Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank Review: A Game-Changing Drum Experience
Toontrack, the renowned music production software developer, has once again pushed the boundaries of drum sampling with their latest release: the Stories SDX soundbank. This new expansion pack for Superior Drummer and EZdrummer is a treasure trove of meticulously recorded drums, designed to bring your music productions to life.
Sound Quality and Variety
The Stories SDX soundbank boasts an impressive collection of drums, recorded in a state-of-the-art studio with a focus on capturing the perfect blend of tone, dynamics, and character. The pack features a wide range of drum kits, from classic rock and pop to jazz, funk, and beyond. Each kit is carefully crafted to provide a unique sonic identity, ensuring that your productions stand out from the crowd.
The sound quality is simply exceptional, with crystal-clear highs, warm lows, and a perfect balance of room and close mic'ing. The samples are incredibly detailed, allowing for a high degree of customization and flexibility. Whether you're looking for a vintage, gritty sound or a modern, polished tone, the Stories SDX soundbank has got you covered.
Recording Process and Drum Selection
Toontrack's team of expert engineers and drummers have outdone themselves in capturing the essence of these drums. The recording process involved using a combination of traditional and modern techniques, including mic'ing the drums in a variety of rooms and using a range of pre-amps and converters. This attention to detail has resulted in a soundbank that is both authentic and versatile.
The drum selection is equally impressive, with a range of kits and individual drums to choose from. From the '70s-style rock kit to the jazz and fusion kits, each drum is carefully recorded to provide a unique sonic character. The soundbank also includes a range of specialty drums, such as the 'vintage' snare and the 'deep' bass drum.
Integration and Workflow
As with all Toontrack SDX soundbanks, the Stories pack integrates seamlessly with Superior Drummer and EZdrummer, making it easy to get up and running quickly. The user-friendly interface allows for effortless browsing and selection of kits, and the extensive MIDI mapping options ensure that you can tailor the drums to your specific needs.
Key Features:
Conclusion
The Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank is a phenomenal addition to any music producer's arsenal. With its exceptional sound quality, versatility, and seamless integration with popular drum software, this pack is a must-have for anyone looking to elevate their drum productions.
Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out, the Stories SDX soundbank offers a wealth of creative possibilities. With its diverse range of drum kits and meticulous recording process, this pack is sure to inspire and enhance your music-making endeavors.
Rating: 5/5
Recommendation: If you're a fan of high-quality drum samples and want to take your productions to the next level, the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank is an absolute must-try.
Unlike previous SDXs where velocity dictated volume, here, velocity often dictates texture. Hitting a tom softly triggers a "mallet roll" sample. Hitting it hard triggers a stick attack plus the resonance of the room breathing. This dynamic response is perfect for scoring emotional shifts in film or game soundtracks.
The Concept The Stories SDX is a premium drum sound expansion library designed for Toontrack’s Superior Drummer 3. Unlike many libraries that focus on aggressive, modern metal or polished pop sounds, Stories is built around the sonic aesthetic of "classic songwriting." It is designed to sit perfectly in organic rock, folk, Americana, singer-songwriter, and soft rock mixes.
The Core Sound The library captures a drum kit with a focus on warmth, resonance, and a "lived-in" feel.
Key Features
Why It Is Useful For producers and songwriters, the Stories SDX solves a common problem: finding drum sounds that support a vocal rather than compete with it. It provides that elusive "classic album" drum sound straight out of the box, reducing the need for heavy EQ or compression to make the drums feel real and emotional.
Toontrack has effectively created a new instrument category: The Narrative Percussion Library. By focusing on the decay rather than the attack, and the room rather than the close-mic, the Stories SDX allows producers to paint with shadows. It asks the question: What is your drum track trying to say?
For composers who treat every sound as a character in a story, this is the most inspiring release of the year. Head over to Toontrack’s official website to hear the official audio demos, or fire up Superior Drummer 3 to start your own story today.
Have you tried the new Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank? Share your mix results in the comments below or join the discussion on our forum.
The Stories SDX, released on September 5, 2023, is a high-end sound expansion for Toontrack's Superior Drummer 3. Developed in collaboration with multi-Grammy-winning engineer Frank Filipetti, this library is designed as a "multi-genre" toolkit rather than a niche genre expansion. Core Content & Technical Specs
The expansion is substantial, requiring approximately 160GB of disk space for a full installation, which includes immersive 5.0 surround sound options.
6 Drum Kits: Sourced from Filipetti’s private collection and iconic sessions, spanning sounds from the 1930s to modern rock.
Extensive Percussion: Features over 30 percussion instruments, including timpani, congas, bongos, gongs, woodblocks, and orchestral bass drums.
Recording Location: Captured at Power Station New England, a studio modeled after the legendary Power Station in New York.
Versatile Tooling: Kits are sampled with various tools, including sticks, rods, and mallets, and feature "snare wires on/off" options for selected kits. Key Highlights & Features
Broad Sonic Palette: Unlike many SDXs that focus strictly on metal or jazz, Stories covers pop, rock, singer-songwriter, and even musical theater styles.
Mix-Ready Presets: Includes 64 presets engineered by Filipetti and the Toontrack team, ranging from raw, natural tones to highly processed, "glossy" sounds.
Custom MIDI Library: Comes with dedicated MIDI grooves for each drum kit and specific patterns for the percussion collection, performed by Norman Garschke.
Acoustic Environments: Users can blend sounds from three distinct spaces: the main room and two different isolation booths. Expert Consensus
Reviewers from platforms like Sound On Sound and Production Expert highlight its value as a "first expansion" for those who want a versatile, high-quality addition to the core library without being boxed into a specific genre. It is particularly praised for its organic warmth and the rare inclusion of a comprehensive percussion set within a drum expansion.
Stories SDX is a massive sound expansion for Superior Drummer 3, recorded by legendary engineer Frank Filipetti. It is designed to capture the "organic, warm, and natural" tones typical of Filipetti’s award-winning work (e.g., James Taylor, Carly Simon). 🥁 Soundbank Overview : Frank Filipetti Total Libraries : 4 distinct libraries (Main, Percussion, etc.) Library Size : Large-scale SDX (roughly 160 GB+) Core Content 6 core drum kits 64 mix-ready presets Extensive MIDI library and song structures 🛠 Included Drum Kits
The main library revolves around three specific tonal profiles: Modern Rock Kit : Punchy and polished for contemporary production. Classic Rock Kit : Warm, vintage response with balanced sustain. Art Rock Kit : Unique, character-driven tones for creative projects. Percussion Library
: A dedicated section featuring shakers, tambourines, and orchestral elements. ✨ Key Features toontrack stories sdx soundbank new
: Recorded with minimal processing to allow for maximum flexibility in the SD3 mixer. Consistent Cymbal Setup
: The kits share a primary set of cymbals, hi-hats, and rides to ensure smooth transitions between kit swaps. Articulation Depth
: High-resolution sampling including multiple hits per velocity and specialized strikes (brushes, mallets). 💡 Best Uses Singer-Songwriter : Perfect for intimate, acoustic-focused tracks. Pop/Rock Production
: Versatile enough for radio-ready "modern" sounds or retro-leaning "classic" vibes.
: The percussion library adds cinematic textures suitable for film or TV.
If you'd like to get the most out of this library, I can help you: Compare it to other SDX libraries like The Rooms of Hansa Build a custom kit suggestion based on a specific reference track. Understand the installation and disk space requirements.
Which of these would be most helpful for your current project?
The Stories SDX is a versatile expansion for Superior Drummer 3, recorded by multi-Grammy Award-winning producer Frank Filipetti (James Taylor, Foreigner, Korn). Released in September 2023, it was designed to cover a broad range of musical ground from Filipetti's five-decade career, spanning pop, rock, and Broadway. Key Features and Content
Diverse Kit Selection: Includes six (6) full drum kits and a comprehensive collection of percussion.
Exceptional Recording Environment: Captured at the legendary Power Station New England studio across three distinct spaces: the Main Room (expansive and open) and two isolation booths (tight and intimate).
Massive Library Size: Roughly 160GB of raw, uncompressed content featuring full microphone bleeds and a 5.0 surround configuration.
Broad Percussion Palette: Features 34 instruments including timpani, congas, shakers, and gongs, specifically aimed at film scoring and theater productions.
Articulation Options: Selected kits are sampled with sticks, rods, and mallets, with snare wires both on and off.
Ready-to-Mix: Includes a variety of presets engineered by Frank Filipetti himself, plus custom MIDI grooves for each kit. Expert Perspectives
Reviewers from Sound On Sound and MusicRadar highlight the expansion as a "genre-busting" tool. Toontrack Stories SDX - Expert Review
The Stories SDX Go to product viewer dialog for this item. by Toontrack, released on September 5, 2023, is a comprehensive soundbank for Superior Drummer 3. Produced and recorded by seven-time Grammy-winning engineer Frank Filipetti at Power Station New England, this expansion is designed to span the diverse sonic "stories" of Filipetti's 50-year career. Overview of Contents
The expansion features approximately 160 GB of raw, unprocessed drum sounds recorded through a legendary Neve 8068 MkII console.
6 Full Drum Kits: Handpicked to represent different eras and styles from the 1930s to the 2000s.
34 Percussion Instruments: A massive bonus collection including timpani, gongs, congas, bongos, shakers, and woodblocks.
3 Recording Ambiences: Captured in a main room and two distinct isolation booths for versatility between big, open rock sounds and tight, intimate acoustic tones.
Mix-Ready Presets: Over 60 presets engineered by Frank Filipetti himself.
Custom MIDI Library: Includes a dedicated section for percussion as well as grooves inspired by Filipetti’s iconic projects. Featured Drum Kits
The kits are curated as "mile markers" of Filipetti's career, covering everything from Broadway to modern rock: Modern Rock: 2000s DW Collector’s Series. Classic Rock: 1960s Rogers Londoner 5. Art Rock: 1970s Premier Elite. Acoustic Songwriter: 1980s Gretsch Stop Sign Badge. Vintage Pop: 1960s Ludwig Super Classic.
Musical Theatre: 1930s Slingerland Cloud Badge Radio King (sampled with sticks, mallets, and rods). Key Strengths
Versatility: Reviewers from Sound On Sound and MusicRadar highlight it as one of the most genre-busting SDXs, suitable for anyone needing a high-quality "all-rounder" expansion.
Percussion Integration: Unlike many expansions, the included percussion is comprehensive enough to support pop, rock, and even theater-style pit orchestra scores.
Immersive Audio: All sounds were captured with an additional five room microphones, allowing for mixing in stereo up to 5.0 surround sound. The Stories SDX
is currently available for approximately €179 and requires Superior Drummer 3.3.6 or higher. It can be found at retailers like Toontrack and drum-tec. Stories SDX and other recent releases like The Drum Factory or Real to Reel SDX Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ? Stories SDX | Toontrack
The Stories SDX Go to product viewer dialog for this item. by Toontrack is a versatile sound expansion for Superior Drummer 3, released on September 5, 2023. Produced by multi-Grammy winner Frank Filipetti, it was recorded at the legendary Power Station New England. Key Features & Content
The library is designed to cover a broad spectrum of musical genres from the last 40 years.
Six Full Drum Kits: Each kit represents a different "mile marker" in Filipetti's career.
Modern Rock: 2000s DW Collectors Birch, designed for grit and power.
Classic Rock: 1960s Rogers Londoner, ideal for big 80s ballad and rock sounds.
Art Rock: 1970s Premier Elite, a "workhorse" kit with a loud, historical NYC sound.
Acoustic Songwriter: 1980s Gretsch Stop Sign Badge, focused on nuance and subtle singing tones.
Vintage Pop: 1960s Ludwig Super Classic, bringing out natural acoustic timber.
Musical Theater: 1930s Slingerland Radio King, recorded with sticks, rods, and mallets for extreme adaptability. Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank Review: A Game-Changing Drum
Percussion Collection: Includes 34 instruments like timpani, gongs, congas, bongos, and shakers, all recorded in the same 5.0 surround setup.
Recording Spaces: Captured in three distinct rooms—the main room for depth and brightness, and two isolation booths for tighter, more intimate sounds. Technical Specifications
⚠️ Storage Warning: This is a massive library requiring significant disk space. Toontrack Stories SDX - Expert Review | Audio Production
Here’s a short piece inspired by the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank — focusing on its cinematic, narrative-driven, and highly expressive drum sounds.
Title: Frames Unspooled
Inspired by: Toontrack Stories SDX (recorded at Utopia Studios with producer Steve Albini, featuring drums by legendary session players)
The first hit doesn’t come as a crash.
It comes as a breath — the low, woolly thud of a 26″ kick drum, felt beater, no pillow. That’s not a drum sound; that’s a room exhaling. Stories SDX doesn’t announce itself. It remembers.
You feel the floorboards of Utopia Studios before you hear the snare. And when the snare arrives — a 1960s Ludwig Supraphonic, wires loose — it doesn’t crack. It unfolds. Rim clicks like old typewriter keys. Ghost notes like footsteps in a hallway. This is not a drum library for metal blasts or pop quantizing. This is for scenes: a motel at dusk, a rain-streaked windshield, a confession spoken too late.
The hi-hats (Paiste 602, unlathed) don’t sizzle. They breathe — open and close with the uneven pulse of a human leg, not a grid. Ride cymbal? Washed and dark, more like a gong’s distant cousin. Albini’s mics didn’t just capture transients; they captured air moving — the slap of a stick, the rattle of a lug, the creak of a stool.
And the room mics… God, the room mics. Stories SDX gives you the band in the live room — not isolated, not corrected. Bleed is not a bug; it’s the narrator. You can hear the guitar amp humming two feet from the floor tom. You can hear the squeak of the kick pedal as a storytelling detail, not a mistake.
This soundbank doesn’t ask you to play drums. It asks you to direct a memory. Each preset is a location: “Felt & Wire” (lonely, like a train through Kansas). “Ribbon Close” (intimate, like a jazz trio at 2 a.m.). “Trash Overhead” (bruised but beautiful, like a Neil Young record left in the sun).
In a world of sample libraries that scream perfection, Stories SDX whispers imperfect. And that’s why, when you load it up and hit record, you don’t hear a drum track.
You hear a beginning.
Would you like a MIDI drum pattern or a short audio description mock-up written in the style of this soundbank?
Introducing the Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank: Unlock a World of Cinematic Percussion
Toontrack, the renowned music production software company, has once again pushed the boundaries of sound design with the release of the Stories SDX soundbank. This latest addition to the Superior Drummer 2 (SD2) and EZdrummer 2 (EZ2) platforms offers a treasure trove of cinematic percussion sounds, perfect for composers, producers, and musicians looking to elevate their music productions.
What's New in the Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank?
The Stories SDX soundbank is a massive collection of over 3,000 high-quality drum samples, carefully crafted to evoke the essence of storytelling through percussion. This soundbank is designed to inspire creativity and provide an unparalleled level of sonic flexibility. Here are some key features:
Key Features of the Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank
Who is the Toontrack Stories SDX Soundbank for?
The Stories SDX soundbank is perfect for:
Get Ready to Tell Your Story with Toontrack Stories SDX
The Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank is an unparalleled resource for anyone looking to create music with a narrative edge. With its cinematic focus, vast library of high-quality samples, and seamless integration with SD2 and EZ2, this soundbank is poised to become an essential tool in your music production arsenal. Unlock the power of storytelling through percussion with the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank – available now!
Introduction
Toontrack Stories SDX is a new soundbank for Toontrack's EZdrummer and Superior Drummer drum software. This soundbank is designed to bring a unique and versatile drum sound to your music productions. In this guide, we'll explore the features and sounds of the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank and provide tips on how to get the most out of it.
What's new in Toontrack Stories SDX?
The Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank features a wide range of drum sounds, from clean and crisp to dirty and gritty. The soundbank is inspired by the sound of classic rock, pop, and indie music, but with a modern twist. Here are some key features of the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank:
Key Features
Here are some key features of the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank:
Tips for using Toontrack Stories SDX
Here are some tips for getting the most out of the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank:
Drum Kit List
Here is a list of the 7 new drum kits included in the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank:
Conclusion
The Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank is a versatile and powerful tool for music producers and drummers. With its wide range of drum sounds, customizable parameters, and high-quality sound design, it's an ideal choice for anyone looking to create high-quality drum tracks. By following the tips and guidelines outlined in this guide, you'll be able to get the most out of the Toontrack Stories SDX soundbank and create drum tracks that sound amazing.
The Stories SDX is a sound expansion library for Toontrack's Superior Drummer 3. It was produced and recorded by multi-Grammy award-winning engineer Frank Filipetti at the legendary Power Station New England studio.
Designed to cover massive musical ground rather than digging into a specific niche, the library is an incredibly versatile "genre-buster" that spans over five decades of musical history. 🥁 The Drum Kits & Articulations
Rather than focusing on just one era, the Stories SDX delivers a diverse cross-section of drum archetypes: Modern Rock: 2000s DW Collector’s Series. Classic Rock: 1960s Rogers Londoner 5. Art Rock: 1970s Premier Elite. Acoustic Songwriter: 1980s Gretsch Stop Sign Badge. Vintage Pop: 1960s Ludwig Super Classic. Musical Theatre: 1930s Slingerland Cloud Badge Radio King. 22 GB of high-quality drum samples 6 carefully
💡 Unique Feature: The Musical Theatre kit is recorded with standard sticks, rods, and mallets, as well as with the snare wires switched off. This provides a massive range of tonal control and softer textures rarely found in standard drum expansions. 🎻 Dedicated Percussion Library
A standout feature of this soundbank is its comprehensive percussion library. Instead of just adding a few basic shaker samples, this SDX delivers over 34 individual percussion instruments, including: Orchestral timpani, concert bass drums, and gongs.
Classic rhythm section tools like bongos, congas, and woodblocks. Shakers, cowbells, and tambourines for extra track spice. 🎛️ Recording Environment & Tech Specs
The audio was captured at the epic Power Station New England studio to yield hyper-realistic natural reverberations.
Three Room Ambiences: Recorded in the main room and two isolated booths of varying sizes, giving you everything from booming, atmospheric rock tones to tight, completely dry isolated sounds.
Surround Sound Ready: Includes an integrated 5.0 surround microphone setup to provide endless options for immersive audio mixing.
Library Size: Clocks in at approximately 160 GB of uncompressed, meticulously sampled data. 🎹 Presets and MIDI Grooves
Mix-Ready Presets: Features over 60 presets custom-tailored by Frank Filipetti and the Toontrack team to give you a massive polished sound immediately.
Custom MIDI Library: Played by veteran session drummer Norman Garschke, mapping out specialized beats for all the kits, alongside custom patterns specifically played for the handheld and orchestral percussion instruments.
Unlocking the Power of Storytelling: Toontrack's SDX Soundbank New
In the world of music production, having access to high-quality drum sounds is essential for creating a professional-sounding track. For years, Toontrack has been a leading provider of drum sample libraries and virtual instruments, and their SDX soundbanks have become the gold standard for drummers and producers alike. The latest addition to the SDX family is SDX Soundbank New, a massive collection of drum sounds that's designed to take your music production to the next level.
What is SDX Soundbank New?
SDX Soundbank New is the latest expansion of Toontrack's SDX soundbank series, featuring a vast collection of drum sounds recorded by renowned engineer and drummer, Jeff "Tain" Watts. This new soundbank is designed to provide producers and drummers with a wide range of versatile and high-quality drum sounds that can be used in a variety of musical genres.
The Story Behind SDX Soundbank New
The story behind SDX Soundbank New begins with Toontrack's quest to create a drum soundbank that would meet the demands of modern music production. The company wanted to create a soundbank that would not only provide high-quality drum sounds but also inspire producers and drummers to create new and exciting music.
To achieve this goal, Toontrack teamed up with Jeff "Tain" Watts, a seasoned engineer and drummer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry. Watts brought his expertise and passion for drumming to the project, carefully selecting and recording a wide range of drum sounds that would meet the needs of producers and drummers.
Features of SDX Soundbank New
SDX Soundbank New is packed with features that make it an essential tool for music producers and drummers. Some of the key features include:
Musical Genres and SDX Soundbank New
One of the things that sets SDX Soundbank New apart from other drum soundbanks is its versatility. The soundbank features a wide range of drum sounds that can be used in a variety of musical genres, from rock and pop to jazz and hip-hop.
Using SDX Soundbank New in Your Music Production
Using SDX Soundbank New in your music production is easy. The soundbank is compatible with Toontrack's EZdrummer and Superior Drummer virtual instruments, making it easy to integrate the sounds into your workflow.
Here are a few tips for using SDX Soundbank New in your music production:
Conclusion
SDX Soundbank New is a game-changer for music producers and drummers. With its vast collection of high-quality drum sounds and customizable features, it's the perfect tool for taking your music production to the next level. Whether you're working on a rock, pop, jazz, or hip-hop track, SDX Soundbank New has the sounds and features you need to create a professional-sounding track.
The Verdict
In conclusion, Toontrack's SDX Soundbank New is a must-have for any serious music producer or drummer. With its high-quality drum sounds, customizable features, and compatibility with EZdrummer and Superior Drummer, it's the perfect addition to any music production workflow.
Rating: 5/5
Recommendation
If you're looking for a high-quality drum soundbank that can help take your music production to the next level, look no further than SDX Soundbank New. With its vast collection of drum sounds and customizable features, it's the perfect tool for music producers and drummers of all levels.
Title: Toontrack Stories SDX: A New Chapter in Cinematic Drum Production
Body:
Step beyond the typical drum room with the Toontrack Stories SDX, the newest expansion for Superior Drummer 3 that redefines the relationship between percussion and narrative. This is not just a soundbank; it is an instrument for storytelling.
What’s New & Unique:
The Verdict: If you are looking for the new sound of indie, folk, ambient pop, or film score—where the room is the instrument and every hit tells a story—the Stories SDX is your next download. It moves away from perfection and toward emotion.
In testing, the standout is the 1965 Ludwig "Warwick" kit. Using the vintage ribbon mics (RCA 44 and Coles 4038), the kick drum doesn't "click"—it blooms. The snare, when played at 90–110 velocity, produces a "crack" that decays into a warm, woody body rather than a sterile ring.
Switching to the "Narrative" mixer preset instantly EQ’s the kit to sound like a classic 1971 Rolling Stones or Neil Young recording. It is round, slightly smashed, and undeniably real.
You get six fully mapped kits ranging from a classic 1960s jazz setup to a massive 26-inch kick drum rock kit. However, the "ghost" pieces are the highlight—rusty cymbals, paper-mâché snare tops, and bowed crotales.