Bigger Bangs!

From thunderous hits to shimmering metallic accents, percussion is the heartbeat of every great score. Recorded on the majestic Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, BBO Percussion captures the raw energy, precision, and power of up to six world-class players performing together in one of the finest acoustic spaces on the planet. These performances embody the thrilling intensity that defines today’s cinematic sound – bold, organic, and deeply musical.

Overview

• Monster Drums, Thunder Toms, Super Crashes and many more
• Unique sounds of 3 grand pianos mixed with various percussion instruments
• Massive power of up to six percussionists playing together
• Set-ups at three positions on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage
• Flow View for easy, intuitive and effortless playing

The Flow of Pure Energy

Pitched Percussion Ensembles

BBO Percussion includes the full sample content of the previously available BBO Packs Dorado (Percussion Ensembles) and Fornax (Pitched Percussion Ensembles) in one easily accessible package. Enhanced by our new Flow View for intuitive browsing and an uninterrupted creative workflow, this powerful collection gives you instant access to the driving force of the Big Bang Orchestra – a vibrant world of rhythm, resonance, and sheer orchestral impact. It also includes a collection of MIDI loops that can be played within the Synchron Player and customized in your DAW.

Percussion Ensembles

Big, fat percussion sounds are the backbone of every epic arrangement, adding weight, motion, and drama to your music. Recorded with up to six percussionists performing together on Stage A, these ensembles capture the human energy and precision that bring orchestral rhythm to life with unmatched depth and authenticity.

The Percussion Ensembles feature a stunning variety of setups divided into two main groups – Skins and Metals. The Skins category includes Monster Drums, Bass Drums, Thunder Toms, Special Drums, and a Snare Drum Ensemble. The Metals category offers Suspended Cymbals, Super Crashes, Big Metal, and Small Metal. By combining instruments from both categories, you can span the entire frequency spectrum and harness the exhilarating energy of up to twelve instruments sounding together.

All instruments were recorded simultaneously in three stage positions – left, center, and right – using an array of close, overhead, Decca Tree, surround, and high surround microphones. This setup allows complete flexibility within the Synchron Player, letting you shape your mix from focused punch to cinematic spaciousness.

Pitched Percussion Ensembles

Expanding the sonic spectrum of the Big Bang Orchestra, the Pitched Percussion Ensembles explore the fascinating intersection of rhythm and harmony – a sound that’s both percussive and melodic. These unique ensembles feature up to six musicians performing together, combining the power of three concert grands (Steinway D-274, Bösendorfer Imperial, and Yamaha CFX) with plate bells, tubular bells, vibraphone, gongs, timpani, taikos, and more.

The setups are divided into Low Range and High Range instruments. The Low Range ensembles offer deep, resonant combinations – such as pianos, plate bells, tubular bells, pitched gongs, timpani, and bass drums – while the High Range setups add brilliance and shimmer with plate bells, tubular bells, vibraphone, suspended cymbals, gongs, and triangle. Each configuration was meticulously designed to cover the full frequency range, from mysterious low textures to radiant high accents.

Percussion Ensembles

Monster Drums

Left Position

• Huge Taiko (Odaiko Simonsen, 53")
• Big Taiko (36")

Center Position

• Big Bass Drum (Kolberg)
• Small Bass Drum (Lefima)

Right Position

• Big Surdo (Meinl)
• Small Surdo (Meinl)

Bass Drums

Left Position

• Medium Taiko (Original, 20")
• Big Taiko (Original, 36")

Center Position

• Small Bass Drum (Lefima)
• Big Bass Drum (Kolberg)

Right Position

• Medium Concert Tom (Yamaha, 12")
• Big Concert Tom (Yamaha, 16")

Thunder Toms

Left Position

• Small Concert Tom (Yamaha, 8")
• Small Concert Tom (Yamaha, 10")

Center Position

• Medium Concert Tom (Yamaha, 12")
• Medium Concert Tom (Yamaha, 13")

Right Position

• Big Concert Tom (Yamaha, 14")
• Big Concert Tom (Yamaha, 16")

Special Drums

Left Position

• Big Surdo (Menial)
• Medium Taiko (Original, 20")

Center Position

• Big Temple Block (Original)
• Mridangam (Original)

Right Position

• Log Drum (Kolberg)
• Small Surdo (Meinl)

Snare Ensemble

Left Position

• Snare Drum (Aural)

Center Position

• Field Drum (Aural)

Right Position

• Snare Drum (Kolberg)

Suspended Cymbals

Left Position

• Medium Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 16")

Center Position

• Small Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 12")

Right Position

• Big Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 18")

Super Crashes

Left Position

• Big Piatti (Meinl, 22")

Center Position

• Medium Piatti (Zildjian, 20")

Right Position

• Small Piatti (Zildjian, 16")

Big Metal

Left Position

• Big Tam-tam (Wuhan, 120 cm)
• Small Tam-tam (Wuhan, 50 cm)

Center Position

• Low Plate Bell - C2 (Kolberg)
• Medium Plate Bell - F#4 (Kolberg) Anvil (Kolberg)

Right Position

• Big Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 18")

Small Metal

Left Position

• Big Triangle (Kolberg)
• Small Triangle (Kolberg)

Center Position

• Small Jingle Ring (Kolberg)
• Big Jingle Ring (Kolberg)

Right Position

• Big Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 18")
• Medium Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian, 16")

Pitched Percussion Ensembles

Set 1 - Drums and Pianos

Left Position

• Grand Piano 1 (Bösendorfer Imperial)

• Big Taiko (Original 36")

Center Position

• Grand Piano 2 (Steinway D-274)
• Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Light 26"–32")

Right Position

• Grand Piano 3 (Yamaha CFX)
• Bass Drum (Kolberg "Dicke Bertha" 36")

Set 2 - Big Timpani

Left Position

• Big Taiko (Original 36")

Center Position

• Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Light 26"–32")

Right Position

• Bass Drum (Kolberg "Dicke Bertha" 36")

Set 3 - Low Bells and Pianos

Left Position

• Grand Piano 1 (Bösendorfer Imperial)
• Low Plate Bells (Kolberg, C2–B4)

Center Position

• Grand Piano 2 (Steinway D-274)
• Tubular Bells (Bergerault C25, F4–F6)

Right Position

• Grand Piano 3 (Yamaha CFX)
• Burma Gongs

Set 4 - High Bells

Left Position

• High Plate Bells (Kolberg, C4–C7)

Center Position

• Tubular Bells (F4–F6)

Right Position

• Vibraphone (Musser M55)

Set 5 - High Gongs

Left Position

• Medium Suspended Cymbal (Zildjian 16")

Center Position

• Triangles (Kolberg)

Right Position

• Burma Gongs

Mixer Presets

Room Mix Presets

The most resource-friendly presets: Based on a room mix we created from all available room microphones, you will get an impressive sound that will help you to manifest your orchestral ideas on every device.

Stereo Decca Tree Presets

The "Decca tree" is the microphone tree that is the heart and soul of every orchestral recording. It consists of a main stereo channel and a mono center channel and captures the details of the room from the conductor’s perspective.

Surround to Stereo Presets

Enjoy the massive sound of all available room microphones, including the decca tree mics, down-mixed to a stereo signal. You will get a great impression of the huge sound our Synchron Stage Vienna is known for.

Surround Presets

If you insert your Synchron Player as a surround plug-in in your sequencer, these presets will provide the starting point for your surround setup.

Processed Presets

We have added some compression using the integrated compressor to achieve an even more powerful sound of the Big Bang Orchestra. Feel free to add more FX as you create the symphonic sound of your desire.

Microphone Setup

• Main (Decca tree stereo)
• Main (Decca tree center)
• Main surround stereo
• High stereo
• High surround stereo
• Overhead center
• Overhead left
• Overhead right
• Percussion center close
• Percussion left close
• Percussion right close