BFD Jazz Noir is an expansion pack for BFD3 featuring a vintage Camco drum kit with jazz-focused articulations, vintage cymbals, and multiple mixing options.
Core Kit and Sound
BFD Jazz Noir captures a rare 1962 Camco ‘Oaklawn’ drum kit, a model prized by players for its clear tone and warm sustain. The kit is tuned medium-high and was recorded with both sticks and brushes, offering a versatile palette for jazz, funk, and neo-soul production. The included 20″ kick drum was captured in four distinct ways, including dampened and fully open configurations, giving you tonal flexibility.
A set of Istanbul cymbals, including a 24″ ride, was recorded specifically for this kit. A 1930s Round Badge Gretsch snare drum is also provided as a lower, fatter alternative to the Camco’s original snare. Both snares were recorded with wires on and off, expanding your sound design options.
Microphone and Recording Setup
The drum kit was recorded using a carefully selected array of high-quality microphones. The kick drum was captured with an Oktava MK220 inside and a Neumann TLM 103 outside. Toms were recorded with SE Electronics 3 microphones, which can pick up snare wires for a natural kit sound or be used with wires off for a cleaner timbre.
Cymbals were recorded with a pair of AKG C451Bs as overheads. For room ambience, Golden Age Project R1 microphones and an AEA R84 ribbon mic were used. A special trash mix channel adds saturation for creative processing. These direct and ambient signals allow for detailed mixing.
Playing and Articulations
BFD Jazz Noir includes a new stickshot articulation, a technique popular in jazz playing. This adds expressive detail to your drum parts. The kit’s dynamics are fully programmable, allowing for nuanced performances that respond naturally to velocity changes.
The use of brushes and sticks expands the sonic vocabulary, enabling anything from gentle swells to crisp attacks. The low-tuned Gretsch snare offers a contrasting voice for funk or neo-soul grooves. The cymbal set includes a beautiful 24″ ride, ideal for sustained jazz patterns.
Practical Applications
Beyond jazz, the kit’s warm character suits funk, neo-soul, and smooth R&B. The trash mix channel can add saturation for a more aggressive or lo-fi sound. The 5 kit presets provide quick starting points for experimentation.
Use the ambient mics to place drums in a room, or go direct for a tighter sound. The brush recordings are perfect for ballads or laid-back grooves. The stickshot adds punch to fills. This expansion is designed to be mixed flexibly within BFD3’s environment.
Key features
- 1962 Camco drum kit played with sticks and brushes
- 20″ kick captured with four miking options
- Two snares: Camco original and vintage Gretsch
- Set of Istanbul cymbals with 24″ ride
- New stickshot articulation
- 5 kit presets
- Special trash mix channel
Best for
Best for jazz, funk, and neo-soul producers using BFD3 who need a vintage, warm-sounding drum kit with expressive brush and stick playing, plus flexible miking for detailed mixing.