This Sample CD represents my fourth unique Sample CD to date; my first CD, "Dance/Industrial I" was released in 1991 and went onto become one of the most successful sample CD's of all-time. The follow-up to it, "Dance/Industrial II," was equally successful and in fact each CD spawned a few special editions on CD ROM as well as a lot of very nice credits for its use on records (Garbage, for instance, credited me on their debut album).

As the late nineties approached, I decided to do a Sample CD that was not "programmed" with machines, but yet, offered the precision that sequencers and drum machines can deliver. How would I do it? I called ex-Journey drum virtuoso Steve Smith and we co-created "Rhythmic Journey." Again, it turned out to be a very successful CD and even won a Keyboard "Key Buy" award. By the way, I measure the success of a Sample CD by standards not necessarily related to sales figures. My concept since Day One of being involved with Sample CD's was to always focus on the drums being heard "in the mix." Sure it's important for the drums to sound great by themselves. However, how they sound in the music, in the mix, is what is most important. Often times, a Bass Drum that sounds loud by itself will sit perfectly inside of a stereo mix. Which brings us to this CD.

Some have heralded this CD as the world's first true 24-Bit Drum library. We recorded and mixed all of the audio at full 24-Bit resolution. Only for the audio CD did we dither the output to 16-Bit. The CD ROM offerings of this CD are all entirely 24-Bit start to finish. I can honestly say that the playback of this CD represents the closet that I have ever come to hearing world-class drums exactly as they were heard in the control room. As soon as we rest from this project, we're off to the next one. Stay tuned to www.audio-one.com/services/cdsamples.html for more information.

David Frangioni

info@morethanstyx.com