How do you use all those GB of samples on your HD?

[aMUSEd]

OK so now we know that quite a lot of people here have a lot of sample libraries taking up a lot of space. So lets see some breakdowns of what people have - I'm curious about what sample libraries people are buying (or not) that take up so much space. And do you actually use them all, and if so, how (i.e. what samplers, what methods of composition, what types of music project etc)?

[munchkin]

I have a lot of romplers which I use now and again.

Stylus RMX
WusikStation
Eve
Sampletank 2
EWQLSO Silver Edition
Various Kontakt based romplers

I've got sample loops as well. And sample based instruments. One of the reasons I don't use them as much as softsynths is due to waiting for the sounds to load. It's much quicker to audition softsynth sounds IMO. But even with softsynths there could be improved ways to audition sounds.

What would make it easier to use sample based sounds would be a cataloguing program where it would be possible to preview the sounds without waiting for them to load. Perhaps the app could take a snapshot of the sounds in a highly compact format as it catalogued them all. And maybe divide up loops into categories automatically with the option to edit & fine tune the categories easily.

I think Sony have tried to do something like this with loops in ACID 5 but it's a bit of a cpu hog.

[fitch]

the romplers are getting bigger..

they all need their space

as i mentioned in the other thread.. VSL needs at least 250 gbs of space and that's without all the horizons add ons..

then all the IRs to use in altiverb . . to add that shine to VSL

regular sample libraries all take up more.. FX , regular instruments like pianos.. Loops are really useful too.

i seem to do mainly orchestral stuff.. because people ask me to do that particular style ..

orchestral libraries have to be big by their very nature of having at least 100 people playing in them .. all playing different nuances..

having the sounds at your fingertips widens the palette on which to draw.. and usually we don't get very long to do the drawing LOL

so it's easier to have them all there.

[RocketSoundz]

Here's what I have in terms of samples, all classified by origins/companies:

- Breakbeats Only (all the free content from their website)
- e-Lab (what was available on their website, lots of kits & single sounds)
- Zero-G (all their demo loops!)
- Homegrown Sounds (all the free packs)
- Electronisounds (all the free packs)
- Groundloops (what was available on their website)
- SampleLab (24bits demo samples, drum loops mainly)
- Dangerous Bear Underground (Free Beats)
- Les Productions Zvon (free acid loops)
- Sony MediaSoftware (formely Sonic Foundry, all their demo loops!)
- Mixman D-Plates (not .wavs but .trk files to load into my Mixman Studio Pro a remix software package)

That makes about 1,5gig of samples content I have downloaded all for free.

I like free stuff

[omicrom]

Lets see. I have about 40 GB in total of refills , samples, loops, romplers and soundfonts.
I use Acid 4.0, Project 5, Reason 2.5, FL Studio 5.x,
Storm 2.0, tracktion 1.6x and BIAB 2004. I have Vol 2 and Vol 5 of the Plugsound romplers from USB. All my samples are from CM, FM, MTM, and DMM music and computer mags. All my soundfonts are conversions of other sample formats to use in Reason(NN-XT). I have every free refill available as well as purchased Vol. 1-20 of the Sonic Reality refills, the Reason Drum Kits Refill and Strings. I have 8 gigs of acid loops, 10 gigs of Rex loops and 2.5 gigs of groove clips from CakeWalk. I do use and plunder all of my sonic treasure chest!