Finding good samples can sometimes be difficult. Recording your own is obviously the best way of sourcing samples, but this is not always feasible due to a lack of time, knowledge or hardware.
Luckily, there are many good free sources of samples, both online and offline. A good place to start is at http://www.freesound.org/.
A tutorial on organising your sample library can be found at organising-a-sample-library-t133144.html.
Online sources of samples
- 1> Software developers often release free sample content for use with their programs. These are usually called 'sample packs or sample banks'.
2> Search engines, peer to peer networks and file hosts can provide many free samples. Start by running a search for 'free audio samples', 'free music samples', 'free audio loops', 'free music loops' or 'loop packs'!
2> You can record small bits of audio from other media sources including websites and computer games.
3> 'Text to speech' and 'speech synthesis' programs can provide vocal samples for free.
4> Online sample libraries such as those run by the BBC can provide both free and paid for samples. Many other commercial sample libraries also exist.
Offline sources of samples
- 1> Computer music technology magazines like Computer Music Magazine offer cover-mount DVDs full of free samples with each edition.
2> You can record small bits of audio from other media sources, including music, films, television, radio, toys and games.
3> Your local library may have sound FX CDs available for hire from their media section.
Further sources of samples
- 1> Commercial sample CDs can provide excellent sources of samples and loops, including those by Zero-G, East West and Loopmasters amongst others.
2> Refills
3> Soundfonts
Sample format conversion
Many samples are only available in a proprietry format. In order to play back these formats, you must use the original software or hardware that the format was designed for. Some examples of proprietry sound formats include Acidised Wavs, Apple Loops, AKAI samples for AKAI samplers, Propellerhead Refills and samples for romplers such as Native Instruments Kontakt, Steinberg Halion and Tascam Gigastudio.
In some cases, this issue can be resolved by using a program that converts the sample format like Chicken Systems Translator. Other sample format conversion programs also exist.
Another useful utility is a Refill unpacker. This allows you to unpack refills so the samples contained within may be used with any music program. The Refill unpacker is available via direct download here or via torrent here.
Links to free samples
The following list of sites is quoted from this thread. Be advised that some of the sites listed below may no longer be available.
HAACK wrote:http://www.freesound.org/
http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=165922
http://theremin.music.uiowa.edu/MIS.html
http://audiencesounds.com/
http://www.sampleswap.org/
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/acapella/
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~mac/loops/
http://musicmoz.org/Sound_Files/Samples_and_Loops/
http://new.wavlist.com/
http://tduck.ca/
http://trackers.pp.ru/links/index.php?list=ls
http://vivisimo.com/
http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/
http://www.abz.co.uk/
http://www.acidplanet.com/
http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/8packs/
http://www.analogindustries.com/
http://www.sectionz.com/home.asp?keywor ... onic+music
http://www.analoguesque.com/soundfonts.asp
http://www.anwida.com/geq31v.asp
http://www.audioattack.de/
http://www.bap.free.fr/
http://www.beatbox.tv/
http://www.beatsandsamples.com/
http://www.brambos.com/
http://www.break-beats.co.uk/
http://www.breakbeatsonly.com/
http://www.breakbeat-paradise.com/
http://www.cakewalk.com/
http://lazoneacappella.chez.com/
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/
http://www.countrocula.com/
http://www.danirava.com/LINKS/links_samples.asp
http://www.discretedrums.com/
http://www.djbb.dk/
http://www.dj-mix.de/
http://www.dnbproduction.com/link.asp?message=0
http://www.dogbeats.co.uk/
http://www.drumsamples.com/
http://www.equippedmusic.se/
http://www.electromancer.com/
http://www.endlessflow.com/
http://www.findsounds.com/
http://www.flashtracks.de/
http://www.freaknoise.com/
http://www.freeloops.co.uk/
http://www.ftpsearchengines.com/
http://www.futurewebsonics.com/
http://www.garritan.com/
http://www.geocities.com/samplecatalog/
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/8644/
http://www.groovedealer.com/
http://www.groundloops.com/
http://www.guitarwavs.com/
http://www.humanworkshop.com/
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/sun-sounds/
http://www.infonetware.com/
http://www.ixquick.com/
http://www.jumbo.com/
http://www.killerbeats.com/
http://www.lfenn.co.uk/
http://www.ljudo.com/
http://www.looplibrary.com/
http://www.loopsagogo.com/
http://www.melodymachine.com/
http://www.mightywight.net/
http://www.musicxp.net/
http://www.musiclibraries.tv/
http://www.nsf-music.de/
http://www.naturalstudio.co.uk/
http://www.peaceloveproductions.com/
http://www.mhat.com/phatdrumloops/
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/
http://www.profusion.com/
http://www.searchalot.com/
http://www.sonichound.com/
http://www.sounddogs.com/
http://www.sound-effects-library.com/
http://www.soundfonts.it/
http://www.soundhunter.com/
http://www.soundoftheweb.com/soundeffects/
http://www.surfwax.com/
http://www.tcelectronic.com/
http://www.thespeakerboy.com/
http://www.tru-playaz.co.uk/
http://www.tweakheadz.com/
http://www.twilightrecordingstudio.com/
http://www.yogen.com/
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?so ... 390&T=1915
http://www.avhangout.net/
http://www.bassment.net/
http://home.scarlet.be/willem.bries3/
http://www.djdatabase.150m.com/news/finalscratch.html
http://www.drummachine.com/
http://www.goltstein.com/
http://www.hornet.org/music/samples/
http://www.greyinc.co.uk/
http://www.kvr-vst.com/
http://www.musicware.dial.pipex.com/
http://www.psylux.com/reason/
http://www.reasonrefills.com/
http://www.reasonstation.net/tutorials/
http://www.samplearena.com/
http://www.sounddogs.com/searchresults. ... word=Loops
More samples created by other Dubstepforum users may also be found here.
Further sites with free samples.
