The best option in my opinion, is to use a carefully curated library of samples. I break down every pack I am going to add to mine, into about 5 different main groups. Drum Breaks and Kits, Tonal (any instrument), FX, and Vox. I separate out MIDI files, sampler patches, or any other added content. I delete every construction kit, stems, demo, artwork, and any other spam.

I leave things in a temporary folder and use them while checking them out, however they were originally organized. Periodically, I delete the stuff I did not like or use at all; and move the stuff worth keeping into the more organized structure.

 

lk;lk;

 

Last edited: Aug 12, 2022

Man, I would be really evaluating my entire workflow using samples. That is so much work to be doing nowadays. You can do all of that sort of work without ever leaving your project in Logic. And let's face it, Cubase and Logic borrow features and ideas from one another all the time. I am sure Cubase has very similar workflow improvements from the last version I looked at which was like Artist 10 or something.

I would format my computer if needed and Install only cubase. nearly immediately. If I was using a PC and typed all that out. I'd read it back and say oh fsck me. please.

 

Last edited: Jun 23, 2022

kjsdkj

 

Last edited: Aug 12, 2022

unless you happen to be a sister site and torrent hoarder , then you end up organizing more than actually using the samples...(i definitely dont have a external hd called fozzyd torrents at all..)

with dual and triple monitor setups ,this is where fl studio really shines. being able to put whatever part of fl studio where you want is great.
abelton imho has way better audio preview options though , cubase ive never tried

 

Last edited: Jun 23, 2022

I just use a program called "Listary" for windows along with Ableton's browser. I can't use any sample management software because it takes FOREVER to scan my library (I have like over 4tb of samples from over 10 years of collecting). I'm talking like days to scan it all. My Ableton data file is quite large but it's worth it to search within Ableton and audition sounds within the DAW. It's a bit of a clunky search, but its tolerable. I usually like using newer stuff first so I just sort in explorer by date modified and I can see what are my newest sample packs. If I want to find specific stuff, Listary is quick and instantaneous in the keyword searches. I highly recommend it

 

Hi! just read all the posts. I'm a big, huge user of loops in my works and my workflow is all around the use of loops. I've been using the free Loopcloud happily and I think is the best sample manager, really do the work in a great way but today the LC guys announced that since Oct 6th the free version won't work anymore so I'm looking for a way to replace it. ADSR manager isn't working with my huge collecion ( 2tb of samples) always crashes and takes centuries to read all my samples and also some folders aren't recognized. Cubase mediabay crashes too so I can't use it. I'm open to any paid or free alternatives. you might ask why I don't pay for a loopcloud sub? well, simply I don't like the monthly or annual subscription method. But I can pay for a software that can do the work properly, integrated as a VST like Loopcloud or ADSR. Thanks!

 

Last edited: Sep 14, 2022

XO for drum samples. Reaper's own manager for everything else. Reaper's Media Explorer has become a lot better since v5!

 

I use so few samples that my main DAW (Mulab) is enough to make it itself. And my other DAW (Cakewalk by BandLab) does it also as well. Cataloging, tagging, "prehearing" (even with loops), etc. Otherwise, I use TX16Wx for almost all my samples when I want them to be used in a complex project with multilayers, etc. No need to use any external sample manager. In fact I'm pretty sure that nowadays almost all the decent DAWs manage perfectly themselves the samples.

 

I agree with the others' comments. I've hoped for a great sample/sound management tool but every one I've tried thus far have ended up being problematic after many, many hours of using them. The worst of the bunch being ADSR Sample Manager. It had so much potential but it just could not handle the task reliably. Often crashing, not locating files, very glitchy software. If you changed HD's or decided to update to a larger HD it would be a nightmare. Basically starting over. Pain in the arse. Their company provides zero support as well so I ended up ditching that one. So frustrating. Organizing your sounds yourself without a doubt is the most reliable method unfortunately. (so far..)
I am planning on try out one more in hopes it works well. Sound Particles Explorer. I'll report back.

 

S o n o n y m !

 

Also, have you seen the size of the databases that the sample organisation software creates? They're humungous. I could cram a couple more Zenhiser releases into that space -- easily.

I've been using Everything for my searches, but Listary looks kind of interesting. I'll give that a shot.

 

I use a combo of XO XLN for one shots (Usually drums) and Sononym for everything else (loops/browsing). Super efficient - I know the names of curated samples I trust (i.e. zenhiser) if I’m looking for a specific type of sound. Splice is great but they have a limit to the local samples you can store for searching within the app (I think it was 10k? I’ll check and update my post later lol), so it’s really only useful if you primarily use Splice.

 

I tried this in the last week or so. It loaded about a tenth of my samples and then gave up the ghost. Every time I tried to open after that, it just crashed.

 

I use only drum one shots haven't used loops in over 10years. So Atlas, Sononym (but never really found much use to it, as I'm used pick samples by ear even if i have pitch info in them) and always media explorer from the DAW, Reaper currently, Live before that. i find Reapers explorer much useful as i can audition the samples through selected track.

Over the years i have accumulated so many midi samples, a lot from own projects that i discarded and stored for later use(but never really bothered to look into it), bought as it came along with sample packs and also downloaded, if there was a library manager for that, that ll be awesome.

 

As others have mentioned, Studio One's browser is pretty good indeed. But for more comprehensive database searching, auditioning, sample CD extraction, file conversion, etc I have found Iced Audio's AudioFinder (OSX only) to be incredibly useful. I often run it in tandem with S1. It's a great piece of software, written by a single programmer, mostly as a labour of love. It also features a deep learning AI search like Sononym - except that I have found AudioFinder to give much better results.

That, and XLN XO for one shots, which has already been mentioned.

 

Loopcloud is the best thing hands down!! I syncs with your DAW in key and in time. When you refine tags to your own custom ones it makes it soooo much more powerful. The sample sequencer at the bottom is so fast to create ideas with.

I use sononym often to find sounds that sound similar to ones ive heard in other songs.

Samplism (mac app store) is super fast and its auto tagging feature works really well at finding samples hidden in my library i would have never found otherwise.