General Information

What is BFD 8 Bit Kit?

BFD 8 Bit Kit is an expansion pack for BFD3, BFD Eco and BFD2.


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What do I need in order to use BFD 8 Bit Kit?
  • The current download version of BFD 8 Bit Kit requires a registered copy of BFD3, BFD Eco or BFD2 (versions 2.1 and later only) and a suitable system on which to run it.
  • The discontinued boxed version of BFD 8 Bit Kit is compatible with BFD 1.5, BFD Eco and all versions of BFD2 and BFD3.

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Why is it called 8 Bit Kit?

8 Bit Audio is the name of BFD 8BK's sound engineer, S. Husky Hoskulds, audio production company. BFD 8BK is recorded at the same 24bit, 44.1 kHz quality as all BFD-series libraries.


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Tell me about this kick drum with the chains... what's the story with that?

The same 1967 Ludwig blue sparkle kick that was recorded for the BFD 1.x library (reissued as BFD Eldorado was treated in various ways, including having chains dangling down in front of the skin. This produces a small burst of softer jangling hits after the main hit.


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Why are none of the 'bottom snare mics' actually bottom snare mics, and why are the 'kick in mics' not those either?

The idea behind 8BK is a kit that matches Husky's style of recording which would typically include a single mic and an accompanying overdriven/distorted channel. The distorted channels are intended to be blended in to add additional bite and edge to the finished mix.

As a result, there is 1 channel for snares, 1 channel for kicks and, in addition, the spare channel features some added processing.


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What happened to the PZM's?

Again, the style of Husky's recordings would typically not include two pairs of 'regular' room mics. Rather some type of processed rooms, or processed drums in general.


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How were the drum machines recorded?

All the drum machine kicks and snares are recorded dry to the 'Kick out' and 'Snr top' slots respectively. In addition, they were all sent through a close mic'ed PA for the 'Kick in' and 'Snare bottom' channels. They were also recorded by overhead and room mics further away in the Sound Factory room from nearfield monitors and the PA - at 15 different velocities.

The percussion instruments were recorded the same way without the close mic'ed speaker for the direct mics.


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Why do the direct mics for the 'Handdrum Toms' show up on the snare fader?

These drums were originally recorded by Husky as Snares but he liked the sound of them as toms and wanted people to have the option of loading them into tom slots. Therefore, they load in the tom slots - for use as a pair - but with additional control over the top / bottom snare mics too.


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Why the 'AMPED' versions?

This is another feature unique to 8BK where Husky wanted to create some drums that were in a sense mostly thought of as overdub tools. In other words, if you wanted to overdub 'the largest / longest kick drum in the world'... it's there. Also, if you want the Hand Drums, but less 'polite'... for a remix you're doing.. it's there.


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Why do some of the drum machine percussion items (claps etc) show up twice?

As the acoustic snare drums have 5 hit types, we put the drum machine 'rims' and 'claps' on the appropriate snare mapping keys, but also left them as percussion pieces for using separately in percussion slots.


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What the hell is a 'Spy Mic'?

This is a favorite of Husky's for all things mangled... It's a toy 'surveillance' mic with a headphone jack plugged straight into the API console mic preamps. It has an extremely low threshold for distortion AND compression - easily the two most important ingredients in BFD 8BK.


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How can I get a 'clean' sound from 8BK?

To get a 'clean' sound from 8BK, turn down the levels of the following channels:

  • Amb3/PZM channels were typically overdriven, played through a PA and recaptured with a "spy mic" or a microphone sitting inside a gramophone horn. Or something equally odd.
  • Kicks feature processing on the Kick In channel
  • Snares feature processing on the Snare Bottom channel.

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The manual says there are additional hit types (articulations) available for registered customers to download, but I cannot see any...?

The manual went to print before the DVDs. At the last moment, we found a way to rearrage the data on the DVDs and managed to fit everything on. Apologies for the confusion!


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8 Bit Kit versions

Is BFD 8 Bit Kit a download product or a boxed product?

The boxed version of BFD 8 Bit Kit is now discontinued although some copies may still be available via local retailers while stocks last.

BFD 8 Bit Kit is now a downloadable product and there are currently no plans to reissue the boxed version. Please see below for more information about the downloadable version.


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How big is the download?

BFD 8 Bit Kit is available in separate downloads for BFD3/BFD2 and BFD Eco (purchasing gives you access to both sets of downloads):

  • BFD Eco: approx. 800MB
    This version features all data pre-reduced for BFD Eco limitations (16-bit audio with a maximum of 24 velocity layers) and should be installed if you need to use BFD 8 Bit Kit in BFD Eco only. Also, the Artist Grooves are now formatted for use in BFD Eco.
  • BFD2 / BFD3: 8 files of varying sizes
    This version should be installed if you intend to use BFD 8 Bit Kit in BFD2/BFD3 and BFD Eco.

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What are the differences between the old boxed 8 Bit Kit and the new downloadable version?
  • The old boxed 8 Bit Kit, which is now discontinued, can be used in BFD 1.x, BFD2 and BFD Eco.
  • The new downloadable BFD 8 Bit Kit can ONLY be used in BFD3, BFD Eco and BFD2 (versions 2.1 or later only). It CANNOT be used in BFD 1.x due to its revised data format.

There is no significant difference in content apart from the following additions in the new downloadable version:

  • Clap articulations in drum machine snares are output in their own channel within BFD2 and BFD3 (Snare Top2)
  • New BFD2-format kits and presets with reduced levels of Amb3/PZM channel
  • Various kit-piece presets
  • Optimised and newly added BFD2 mixer presets (mixer presets are not supported in BFD3)

If you own the original discontinued 8 Bit Kit and you are a BFD2 or BFD3 user, you are welcome to download and install the new version. However, the new version will NOT work in BFD 1.x, so please bear this in mind in case you still use BFD 1.x alongside BFD2/BFD3.


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Can I use the new downloadable version in BFD 1.x?

No - this expansion can only be used with BFD3, BFD Eco or BFD2 (versions 2.1 or later only). BFD 2.1 is a free update to all registered BFD2 users.


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Why does it have these requirements?

BFD3, BFD Eco and BFD2.1 (and later versions) are equipped to handle the data format and custom channel layout featured in this expansion; previous versions of BFD2 and BFD 1.x cannot.


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What kind of limitations exist when using this product with BFD Eco?

When using this expansion in BFD Eco, limitations apply in terms of the audio channels and articulations that are available (this is one of BFD Eco's limitations, as opposed to the fully-featured BFD3 or BFD2).

BFD Eco is a streamlined instrument based on the BFD2 engine.


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What about the Grooves?

The original BFD 1.x format bonus Grooves can be downloaded and imported into BFD2 or BFD3 using their MIDI import functions.


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Purchasing / Licensing

Do you allow license transfers?

Yes, however:

  • If you're the seller, you must contact us in advance of the sale. If you're the prospective second-hand buyer, you must check that the seller is cleared to sell. If in doubt, contact us.
  • There is a flat $50 fee per product for a license transfer, which can be purchased from our online shop.
  • Review copies, NFRs (Not For Resale copies, sometimes used for in-store demos), etc., cannot be transferred under any circumstances.
  • We reserve the right to refuse a license transfer request.

Once a transfer is authorised and the fee has been paid, the new owner is entitled to exactly the same upgrade paths and technical support resources as if they had bought the product new.


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