Splash Cymbals: Are They In Muse's Arsenal?

does muse sounds have splash cymbals

Muse is an English rock band consisting of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). While it is not clear if Muse Sounds, the band's percussion setup, includes splash cymbals, the band has used splash cymbals in the past. Before the Drones era, Dominic Howard used two splash cymbals in his drum set, an 8 Zildjian EFX #1 and an 11 Zildjian Oriental trash splash. However, during the Psycho UK Tour in 2015, he removed one of them and stopped using any splash cymbals in his live performances until a recent gig in Plymouth.

Characteristics Values
Band Muse
Band Members Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme, Dominic Howard
Dominic Howard's Role Drums, Percussion
Dominic Howard's Previous Splash Cymbals 8" Zildjian EFX #1, 11" Zildjian Oriental Trash Splash
Previous Setup 2015, Psycho UK Tour
New Splash Cymbal Acrolite
Songs with Splash Cymbal in Studio Versions Plug In Baby, Bliss, New Born, Knights of Cydonia, Uno, Muscle Museum, Sunburn
Songs with Splash Cymbal in Live Performances Plug In Baby, Bliss
MuseSounds Instruments Snare Drum, Cymbal
MuseSounds Issues Lagging, Crackling, Incompatible Instruments

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Muse band member, Dominic Howard, has added a splash cymbal to his drum setup

Before the Drones era, Howard used two splash cymbals in his setup. In 2015, at the start of the Psycho UK tour, he removed one of them—an 8" Zildjian EFX #1. He continued to use his other splash cymbal, an 11" Zildjian Oriental trash splash, for the first show of the Drones era, but removed it mid-performance. After that, he didn't include any splash cymbals in his live setup until a gig in Plymouth in 2023, where he used a splash cymbal in at least two songs: "Plug In Baby" and "Bliss".

Splash cymbals are typically associated with drum kits rather than orchestras. Howard's return to using a splash cymbal adds a unique element to Muse's live sound, enhancing the band's dynamic and energetic performances. It is unclear whether Howard will continue to use the splash cymbal in future performances or if it was a one-time addition to his setup for the Plymouth gig.

Howard's drum setup has evolved over the years, with changes in cymbals, drumheads, and hardware. He has used kits from various manufacturers, including Tama and Q Drum Co., and has modified his setup for different tours and performances. Howard's experimentation with his drum kit showcases his creativity and willingness to explore different sounds and setups to enhance Muse's live performances.

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Muse band used a 10 splash cymbal over hi-hats during the Psycho UK Tour

Muse is an English rock band consisting of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, piano, and keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums and percussion). The band has been using cymbals in their performances and recordings. For recordings, the band uses darker K/K Custom crashes.

Muse's drummer, Dominic Howard, uses Zildjian cymbals exclusively and is contracted to endorse the Zildjian company. He also uses a varied Sabian set with many effects pieces, including chinas, splashes, and bells.

During the Psycho UK Tour, Dominic Howard used a 10" splash cymbal over his hi-hats for the first two gigs. However, the cymbal was removed and not used for the rest of the tour. The Psycho UK Tour was announced by Matt Bellamy on March 10, 2015, via Twitter and later confirmed by the band on Facebook the next day. The tour featured performances in medium-sized venues across the UK and included songs that the band hadn't played in years, such as "Assassin", "Uno", and "Muscle Museum".

Muse has used splash cymbals in the studio versions of many of their songs, including "Plug In Baby", "Bliss", "New Born", and "Knights of Cydonia". During the Psycho UK Tour, Howard used an 8" Zildjian EFX #1 splash cymbal and an 11" Zildjian Oriental trash splash cymbal. However, he removed the 8" splash cymbal after the first show and continued the rest of the tour without it.

In terms of Muse Sounds, there is mention of "piatti" and "suspended cymbal" in the context of naming and mapping cymbal instruments. However, it is not entirely clear if these specifically refer to the splash cymbal used by the band during the Psycho UK Tour or other types of cymbals.

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MuseSounds lacks instruments for marching bands

MuseSounds is a platform that offers a range of musical instrument sounds for composers and musicians to use. While MuseSounds has a wide variety of instruments, it appears to lack certain instruments that are commonly used in marching bands. This can be a significant limitation for musicians looking to create or replicate marching band music.

One of the notable omissions is the absence of a diverse range of cymbals. While MuseSounds does offer a "Cymbal" instrument, it appears to be limited to a singular suspended cymbal. In marching bands, a variety of cymbals are commonly used, including crash cymbals, splash cymbals, and orchestral cymbals (also known as piatti). The lack of options for different types of cymbals can be restrictive for musicians aiming to reproduce the unique sound of a marching band.

Additionally, MuseSounds seems to have limited options for percussion instruments used in marching bands. In a discussion on MuseScore, a user working on a piece for a marching band encountered issues with the Snare Drum not outputting any sound, even with the volume at its maximum level. They also noted that the percussion section only included a Suspended Cymbal, which is inadequate for the varied instrumentation of marching bands.

The limitations of MuseSounds in terms of marching band instrumentation can be a challenge for composers and musicians looking to create authentic and diverse marching band music. While MuseSounds offers a basic set of instruments, it may not cater to the specific needs of marching band compositions. In such cases, musicians might need to explore alternative sound libraries or instrument plugins that specialize in marching band instrumentation to achieve the desired sound.

It is important to note that the MuseSounds library may continue to evolve and expand over time. User feedback and requests for additional instruments could potentially influence future updates, leading to a more comprehensive collection of marching band instruments in MuseSounds. In the meantime, musicians can explore workarounds, such as using Basic sounds or alternative instrument libraries, to address the current limitations of MuseSounds in this specific area.

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MuseSounds has lovely samples

Muse is known for their diverse and experimental sound, incorporating elements of rock, electronic, and orchestral music into their songs. Their live performances are particularly renowned for their energetic and dynamic nature, often featuring elaborate lighting and visual effects.

Dominic Howard, the band's drummer, is known to experiment with his drum setup, often incorporating a variety of cymbals, including splash cymbals. Splash cymbals are smaller cymbals that produce a bright, sharp sound when struck. They are commonly used in drum sets to add accents and flavour to the overall sound.

MuseSounds reflects the band's diverse musical style by offering a wide range of samples and instruments. In addition to standard rock instruments like guitars, bass, and drums, MuseSounds also includes orchestral instruments like strings, brass, and percussion. The lovely samples within MuseSounds offer a diverse array of sounds that can elevate your musical compositions.

One particular area where MuseSounds excels is in its collection of cymbal samples. While MuseSounds previously offered only a single "Cymbal" option under "common instruments/percussion - unpitched", the addition of lovely new samples has expanded the options available. Now, under "marching band/percussion - marching", there is an instrument called "Cymbals" (plural), which has been mapped to the piatti sound, commonly known as a crash cymbal in orchestral music. This sample delivers the distinctive crisp and explosive sound of a crash cymbal, adding dynamic impact to your musical creations.

Furthermore, MuseSounds also includes a "Suspended Cymbal" option, which provides a sustained ringing sound. This sample is particularly useful for creating tension and adding texture to your musical arrangements. By offering both "Cymbal" and "Suspended Cymbal" options, MuseSounds provides a versatile toolkit for crafting diverse and expressive percussion sections in your music.

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MuseSounds lag and crackle on some computers

Several users have reported that MuseSounds lag and crackle on their computers. While some users have experienced lag and crackling issues with MuseSounds, others have not encountered these problems. It's important to note that individual computer specifications, internet speed, and software settings can all impact the performance of MuseSounds.

In some cases, the lag and crackling issues may be due to the specific version of MuseScore being used. For example, MuseScore 4 has been reported to have playback issues, including crackling and stuttering, even during simple passages. Increasing the buffer size in the settings has been suggested as a potential solution to reduce lag, but it may not always provide significant improvement.

Additionally, the Muse app FAQ page offers suggestions to optimise performance and reduce lag. These include lowering video quality settings, turning off unnecessary video feeds, and using only standard audio quality options. Internet speed and computer specifications can also contribute to latency issues when using the Muse app.

It's recommended to ensure that the volume settings for Muse Audio Share are correctly configured, both on the computer and within Muse's settings, as this can impact overall audio performance. Furthermore, specific instruments within MuseSounds, such as the snare drum and cymbals, have been reported to exhibit unusual behaviour, which may be due to installation issues or the absence of specific MuseSounds for those instruments.

To troubleshoot MuseSounds lag and crackling issues, users can try a variety of methods, including reverting to older versions of MuseScore, adjusting buffer sizes, and ensuring proper volume and loopback settings. In some cases, it may be necessary to contact Muse support for further assistance.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, Muse has included splash cymbals in their drum setup in the past. Before the Drones era, Dominic Howard (Muse's drummer) used two splash cymbals in his drum set. He got rid of one of them at the beginning of the Psycho UK Tour in 2015 and knocked away the other one mid-gig. He recently added a splash cymbal back into his drum setup for a gig in Plymouth.

Muse has used splash cymbals in the studio versions of songs such as Plug In Baby, Bliss, New Born, Knights of Cydonia, Uno, Muscle Museum, and Sunburn.

Muse has used Zildjian splash cymbals, including the 8" Zildjian EFX #1 and the 11" Zildjian Oriental Trash Splash.

In addition to splash cymbals, Muse has also used crash cymbals, hi-hats, and china cymbals in their drum setup.

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