Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[the-rippa]

Izotope Ozone 9 Elements is currently free on Plugin Boutique

Use coupon "freeozone"



Valid until 23:59 PST on the 30th June

[LoveEnigma18]

Zero-G Total Drums Bundle (10,000+ each - Kicks, Snares, Hats) on sale for $63

Code 15OFFNL knocks of further $15, making it $48. Plus you get any one Soundsense library for free.

Sounds really tempting! Especially because I own XLN XO. Not that I am missing drum samples.

Has anyone bought it? Please reply in chat thread if you want.

I checked their Snare package. Many samples have clicks at the end (no zero crossing). That is 100% unprofessional and I was surprised to hear that from a company that have been in the business for so long.
As quality is concerned, I am not even sure if these samples are worth the time. Drums are very important for the quality of a finished production. Not having the best possible samples will make your music have less impact than it could have had. In other words: Bad sounds (not only drums) are detrimental. Even if you eventually do not use them, they will will at least cost you time because it takes you longer to find the good ones.
My perspective today is that it is sometimes better to pay good money and get few but top professional samples (Gravitas Create, Singomakers, 5Pin Media, Freaky Loops, Black Octopuss, Splice ... I am btw not vouching for everything on these labels/platforms. I am always listening critically to every new release. Singomakers have recently released packs that I do not find useful.) than having 10x the number of samples that are only good or even mediocre or junk.
That said, there are libraries like Black Octopuss Leviathan 2, that are not expensive when on sale (for a while, it was $20 or so) and have quite solid drums.

That sucks. Thanks for your sharing the information and suggestions. I also consider Zero-G as a great brand and have some of their awesome (albeit older) packs. Glad I skipped Total Drums Bundle.

I also like the samples and loops included in NI Expansions. They are not dry, but are of excellent quality.

[WatchTheGuitar]

Agree about XO, but if XLN Audio added the possibility of round-robin samples in a version 2.0 I'd be delighted.

I'd be even happy if they add some randomization behavior found in analog drum machines.
Even a slight filter change over time could make the samples more organic.

What I like eg. with UVI Beatbox Anthology is, that you can export the midi and use this exact full loop for the sequencer to trigger it again directly. Then you can apply Ableton Live's Groove controls to the midi itself.

Afair it isn't possible in XLN, is it?

I've sent the feature requests to XLN when I bought it, and hope they'll do something about it. Can't be that hard to add some randomization modulation to trigger/velocity to the sequencer, can it?

No, agree all reasonably easy to add although you can do some fun things with sample-and-hold
style modulating the individual XO drum controls during playback.

[elxsound]

Zero-G Total Drums Bundle (10,000+ each - Kicks, Snares, Hats) on sale for $63

Code 15OFFNL knocks of further $15, making it $48. Plus you get any one Soundsense library for free.

Sounds really tempting! Especially because I own XLN XO. Not that I am missing drum samples.

Has anyone bought it? Please reply in chat thread if you want.

I checked their Snare package. Many samples have clicks at the end (no zero crossing). That is 100% unprofessional and I was surprised to hear that from a company that have been in the business for so long.
As quality is concerned, I am not even sure if these samples are worth the time. Drums are very important for the quality of a finished production. Not having the best possible samples will make your music have less impact than it could have had. In other words: Bad sounds (not only drums) are detrimental. Even if you eventually do not use them, they will will at least cost you time because it takes you longer to find the good ones.
My perspective today is that it is sometimes better to pay good money and get few but top professional samples (Gravitas Create, Singomakers, 5Pin Media, Freaky Loops, Black Octopuss, Splice ... I am btw not vouching for everything on these labels/platforms. I am always listening critically to every new release. Singomakers have recently released packs that I do not find useful.) than having 10x the number of samples that are only good or even mediocre or junk.
That said, there are libraries like Black Octopuss Leviathan 2, that are not expensive when on sale (for a while, it was $20 or so) and have quite solid drums.

This is a big reason I stay away from a lot of companies advertising huge amounts of content. I'm usually very skeptical of the quality control involved, and I'm sure many rely on automated trimming of samples (which still should be checked before selling but are often not).

And its true for me that mostly I just need a smaller collection of great samples to work with. I have thousands by now, but I definitely don't use thousands and even with something like XO, I often know what I want to hear so having so many options is not something better.

@LoveEnigma - I only recently installed the NI expansion packs and discovered the same. Small collections but done very well. They can still be manipulated enough to not sound like everyone else so I'll keep installing them moving forward.

[blue monk]

I also like the samples and loops included in NI Expansions. They are not dry, but are of excellent quality.

I have and like some of the NI Expansions. They have different producers for each. Not all NI Expansions are equally great. I am not blindly buying everything from a certain company.
In case of the Leviathan series by Black Octopuss that I mentioned, I think part 1 and 2 have different producers and 3 has different producers than 2 and 1.
Vandalism has been sold to new owners, I think. The quality of their synth patches has changed.
But there are some companies that I check out the demos for their new libraries.
Origin Sound and Production Maser are two more I haven't mentioned, yet. Of course, there is more that I can't remember from the top of my head right now. But I dropped a few names for you.
A particular pack series I do remember: Wicked Drums 1 and 2 by Black Octopuss are worth checking out.

[LoveEnigma18]

And its true for me that mostly I just need a smaller collection of great samples to work with. I have thousands by now, but I definitely don't use thousands and even with something like XO, I often know what I want to hear so having so many options is not something better.

@LoveEnigma - I only recently installed the NI expansion packs and discovered the same. Small collections but done very well. They can still be manipulated enough to not sound like everyone else so I'll keep installing them moving forward.

Good point. It is easy to get overboard with something like XO, but it's better not to put a ton of crap in it.

Yeah, that's why I love NI Expansions. Over last two years, I have settled on a few favourites in addition to those that come with K12U. Looking to add Pure Drip to my collection - excellent drums. I also like that it is not just drum samples. There are lots of other samples and loops worth using in your productions.

[LoveEnigma18]

I also like the samples and loops included in NI Expansions. They are not dry, but are of excellent quality.

I have and like some of the NI Expansions. They have different producers for each. Not all NI Expansions are equally great. I am not blindly buying everything from a certain company.
In case of the Leviathan series by Black Octopuss that I mentioned, I think part 1 and 2 have different producers and 3 has different producers than 2 and 1.
Vandalism has been sold to new owners, I think. The quality of their synth patches has changed.
But there are some companies that I check out the demos for their new libraries.
Origin Sound and Production Maser are two more I haven't mentioned, yet. Of course, there is more that I can't remember from the top of my head right now. But I dropped a few names for you.
A particular pack series I do remember: Wicked Drums 1 and 2 by Black Octopuss are worth checking out.

Yeah, right. That's why I too listen to the audio demos quite a few time before buying any Expansion.

Leviathan 2 sounds excellent. I will check out your other suggestions and will watch out for any sales.

But if everyone is honest with themselves, we all know we don't need any more drum samples.

[WatchTheGuitar]

Zero-G Total Drums Bundle (10,000+ each - Kicks, Snares, Hats) on sale for $63

Code 15OFFNL knocks of further $15, making it $48. Plus you get any one Soundsense library for free.

Sounds really tempting! Especially because I own XLN XO. Not that I am missing drum samples.

Has anyone bought it? Please reply in chat thread if you want.

It’s a very nice package and works really well with XO, but for value I’d rather recommend the complete Samples From Mars bundle. The free Drum Machine sample packs from Reverb are a good fit too.

+1 Sample from Mars.
Another good drum sample pack (often on sale) it's Wave alchemy Synth drums https://www.wavealchemy.co.uk/synth-drums/pid100/

I just realised the Wave Alchemy Synth Drums pack is the one I've got, not the Zero-G bundle.
It gets confusing at times, I remember now a month or two back I was actually a click away from buying the same pack I already owned, but thankfully Plugin Boutique has a feature that if you've bought something from them a little warning comes up to say "You already own this, are you sure you want to buy it again you prick?" well not the exact wording, but close enough to stop me in my tracks.

I guess being GASsed into almost buying the same thing again is probably a sign I should put the cards away for a while.

[telecode]

I also like the samples and loops included in NI Expansions. They are not dry, but are of excellent quality.

I have and like some of the NI Expansions. They have different producers for each. Not all NI Expansions are equally great. I am not blindly buying everything from a certain company.
In case of the Leviathan series by Black Octopuss that I mentioned, I think part 1 and 2 have different producers and 3 has different producers than 2 and 1.
Vandalism has been sold to new owners, I think. The quality of their synth patches has changed.
But there are some companies that I check out the demos for their new libraries.
Origin Sound and Production Maser are two more I haven't mentioned, yet. Of course, there is more that I can't remember from the top of my head right now. But I dropped a few names for you.
A particular pack series I do remember: Wicked Drums 1 and 2 by Black Octopuss are worth checking out.

Too many effects on NI expansions.

[yellowmix]

Thanks guys. I resisted the deal, because immediately after posting I realized that I had bought Samples From Mars bundle recently only (and I probably have the Wave Alchemy Synth Drums too). $48 saved.

The Zero-G bundle is still useful if you craft your own percussion. I use it in conjunction with Samples From Mars, Wave Alchemy, and many more. The latter stuff is sampled lovingly, but the rawness in the Zero-G pack is fantastic for layering and making really unique and organic combinations. For example, you're building a kick, you can grab transients from other kicks or snares or cymbals, you're building a snare, grab the body from one, pitch a kick to fall to 200 Hz as the transient, and so on. You don't necessarily need to do all that, highpassing a kick for its dirt is very common, especially when working with electronic drums.

I used to do this manually, but XO's sped it up. If you have XO there's no reason not to feed it with as many diverse samples as possible. I've actually in the middle of a a spring cleaning where I'm deleting similar samples, but leaving that Zero-G bundle alone since it's a treasure trove of variety.

[timbit2006]

Zynaptiq Unfilter is on for 60% off. Does anyone know any sites that do the whole 15% discount thing that carries it?
I'm ideally hoping JRR gets it and is just slow to list the deal.

[elxsound]

Okay, I feel like this is a stupid question but its been an extremely long day, long week and not much sleep...

This Samples from Mars thing... They've got the All the Drums bundle, but there's also an All the Samples bundles which seems to include all the drums PLUS everything else for the same price.

It that really the case here?

Does the all samples bundle really include all the drum samples for the same price?

https://samplesfrommars.com/products/all-the-drums
https://samplesfrommars.com/products/al ... -from-mars

[GoldieK]

Okay, I feel like this is a stupid question but its been an extremely long day, long week and not much sleep...

This Samples from Mars thing... They've got the All the Drums bundle, but there's also an All the Samples bundles which seems to include all the drums PLUS everything else for the same price.

It that really the case here?

Does the all samples bundle really include all the drum samples for the same price?

https://samplesfrommars.com/products/all-the-drums
https://samplesfrommars.com/products/al ... -from-mars

The All The Samples Bundle from SFM does include all the drum samples. One of my favorite purchases.

[LoveEnigma18]

Thanks guys. I resisted the deal, because immediately after posting I realized that I had bought Samples From Mars bundle recently only (and I probably have the Wave Alchemy Synth Drums too). $48 saved.

The Zero-G bundle is still useful if you craft your own percussion. I use it in conjunction with Samples From Mars, Wave Alchemy, and many more. The latter stuff is sampled lovingly, but the rawness in the Zero-G pack is fantastic for layering and making really unique and organic combinations. For example, you're building a kick, you can grab transients from other kicks or snares or cymbals, you're building a snare, grab the body from one, pitch a kick to fall to 200 Hz as the transient, and so on. You don't necessarily need to do all that, highpassing a kick for its dirt is very common, especially when working with electronic drums.

I used to do this manually, but XO's sped it up. If you have XO there's no reason not to feed it with as many diverse samples as possible. I've actually in the middle of a a spring cleaning where I'm deleting similar samples, but leaving that Zero-G bundle alone since it's a treasure trove of variety.

Thanks for sharing your perspective and tips. Good to know that the samples are useful. I do make my own drums, but sometimes I feel I already have so many samples that anything more is not really required.

I will pass the Zero-G total drums bundle for now, but I might get it when I have surplus cash further this year. I think $48 is a great price, but there's already a lot of things unused, which I think I should put to use.

It's crazy that we are getting all these wonderful things so cheaply today. But many things, little time.

[LoveEnigma18]

Okay, I feel like this is a stupid question but its been an extremely long day, long week and not much sleep...

This Samples from Mars thing... They've got the All the Drums bundle, but there's also an All the Samples bundles which seems to include all the drums PLUS everything else for the same price.

It that really the case here?

Does the all samples bundle really include all the drum samples for the same price?

https://samplesfrommars.com/products/all-the-drums
https://samplesfrommars.com/products/al ... -from-mars

The All The Samples Bundle from SFM does include all the drum samples. One of my favorite purchases.

Yes, you should get this one: https://samplesfrommars.com/products/al ... -from-mars

It contains everything. However, it's indeed strange to see all drums and synths for the same price.

Use code SNACKS for some more discount. It was shared earlier on the forum by OneOfManyPauls, so thanks to him.