Screenshot
Klevgrand OneShot is a versatile drum sampler and percussion workstation designed specifically for one-shot samples. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for crafting and manipulating drum sounds, from acoustic kits to electronic beats. The plugin features 15 instrument slots, each with its own mixer channel and effects chain, allowing for intricate sound design and mixing capabilities. OneShot comes loaded with over 8,000 high-quality samples across 200 presets, covering a wide range of acoustic and electronic drum sounds. Users can also easily import their own samples via drag-and-drop functionality.
Pros:
• High-quality, diverse sample library with over 8,000 sounds
• Intuitive interface with powerful sound-shaping capabilities
• Flexible trigger system allows for complex performances from single samples
• Comprehensive effects suite with insert and send options
• Multi-output routing for advanced mixing in DAW
Cons:
• Lack of built-in sequencer may be limiting for some users
• Price point may be high for those not needing extensive features
OneShot’s sample playback engine forms the core of its functionality, offering precise control over sample start and end points, pitch, and volume. Each of the 15 instrument slots can be assigned multiple samples, with velocity layers and round-robin variations for added realism. The plugin’s unique trigger system allows users to assign multiple MIDI notes to a single slot, each with its own envelope, pitch, and filter settings. This feature enables the creation of complex, evolving drum sounds from a single sample.
The mixer section provides individual channel strips for each slot, including volume, pan, and pitch controls. Two auxiliary send buses are available for parallel processing, and each channel can have up to two insert effects. The master output also features two effect slots for overall sound shaping.
The plugin’s interface is clean and intuitive, with a focus on streamlined workflow. At its heart is a unique trigger system that allows multiple MIDI notes to control a single sample slot, each with independent pitch, velocity, and filter settings. This flexibility enables users to create complex, nuanced drum performances from a single sound source. OneShot also incorporates humanization features, round-robin sampling, and choke groups to add realism and variety to drum patterns.
OneShot’s effects suite is comprehensive, offering EQ, compression, distortion, reverb (both algorithmic and convolution), delay, stereo widening, and a finalizer. These effects can be applied at the individual slot level, on the auxiliary buses, or on the master output, providing multiple stages of sound processing.
Humanization features are a standout in OneShot, allowing users to add subtle variations in timing, velocity, pitch, and filter cutoff to each trigger. This helps create more natural-sounding drum performances, even when using electronic or heavily processed samples. The plugin also includes a choke group system, essential for realistic hi-hat and cymbal performances.
Sample import is streamlined with drag-and-drop functionality, and OneShot includes smart sorting capabilities when importing multiple samples simultaneously. This feature automatically organizes samples into velocity layers and round-robin variations, saving time in kit creation.
Multi-output routing is supported, allowing each slot to be sent to a separate channel in the user’s DAW for further processing and mixing. This feature is particularly useful for complex productions requiring individual treatment of drum elements.
OneShot’s preset system is robust, offering over 200 curated kits spanning various acoustic and electronic styles. These presets serve as excellent starting points for further customization or can be used as-is for quick production work.
In the realm of drum samplers, OneShot competes with established players like Native Instruments’ Battery and FXpansion’s BFD3. Compared to Battery, OneShot offers a more streamlined interface and workflow, with its unique trigger system providing additional flexibility in sound design. However, Battery’s more extensive sample library and deeper editing capabilities may appeal to power users. FXpansion’s BFD3 is geared more towards ultra-realistic acoustic drum reproduction, with extensive microphone mixing options and a vast library of meticulously sampled kits. OneShot, while capable of realistic acoustic sounds, is more versatile in its approach, equally at home with electronic and hybrid drum sounds. Cheaper alternatives like Sitala offer similar drag-and-drop simplicity but lack OneShot’s advanced features like multi-triggering and extensive effects processing. On the other hand, plugins like XLN Audio’s Addictive Drums 2 provide more comprehensive acoustic drum modeling but are less flexible when it comes to electronic and experimental sounds.
This plugin is best for:
• Producers seeking a versatile drum sampler for both acoustic and electronic styles
• Sound designers who need precise control over sample playback and effects
• Musicians looking to add realism and variation to programmed drum parts
• Beatmakers who want to quickly craft unique kits from their own samples
• Studio engineers requiring flexible routing options for complex drum mixing
Klevgrand OneShot stands out in the crowded field of drum samplers with its unique blend of simplicity and depth. Its intuitive interface belies a powerful engine capable of intricate sound design and realistic drum performances. The high-quality sample library provides an excellent starting point, while the ability to easily import and manipulate user samples extends its versatility. The plugin’s standout feature is undoubtedly its trigger system, which allows for complex, evolving drum sounds from single samples. This, combined with the comprehensive effects suite and humanization options, enables users to craft highly detailed and natural-sounding drum parts. While the lack of a built-in sequencer may be a drawback for some, it allows OneShot to integrate seamlessly with a user’s existing workflow. The multi-output routing further enhances its studio utility, making it a valuable tool for both composition and mixing. Overall, Klevgrand OneShot is a powerful and flexible drum sampler that offers a unique approach to percussion sound design and performance. Its combination of high-quality samples, intuitive interface, and advanced features make it a compelling choice for producers and sound designers across various genres, from electronic music to rock and beyond.