Kick Free Revolution Vol.3

Features:
2,1 GB Total Content (777 WAV Loops (791 MB) / 777 REX Loops (545 MB) and 777 AppleLoops (791 MB)

Formats:
24-bit WAV Stereo
AppleLoops
REX Loops (Stylus RMX ready)
EXS & Kontakt4+ Patches

Price:
39.95 € (incl. VAT) / Split Packs available
Also available at a discounted price in the KICK FREE REVOLUTION BUNDLE

There’s not a single doubt producers all over the world have been waiting for this: After the huge success of the Kick Free Series so far, Oliver Schmitt aka Sounds of Revolution listened once more to the needs of the music producers resulting in this fine collection of carefully crafted loops. They take great care of what “cool drumming” is all about: 777 drum loops – fx, hihat, tonal and percussion loops are both inspiring as such and leaving plenty of space for your creativity at the same time. Dedust your conventions, kickstart your signature sound with this fresh groove collection.

This collection, universally produced on 127bpm does not only leave enough space for your own creativity, but will even encourage it.

090 FX Loops
098 Hat Loops
204 KIT Loops
078 Liver Percussion Loops
041 Minimal Loops
043 Mix Loops
050 Noise Loops
116 Synth Percussion Loops
057 Tonal Loops

Plughugger
Oliver Schmitt is a man driven by a passion. Just like Deadmau5, Oliver Schmitt knows the art of creating drum loops that sound spot-on modern with a minimum of ingredients. For someone like me – who rather add than take away – it’s almost like dark magic. But as the old idiom famously says ‘the devil is in the details’ – and that’s what Oliver Schmitts loops are all about. Tiny details that you barely register but perceive as a whole.

[…] The reason for this is that these loops do not only lack the kick but also the snare. The omission of the snare might sound like a simple trick, but it makes the all difference in the world when it comes to actually use the loops in your own productions. This does it make very easy to build dynamic drums for entire track – with your favorite snares and kicks.

CONCLUSION
Being a somewhat decent producer myself – I marvel at the cunning steeped in this collection. The sounds are both carefully selected and masterfully processed. The usage of tonal elements is very clever and the loops are very dynamic – giving a feeling of ebb and flow.
If you are after the kind of sounds that will help you concur the charts of modern trance pop, this is probably too advanced for your audience. But if you are into modern electro and techno – or want to spice up your productions with those genres – there are few collections that will make you stand out in the same way as these loops will. People will think your production skills are way more advanced that they really are.
One final note about the price. In these days when you can grab gigabyte-sized libraries for 10-20 euros, a price of 64 euros is definitely high. But since the quality of these loops is so exceptionally outstanding – Kick Free Revolution files under investment, rather than expense.

Good: truly excellent kick-free drum loops.
Bad: Nothing really. It is well worth its price.

Rating: “Get it now” AWARD!

Waveformless
Although I really enjoy programming my own drums, loops can sometimes be lifesavers in adding a specific feel or groove. The trouble is, most loop collections are of full drum parts, so if you want to mix your own drum programming with the loops, you have to try and EQ out the kick, or your low end turns to audio mush. Wouldn’t it be great to have just the elements that lend the groove without all the other bits? That’s exactly the idea behind Kick Free Revolution Volume 3 from Sounds of Revolution.

Divided into categories of Kit Loops (electronic hats, thips, perc, and occasional simple snare parts), Hi-hat loops (just what it sounds like), Live Percussion Loops (acoustic percussion loops), Minimal Loops (bleepy/twonky electronic loops perfect for minimal and tech house), Mixed Loops (loops created with all sorts of sounds), Noise Loops (interesting loops created with white noise), Synth Perc (just what it sounds like), and Tonal Loops (loops with tuned percussion elements). The loops all clock in at 127 BPM, but if you’re using the REX/Stylus format, you can change the tempo of most of these loops across a fairly wide range of tempos without unwanted artifacts.

Producer Oliver Schmitt’s production style generally leans towards the heavier end of the spectrum with most of the loops very aggressively compressed and the high end EQ tweaked. There is plenty of that here, but there are also lots of lighter sounding material should that fit your musical context better. In fact, I’d say the best part of this collection is the variety of what is offered here. There’s plenty of loosely swinging hats for house or techno, ethnic percussion for adding a more exotic feel, Kraftwerkian laser rhythms for an electronic edge, straight forward dance grooves, you name it. It’s a fun collection to audition loops from because you’re never quite sure what the next loop is going to sound and feel like. This makes it very easy to recommend to musicians looking to add a little inspiration to their drum tracks.
Rating: 09 / 10

Computer Music UK
There’s not much change to SOR’s winning formula here: 777 percussive house loops at 127 bpm without any kicks to get in the way of your own humongous bass drum sounds. It’s quality stuff, and while there are no surpises, there are some solid loops; especially in the melodic section where things get a little more interesting thanks to some pitch touches that add inspirtation to the otherwhise fairly dry material.
Rating: 08/10