Kontakt allows developers - with a great deal of work - to build some truly astonishing self-contained instruments. Noah Pred finds out if Sample Logic's Rhythmology is up there with the best.
Making your own samples can be fun and even profitable. Here are some great tips to get you started.
Getting inspiration from old school producers for contemporary music is what Irrupt's Flashback: Forward sample and loop pack is all about. There's musical riffs, FX, beats, percussion and more.
I think I've just found my Friday distraction. Creating hip hop loops from awesome samples using your computer keyboard has probably never felt so good thanks to Sample Stitch.
Do you find your music making flow is interrupted by not being able to find the right sample you need from your sample library collection? Here's how some maintenance tips will help your workflow.
The latest update for GarageBand has a large nod in the direction of China. Not only are there language localisation options, but also Chinese sounds and options to share on Chinese social networks.
The Londoners from The Audio Bar, well-known for their premium DAW templates, have partnered up with sample developer and supplier Function Loops to release a free sample pack. Oh, and it's FREE!
Ukraine-based producer Histibe, shares his personal experience creating a sample pack library for Loopmasters. From initial ideas to advice on finalising and promo, there's lots of useful tips here.
The new Orion from SampleScience is a great idea: a rompler that utilises public domain samples and sounds. And you can grab this 3GB rompler today. Here's what SampleScience told us about Orion...
Groove Agent comes with some cool drum kits, but it can be even more fun to make your own'"and it's not as hard as you might think!
Do we need more looping playback and effects tools? Shifted radio.com think so, and after playing extensively with their new Max for Live/Ableton Live device, Properloop, G. W. Childs agrees.
UVI announces Mayhem of Loops 1.5, a sizable update to their premium loop and construction kit archive boasting over 8,000 samples, which is a free update for existing users.
Splice do remote collaboration and syncing within popular DAWs, and have Splice Sounds, a sample subscription service. Prime Loops have joined them so there's now 2000 sample packs available.
Fancy downloading an eclectic range of 263 instrumental samples ideal for Hip Hop? SampleScience's Da Vinyl Box is just a click away.
Although marketed as a jazz film scoring instrument, ProjectSam's Swing goes further and will appeal to singer songwriters and solo producers as Hollin Jones discovers.