Hi, actually that’s a great idea because I own some rare samples on CD-R. I even remember having the original CD that contains the samples Timbaland used. It included loops from an Indian library and also the string samples from the '90s that he used in Justin Timberlake’s productions. I still have those in Akai format. I’d have to head down to the basement and sort through some of those hidden gems.

 

Producing a song doesn’t really take that much time The real secret lies in finding the right sounds.
You’re constantly searching for something new – either to stand out from the crowd or to create something truly original that doesn’t sound like the usual cookie-cutter stuff. That’s why it’s so important to keep digging for fresh sounds and to keep evolving your sound design.

I produce a lot of Urban, Pop, and Rap music – and in those genres, sound selection is everything. Sure, I could make a track using just one kick and one snare…

But I’ve got over a thousand sounds on my drive for a reason. For me, it’s not about playing the right notes – it’s about finding the right sounds.
That’s what makes the difference in the end. So yeah, having a big sound library and always hunting for something new is key.

 

Okay, I'll make sure to pass along this invaluable "real secret" insight to all the composers and songwriters I know.

 

at some point you might find yourself inspired to learn to play a musical instrument. Then you can make your own sound, the way you want it to be, and inspire people to recycle your notes and phrases into "sound libraries"

 

I had a lot but my samples drive went kaput and tbh, I've not really missed them.

It's easy to fall into the trap of hoarding packs and never really using them. Kinda wastes the storage space and it makes searching for a sample even harder.

I tend to only really use one shot drums and FX occasionally vocals from sample packs, everything else is either from a Kontakt bank or using Synth VSTS.

I probably could do without sample packs entirely but it's nice to have easy access to drum samples.

 

Do you move drum folders from “Packs” to the “Drums” folder? I’m rebuilding my sample library to be more organized and keep running into tough decisions like this.