CinePerc is a comprehensive orchestral percussion library developed by Cinesamples. Recorded at the legendary MGM Scoring Stage at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles, this library offers a vast collection of percussion instruments spanning orchestral, auxiliary, ethnic, woods, and metal categories. CinePerc provides composers and producers with a one-stop solution for their cinematic and orchestral percussion needs. The library is designed to work seamlessly with Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player, making it accessible to users without requiring additional sample playback software. CinePerc’s intuitive interface and carefully organized folder structure allow users to quickly locate and utilize the desired sounds, streamlining the composition process. With its high-quality recordings and extensive range of instruments, CinePerc aims to deliver authentic, powerful percussion sounds suitable for various musical genres, from traditional orchestral compositions to modern film scores and trailer music.
Pros:
• Recorded in a world-class studio, resulting in exceptional sound quality
• Comprehensive collection of percussion instruments covering multiple categories
• Intuitive interface and well-organized folder structure for easy navigation
• Compatible with the free Kontakt Player, eliminating the need for additional software
• Consistent mapping across instruments for a streamlined workflow
Cons:
• Large file size (99.5GB) may be challenging for users with limited storage space
CinePerc boasts an extensive array of features designed to provide composers with a versatile and powerful percussion toolkit. The library’s core strength lies in its vast collection of meticulously sampled instruments, ranging from traditional orchestral percussion to exotic ethnic instruments. Users can access a wide variety of drums, cymbals, gongs, bells, wood blocks, and more, each captured with multiple articulations and dynamic layers to ensure realistic performances.
One of the standout features of CinePerc is its “CinePerc Orchestral Percussion Ensemble” patch. This innovative patch combines instruments from the orchestral folder into a single, intuitively mapped interface. This feature allows users to quickly create complex orchestral percussion arrangements without the need to load multiple individual patches, significantly speeding up the composition process.
The library’s interface has been designed with user-friendliness in mind. Non-chromatic instruments are centered around middle C on the keyboard, providing a consistent starting point across different patches. This thoughtful mapping approach reduces the learning curve and allows users to focus on creativity rather than navigation.
CinePerc also incorporates advanced sound-shaping capabilities. Users can access basic effects like band-pass filters, chorus, delay, distortion, compression, and lo-fi processing directly within the interface. These built-in sound design tools enable composers to customize and manipulate the raw samples to fit their specific needs, expanding the sonic possibilities beyond the original recordings.
The library’s recording quality is a key feature in itself. Captured at the renowned MGM Scoring Stage, CinePerc benefits from the expertise of master engineer Dennis Sands. The resulting samples exhibit exceptional clarity, depth, and realism, allowing them to sit well in both dense orchestral mixes and more sparse arrangements.
CinePerc’s flexibility is further enhanced by its multi-microphone setup. Users can blend close, room, and surround microphone positions to achieve the desired sound, from intimate and detailed to expansive and cinematic. This level of control over the sonic character of the instruments makes CinePerc adaptable to various musical contexts and production styles.
The library also includes a variety of performance techniques for many instruments. For example, users can access different mallet types, rolls, and articulations for instruments like timpani and snare drums. This attention to detail allows for nuanced and expressive performances that closely mimic the capabilities of live percussionists.
When comparing CinePerc to other percussion libraries, several alternatives come to mind. Spitfire Audio’s Percussion library offers a similar focus on orchestral sounds but with a distinctly British flavor, having been recorded at AIR Studios. Orchestral Tools’ Berlin Percussion provides another high-quality option, known for its detailed sampling and European sound character. 8Dio’s Epic Percussion series offers a more specialized approach, focusing on larger-than-life sounds for trailer music and epic scores. Native Instruments’ Symphony Series Percussion takes a more streamlined approach, offering essential orchestral percussion with a user-friendly interface. Lastly, EastWest’s Hollywood Orchestral Percussion provides another Hollywood-style option, recorded at EastWest Studios and known for its extensive articulations.
While each of these libraries has its strengths, CinePerc distinguishes itself through its comprehensive nature, covering a wide range of percussion types beyond just orchestral instruments. Its recording quality and the legendary status of the MGM Scoring Stage also contribute to its unique character. However, composers may find that combining libraries from different developers can provide a more diverse sonic palette, as each library brings its own tonal characteristics and strengths to the table.
This plugin is best for:
• Film and TV composers seeking authentic, high-quality orchestral percussion sounds
• Trailer music producers requiring powerful and impactful percussion elements
• Orchestral music composers looking for a comprehensive percussion solution
• Sound designers needing a wide range of percussion sounds for various projects
• Music producers working in cinematic or orchestral-inspired genres
CinePerc stands as a robust and versatile percussion library that offers composers and producers a comprehensive toolkit for creating authentic orchestral and cinematic percussion arrangements. Its strengths lie in the exceptional recording quality, the vast range of instruments covered, and the intuitive interface that streamlines the composition process. The inclusion of the Orchestral Percussion Ensemble patch and built-in sound-shaping tools further enhance its utility, allowing for quick sketching of ideas and detailed sound customization. CinePerc’s versatility allows it to shine in various musical contexts, from traditional orchestral compositions to modern film scores and trailer music. Its ability to blend seamlessly into both dense and sparse arrangements, coupled with the flexibility offered by its multi-microphone setup, makes it a valuable asset in any composer’s virtual instrument collection. Whether used as a standalone solution for all percussion needs or as part of a larger orchestral template, CinePerc provides the tools necessary to create convincing and impactful percussion performances in the digital realm.