Free Omnichord Sample Libraries And Resources For Musicians

Oct. 16, 2025, 6:35 a.m.

Tags: omnipod

The Suzuki Omnichord, a unique electronic instrument from the 1980s, has gained a cult following among musicians for its distinctive sound. With its charming 8-bit character and versatile capabilities, it has been used by notable artists including David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Gorillaz. However, as the instrument is no longer produced and second-hand prices have skyrocketed, many musicians seek alternative ways to access its characteristic sound. Fortunately, several free sample libraries and plugins have been created, allowing producers to incorporate the Omnichord's essence into their digital workstations without the expense of acquiring a physical unit.

Free Omnichord Sample Plugins and Libraries

Several developers have created free sample libraries that capture the essence of the Omnichord, making its distinctive sounds accessible to a wider audience of musicians and producers.

Omni-84 by Benjamin Dehli

One of the most comprehensive free Omnichord sample libraries is Omni-84, created by Benjamin Dehli. This instrument preset and sample library is designed specifically for Decent Sampler, a free sampler plugin. The library aims to make the sound of the Omnichord more accessible, given that the instrument is no longer produced and has become prohibitively expensive on the second-hand market.

The Omni-84 library includes 5 presets, one for each part of the Omnichord: Drums, Bass, Chords, Keyboard, and SonicStrings. Additionally, it features two presets for chords: a regular "Chords" preset and a "Chords (Looped)" version. The regular version consists of samples that are approximately 11 seconds long, while the looped version contains loops of varying lengths that may have minor artifacts but allow for sustained notes beyond 11 seconds.

Omni Lite by Reverb Machine

Reverb Machine has released Omni, an Ableton Live Pack containing samples from the original Suzuki Omnichord OM27 released in 1981. While the full pack can be purchased for $22, a lite version is available for free download. This free version provides an introduction to the instrument's capabilities and requires Ableton Live 9.7 or higher to use.

The Omni pack captures the Omnichord's charming 8-bit sound and includes samples that allow users to emulate the sound of a full band. Although the strummed SonicStrings are the most utilized feature, the instrument also provides organ-style chords, auto-bass patterns, and drum loops. The developer sampled both an old Omnichord OM36 and six sounds from a Suzuki Q-Chord to create this diverse collection.

Nickademus420's Suzuki Omnichord OM-36 Sample Pack

Available on SoundCloud, Nickademus420 has published a free sample pack of a Suzuki Omnichord OM-36. These samples were taken from a physical OM-36 instrument and are shared with the music community for use in personal creations. The pack contains tracks in the Dance & EDM genre, including various chord patterns and manual chord options.

Free Omnichord Drum Loops

Another resource for producers is a collection of free drum loops sampled from the Omnichord's rhythm section. These loops capture the instrument's 10 different drum beats, including rock 1, rock 2, disco, blues, march, country, latin, bossanova, waltz, and swing patterns. The loops were captured using various methods, including direct input, gating out noise, and running the audio through saturation units and guitar amplifiers.

The loops are available at four different tempos to facilitate time stretching in digital audio workstations (DAWs) with minimal artifacts. These loops are described as having a "grainy and crusty" quality that contributes to the instrument's charm and character. They are released as 100% royalty-free, making them suitable for use in professional productions.

Technical Specifications and Features

The free Omnichord sample libraries available to musicians vary in their technical specifications and features, catering to different production needs and workflows.

Omni-84 Technical Details

The Omni-84 library offers professional-grade specifications: - Sample rate: 48 kHz - Bit depth: 24 bit - Number of samples: 277 - File size for samples: 241.3 MB - Channels: 1 (mono) for samples, 2 (stereo) for impulse response

The library includes 22 drum samples, 19 bass samples, 84 chord samples, 32 keyboard samples, and 120 SonicStrings samples. Additionally, it includes an impulse response called "space" that incorporates the effects the creator typically uses when recording and playing the Omnichord. This impulse response was created by sending the signal through a Roland PA-120 mixer, utilizing its built-in spring reverb and a tape echo in the effects loop. The preamplifier in the mixer adds some saturation, and the signal was processed through a Dimension D to create stereo imaging and add modulation.

Reverb Machine's Omni Lite Features

The free lite version of Reverb Machine's Omni pack includes samples that mimic the Omnichord with complete accuracy, particularly for the strummed instruments. These samples allow users to create fully adjustable strummed arpeggios for use in their own music. The library captures the unique sound of the Omnichord's SonicStrings, as well as its organ-style chords, auto-bass patterns, and drum loops.

Nickademus420's Sample Pack

While specific technical details for Nickademus420's sample pack are limited in the source material, the pack focuses on the chord capabilities of the OM-36 model, providing various chord patterns and manual chord options suitable for electronic and dance music production.

Omnichord Drum Loops Specifications

The free drum loops were captured at four different tempos to facilitate time stretching. The creator notes that when loading one of the 120 BPM samples into an Ableton Live set, it snapped perfectly to the tempo of the song, even when the song's tempo was much higher. The loops are intentionally not pristine, maintaining the grainy and crusty quality that contributes to the instrument's charm.

How to Access and Use These Free Samples

Accessing and incorporating these free Omnichord samples into music production workflows varies depending on the specific library and the user's digital audio setup.

Omni-84 Access and Usage

The Omni-84 library is available as a free download from Dehli Musikk's Gumroad page and GitHub repository. To use the library, users need to have Decent Sampler installed, which is a free sampler plugin. For users new to Decent Sampler, the creator recommends checking out a guide first.

The library includes controls for velocity (toggle whether velocity affects volume) and keys, allowing for expressive playing. The creator provides two versions of the chord presets: a regular version and a looped version. For best audio quality, the regular version should be used, with the looped version reserved for notes held longer than 11 seconds.

Reverb Machine's Omni Lite Access and Usage

The free lite version of Reverb Machine's Omni pack can be downloaded directly from their website. Users need to be running Ableton Live 9.7 or higher to use these packs. Once downloaded, the pack can be installed and accessed within Ableton Live's instrument library, allowing users to incorporate the samples into their projects.

Nickademus420's Sample Pack Access and Usage

Nickademus420's Suzuki Omnichord OM-36 sample pack is available on SoundCloud. Users can access the pack through the SoundCloud platform, where the samples can be streamed or downloaded for use in their own music productions. The pack contains tracks in the Dance & EDM genre, with various chord patterns and manual chord options.

Free Omnichord Drum Loops Access and Usage

The free Omnichord drum loops are available for download from the source provided. Once downloaded, the loops can be imported into any digital audio workstation (DAW) for use in music production. The loops are designed to work well as starting points for productions or as ear candy for already developed arrangements. Given their royalty-free status, they can be used in both personal and commercial projects without restriction.

The History and Appeal of the Omnichord

Understanding the appeal of the Omnichord provides context for why these sample libraries have been created and why musicians seek to replicate its sound.

The Omnichord was an electronic musical instrument produced by Suzuki beginning in 1981. Known for its unique combination of features, it allowed users to strum strings to create SonicStrings (similar to a harp or autoharp), play organ-style chords, use auto-bass patterns, and access drum loops. This versatility made it appealing to musicians with varying levels of technical proficiency.

The instrument's "chord mode" section allows performers to tweak the accompaniment by holding down a chord button and strumming, which triggers chords and a bass line that can change depending on the selected pattern. This feature made the Omnichord particularly popular among singer-songwriters with non-virtuosic musical chops.

The rhythm section contains 10 different drum beats, including rock, disco, blues, march, country, latin, bossanova, waltz, and swing. These patterns are created using only a handful of internal drum sounds and don't include drum fills or variations beyond the 10 styles. However, the sounds are punchy, clear, and full of character, with a tempo knob that allows users to set the speed from quite slow to "hilariously fast."

The distinctive sound of the Omnichord has made it a favorite among certain artists and producers. Its charming 8-bit character and unique timbre have been utilized by notable musicians including David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Gorillaz. The instrument's ability to emulate the sound of a full band while remaining relatively simple to play contributed to its enduring appeal.

Conclusion

For musicians interested in the distinctive sound of the Suzuki Omnichord but unable to afford the increasingly expensive physical instruments, several free sample libraries offer viable alternatives. Benjamin Dehli's Omni-84 provides a comprehensive sampling of the instrument's various components, including drums, bass, chords, keyboard, and SonicStrings, all with professional specifications and thoughtful processing. Reverb Machine's Omni Lite offers a more streamlined version focused on the instrument's most popular features, particularly the strummed SonicStrings. Nickademus420's sample pack and the free drum loops provide additional resources for producers looking to incorporate the Omnichord's unique character into their music.

These free resources not only make the Omnichord's sound accessible to a wider audience but also preserve the legacy of this unique instrument for future generations of musicians. By capturing both the technical aspects and the charming imperfections that give the Omnichord its character, these sample libraries allow producers to experiment with its distinctive sound without the expense and maintenance requirements of a physical unit.

As digital production continues to evolve, these free sample libraries serve as valuable resources for musicians seeking to add a touch of retro charm to their productions. Whether used as the centerpiece of a track or as subtle textural elements, the Omnichord's unique sound continues to find new life through these accessible digital recreations.