Some of the best (professional) music was created with these shitty samples:

It's not what you use, but how you use/abuse them together.

 

Look, obviously there are more sample packs than needed.
Back in the days, when you had to own a sampler and cds had to be in specific formats, it used to be better but still, more samples than it made sense were available.

Those overprocessed pieces you are referring to are most likely nothing what experienced producers would use. I think they are targeted for users who want to start making music and are easily impressed, magix music maker customers or people like that.

How do you get good samples? First, you have to start with good basic material. For Techno/House everything with the name "Riemann" on it is highly recommendable. The xfer records deadmau5 is (against expectation) very versatile, usable and not overprocessed. All x0x drummachines. Naturally recorded cymbals, rimshots and hihats.

But most of the time, that's just the starting point. Usually, you would layer drum sounds and process them untill you got what you need.

If you wonder what you can do to simplify this process, here's what I did to help me:
I've created drum racks in ableton, put samplers on the pads, loaded 50 or so of my go-to drum sounds into those samplers, assigned sample selection, eqs etc. to macros so I can dial through the sounds and sculpt my drums like I want them using my push, without the need to even look on the screen.

I would say layering and processing for themselves is how most producers achieve the sound they want, at least all I know

 

Try these, IMHO one of the best around, there's also older Mutekki Media stuff

There's so much fillers in many of them, you just need to go cherry picking and get yourself your ultimate sample library, little from here and there, many just hunt for appropriate ones, personally I had my own small carefully selected library from thousand of samples and packs and that's the way to go. *yes*

You end up with handful of really great ones, actually get to really know them/what you have, instead of keeping samples under vendors and native packaging, so yeah, pick that few decent/good ones and trash the rest, compile your own small usable library

 

You can blend from different samples and create what you need yourself !

 

Is it using samples the only way for You to make music ?

maybe playing some instruments would help if You are unhappy with the quality of what we have at disposal.

Lot of synths, piano, and drums are available, and there is no lack in dvd`s, books and tutorials to play them...
then, if You can play some guitars and bass, You have everything that is needed to make some good tunes.

I`m not commenting on samples, because I never knew how to use them, and never tried, but maybe a more traditional way to make music could help Your creativity... for sure, it would solve Your problem of "bad samples"...

 

I prefer a good sample library over an amateurish strummed and bad recorded cheap real instrument.

 

I see... but aren`t the standard AD Drums samples, the old NI Battery, and similar good enough ?!?

if You think there are no good samples around, the only way I see is to record them Yourself (or hire a drummer in a studio if You can`t play drums and don`t have the tools to record)

I use the AD drums for laying down the first idea, but when it comes to record a song, there is always a drummer on real drums to play with the band...
It results in a nice quality time among musicians, than, everyone puts a bit of himself in a piece, and at the end we all go party.

 

The problem is simple : you can find very dry and "natural" sounding samples, but MOST ppl will not like them.
They are not used to wood resonance (for acosutic samples), because it is EQ out in most productions.
They are not used to dynamic, in those days of loudness war.
They are not used to EQ, compress and more themself.
...
Short : there are "natural" sounding samples, without much processing. But they simply don't sell much, too
And there are older ones...in 16 bits format, witch mean you will have hard time to process them yourself.

There is a more deeper thing : when you buy samples (being Kontakt, banks, virtual drums...), you don't buy ONLY sound take.
You buy production, too. If you want sound take only, most producers will tell you to do it yourself

To me, the best solution to your problem is to search for the first, older, 24bits samples you can find. You will get enough dynamic to work AND less "production" because they are older

On my side, i use good quality samples like Black Octopus or Wave Alchemy (depending on style)
https://blackoctopus-sound.com/product/leviathan/
http://www.wavealchemy.co.uk/revolution-606/pid156/

They let me enough margin to work with.For sure, trend is EQ butchering and Tetris with the pieces

 

Use 909 stuff and process it (if needed) yourself *yes*
Claps, snares, rides, hi-hats, crashes, rimshots .. it's all there.
And no you don't need the hardware > packs & plug-in emulators are floating around.
Check techno/hardcore related material.

Most so called EDM packs are heavily processed indeed.
But Vengeance stuff is still 'weak' in one way or another.
Especially compared to Freaky Loops & Noise Factory for example.

The crazy part is: it sounds even more processed in already released/mastered tracks.
Overused (parallel) compression/distortion seems to be the standard nowadays.

 

Well, we should not forget Goldbaby who is an awesome sound designer who has produced tons of great one shot drums( also synths & loops sample libraries).
You will find easily what you're looking for there too IMHO.

Cheers

 

Some of the original Thomas Penton Samples are pretty good, effects and high hats imho. Ive seen pro guys, such as Nicky Romero, use Mutekki stuff too. As far as kicks are concerned, Vengeance should be your go to packs. Sample Tools Cr2 has some decent stuff, and the Sonic Academy samples have some good stuff as well. These are mostly processed, but they still sound good. Check some of them out. I agree with you though, the hardest stuff to find are good percussion samples, such as claps, snares and hi hats. Rarely find something that really grabs me.

 

Roll your own and layer with samples to taste. Experiment with VSTs like Attack, Microtonic or Tremor. They have the functionality you need to create some sounds that really stand out from the crowd. Plus you get to learn more about synthesis and layering in the process. Bands that are known for their drums such as Front Line Assembly make extensive use of layering, sometimes up to 4 samples. For EDM it will be that much easier because a lot of those sounds are generic. Bounce them down and create your own personal kits. In the process you'll build a signature sound that will develop through time. In my opinion, the best way to go about it.

 

Like you said there are literally millions of samples out there that you could use. And I know how annoying it can be sometimes that you can't even find one that works lol. But there are a few realities that you need to face.

1) Producers get those clean sounding samples by processing them. That's the truth my friend. And processing them ALOT. Which is actually not a bad thing at all, because that's how you get people asking "how in the world did he get that sound?!" So go for it, start with a good sample that matches the feel of your track, and let loose from that point. Experiment with drastic EQ, compression distortion etc,.. and see what you come up with.

2) You need to start with the right sample for the track you're doing. No matter how much you process something, if it's not right, then it's not right and you need to change it.

3) Mixing. I've had this happen SO many times when i first started out. I find an awesome sample that I love. An hour or so later after I have some synths and instruments going and it sounds like shit. Because so many other things are covering it up. And this many times a mixing issue and layering with other sounds and sample that don't work.

Take the time and play with sounds. If you are looking for an awesome sample pack to start, The Xfer pack is definitely an amazing pack that you can use for years to come.