Sonic Reality has announced the release of Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit, a music software recreation of the massive DW drum kit of legendary drummer of Rush, Neil Peart. It comes as a sound library for sample playing software such as BFD2 and Kontakt using Sonic Reality's expandable Infinite Player library.

Neil has collaborated with Sonic Reality and producer/engineer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) to bring the authentic sound of Neil's "Snakes and Arrows' Custom DW Drum Kit into the digital domain. With advanced features such as deep level dynamics, humanized random alternating hits, discrete multiple mic mixing and more, this deluxe sampled kit is an ultra-realistic recreation of Neil's actual acoustic set as used live on tour and in the studio. Now e-drummers, keyboardists and composers can play rock drum samples with the iconic signature sound of Neil Peart and have a world-class, hard-hitting drum kit suitable for many styles of music from Progressive Rock to Heavy Metal.

Producer Nick Raskulinecz engineered the sample sessions with Neve mic preamps and deluxe vintage tube mics provided by Ocean Way Recording's Classic Rentals in LA. Multiple room positions and ambient channels are provided for one of the most elaborate sampled drum kits ever. With the assistance of Don Lombardi and DrumChannel.com, every detail of "The Kit" was captured both in high-resolution audio.

"The Kit" features 8 Toms, a vast array of cymbals including 3 Chinas, 4 Crashes, 3 Splashes, Ride, 2 Snares, Massive Kicks, Percussion – such as Cowbells and more. It comes mapped in GM, iMap, V-Drum and a Custom Map mode to be controlled by any electronic drum kit. It includes both discrete mic mixing and album-quality presets right out of the box for instant gratification.

Specs of the Custom Neil Peart DW Drum Kit:

• Size: Over 12 Gigabytes.
• 23" x 16" Kick Drum.
• 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum.
• 14" x 6.5" Edge Snare Drum.
• 8" x 7" Tom.
• 10" x 7" Tom.
• 12" x 8 Tom.
• 13" 9" Tom.
• 15" x 12" Tom.
• 15" x 13" Tom.
• 16" x 16" Tom.
• 18" x 18" Tom.
• 22" Sabian Paragon Ride Cymbal.
• 4 Sabian Paragon Crash Cymbals (16", 16", 18", 20").
• 3 Sabian Paragon China Cymbals (20", 20" with rivets, 19").
• 3 Sabian Paragon (10", 10", 8") Splash Cymbals.
• 5 Cowbells.

Pricing & Availability

Neil Peart Drums Vol 1: The Kit is available now from Sonic Reality dealers world-wide in either FXpansion's BFD2 format or Native Instruments' Kontakt format*. Downloadable versions are available from www.esoundz.com.

MSRP is $199 ($149 is the estimated street price).

* requires Sonic Reality's Infinite Player library.