High School Drum Corps

High School Drum Corps is a multi-sample drum library focused on the powerful, tight sound of a small marching band drum line. There’s a certain unique punch to the hard mid-tones and truncated dry snaps of marching snares and bass drums. It’s quite distinct from the solid, pleasing punch and smooth resonance of typical rock, jazz and symphonic percussion - these drums are meant to be heard loud and clear from a great distance, delivered with the staccato snap of a military formation. Mike was a marching percussionist back in his youth. To record this library, he returned to his old alma mater many years later to capture the feeling and sound of playing in a small marching drum corps live and in the flesh. Our goal was not simply to sample the sound of watching the band from the bleachers, but to put you right there in the drum line yourself, all the way from the rehearsal hall to out onto the field on game day. To do that, we recorded the drum line in both a large indoor band hall and an open-air outdoor football field environment to provide you more freedom and really put you right in the action. The hall has a live room wetness, while the field position has a much drier sound, with a subtle echo and natural environmental background.

The indoor version was recorded in a wood, tile and fabric surfaced band rehearsal hall. The outdoor recordings were done on the stadium field, so there are occasional stray sonic elements buried in the sound from the outside world. We also sampled some live marching band and parade ambiences you can use to add realism and sound design. With 2 Marching snares, 5 tuned marching bass drums, and ensemble strikes, this library has all the flavor and awkward charm of a high school marching band drum line, with plenty of pop, crack, whump and boom to kick off your next composition. High School Drum Corps fits perfectly in any genre from Trap to Latin, and it’s ready to sonically smash your next cover of We Will Rock You or The Final Countdown. March on!