There are very few software instrument packages that I find myself leaning over my console and screaming, "YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS OR YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!!" but, "Damage" from Heavyocity is one of those, "YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS OR YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!!" Okay, maybe "DIE" is a bit over the top, but it certainly should by all means be in your arsenal. This is one percussion package that has made a dramatic change in not only the sound of my compositions but also my approach. It really is a game changer when it comes to having the perfect percussion track in your composition. IMO, it's as close to perfect as you can get in so many ways.
Let me first say that this isn't your typical percussion package of concert toms, taikos and snares...this thing has hybrid sounds such as exploding cars, cranes, metals, a dumpster and other ridiculous things that you wouldn't think of in a million years - and oh yeah, traditional orchestral drums. As the company puts it, "DAMAGE gives you 30 GB of drama, fusing industrial sounds and orchestral drums into a devastating electro-acoustic barrage." Good descriptor with the key word here being "devastating"...I can't even begin to express on virtual paper how intense these sounds are. Truly, truly epic.
One of the criteria that I use when I buy a new virtual is, "can I make the sounds my own?" I don't want to hear them in someone else's score 3 months later and everyone knows exactly what I've used - I HATE STOCK SOUNDS not because of what they are or their quality, but because everyone else has them! The user interface is brilliant and very easy to use to make your own sound. With over 500 single-shot elements that are up to seven velocity layers and up to nine round-robins per drum...well, you start to get the idea how deep and extensive this thing is.
Percussive Kits:
It's divided into 5 different sub categories: Epic Organic Drums, Ethnic Drums, Metals, Hybrid FXs Hits & Damage Kits. For example, let's say I select a preset from "Epic Organic Drums" that has a bunch of different "drums." When I bring up the Stage Interface and hit C3 it shows me where on the stage that particular drum is located. I can then just click and place it where ever I want on that virtual stage. The beauty of this lies in the mix...I can now create a percussion track using this one preset and place different drums all over the stage and as the sequence of the drum pattern that I've created gives the listener an aural dimension that fits in and around your composition - not your composition fitting around the percussion. And that's just the tip of the iceberg - now, let's add delays, EQ's and FX's to further "sculpt" your sound into something that's never been heard or used before. And one of the really cool features is the big knob called "Punish" which increases the intensity of a particular patch using some sort of compression, saturation and witchcraft! Custom sounds made easy - wow, what a concept! I can actually focus on writing music instead of being a programmer....once again, what a concept!
Rhythmic Suites:
Along with these presets of individual "drums," you also have loops that are a great way to instantly have a great percussion track. Over 700 tempo synced loops! Once you click on Rhythmic Suite you find 2 sub folders called Loop Menus and Single Loops. In Loop Menu, there are 16 menu style presets such as "LPS Epic Organic Full" and "LPS Industrial Full." Now, you could just use those loops and and be set - they're incredible. But, once again you can customize them by loading an individual loop from the Single Loops folder for further control options, like re-mixing, using midi to host feature (much in the way Stylus allows you to use midi sequences to customize a loop by breaking it up), level, pan & tuning by the slice of that loop. Yeah, kinda' deep but it's much more straight ahead once you start playing around with it. Remember, I'm a musician and you have to speak slowly...so, if I get it you'll have no problem! Also, adding the presets of individual drums and percussion from the Percussive Kits make them totally unique. Heavyocity has done a brilliant job of making an instrument that has a ton of flexibility. It can be as simple or as deep and complex as you need it to be.
Amp Sequencer & Trigger FX:
This is such a cool feature! There are key assignments that allow you to trigger FX's like glitch, stutter FX, rotator, low-fi, filter envelope. One more element to customize your sound and add that element that gives your track a cool sound. Now, I do have to say that these types of FX's will eventually "date" your sound - you know how you hear a track and say, "Oh, that's totally a 80's or 90's kinda of sound" but hey, for now this is very cool.
Loop Modifier:
This is where you can get pretty deep into the instrument without much effort. You can take a loop preset and remix, FX, totally recompose a loop, randomize, reverse...on and on and on! When using this approach, the chance of anyone creating the same loop as you are about 65 billion to 1! Okay, I'm not sure about those odds but you get the idea.
3 Mic Mixer:
I love this feature. Most orchestral virtuals these days have multiple mic selection and Damage joins that group. You can add as much of the close mic, room mic or hall mic. These are sliders and pretty straight forward and sound fantastic. No complaints with this one as it enables me to add these to my orchestral tracks seamlessly!
In Action:
Here's an excerpt from a cue that I scored for the film "Jimmy" starring Ted Levine, Bob Gunton and Kelly Carlson using "Damage." The thing that I absolutely loved about using it was that I needed this section to have some intensity but I didn't need it to be "Transformer" over the top. I was able to create a custom percussion track that was appropriate for the cue.
"The Kidnapping"
Conclusion:
This is the best percussion package out there (right now) and as I stated earlier, it can be as simple to use or as complex as you need it to be. For gaming composers it's a dream come true and for film composers it's an essential tool for dynamic and powerful percussion tracks and to be truly inspired when creating. For everyone else - use your imagination and go nuts! "Damage" is sold exclusively through Native Instruments (be sure to check out the videos) and retails for $339. Though a little more than other percussion packages out there, trust me when I say, this will be the best $339 you've ever invested!
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