Samples From Mars Offers Free Vintage Drum Machine Sample Packs For Music Producers
Samples From Mars, a Brooklyn-based sample label, has made a name for itself by capturing the unique sounds of vintage drum machines and hardware samplers. The company specializes in recording these classic instruments through high-end equipment, consoles, and tape machines to create high-quality, usable sample packs. Among their offerings are several free sample packs that provide music producers with access to the distinctive sounds of legendary drum machines and samplers without cost.
This article examines the free sample packs currently available from Samples From Mars, detailing what each collection contains, how to obtain them, and the unique sonic qualities they offer. These free packs represent an opportunity for producers to experiment with authentic vintage sounds that have shaped genres from hip-hop to electronic music.
Free Vinyl Drums From Mars
Samples From Mars offers a free slimmed-down version of its best-selling Vinyl Drums From Mars sample pack. This free collection provides producers with an opportunity to experience the distinctive sound achieved by recording an acoustic drum kit, pressing the results to vinyl, and then sampling the record to create various artifacts, dusty hits, and character.
The free version includes two of the twenty kits from the full pack, fully formatted for popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) and samplers. According to Samples From Mars, these two kits demonstrate "a lot of production power" and give users a representative taste of what the full version sounds like.
Contents and Specifications
The Free Vinyl Drums From Mars pack contains: - 32 royalty-free vinyl drum samples at 24-bit, 44.1kHz resolution - Two 16-hit drum kits designed for immediate use in music production - A diverse range of hits spanning from clean and dry, crisp and classic sounds to distorted, pitched, effected, dusty, and degraded variations - Sound types include kicks, snares, toms, cymbals, snaps, claps, tambourines, shakers, and various percussion elements
The samples were processed entirely through hardware, including: - Eventide H3000, SE70, Overstayer Saturator, DBX 160a - Summit TPA 200B, Ibanez UE 400 and other gear - Tracked to 1/4" tape on Otari MTR-12 and MX-5050 - Recorded through an Apogee Symphony MKII and API 1608
Compatibility
The free pack is available in multiple formats to ensure compatibility with various production environments: - Ableton: Two pre-made Kit racks - Kontakt, Logic EXS, Reason NNXT, FL Studio, and SFZ: Two Drum Kit presets each
The total uncompressed size of the pack is 66.5 MB, making it a lightweight addition to any producer's sample library.
Free MPC60 From Mars
Samples From Mars has partnered with Sonicstate to offer the MPC60 From Mars pack for free, normally valued at $29. This offer is tied to a competition that runs until November 17, 2024. While the competition includes three grand prizes (all Samples From Mars collections, all Drums From Mars collections, and all Vinyl Drums From Mars collections), every entrant receives the free MPC60 From Mars pack simply by submitting their entry.
The MPC60 From Mars pack captures the sound of the Akai MPC60 hardware sampler, which debuted in 1988 and was designed by Roger Linn. The MPC60 is renowned for its gritty, punchy sound that helped shape classic hip-hop, R&B, and house music. Samples From Mars describes the unit as "the fattest and warmest" 12-bit drum sampler, noting that "what you put in simply sounds better."
Historical Significance
The MPC60 has an impressive pedigree in music production: - DJ Shadow used an MPC60 to create his classic 1996 album "Endtroducing" - Dr. Dre and J Dilla were notable users - Kanye West used an MPC2000 for his platinum debut album "The College Dropout"
Pack Contents
The MPC60 From Mars sample pack includes: - 24-bit WAV MPC60 samples - Coverage of various sound types: kick, snare, rim, clap, hi-hats, cabasa, percussion, toms, and cymbals - A large selection of different sounds from modified drum machines including: * 606, 707, 808, 909 * CR78, Rhythm 700 * SP1200 * SH101 * Vinyl * Arp 2600 * And more - 20 pre-made 16-hit kits for quick implementation - 26 MPC Groove MIDI files
The uncompressed size of the pack is 208 MB, providing substantial material for music production.
How to Obtain
To receive the free MPC60 From Mars pack, interested producers must: 1. Visit the competition entry page 2. Provide their name and email address 3. Answer the question: "How many years has Sample From Mars existed?" (The answer, according to the source, is 11 years) 4. Confirm their email address
After completing these steps, participants gain access to download the free pack.
LM1 Comparison Pack
Samples From Mars released the LM1 Comparison as a free drum sample pack as part of their Sample Journal blog series. The LM1, often mistaken for the Linndrum, is a rare and highly sought-after drum machine from the 1980s that gained particular popularity through extensive use by Prince.
The story behind this pack is particularly interesting. After years of searching, Samples From Mars acquired an LM1 in 2018 and sampled it extensively. A year later, they unexpectedly acquired a second unit with distinctive characteristics: - A gray faceplate (unusual for the standard LM1) - Softer, more pillowy pads - A warmer, "lazier" sound quality
The company found no explanation for these differences in their research. Since the samples from this gray machine were not included in their commercial LM1 From Mars pack, they created the free LM1 Comparison pack to allow producers to explore and compare the subtle differences between these two remarkable machines.
The pack provides a unique opportunity to experience variations in the same model of vintage drum machine, highlighting how even subtle hardware differences can significantly impact the sonic character.
808 Snacks From Mars
Samples From Mars also offers the 808 Snacks From Mars pack, which provides producers with two new 16x hit 808 kits. These kits were recorded through an API console to tape, utilizing a variety of high-end hardware processing to achieve authentic analog character.
These samples are part of the broader "Snacks From Mars" series, which offers small tastes of sounds carefully selected from 22 full products. The 808 Snacks pack specifically includes hits recorded through various analog synthesizers, including: - Roland MKS-7 - Oberheim SEM - Moog Micromoog - Novation Bass Station
The source material also mentions the Synare, an analog drum synth created in the mid-1970s by Star Instruments. Described as sounding like "the most evil, analog flying saucer you've ever heard," the Synare represents another distinctive vintage sound that Samples From Mars has captured.
MPC2000 Snacks From Mars
Briefly mentioned in the source material is the MPC2000 Snacks From Mars pack, described as "deliciously free." While specific details about this pack are limited in the provided sources, it appears to follow the same format as other "Snacks From Mars" offerings, providing a curated selection of sounds from the company's MPC2000 sample collections.
The Samples From Mars Approach
Samples From Mars distinguishes itself in the sample pack industry through its commitment to authentic vintage sound reproduction. The company, founded by producer/engineer Teddy Stuart in Brooklyn, NYC, focuses on capturing the unique qualities of vintage (and often rare) machines through high-end recording chains.
Their methodology involves: - Recording directly through vintage and modern high-end hardware - Processing through analog consoles and tape machines - Maintaining the integrity of the original sound while making the samples usable in modern production environments
This approach has made their samples particularly valuable to producers seeking authentic vintage tones without the expense or maintenance challenges of original hardware.
Conclusion
Samples From Mars offers several free sample packs that provide music producers with access to the distinctive sounds of legendary drum machines and samplers. These free collections include:
Free Vinyl Drums From Mars - A 66.5 MB pack featuring 32 vinyl drum samples and two 16-hit drum kits with the characteristic warmth and artifacts of vinyl processing.
Free MPC60 From Mars - A 208 MB pack capturing the iconic sound of the Akai MPC60 sampler, available until November 17, 2024, by entering a simple competition.
LM1 Comparison - A free pack offering samples from two different LM1 drum machines, allowing producers to compare subtle variations in the same model.
808 Snacks From Mars - Two 16-hit 808 kits recorded through an API console to tape with high-end hardware processing.
MPC2000 Snacks From Mars - A free selection of sounds from the company's MPC2000 collections.
These free packs represent an excellent opportunity for producers to experiment with authentic vintage sounds that have shaped modern music production. By offering these free samples, Samples From Mars allows producers to experience the quality and character of their products before considering their full collections.
Sources
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