Overview

Aaron Sterling’s playing has defined the sound of modern records for over two decades, from John Mayer and Taylor Swift to Harry Styles and Leonard Cohen. Revered for his understated feel and ability to serve the song above all else, Sterling is one of the most recorded drummers of his generation.

Kit Specifications

Kicks

• 20 x 14" 70's Slingerland Kick

• 22 x 14" 80's Ludwig Standard Kick

• 26 x 10" 80's Ludwig Marching Kick

Snares

• 13 x 5" 60's Trixon Wood Snare

• 13 x 6" 50's WFL Mahogany Snare

• 13 x 5.5" 60's Ludwig Wooden Hoop Snare

Toms

• 12 x 9" 70's Slingerland Rack Tom

• 14 x 14" 70's Slingerland Floor Tom

• 12 x 9" 70's Slingerland Rack Tom (Muted)

• 14 x 14" 70's Slingerland Floor Tom (Muted)

Hi-Hat

• 15" Istanbul Agop XIST Dark Hi-Hats

Crashes

• 18" Istanbul Agop Xist Dark Crash

• 17" Istanbul Agop Xist Dark Crash

Ride

• 21" Istanbul Agop XIST Ride

Snapshots

Below is a list of all the available snapshot presets in the Mario Duplantier library. For a general overview of snapshots, visit the Snapshots Overview.

1. Default Kit

2. Default Kit (Unmixed)

3. Middle Panning

4. Middle Panning (Unmixed)

5. WFL and Muted Toms

6. Wood Snare

7. Boomy Kick

8. Marching Kick

Drum Library User Interface

Interface Layout & Basic Usage

Each MixWave drum library features its own unique visual design. The overall layout and controls remain consistent across all libraries including the following interface elements:

1. Kontakt Instrument Header

2. Library Interface

3. Navigation Bar

4. Preset Lock

For a full explanation of each section, and general overview of Graphic User Interface (GUI) basics, visit the Drum Library User Interface article.

Kit View

The Kit View provides a visual layout of the drums and cymbals included in the library. From this view, you can audition kit pieces by clicking on them, load or unload individual elements, and swap between available kit piece variations using the following controls:

1. Drum Menus

2. Trigger on Click

For more information on the Kit View section controls, view the Kit View  article.

Mixer

Mixer Layout

The Mixer section provides control over individual mic channels and multiple output routing. This includes the following sections:

1. Mixer Channels for volume and panning adjustments.

2. Mix Panel and Master Panel for sub-mixer controls and master effects.

3. Reverb Panel for sampled reverbs.

For more information on the Mixer Section, view the General Mixer Interface Overview .

Mixer Channels

The Mixer section in this library includes a set of core controls for each drum and cymbal channel. The image below shows an overview of the Mixer interface with each numbered control labeled for reference:

1. Pan and Width Labels

2. Pan and Width Knobs

3. Solo and Mute Buttons

4. Phase Buttons

5. Volume Sliders

6. Level Meter

7. Channel Labels

8. Output Menus

9. Master Channel Inserts (Comp, EQ & Tape)

10. Master Left / Right Swap

11. Master Level Meter

12. Master Channel Label

To learn more about these features and how each control functions, view the Mixer Channels  article.

Main & Sub Mixer Channels

Each main mixer channel controls the overall level of a specific drum, cymbal, or ambient microphone. Under each of these channels, sub channels provide independent control over the bleed captured by different microphone types (e.g., Overhead, Room). This gives you precise control over the mix, down to individual mic perspectives.

Kick

Controls the main level of the Kick In microphone.

• Dirt: Kick bleed in the dirt mic.

• Mono Overhead (M OH): Kick bleed in the mono overhead mic.

• Overhead (OH): Kick bleed in the overhead mics.

• Room: Kick bleed in the room mics.

Snare

Controls the main level of the Snare Top microphone.

• Dirt: Snare bleed in the dirt mic.

• Mono Overhead (M OH): Snare bleed in the mono overhead mic.

• Overhead (OH): Snare bleed in the overhead mics.

• Room: Snare bleed in the room mics.

Rack & Floor Tom

Includes the Rack Tom and Floor Tom. Each has its own close mic level control.

• Dirt: Tom bleed in the dirt mic.

• Mono Overhead (M OH): Tom bleed in the mono overhead mic.

• Overhead (OH): Tom bleed in the overhead mics.

• Room: Tom bleed in the room mics.

Hi-Hat

Controls the main level of the Hi-Hat microphone.

• Dirt: Hi-hat bleed in the dirt mic.

• Mono Overhead (M OH): Hi-hat bleed in the mono overhead mic.

• Overhead (OH): Hi-hat bleed in the overhead mics.

• Room: Hi-hat bleed in the room mics.

Dirt, Mono Overhead, Overhead, & Room

Includes the Ride, Crash 1, and Crash 2.

• Ride: Volume of the Ride in each ambient mic channel.

• Crash 1 (CR 1): Volume of Crash 1 in each ambient mic channel.

• Crash 2 (CR 2): Volume of Crash 2 in each ambient mic channel.

Master

Adjusts the final output level of all mic channels and effects within the instrument.

Mix Panel

The Mix Panel, located at the bottom left of the Mixer interface, provides advanced control over shaping each channel’s dynamics, tuning, and the option to toggle between mixed/unmixed samples. The image below highlights each numbered control element:

1. Envelope Controls

2. Sub Channel Button

3. Sub Channel Volume

4. Tune Link Switch

5. Tune Knob

6. Mix Link Switch

7. Mix Switch

To learn more about how these features function and when to use them, view the Mix Panel Controls  article.

Master Panel

The Master Panel, located at the bottom left of the Mixer interface when the Master Channel is selected, offers additional creative control over your drum mix with onboard compression, EQ, and tape saturation. The image below highlights each numbered control element:

1. Compressor Bypass Switch

2. Mix Knob

3. Threshold Knob

4. Makeup Knob

5. EQ Bypass Switch

6. Low Knob

7. Low Mid Knob

8. High Mid Knob

9. High Knob

10. Tape Bypass Switch

11. Amount Knob

12. Tone Knob

To learn more about these features and how they function, view the Master Panel Controls article.

Reverb Panel

The Reverb Panel, located at the bottom right of Mixer interface, offers control of the sampled reverb levels. The image below highlights each control element:

1. Reverb Volume Knob

2. Reverb Bypass Switch

3. Reverb Name

4. Reverb Multi-Output Menu

To learn more about these features and how they function, view the Reverb Panel Controls  article.

Settings

Global Controls

The global controls available in the Settings section are as follows: 

1. Preview Velocity Switch

2. Preview Velocity

3. Mapping Preset Menu

For more information on these controls and their functionalities, view the Settings Global Controls  article.

MIDI Mapping

The arrangement of kit pieces in the MIDI Mapping section will vary depending on the library, however the control structure remains the same that includes: 

1. Kit Piece Purge

2. Primary & Secondary Map Keys

3. Primary & Secondary MIDI Learn

4. Articulation Name

5. Velocity Curve Editor

More detailed information on these controls and their functionalities can be viewed in the MIDI Mapping Section  article.

Velocity Curve & Hi-Hat Control

The Velocity Curve and/or MIDI CC pop up is revealed by clicking any Velocity Curve Edit button throughout the main Settings section. Offering more precise control over the incoming dynamics from the source MIDI or MIDI controller per kit piece and extended Hi-Hat CC settings. The image below highlights each control element:

1. Kit Piece Curve Editor Select

2. Exit Button

3. Main Velocity Curve

4. Hi-Hat Velocity Curve

5. CC Number

6. CC Invert Button

7. CC Learn Button

8. CC Position

Articulations & MIDI Map Layout

This section includes a complete breakdown of all articulations and their corresponding default MIDI, and native groove pack note assignments. For a more in depth overview of articulations, visit the Drum Library: Articulations Overview.

About

Clicking the About button in the bottom navigation of every library interface will show the About Section. This will display the current library version number, library framework version that is installed along with the build date information. It is recommended to double check this page after installing any available update to confirm it was installed correctly.

Disclaimer

Aaron Sterling names/logos/designs are all trademarks belonging to their respective owners and
are used with expressed permission from their respective owners.