Review: LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update by Audio Ollie

I have many percussion libraries and none of them have allowed me to create great-sounding percussion performances with the speed and ease of LA Modern Percussion’s new Groove Engine. Audio Ollie’s new update features a new Groove Engine, new multis, and noise-reduced samples and takes this top-tier library to the top rung of the percussion ladder.

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Review: LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update by Audio Ollie

I was a fan of LA Modern Percussion since reviewing it for Sample Library Review almost 18 months ago. Now I’m simply blown away by it. The newest update to LA Modern Percussion has taken a world-class percussion library and made it even better. The new Groove Engine means you have the ability to create incredible percussion performances with ease and flexibility.

LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update normally sells for $449.00 from Audio Ollie

Thoughts

Around 18 months ago, I had the privilege of reviewing Audio Ollie’s epic percussion library, LA Modern Percussion. I was so blown away by the sound, power, and flexibility of this library that it ended up receiving a Sample Library Review Best of 2019 award for best percussion instrument.

Audio Ollie is back and has simply blown me away with an even more powerful and flexible library in the LA Modern Percussion 1.1 update! This isn’t just an ordinary update with a few new samples and a little polish on the interface either. No, this update has taken what was already one of the best percussion libraries on the market and has taken it into the stratosphere with the introduction of the brand-new Groove Engine and new noise-reduced samples. In addition, Audio Ollie has introduced the first “Groove Pack” for LA Modern Percussion, “Percussion In Motion Vol. 1.”

To avoid retreading old ground from my original review of LA Modern Percussion (which you can find here), I will focus this review only on the new features found in the latest update, LA Modern Percussion 1.1.

The Groove Engine
How do you improve on pristine samples from a huge variety of percussion instruments recorded on one of the most renowned scoring stages (Warner Bros Eastwood Stage) with one of the most renowned scoring mixers (Alan Meyerson) on the planet?

You create a flexible sequencer that allows composers to easily harness the power of this fantastic set of samples to create their own epic percussion arrangements. That’s exactly what Audio Ollie have done here.

The Groove Engine has taken LA Modern Percussion into the stratosphere. See, I’m not a percussionist. Sure, I can keep a beat and sound decent when playing sampled taikos on my MIDI controller, but when it comes to arranging an epic trailer-size percussion ensemble, I’m just not that impressive. However, with LA Modern Percussion’s new Groove Engine, I was creating original epic trailer drum arrangements within the first 10 minutes!

This thing is simply fantastic; its features intuitively vary depending upon the kind of instrument patch you are using. For instance, when using the Traditional Hits and Rolls, the sequencer allows you to fully control the velocity of each step with the full set of round robins being used.

When using the Flams, the step bar will control the velocity, but an additional control also allows you to select exactly which of the round-robin samples will be played for each step. Things are taken even further with the sequencer for the Fills patches, as the step bar allows you to select which keyswitched performance is played for that step while also providing controls for both sample offset and sample ending.

The modwheel can be enabled for each sequencer to allow you full control over the dynamics of each individual patch or over all the patches together (which gets really fun!). For each sequencer, controls are also provided for assigned CC controls, the number of bars for the performance (up to 32), the sequencer rate (from 1/2 to 1/32T), swing, and an assignable keyswitch control. Among my favorite parts of the sequencer are the load and save controls, which were first introduced for microphone mixes in the original LA Modern Percussion. The save control allows you to save your sequencer pattern for use in similar instrument types (i.e. traditional hits and rolls across instruments) while the load control allows you to load a number of great preset patterns into the sequencer.

As if all of this weren’t enough, there is a MIDI Capture feature that allows you to drag the MIDI for your sequenced performance into your DAW. This Groove Engine simply takes LA Modern Percussion to an entirely different level. I have many of the major percussion libraries on the market and none of them have allowed me to create great-sounding percussion performances with the speed and ease of LA Modern Percussion’s new Groove Engine.

Multis
The first LA Modern Percussion included a set of fantastic multis with a polished sound out of the box. With the new update, Audio Ollie have included a whole new set of multis that continues to impress. From epic, loud, thundering percussion multis to even drones and wooshes, these multis are ready to use from the moment you drop them into Kontakt.

Noise-Reduced Samples
The first iteration of LA Modern Percussion included a fantastic array of pristine samples. With the update, Audio Ollie have introduced a whole new set of noise-reduced samples to allow you to get even bigger and louder with your performances without having to worry so much about increasing the noise floor.

Percussion In Motion Vol. 1 (Groove Pack #1)
While everyone who purchased the original LA Modern Percussion can receive the full update for free, Audio Ollie has also introduced a new product that shows off the new Groove Engine, Percussion In Motion Vol. 1.

Percussion In Motion Vol. 1 is the first Groove Pack offered by Audio Ollie for LA Modern Percussion. This Groove Pack contains 29 percussion performances created by Audio Ollie. In addition, there are dozens of alternative and rough performance grooves to dive into. These are not only a great way to jump-start your own creativity in using the new Groove Engine, but you can use these as building blocks within your own percussion arrangements. At only $19.00, Percussion In Motion Vol. 1 is a great addition to LA Modern Percussion.

To say that I’m impressed with this free update is to vastly understate just how much I’m geeking out over it. I honestly could hardly imagine a better update. With the introduction of LA Modern Percussion 1.1, Audio Ollie has firmly taken their place at the table as one of the absolute best percussion libraries on the market. When it comes to obtaining epic percussion performances that will make your tracks sound like they were recorded on the finest of scoring stages by the finest of mixers, I can’t think of anything better than LA Modern Percussion. “Heartily-recommended” doesn’t do this earth-shaking library justice.

Facts

The LA Modern Percussion update requires the full version of Kontakt 5.8 or above. This update is free to previous owners of LA Modern Percussion or can be purchased from Audio Ollie for $449.00. Percussion In Motion Vol. 1 is an add-on pack of grooves for LA Modern Percussion (required) and can be purchased separately from Audio Ollie for $19.00.

LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update sells for $449.00 from Audio Ollie

Demos of LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update by Audio Ollie

Videos of LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update by Audio Ollie

Contributor Raborn Johnson reviews LA Modern Percussion 1.1 Update by Audio Ollie
“I have many percussion libraries and none of them have allowed me to create great-sounding percussion performances with the speed and ease of LA Modern Percussion’s new Groove Engine. Audio Ollie‘s new update features a new Groove Engine, new multis, and noise-reduced samples and takes this top-tier library to the top rung of the percussion ladder..”