Anyone have these sample CD's?

I heard they had loads of old breaks and hip hop sounds on, wouldnt mind picking up a copy. Not sure about the availability, but Im sure I can rustle a copy up from somewhere (somewhere legal that is!).

Btw, any other CD's featuring that kind of stuff? Im not much of a hip hop fan, but I still fancy a library of these sample.

Zero-G Datafiles... fond memories and a relationship still going on strong as ever. Same with the Xstatic Goldmines.

But I shouldn't tell about these to anyone, damn!

JMH

Haha, I can keep a secret if you can! Infact, I think I got some of those Goldmine samples free on a CM years ago.

Sure moderators, I know it's an old thread, but I thought one that deserves resurrecting given the current awesome zero-g group buy.

I purchased these on blowout back in the day when I first started writing electronic music, then I went back to bands for a while then hardware synths and sort of forget about them. I always thought it was a bit cheeky to sell what was obviously lifted samples without a commercial license.

Nonetheless they were somewhat helpful if not a bit painful to get into a usable form and I used them to create some cheezy eurodance garbage that I'm certain doesn't actually exist in any usable form any more.

I'm curious, were the samples licensed for the compilation? I get the feeling that they weren't as I imagine it would be a lot of work and I can't imagine going to all that trouble and not at least negotiating a royalty license.

I believe the female vocal samples for "what is love" by hadaway are on that CD.

Anybody know any other hits that used samples from the datafiles?

"unlike all other Zero-G products, these so-called 'Datafile' CDs were never sold with a commercial user license and could only be used 'personally' for inspiration."

So no.

But back in the day no one cared, and most people outside silly internet forums still don't.

And good luck trying to find 20-year-old sample cds "legally", though can't see who you're trying to save by doing so. These weren't legal in the first place, so if you think you're doing good you're actually just supporting CRIMINALS! If you want to support the Zero-G we know today, use the money on something Zero-G is actually still selling.

No, my question was did ZeroG acquire a license to sell the compilation, i.e., did they clear the samples for their own use. Again, I suspect not.



No, I get that.



FWIW, I'm not looking for them, I still have them.

Seems very unlikely.

Sorry, I don't know whom I tried to state my message to. Mainly for the OP I guess, though it's five years late, I know.

Sorry to be the second person to resurrect this dead thread, but I find the discussion interesting.

Unlike others, I tend to be conscientious when it comes to legality. That said, while I did download the libraries, I have not used them for work I'm selling.

However, there are two quite disturbing counterpoints.

1. The series was pretty popular in the '90s, despite Zero-G's website even says that they weren't supposed to be used commercially! The early Wipeout game soundtracks are made almost completely with Datafile sounds, for instance.

2. I noticed that there are several sound designers that release sounds based on this library. For instance, Zenhiser's Pure Oldskool Loops collection includes a slightly EQ'd version of a Datafile sample of the drum break from "Fool's Gold" by the Stone Roses!

Which also reminds me: has anyone ever discovered the complete list of sources sampled from for the libraries?

i got some of those cds in original form with booklet, but may you not use them for commercial use?
those are sample cds arent they?
so why buying them when you may not use the sounds for commercial stuff?

if thats the case pm me if interested...

i got official word from zero g, you are not allowed to use those samples in commercial work at all, those arent licensed sadly

too bad, guess imma sell my cds then, what else should you do with them? resting in nostalgic moments?

Wouldn't go as far as to say that's news; their biography page of their website DOES say that.

Has anyone been able to compile at least many of the songs and movies sampled from? I've been able to identify some, most recently the original 1987 "Beats and Pieces" by Coldcut, which sampled from "When the Levee Breaks", but a more complete list would be appreciated.