, 24-bit 44100 Hz, Mono oder Stereo (z.B. Overhead-Mikros), pro Drum bis zu 32 Velocity-Levels, und 2-8 Round-robins und für einzelne Drums mehrere Mikrofone/Mikropositionen. Das lässt sich also schlecht in einem einzelnen SFZ-Mapping für ein Drumkit abbilden. Die SFZ-Version für Sforzando hat etwas reduzierte Samples: ca. 3,5 Gb, 3614 Dateien, keine unterschiedlichen Mikrofone/Mikropositionen und evtl. weniger Round-robin Varianten (?). Es gibt nur eine Sidestick-Variante (8 RR), dafür aber eine zusätzliche Floor Tom (ich vermute, das sind die Samples von Tom 3 einfach tiefer gepitcht). Die Becken-Samples machen über die Hälfte des Platzbedarfs aus, wenn man die Hi-hats mit einrechnet sogar Dreiviertel. Da es sich bei den Sampledateien um nicht normalisierte Audio-Dateien mit 24-Bit handelt, ist eine Konvertierung in FLAC nicht ohne Weiteres sinnvoll. Durch die hohe Sample-Auflösung wäre die Komprimierung ineffizient und würde nur das Laden der Samples verlangsamen. Vorher sollte man also die Auflösung auf 16-bit umwandeln und evtl. auf 48 kHz Hochsamplen, damit letzteres nicht vom SFZ-Player gemacht werden muss. Wenn man das Drumkit etwas speicherfreundlicher gestalten will, wäre es aber m.E. sinnvoller, die Anzahl der Velocity-Stufen und ggf. auch der Round-robins zu verringern. Dazu sind aber umfangreiche Anpassungen der vorhandenen SFZ-Dateien der Sforzando-Version notwendig, da die Velocity-Thresholds für die einzelnen Sample-Regionen dann neu berechnet und gesetzt werden müssen. Das manuell zu machen wäre m.E. ein nicht vertretbarer Aufwand. Das Problem mit der vorhandenen Menge an Samples ist, dass sfizz momentan nicht in der Lage ist, das Drumkit zu laden, sondern das Plugin stürzt dabei einfach ab. Mit liquidsfz geht es, aber das unterstützt einige nützliche SFZ-Opcodes nicht, z.B. `output` für Einzelausgänge pro Drumsound.