The Grange

The Grange is a dedicated drum library from Spitfire Audio that captures the specific acoustics of Headley Grange, the private residence in Hampshire, England, renowned for its role in the production of albums by Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and Bad Company. To recreate the sonic characteristics of these historic recordings—specifically the stairwell reverb famously utilized on "When The Levee Breaks"—Spitfire Audio recorded three distinct drummers in the same space: Roger Taylor (Queen), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Andy Gangadeen (Massive Attack, Chase & Status).

The library features an extensive collection of multi-sampled kits and loops performed by the artists themselves. The recording signal chain utilized rare microphones, Neve and API preamps, and a 2-inch 24-track Studer multitrack tape machine to maintain an analog signal path. The content is divided into individual sections for each drummer, offering both playable kits (hits) and rhythm loops that cover simple grooves to signature beats. The engine allows users to map sounds via the "Kickstart" interface and sync loops to host tempo through the Loop Browser.

For mixing, The Grange provides multiple perspectives engineered by Nick Taylor. Users can select from pre-configured mixes such as Tight, Mid, and Epic, or access individual microphone signals. The available channels include standard kit positions (Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, Toms) and specific ambient perspectives captured from the Ground Floor, 1st Floor, and 2nd Floor of the venue, allowing for precise control over the room sound.

Key Features

• Three Distinct Kits: Performed by Roger Taylor, Chad Smith, and Andy Gangadeen.
• Historic Location: Recorded at Headley Grange to capture the venue's signature stairwell acoustics.
• Analog Signal Chain: Tracked via Neve/API preamps to 2-inch Studer tape.
• Comprehensive Content: Includes deeply sampled hits and thousands of tempo-synced loops.
• Multiple Mix Perspectives: Features Tight, Mid, and Epic mixes, plus controllable ambient mic positions (Ground, 1st, and 2nd floors).
• Kickstart Engine: Custom interface for mapping and loop management.

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