# Free Sample Libraries.... whats out there **URL:** \ **Category:** \[P\] Patreon Support\ **Created:** [October 20, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297 "2017-10-20T20:29:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eli](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/eli/32/116_2.png) [@Eli](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/1 "2017-10-20T20:29:19Z")
This is a community maintained list of sources for samples. If you have something to add, please do! (Just click ‘Edit’ and make your contribution.) Comments and discussion also welcomed in the thread, but we’ll try to keep this first post up-to-date with good resources. - [http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/free-music-samples-download-loops-hits-and-multis-627820](http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/free-music-samples-download-loops-hits-and-multis-627820) - [http://mattiaswestlund.net/samples/sonatina-symphonic-orchestra-1.0.zip](http://mattiaswestlund.net/samples/sonatina-symphonic-orchestra-1.0.zip) (orchestra instruments) UPDATED LOCATION [GitHub - peastman/sso: Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra](https://github.com/peastman/sso) - [http://virtualplaying.com/](http://virtualplaying.com/) (orchestral instruments) - [https://freesound.org/](https://freesound.org/) (a wide range of different sample types) - [http://bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk/](http://bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk/) vast array of BBC supplied samples (restrictive license though) - [https://www.conversesamplelibrary.com/](https://www.conversesamplelibrary.com/) (added by @robin.newman sourced by @Benjamin) - [http://vis.versilstudios.net/vsco-community.html](http://vis.versilstudios.net/vsco-community.html) - Up to 3 Gb of public domain orchestral instrument samples - MuseScore3.2 [drumline samples](http://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/source-of-percussion-samples/1830) - [Reverb’s complete drum machine collection](https://reverb.com/software/samples-and-loops/reverb/3514-reverb-drum-machines-the-complete-collection) - Make music using the free-to-use audio and video materials from the Library of Congress [https://citizen-dj.labs.loc.gov/](https://citizen-dj.labs.loc.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/2 "2017-10-20T21:23:18Z")
Three sample sources from me… [http://mattiaswestlund.net/samples/sonatina-symphonic-orchestra-1.0.zip](http://mattiaswestlund.net/samples/sonatina-symphonic-orchestra-1.0.zip) (orchestra instruments) [http://virtualplaying.com/](http://virtualplaying.com/) (orchestral instruments) [https://freesound.org/](https://freesound.org/) (a wide range of different sample types) ---
**Author:** ![ivar](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/ivar/32/48_2.png) [@ivar](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/ivar)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/3 "2017-10-20T23:30:08Z")
@Eli - what a great idea! This kind of resource would probably be better maintained as a wiki page, which this forum supports. An example on this forum is the [SonicPi Online Resources](http://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-online-resources/17) thread, which was converted to a wiki page and thus editable by any user. Would you mind if I converted the “Free Sample Libraries” thread to a wiki page so anyone can add to it ? ---
**Author:** ![Eli](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/eli/32/116_2.png) [@Eli](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/4 "2017-10-21T00:46:42Z")
Be my guest. I’d learn howto myself… but I just installed Ableton Live and Helm this evening, and I’m feeling overwhelmed (a lot)… I think I’m all out of learning-how–juice right now. 🙂 Eli… ---
**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 10:42am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/5 "2018-02-07T10:42:04Z")
I know the feeling Eli. I have recently started with Live, an Arturia MatrixBrute and Helm. There’s just so many possibilities… ---
**Author:** ![mrbombmusic](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/mrbombmusic/32/2282_2.png) [@mrbombmusic](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/mrbombmusic)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/6 "2018-02-28T17:32:30Z")
Just found this page called “Sounds from Space” It’s a bunch of recorded radio signals from space vehicles and satellites. Some very interesting sounds to play with. [http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/sounds/sounds.htm](http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/sounds/sounds.htm) ---
**Author:** ![mrbombmusic](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/mrbombmusic/32/2282_2.png) [@mrbombmusic](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/mrbombmusic)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/7 "2018-03-17T17:56:46Z")
> **[Free Drum Sample Library Features Buchla Music Easel Synthesized Percussion](http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2016/10/03/free-drum-sample-library-features-buchla-music-easel-synthesized-percussion/)** > > 100 Things I Do has shared a free drum sample library, featuring percussive sounds synthesized using a Buchla Music Easel. ---
**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/8 "2018-03-17T19:35:01Z")
Thanks for sharing these. Some nice samples ---
**Author:** ![ethancrawford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@ethancrawford](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/ethancrawford)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/9 "2018-11-17T14:30:04Z")
I’ve added the Versilian Studios Chamber Orchestra samples (and then realised there’s _potentially_ some overlap in some of the libraries listed in this post as Sonatina and VSCO were used as some of the sources for Virtual Playing Orchestra, although exactly how much was used there I have no idea. Figured it’s no big deal anyway). ---
**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/10 "2018-11-17T15:32:16Z")
Thanks Ethan. It looks like a very useful collection, and is probalby much updated from Sonatina which is"old" now. I look forward to playing with it. ---
**Author:** ![robin.newman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@robin.newman](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/robin.newman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/11 "2018-11-20T17:36:01Z")
I’ve spent quite a long time producing code to allow the VSCO files to be used relatively easily as sample based instrument sources for Sonic Pi, with a function orchSample “instrument name” note, \ which substitutes for the sample command, selecting the relevant sample and rpitch: value automatically which works quite well. It was fairly hairy as different naming techniques were used for different instrument samples, some with note names embedded and others using a numerical reference, but I’ve covered 57 different “instruments”. Note one actual instrument may have 4 different sets of samples for sustained, pizzicato, with vibrato etc. The code is fairly hairy involving a lot of string manipulation but seems to work fast enough. I have also converted one or two of the samples to .flac from .wav which greatly reduces their size, and hope to do more in time. (You can use Audacity to do this in batch jobs) Will publish when its a bit more refined. ---
**Author:** ![Bubo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/bubo/32/786_2.png) [@Bubo](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Bubo)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 6:51am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/12 "2018-11-23T06:51:16Z")
Nobody mentionned the [Legowelt](http://legowelt.org/samples/) website. It’s a well known source for good and sometimes rare electronic instruments samples. ---
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/martin/32/157_2.png) [@Martin](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 7:03am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/13 "2018-11-23T07:03:50Z")
Also: [DrumGizmo](https://drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id=kits) with two velocity layered kits… ---
**Author:** ![mrbombmusic](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/mrbombmusic/32/2282_2.png) [@mrbombmusic](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/mrbombmusic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/14 "2019-02-23T16:44:32Z")
Here is a incredible [collection of break beats](https://mgthefuture.com/product/305630) that was curated by [Young Guru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Guru) (He was the in-house engineer for Jay-Z’s record label) There are over 1200 break beats here. It is a goldmine if you are into using and/or chopping up breaks in your code. **Disclaimer:** These breaks are in mp3 format. They also aren’t always exact loops, so you may need to do a bit of maintenance to convert them to a ready to use format. I’ve been cleaning them up in Audacity but it has been well worth it! ---
**Author:** ![birv2](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/birv2/32/93_2.png) [@birv2](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/birv2)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/15 "2019-12-17T21:31:02Z")
Love Legowelt’s stuff! And I didn’t realize he had all these samples for download. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ethancrawford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@ethancrawford](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/ethancrawford)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 7:28am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/16 "2020-04-28T07:28:59Z")
I have added a link to Reverb’s drum machine collection above in the initial post 😄 (Or here if you’re impatient 😉 : > **[Reverb Drum Machines | The Complete Collection](https://reverb.com/software/samples-and-loops/reverb/3514-reverb-drum-machines-the-complete-collection)** > > The Complete Reverb Drum Machines CollectionOver 50 volumes of vintage, rare, and landmark drum machines that narrate the history of this modern instrument—from the inception of this invention to relevant contemporary devices—this collection covers... _Note: this one may be a timed offer so it may not be free forever…)_ ---
**Author:** ![nlb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/nlb/32/997_2.png) [@nlb](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/nlb)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/17 "2020-04-28T15:06:22Z")
thanks but 15 h is displayed to dl the 1.4 Go… ---
**Author:** ![nlb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/nlb/32/997_2.png) [@nlb](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/nlb)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 7:41am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/18 "2020-06-24T07:41:47Z")
Industrial samples from Hitachi Reserachers. > **[Free Malfunctioning Industrial Machinery Audio Samples](https://spectralplex.com/free-malfunctioning-industrial-machinery-audio-samples/)** > > The 'broken' factory machinery sounds could make for perfect sampling material for your next Techno release or Apocalyptic Sci-fi soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![ethancrawford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@ethancrawford](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/ethancrawford)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 7:56am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/19 "2020-06-24T07:56:09Z")
Just had a brief look at this. Looks (and sounds) amazing! Cheers @nlb, great find! 🍻 ---
**Author:** ![nlb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/in-thread.sonic-pi.net/nlb/32/997_2.png) [@nlb](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/u/nlb)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 10:56am UTC](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297/20 "2020-07-02T10:56:43Z")
Hi, > **[We Sound Effects Bundle 2020 | Free Download 25GB+ High Quality SFX - We...](https://wesoundeffects.com/we-sound-effects-bundle-2020/)** > > Download 25GB+ High Quality Sounds Effects extracted from sound libraries available at We Sound Effects. Ready to use sound effects for games, films and multimedia. [Next page](https://in-thread.sonic-pi.net/t/free-sample-libraries-whats-out-there/297.md?page=2)