Best sample packs of the month: August 2023We’ve got a new round up of scorching sample hits for you to check out. Our top picks for the month of August include club-ready techno and tech house loops, soulful female vocals, nostalgic lo-fi synths, found sound and world percussion, and a whole load of Reese bass.
READ MORE: Best free plugins and freeware of the month: July 2023
BandLab Sounds – Found Sounds & Foley
Found Sounds & Foley. Image: BandLab Sounds

Free
Download Found Sounds & Foley

Adding found sounds to your beats can be a great way to give them an organic flavour and make them stand out from the crowd. Our free pack from BandLab Sounds this month includes 104 one-shots of scrapes, motors, clangs, doors, engines and more.
A portable Zoom recorder was used to capture a range of sources including a wine glass, a tractor engine, a toaster, a tap, a large spring, some scissors, an oven door, a gas lift chair, an extractor fan, a car door, and a bike bell.
Editor’s note: BandLab Technologies is part of Caldecott Music Group, which is also the parent company of MusicTech, NME Networks.
ModeAudio – Symbolism
Symbolism cover. Image: ModeAudio

£18
Download ModeAudio Symbolism

Although it was released 25 years ago, Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children album still sounds fresh due to its characterful sound design that blends woozy analogue synths, crunchy hip hop beats and lo-fi ambiences.
ModeAudio’s Symbolism takes its cues from this sound along with that of other artists such as Aphex Twin and Autechre, who also released on Warp Records around the same time. The pack includes 156 loops from 74 to 104 bpm, and 75 drum one-shots, plus 89 MIDI files, and 69 synth tails that bring the loops to a smooth conclusion. It’s an atmospheric collection of drum, synth, guitar, vocal, FX and field recording sounds that feels both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.
Loopmasters – Latin House Bangers
Latin House Bangers cover. Image: Loopmasters

£29.95
Download Loopmasters Latin House Bangers

This new Loopmasters pack fuses weighty house beats with Latin musical elements to create an intoxicating mix that draws influence from artists like Hugel, Classmatic and Andrugss. It includes 151 loops and 217 one-shots of driving synth bass, syncopated drums, mixed percussion and FX, plus guitars, pianos and keys.
Arguably the best part though, are the 25 live trumpet loops that have been captured via a Neumann TLM67 mic. Although it’s designed for Latin house music at 128 bpm, these loops could be relevant for a range of house sub genres.
Thick Sounds – Tech House Oscillations
Tech House Oscillations cover. Image: Thick Sounds

£24.95
Download Thick Sounds Tech House Oscillations

There are a lot of tech house packs out there, but this one especially pricked up our ears because of the tight production and infectious grooves. Tech House Oscillations is inspired by artists such as Mark Knight, D. Ramirez, Carl Cox and Dusky, and includes 725MB of club-ready content.
In detail, there are 136 loops, 132 one-shots, 10 bass and synth multisample kits, and 3 construction kits, with 6 stems each. On top of this, you also get 71 MIDI files and 10 preset files for NI’s Massive synth.
Loopmasters – Lovers Rock Vocals
Lover Rock Vocals cover. Image: Loopmasters

£27.95
Download at Loopmasters

This beautiful pack of sultry female vocals draws inspiration from the golden era of lovers’ rock reggae and artists such as Carroll Thompson, Janet Kay and Luisa Mark. It features six distinct song kits from 90 to 130 bpm and in a range of keys.
Each features expertly captured dry female vocals, covering lead lines, and a handful of adlibs and spoken loops. Although these parts were written for over lovers’ rock backing tracks, the excellent, soulful performances could make them useful for a range of genres. Each song kit is also available to buy separately for £5.95 each.
Industrial Strength – BHK Samples Golden Age Drum & Bass
BHK Samples Golden Age Drum & Bass. Image: Industrial Strength

£49.95
Download Industrial Strength – BHK Samples Golden Age Drum & Bass

If you’re looking to craft forward thinking drum and bass but with a nod to the classics of the genre, then this new pack from Industrial Strength is well worth a look. It includes 117 expertly crafted breakbeats, top loops and basslines from 171 to 177 bpm.
Of more interest though, is the massive collection of 461 one-shots that cover bass hits, drum sounds, FX, leads, synths, atmos sounds and pads. There are even 67 different Reese bass sounds, which says a lot about the detail of the pack.
Spitfire Audio – BBC Symphony Orchestra Piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra Piano. Image: Spitfire Audio

£149 (Pro), £79 (Core), Free (Discover)
Download at Spitfire Audio

It’s been a long time coming, but Spitfire Audio has finally added a piano to complement its BBC Symphony Orchestral library. It faithfully captures the sound of a pristine Steinway Model D grand recorded at Maida Vale Studios.
There are 15 mic positions to choose from and blend, including specific close mics, plus pedal and hammers volume for added control and realism. There are also two bespoke mix presets that offer an all-purpose orchestral sound, or a hyped, more vibrant mix for cinematic music. Other features include 4 round robins, 6 dynamic layers, reverb and tightness controls, and velocity curves, with the full library weighing in at 35GB. It’s also worth noting that you can get stripped back versions for the Core and Discover editions.
Mind Flux – Hypnotic Techno
Hypnotic Techno cover. Image: Mind Flux

£29.95
Download at Mind Flux

Mind Flux know a thing or two about techno music, and this latest sample pack release is no exception. Hypnotic Techno blends entrancing synth patterns, driving and powerful sounding beats, and deep atmospheric loops inspired by artists such as Drunken Kong, Slam and KiNK, and labels like Moonshine, Soma and Hypercolour.
This concise but captivating collection includes 65 drum loops, 9 bass loops, 10 synth loops, 10 atmosphere loops and 10 FX loops. You also get 11 FX one-shots to help punctuate big moments and smooth over transitions.
Organic Loops – KV Bala Master of Percussion
KV Bala Master of Percussion cover. Image: Organic Loops

£39.95
Download Master of Percussion

This massive percussion pack sees multi-percussionist K.V. Balakrishnan performing a wide range of instruments, with a fusion of traditional Indian rhythms and popular western music across 60 construction kits.
There are 1365 loops in total, which include Afro Shakers, Bongo, Cabasa, Dholak, Ghatam, Kanjira, Maracas, Finger Cymbals, Tabla, Egg Shakers and more. Tempos range from 80 to 100 bpm, and you get both individual loops, and mixed percussion groups for a fuller sound. You’ll also find 76 male vocal loops that can be layered in to create more intricate rhythmic textures.
Crazy Sampling – Pringles Kit
Pringles Kit cover. Image: Crazy Sampling

Free
Download Pringles Kit

We thought we’d end with something a little different. This unique free sample instrument has been crafted using only the sounds of a Pringles tube. It includes 2 octaves of percussive sounds that have been performed by tapping, hitting and scraping different parts of the tube. There are also 3 octaves of tuned percussive sounds so that you can play melody parts.
It’s a simple but fun and effective instrument for adding some organic sound to a track, and the GUI includes controls for Cutoff, Volume, Reverb and Distortion.
The post Best sample packs of the month: August 2023 appeared first on MusicTech.

Magma Springs Reverb plug-in from Waves The latest addition to Waves' Magma series contains a range of spring reverb models that aim to capture the nostalgic spirit and sound of a variety of musical styles and eras.

Classical Highlights for July 2023The Linos Piano Trio (pictured) gave us a notable performance of Ravel. Other new releases you might want to hear are violinist Daniel Hope's New Music for a New Century and piano concertos by Rautavaara and Martinu played by Dalia Stasevska.

New Music Critique: RashaannRashaannContact: rashaann10.karma@gmail.com

Web: linktr.ee/rashaann_karma

Seeking: ReviewStyle: Hip-Hop

N.Y.C. emcee Rashaann channels the old school on his latest release Far From Home. The title track clocks in at over 8 minutes, and, right out of the gate, Rashaann raps quickly reflecting on his past and present, encouraging through the lessons he’s learned. Given the length, you can imagine there is movement, though we feel there is not enough variance in his delivery or the smooth jazz instrumental. “Unfinished Business” features an exciting crunch rock guitar on a loop. The song sounds like a cypher by De La Soul or Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, with multiple guests and fluid verses. “Times Like This” is emotional and observational, with enticing soul samples spiced up with Rashaann’s jokes and wordplay.

This California agency wants to know what happens to all that connected car dataThe troves of data collected by today’s modern connected cars has long been viewed as a cash cow — a yet untapped opportunity that could boost profits for automakers. Now one California agency wants to know exactly how that data might be used.
The California Privacy Protection Agency announced plans this week to review the data privacy practices of automakers that make and sell connected vehicles embedded with all kinds of data-mining features, from cameras and location sharing to web-based entertainment and smartphone integration.
“Modern vehicles are effectively connected computers on wheels. They’re able to collect a wealth of information via built-in apps, sensors, and cameras, which can monitor people both inside and near the vehicle,” CPPA executive director Ashkan Soltani said in a statement. The aim, Soltani said, is “to understand how these companies are complying with California law when they collect and use consumers’ data.”
The CPPA’s review is a first in the United States, where automakers have enjoyed a more lax data privacy environment compared to Europe. But that could soon change, at least in states that have passed data privacy laws like California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah and soon Virginia.
So far, California is the first to conduct a review of how automakers use connected car data, an action that aligns with the state’s lead in data privacy laws. The Agency is conducting this review under the California Consumer Privacy Act, a law adopted in 2018 that gives individuals in the state the right to know the personal information collected about them by businesses, the right to delete that information and the right to stop its sale or sharing.
Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the downside of connected cars for years because these vehicles often automatically gather consumers’ locations, personal preferences, and other details about their daily lives. Those concerns have grown as automakers have stepped up their software game in a bid to catch up with Tesla.
Today, a new 2023 model year vehicle likely has an infotainment system with an array of third-party apps as well as cameras, including one facing the driver as part of its advanced driver assistance system. A growing number of vehicles have “Google built-in,” software based on the company’s Android operating system that has been adapted for automotive and integrates all of Google’s app directly into the vehicle.
The agency said California has more than 35 million vehicles registered in the state. That’s not counting the millions more registered in other states that are on California roads. This saturation of connected cars has implications even for individuals who don’t own the vehicle, including ride-hailing customers and even pedestrians.
Internet-connected vehicles produce huge amounts of data when driven, data which is then shared with manufacturers and held for years under privacy policies that allow vast and near-unrestricted use of the data they collect. Manufacturers can share or sell that information with data brokers, which when combined with web browsing and phone data can be used to profile users for targeted advertising.
Collecting huge amounts of vehicle data also makes it obtainable by law enforcement agencies, which can demand vehicle data from in-car entertainment systems, collected by car manufacturers, and used for tracking and surveillance.
Google noted in a statement provided to TechCrunch that it does not have access to any vehicle data unless automakers choose to license Google products.
“In all instances data is used in accordance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy,” the company said, providing a link to that policy. “Drivers also have the option to change privacy settings for Google apps and services at any time. This extends to what is shared with third parties.”
GM pointed TechCrunch to its policy as well, noting that it is committed to protecting customers’ personal information.
“GM takes data privacy seriously and is committed to safeguarding personal information,” the company said in an emailed statement. “For every GM vehicle, the vehicle owner must accept GM’s User Terms and Privacy Statement to use these products and services. These documents detail our data practices and are available online for consumers to review.”

California’s Privacy Act: What you need to know now

GameStop will stop support for its crypto wallets, citing ‘regulatory uncertainty’The retail company used to be known primarily for its brick-and-mortar retail stores but has also launched an NFT marketplace and a soon-to-be-canceled line of crypto wallets.

Dua Lipa faces new lawsuit over ‘Levitating’ as producer Bosko Kante sues for alleged copyright infringement on remixesLawyers for Bosko Kante, a music producer, engineer and entrepreneur, filed a complaint on Monday (July 31)
Source

What does AI mean for music producers?
Music technology journalist Declan McGlynn discusses the potential implications of AI in music, how creators can apply it to their creative processes, and more.

Soundiron Hopkin Instrumentarium: Weighted Strings Hopkin Instrumentarium: Weighted Strings is a set of two amazing custom creations from the mind of master instrument inventor Bart Hopkin: The Weighted Lyre and Weighted Zither. These handcrafted... Read More

Sound Devices expand Astral wireless series Sound Devices' latest wireless system promises to offer a portable and rugged solution for live and recording applications anywhere in the world.

Reactional Music strikes personalized-music-for-games deal with mobile games publisher Amanotes, which reaches 100m monthly usersAmanotes is claimed to be the number one mobile game publisher in South East Asia with over three billion downloads of its games
Source

LEP’s Raymond Scott-inspired generative analogue groovebox, ArpoLoop, nears completionItalian boutique synth brand Laboratorio Elettronico Popolare (LEP) is nearing the final stages in the development of its stunning generative analogue groovebox, ArpoLoop.

READ MORE: Love Hultén’s custom device translates biodata from a cactus into MIDI

ArpoLoop, as you might already be able to spot, is inspired visually by Moog’s classic Minimoog synthesizer but with a funky blue and yellow colour scheme. Conceptually, it takes inspiration, according to LEP, from Raymond Scott, an electronic instrument inventor.
This final stage of ArpoLoop’s creation sees LEP add an eight-step capacitor sequencer and a one-octave keyboard to the unit.
LEPLoop Arpoloop
What is it exactly? An analogue groovebox is a generative instrument that combines sequencing and melody creation features. The generative aspect involves inputting commands to the sequences algorithmically, resulting in generative music – a system that changes and evolves over time, as famously described by Brian Eno.
The groovebox is wholly analogue, meaning it has no digital components such as a microprocessor inside. This delivers an off-kilter, organic charm in its sound.
It’s split into six sections – a voice board, a ramp generator, a newly added capacitor sequencer, a note generator, a rhythmic generator, and a newly added octave keyboard.
There are four VCOs with different sets of features for each. VCO 1 and 3 create a sine wave with sync and FM. The second is a sine wave with FM and fourth VCO is a sine-square-sawtooth wave with an LFO option.
LEPLoop Arpoloop
The analogue groovebox features include four cascadable VCAs controlled by an envelope generator or ring modulated by VCO 4, three AR envelope generators with three modes (gate, repeat, trig), a clock generator, and three ramp generators for general timing.
ArpoLoop also offers four rhythm generators for notes and drums, a note generator with two S&H CV outputs, a bass drum (CASSA) with pitch, resonance, and distortion, a snare drum with tom pitch and noise decay, and a six-channel audio mixer with individual outs for CASSA, snare, VCA1/2, and VCA 3/4.
According to LEP’s founder, Peppo Lasagna, Arpoloop’s “final shape” will follow the Minimoog with a foldable voice board. This voice board will be available also in euro rack format.
No release date has yet been revealed. Keep your eyes peeled on MusicTech for all the latest updates on this intriguing groovebox and head to leploop.org to learn about the brands other creations.
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Believe and Tunecore study looks at how DIY Musicians view and use AIA new survey by Believe and subsidiary TuneCore of 1558 self-releasing artists from 10+ countries examined the use of and attitudes toward artificial intelligence in the independent music community. Denis. Continue reading
The post Believe and Tunecore study looks at how DIY Musicians view and use AI appeared first on Hypebot.

Reels now get 200 billion views per day on Facebook and InstagramMeta’s TikTok-like Reels now get more than 200 billion views daily across Instagram and Facebook, the company revealed in a report to investors this week. TikTok has not shared its. Continue reading
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A step-by-step guide to music marketingSo many new things are already altered the music industry, from the advancement of AI to the rise of new social apps. So, here are ten music marketing strategies to. Continue reading
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