Project To Create Free Sample Site

[jeffn1]

There is someone posting at Northern Sounds who is attempting to put together a quality site for free sample libraries.

Here is the link:

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/sho ... hp?t=56172

I am not affiliated with it, but he asked for help publicizing this. So, please check it out to see if you are interested in checking it out.

jeffn1

[jamesmcfadyen]

Firstly, I realise you are not affiliated so the following comments are not directed at you personally but just the idea of free sample sites in general.

There's always someone who wants to set up one big FREE sample site.

As much as free stuff is good thing to have, much of it can be hit or a miss. Plus there's no after-sales support nor do you get consistency in file formats and product layout.

The problem is some people are reluctant to buy because there are free sites out there. Although, those clued up know that if you take your music seriously and want to make a good job of it, you need to pay for quality samples/sound libraries.

In light of this, I cannot see how yet another pointless free download hub is going to make things any better. Besides, when people get things for free they probably won't use it very often, but if they have to part with their cash for that extra bit of quality in the end-product then they will be more inclined to get their moneys worth out of it.

There is a quality site for sample libraries: www.timespace.com

How will a free site compete with that?! Basically the site will become a user site where people can post up their own samples to share with others. A neat idea in theory but just results in trying to find a few gems among the ruff and to be honest, most won't troll through the crap to find the occasional gem!

[johnny2johnny]

Firstly, I realise you are not affiliated so the following comments are not directed at you personally but just the idea of free sample sites in general.

There's always someone who wants to set up one big FREE sample site.

As much as free stuff is good thing to have, much of it can be hit or a miss. Plus there's no after-sales support nor do you get consistency in file formats and product layout.

The problem is some people are reluctant to buy because there are free sites out there. Although, those clued up know that if you take your music seriously and want to make a good job of it, you need to pay for quality samples/sound libraries.

In light of this, I cannot see how yet another pointless free download hub is going to make things any better. Besides, when people get things for free they probably won't use it very often, but if they have to part with their cash for that extra bit of quality in the end-product then they will be more inclined to get their moneys worth out of it.

There is a quality site for sample libraries: www.timespace.com

How will a free site compete with that?! Basically the site will become a user site where people can post up their own samples to share with others. A neat idea in theory but just results in trying to find a few gems among the ruff and to be honest, most won't troll through the crap to find the occasional gem!

wierd... I think if it wasn't for the internet nothing in life would be free. youtube, myspace, music, sounds, software.... ( I mean freeware not illegally downloaded stuff )

These are all phenomenon of the internet. we live in an age where a lot of information is traded for free. live with it.

[Reverse Engineer]

wierd... I think if it wasn't for the internet nothing in life would be free. youtube, myspace, music, sounds, software.... ( I mean freeware not illegally downloaded stuff )

These are all phenomenon of the internet.

It's not a phenomenon of the internet, it's just a different delivery system. I remember my older bro used to always get these 'public domain' games and shit on tapes and floppies for his computers (spectrums, commodore 64's, DRAGON 32's ) and mags used to always publish programs you could input yourself etc etc.

[koolkeys]

I disagree that free samples can't compete. Sure there isn't support, but to be honest, how many times have you bought a sample library and needed support with it?

Personally, as you may or may not know, I ran Sample Torrents. It was a very successful site. I ran into some hosting problems(my own fault, nothing that was done bad by the host) and we had to redo it. At this time, The Audio Garden is slowly building up samples, many of which haven't been released there yet, but will be over time.

We don't allow user uploads, and because of being very selective there is likely to be more quality. And I think if done correctly, it can be successful. You don't always need a Vienna Symphonic Library sized library to get a simple clarinet sound that you can get with free sets like the Mats Helgesson Clarinet(a free sample set). So providing the quality stuff for download allows a user who just happens to need something specific and smaller without having to buy a commercial library.

There are dozens of great freebies out there, and many of them have had to switch hosts or have other people distribute them. So coming up with a couple of good sites where you don't have to question the legality of things(like with SF2MIDI.com) and you don't have to wade through dozens of crappy downloads to get the one good one, is a great idea.

I've personally offered to work together with the guy whom this thread is talking about. I have no doubts in my mind that it can be successful. And I think it can become a very valuable resource.

All just my opinion of course. I agree that you won't get the depth of some libraries. I just bought Black Bass. No way on earth would something like that ever be free. But not everyone needs that depth all the time.

Brent

[bailees7irish]

just bumping this topic..

i haven't tried the piano sample that was recently uploaded yet, but i'm downloading right now and have to say that i'm very excited about this..


~Bren

EDIT: i have to admit, however, that i would rather these be in wav or soundfont format..

~Bren

[metamorphosis]

www.sampleswap.org
Already been done.

[koolkeys]

That site isn't the same thing. That site is just a bunch of wave files, not organized very well, and not full sets. You have to search to put together a set.

And even if it was the same, what's wrong with another one? Add that to the fact that he wants to do tutorials and more, and it's not even close.

Regardless, I'm pretty confident that there are much bigger plans.

Brent

[metamorphosis]

Meh - they're organised as well as can be for a volunteer organisation, and I imagine any new sample library site would be the same, from the sites I've already seen. I saw 'sample site' in thread and didn't read the post properly- my apologies.

As for the disadvantages of creating another one the same as sampleswap - that's so obvious I'm going to accuse you of being argumentative.
Cheers-

[koolkeys]

It's cool man. But the site he's wanting to set up isn't the same. He wants to set up a site with only approved samples, in libraries and multi-samples. Quality stuff that you don't have to search through thousands of useless oneshots to find.

Plus, tutorials and more.

Like I said, nothing like sampleswap. I promise you.

But whatever the case may be, maybe give it a chance? There is plenty of room for good sample sites, no?

Brent

[MaliceX]

I'll keep an eye out for this site.