Depending on your needs as a composer and producer, you may select plugins differently.
Using Kettle Drum VSTs for Effect
If you’re not an orchestral composer and plan to use Timpani in production (like hip hop beats for example), you might get away with using a free instrument.
The free timpani VSTs I’ve found tend to sound terrible when compared to their realistic-sounding counterparts.
When used in pop production, however, they may seem exceptional in your mix with some effects.
Using Timpani VSTs For Orchestral Composition
If you’re composing realistic sounding music for movie trailers, TV spots, video games, etc… you will need to fork out the cash, unfortunately.
Timpani VSTs aren’t always standalone. Even when they are, often it’s better to purchase the library that has all the orchestral instruments recorded in the same room.
The instruments gel better if they’re from the same library in my experience.
The Kontakt Player Times Out
I sound like a broken record on many of these posts, but the Kontakt Player isn’t the greatest.
For one, it times out after fifteen minutes. If the instrument you choose to buy runs in Kontakt, be sure you own Kontakt. There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with a plugin stopping due to a time restriction.
If you don’t own Kontakt, pick a standalone library.
What Are Timpani Drums?
The Timpani is a set of four or five pitched kettle drums that play in orchestras, symphonies, and even marching bands.
Percussionists playing Timpani control the pitch of the drums with a foot pedal located at the bottom of each.
There is a pitch indicator on each drum, but often they are inaccurate, so it’s best to use a pitch pipe.
Famous works that feature Timpani include E. Berlioz: “Symphonie fantastique,” “G. Mahler: Symphony No. 2,” and “J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio.”
Looking for more VST percussion? Check out my other roundups.
Have you used any orchestral percussion libraries or standalone Timpani VSTs? Which ones do you like? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment and share if you found the article helpful.
Thanks for reading.
2 comments
Rob Smith
Is there timpani software that can be added to a 4 pad set that can be used by a community band? Is there a 4 or more pad set that has timpani already programmed into it that could be used by a community band in place of real timpani?
Nick Cesarz
It is totally possible to use four electronic drum pads with a software library. It will be a pain to setup, but it would work. You could use Ableton Live, or a similar program, to run the VST software and change tunings when needed.
I haven’t heard of a 4 or more pad set that has timpani pre-programmed in. Some pads, like the SPD-SX, have timpani samples, but usually are only C and F IIRC.