Marco Polo on crafting the ultimate boom bap drum instrument – Native Instruments Blog

In the past, achieving this level of character required expensive vintage gear. How did you translate that hardware warmth into a digital instrument?

I wanted to bypass the technical hurdles and get straight to the vibe. To do that, I processed many of these drums through my actual analog setup, hardware chain, and MPC inputs to introduce that natural distortion and character. Some sounds were even pulled directly from my original floppies and Zip drives. This isn’t about recreating a feeling from memory; it’s the real thing, carried forward into a modern workflow.

Unlike many libraries that just offer simple .wav files, this instrument includes custom drum patterns. How do these help producers stay in the flow?

The patterns open the door for musicians who might not think of themselves as drum programmers. They let you experience high-quality drums immediately, whether you’re playing keys, bass, or just looking for inspiration. I see them as “appetizers.” You can use them as-is, tweak them, or completely reshape them into your own thing. They’re there to spark ideas, not limit creativity.