When it comes to the world of sound design and virtual instruments, innovation and passion often lead to the creation of unique tools that can redefine music production. One such tool is Nyabinghi Drums, a groundbreaking plugin developed by Mr. DeeKay, a sound designer with over 28 years of experience in music production and a deep connection to Rasta culture.
The Man Behind the Plugin
Mr. DeeKay’s musical journey began decades ago, inspired by Reggae-Dancehall music and a profound respect for the Rasta community. Not only has he been producing music for nearly three decades, but he is also a seasoned drummer, having played for over 36 years. Since 2023, Mr. DeeKay has been living in East Africa and has made several visits to Ethiopia, specifically to the Nyabinghi headquarters in Shashamani—a spiritual and cultural home for the Rasta community since the era of Emperor Ras Tafari.
“It was always my dream to live in Africa one day because Africa is the future to me, and I can identify with Ethiopian culture a lot. Africa in general has such an amazing vibe and energy that you can't find anywhere else in this world," shares Mr. DeeKay.
He currently resides in the Black River region, where Nyabinghi and Rasta culture flourish, and he finds deep inspiration from living amidst this vibrant community. His passion for creating authentic sounds led him on a long journey of research and development to create Nyabinghi Drums, the world's first virtual instrument dedicated to these rare and powerful percussion instruments.
From Real to Virtual: The Birth of Nyabinghi Drums
Nyabinghi drums hold a special place in the history of Reggae and Rasta culture. They represent the heartbeat and soul of the music, symbolizing unity and the rhythm of life. For Mr. DeeKay, bringing these drums to life as a virtual instrument required nothing less than perfection. He meticulously sourced the best artisans who specialize in crafting Nyabinghi drums. After a year-long wait and extensive recording sessions in the mountains of Andalusia, Spain, Mr. DeeKay was finally able to capture the authentic sound and spirit of these rare drums.
“Mountains are also a very important part of Rasta culture. It is all about living a natural and healthy life. And this kind of life can be realized way better if you live far away from bigger cities. In Jamaica, you got the Blue Mountains, and in Mauritius, you have places like Chamarel in the mountains of Black River, where you can find the Association Socioculturelle Rastafari,” says Mr. DeeKay.
The Plugin: Bringing Nyabinghi Drums to Your Studio
Nyabinghi Drums features three meticulously multisampled authentic Nyabinghi sets, delivering powerful Rasta vibes directly into your DAW. The plugin includes the essential Nyabinghi drums: the Thunder drum, the Fundeh drum, and the Repeater drum—each playing a vital role in Nyabinghi drumming.
- Thunder Drum: Often referred to as the "Harp," it provides the deep, foundational rhythm that is the backbone of the Nyabinghi sound.
- Fundeh Drum: Known as the "heartbeat of life," this drum adds the characteristic pulse to the rhythm.
- Repeater Drum: Also known as the "Kette" or "Akete," the Repeater stands as the counterpart to the Thunder drum, adding percussive elements to complement the heartbeat.
The plugin also includes shakers, adding a distinct flow and energy to the rhythm. Every kit has been carefully sampled to capture the true essence of these unique drums. Nyabinghi Drums offers three drum kits with 16 keys each, and every key has eight velocity layers for a dynamic and realistic playing experience.
In addition to the plugin, buyers will receive a collection of 48 high-quality Nyabinghi drum loops as a bonus, making it easy to incorporate authentic rhythms into any production.
Technical Details and Compatibility
Nyabinghi Drums is a 64-bit universal plugin compatible with both Mac (Intel and Apple) and Windows systems. It supports AU, VST2, and VST3 formats. The plugin requires 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended) and at least 885 MB of free hard disk space.
- Supported OS: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 or later
- Important Note: The plugin does not support AAX format (Pro Tools).
Experience Nyabinghi Drums
Nyabinghi Drums is not just a virtual instrument; it’s a journey into the heart of Rasta culture and the foundation of Reggae music. It offers producers around the world the chance to experience and incorporate the soulful rhythms of Nyabinghi drumming into their own music.
For more information and to purchase Nyabinghi Drums, visit soundspremium.com.
Check out the YouTube Trailer and Detailed Introduction to get a glimpse of the powerful features and hear the sounds for yourself.
Let Nyabinghi Drums bring the true heartbeat of Reggae music to your studio!
Author: Andrew Fly
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