Subject:Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Posted by: Jessariah

Date:9/16/2002 5:55:05 PM

Just got in two Groove-A-Licious libraries (Mega Guitar & Xtreme Guitar) and couldn't believe it. Some of the Mega Guitar loops are actually keyboard sounds and several of the Xtreme Guitar loops have a hi-hat in the background, as if the click track bled through. I've been on the Groove-A-Licious site quite often, and it looked like they knew what they were doing, but...

The quality of the SoFo libraries is top notch (I own about half of them). But there are some areas where they fall short -- especially when it comes to the bread & butter acoustic sounds (it's getting better with the new Jade Hill library -- can't wait till that gets here).

Basically, I'm wondering what others have found out there -- what is good. What to avoid. For the most part, I usually stay away from the $9.99 libraries. Looks like that level is going up.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Reply by: David_Kuznicki

Date:9/16/2002 9:07:23 PM

I, personally, LOVE the SoFo libraries. I usually don't buy any of the others, although I've heard some good things about the Big Fish libraries. I mean, don't get me wrong, SoFo has their hits (Metarock, Fleetwood among many others) and misses (I've NEVER found a use for anything in Headstrong Grooves)... but SoFo offers quality discs at great prices-- and lots of nice, useable loops per disc. Now, if only they (and other companies) would start to move away from percussion loops. I'm up to my eyeballs in very similar sounding drum loops!

David. (a proud member of the Loob Subscription series)

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:9/16/2002 9:16:45 PM

If I need guitar loops, I just make my own. :o)

I love SoFo's collections too. The free samples off of Computer Music magazine's CD usually contain a useable sample or two. But other than that, I usually just stick to SoFo's stuff.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Reply by: loopjockey

Date:9/17/2002 12:20:19 AM

SoFo sounds are really good. I only have promo CD's at the moment. I'm looking for a good all-round drum CD with loops, fills, breaks mainly for guitar pop. Any suggestions?

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Reply by: David_Kuznicki

Date:9/17/2002 3:39:14 AM

I hate to keep plugging it... but take a quick listen to the promo Fleetwood loops. I've found it to be an excellent acoustic drum library. You won't be disappointed.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss

Reply by: Polaris20

Date:9/17/2002 5:29:02 AM

I really like the Drum Tools CD, but I'm also anxious to try out the Mick Fleetwood CD. That will be my next one.

Luckily so far out of the 6 I've bought, I haven't gotten pooped on yet.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: geetarboy

Date:9/17/2002 8:24:25 AM

Have you tried pocketfuel? www.pocketfuel.com.
There RADS Acoustic Drums are great.Also I have found SO FO'S Drum Tools usefull.
In general I am not a fan of loop libraries. I think the quality is great but often times they are filled with "filler" material.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: L25

Date:9/17/2002 9:57:19 AM

A friend has Mark Pistel's loop CD, I forget the name of it, it is a newer sofo cd. I liked what I heard, mostly drums, bass percussion, some synths.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: Jacose

Date:9/17/2002 12:12:25 PM

I think there are some loops libraries that I dont particularly LOVE by sofo, such as Headstrong grooves... I DO like splattercell alot, virunis:infusion ,george pendegrast alt.rock drums, Mick Fleetwood, Drum tools, see,

Im a guitarist and bassist, so I have NO use for those libraries. I think siggi balduursons drum sugar is cool, but a little too eq'ed. Its hard to fit those into my projects, really.

Marc andersons Dragondance is really neat, and I could picture using this and WORLD POP in the future. I have a ton of these libraries, when I see one I like, I always get them, theyre just so darn tempting. The fact is tho, I dont use them THAT much. I have probabaly used like 10 loops from each CD I own on average.

That is because I like to program my OWN stuff in Fruityloops, I like to make my own beats. And I have some drum sample Cds that are sooooo real, with a little programming knowledge, you can sound pretty realistic.

But all in all, the looops are worth it, and I am glad sofo has this HUGE collection of libraries available.

Another cool one is PointBlanc.. I enjoy that one.


Sofo isnt the ONLY reliable loops resource tho.

I feel East/West does a prettty good job, and Spectrasonics as well. I own there Retro Funk 1 and 2, and They ARE THE TIGHTEST funky beats you will find...

go to www.loops.net to see a list of loop manufacturers.

I have one question tho. SOFO: what were you THINKING with downtempo beats?

lol


People think that using loops is unoriginal, but some really great musicians go by this etho:

Good musicians borrow other musicians Ideas. Great ones STEAL them....

lol

you can really do alot with an original song by adding a loop or two in.

as for people making filmbeds or commercials, loops are absolutely PERFECT for this, as all you need to do is paint away and put a voiceover on it!!!!!

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: Mus

Date:9/17/2002 1:56:20 PM

On each loop library I've bought - On The Jazz Tip, R&B Drums and Drum Tools - they leave some of the job half done. I get hooked into a demo loop, start using it on a project, buy the library itself and then the real thing doesn't have enough fills or variations (and sometimes none at all).

Still I'm sure they'll come in handy anyhow, so I suppose I don't regret buying.

M

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: Jessariah

Date:9/17/2002 3:22:06 PM

Well, I just heard back from Groove-A-Licious, and they're giving me all this "session miking" and "resampling" crap, like I'm some dummy who just gave up SDML for Acid Express...Then, he ends by saying that I didn't pay a whole lot for it, and most people find some useable material in there.

Buyer BEWARE!

I went through every loop of my company's first library four times, checking and double checking. If anyone wants, you can get some free loops from it.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: SonyNateM

Date:9/17/2002 3:35:13 PM

Personally, loop libraries are an important starting point for me. I build a simple drum/instrument hook, get into the groove of it, add some more. Before I know it I have a third of a song written. But, now that the basics are there, I start thinking, "Gee, I kind of wish this chord progression went GCD, not DGC." or "This drum loop is good, but it really needs different hats/cleaner kicks/etc." So I will record my own tracks, layout some MIDI drum patterns, and change it up completely by the time I'm done. Most of the time my final versions are not even slightly reminiscent of the original loops that I used, though they were an important part of the creation process.

Nate

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: Jessariah

Date:9/17/2002 4:16:43 PM

I agree. As someone who likes to compose, but isn't really good at any instruments, I find loops to be both fast and fun -- plus, when you start thinking about the cost of all the outboard gear you'd need to create some of these sounds & textures -- just to have them in a folder, ready to go, is a great advantage.

"Writing songs" in Acid isn't as easy, due to the lack of progression you see in most loops and the fact that each track will only allow one wave file. We're starrting to see more and more libraries covering the lost ground of the former, but (unlike some in here) I wouldn't change the single file-per-track feature.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: loopjockey

Date:9/17/2002 10:01:13 PM

Thanks to everyone for posting to my request for suggsetions re drum CD's. It's a great starting point. It was interesting to read people's working methods with Acid too. I'm not too deep into Acid yet, i pick up my guitar and start composing and then audition drum loops as i go. I love the drum sounds i get now. I'll never turn on my drum machine again! But i do need a bass guitar now. It beats looking for bass loops that fit although i have used some interesting lines you wouldn't normally consider. It's still quicker and more intuitive for me to play parts even though i'm not a bass player. Ultimately i'd call all my current projects demo's. They are all very 'under produced' at this stage although they can easily be spiced up a bit by adding interesting loops. Ahhh...the beauty of Acid.

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: MusicTECH

Date:9/18/2002 1:58:26 PM

Try the Performance Loops Drums series from Big Fish Audio. Much more useful than just about any other drum loop sample CD available (and I own a lot of the SoFo stuff as well). You get a lot of different loops, variations, and fills from each real song performance, so that you can arrange them how you want to fit your music and never be left wishing you had some fills or variations to go along with the killer loop you just found (like I find myself wishing for with many other drum loop libraries). All the files are ACIDized and are organized by song performances in seperate folders... makes it very easy to find what you are looking for. Volume 2 got a great review in a recent issue of Electronic Musician.

Direct links to the products can be found on the new dedicated site under construction at:
http://www.performanceloops.com

Of course, I'm biased since I produce these! =) But, I haven't had ANY negative comments at all from anyone who has bought them, and many people say they are so much better than the stuff that SoFo puts out (sorry SoFo... although I like a lot of your libraries myself and just picked up Mick Fleetwood's).

I'm going to be releasing a new volume with Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield very soon.... just finishing up the artwork right now.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the series.

Steve

Subject:RE: Loop Libraries - Hit & Miss (drums)

Reply by: stusy

Date:9/19/2002 12:16:03 PM

I've got the bass, dry kit and perc kit from "Smart Loops" and they aren't too shabby, as well as sounds I can get off my alesis, but may look into what SOFO offers as far as drums...anybody know a good one to start or end with..? very limited budget here...