Finding Free Wav Samples For Roland Spd-30 Drum Machine

The Roland SPD-30 Octapad is a popular electronic percussion instrument used by musicians worldwide. One of the advantages of this device is its compatibility with custom sample files in WAV format, allowing users to expand their sound libraries beyond the factory presets. This article explores the various sources for free and paid WAV samples specifically designed for the Roland SPD-30, as well as related promotional offers and alternative Roland sample resources.

Roland SPD-30 Sample Collections

Several online resources offer WAV samples specifically created for the Roland SPD-30 drum machine. These collections vary in content, quality, and availability, providing options for different musical styles and production needs.

RecordMixAndMaster Sample Pack

The website RecordMixAndMaster offers a collection of Roland SPD-30 drum samples that have been meticulously sampled using high-end converters at Sub Dub Studios UK. This collection includes fundamental drum sounds such as kicks, snares, hi-hats, toms, and cymbals. The samples are provided as standard WAV files at 44.1kHz with 4-bit resolution, and the entire package is approximately 133MB in size.

These WAV files are compatible with various samplers including industry-standard software like Kontakt, Ableton Sampler, and NI Battery, giving users flexibility to incorporate them into their music production workflows. The compatibility with multiple platforms makes these samples versatile for both live performance and studio recording.

Vintage Reggae Drum Fills

RecordMixAndMaster also offers a separate collection of 37 Vintage Reggae Drum Fills, resampled at Sub Dub Studios UK. These samples are provided in higher quality than the basic drum kit, at 44.1kHz and 24-bit resolution, and the package is approximately 12MB in size. Like the basic drum samples, these are provided as standard WAV files compatible with various samplers.

The authentic reggae drum fills are meticulously sampled, providing users with genre-specific rhythmic patterns that can enhance productions in reggae and related genres.

Roland SPD-30 Percussion Samples

For users seeking more specialized percussion sounds, RecordMixAndMaster offers a comprehensive collection of Roland SPD-30 Percussion Samples. This package contains 321 individual WAV files at 44.1kHz and 24-bit resolution, totaling approximately 188MB.

The collection features a wide variety of percussion sounds including congas, bongos, shakers, tambourines, as well as African and Eastern percussion instruments. This diverse selection provides users with the sounds needed to build complex and authentic rhythmic patterns from various cultural traditions.

Unlike the basic drum samples and reggae fills, this percussion collection is a paid product, priced at £9.99.

BrianRosenthal's SoundCloud Collection

Musician BrianRosenthal has published a collection of Roland SPD-30 Octapad samples on SoundCloud. This collection, created in 2013, includes various tracks and loops that demonstrate the capabilities of the SPD-30 across different genres.

The collection contains tracks such as: - 20 Techno SCRATCH - 19 Asian Flower - 42 ChaCha ChaCha - Eastern Harmony - Jungle Explorer - Dome Drums - Panning Delay - Industrial Beat - SlitDrum-Gilli - Cuban Kit

While this resource provides examples of what the SPD-30 can achieve, it's presented as a collection of completed tracks rather than individual samples that users can load into their own SPD-30 units. The samples are accessible through SoundCloud, which may not be ideal for professional music production workflows that require WAV files.

Roland's Official Sample Resources

Roland, the manufacturer of the SPD-30, offers its own sample packs through Roland Cloud. These premium collections are crafted by professional sound designers and include a variety of musical phrase loops, drum loops, and one-shot samples.

One-Shots Sample Pack

Roland's One-Shots Sample Pack contains 88 individual one-shot samples optimized for electronic music production. The breakdown includes: - 15 clap one-shots - 10 closed hi-hat one-shots - 7 open hi-hat one-shots - 21 kick one-shots - 15 percussion one-shots - 13 snare one-shots - 7 tom one-shots

The entire package is 39MB in size and is available in both 24-bit/44.1 kHz and 16-bit/44.1 kHz audio resolutions. These samples are 100-percent royalty free with either a Roland Cloud membership or direct purchase.

While not specifically labeled as SPD-30 samples, these one-shots are compatible with the SPD-30's sampling capabilities, allowing users to customize their sound library with professionally designed sounds.

Roland Cloud Sample Packs

Roland Cloud offers additional premium sample packs beyond the One-Shots collection. These packs are organized by genre and include a variety of musical elements designed to help producers build professional tracks quickly. Each pack contains WAV files that are compatible with the SPD-30, though they may require conversion or organization to work optimally with the hardware.

Access to these premium packs typically requires a Roland Cloud membership or individual purchase. While they offer high-quality sounds curated by Roland's sound designers, they are not free samples.

Other Free Roland Sample Resources

Beyond the SPD-30 specific samples, several websites offer free Roland-compatible sample packs that can be used with the SPD-30 or other sampling instruments.

Free-Sample-Packs.com

The website Free-Sample-Packs.com hosts several Roland-compatible sample packs available for free download:

1. Aesthetic: A free Vaporwave drum kit containing over a hundred kicks, snares, claps, toms, and cymbals. While designed for Vaporwave productions, these samples can be incorporated into SPD-30 performances for a retro-futuristic sound.

2. FREE Warm 808 Bass Samples: This pack contains 500 royalty-free 808 sounds suitable for Hip Hop, Future Bass, Trap, and related genres. While focused on bass rather than drums, these samples can add low-end weight to SPD-30 performances.

3. Classic Drum Machine Samples: A huge free sample pack containing samples from the best drum machines ever built, created by Ingo Vogelmann in conjunction with Studio Slave. This collection allows users to explore every era of electronic music with sounds from classic rhythm composers and programmable drum machines.

4. 808 + 909 Drum Collection: Free samples that are sampled, synthesized, and mangled from classic Roland 808 and 909 drum machines. These iconic drum machine sounds are foundational to many genres and can provide authentic retro textures when used with the SPD-30.

5. Roland 909 One-Shots: A free collection of 155 carefully edited one-shot samples of the classic Roland 909 drum machine. These individual hits can be loaded directly into the SPD-30 for precise control over one of the most recognizable drum machine sounds in music history.

While these samples are not specifically designed for the SPD-30, their WAV format makes them compatible with the device's sampling capabilities. Users may need to adjust the samples to match the SPD-30's specifications or organize them in a way that optimizes performance on the hardware.

Special Promotions and Offers

Occasionally, Roland and affiliated companies offer special promotions that include free samples or software for their products.

Noiiz Sample Promotion

Between December 1, 2019, and February 28, 2020, Roland offered a promotion for current and future SPD-SX users (note: this was for the SPD-SX model, not the SPD-30). During this period, users could download 10,000 samples courtesy of Noiiz, as well as the SPD-SX Editor for Windows and Mac applications.

Noiiz is a subscription-based sample service providing contemporary and classic premium sounds across a wide range of genres. The package offered through this promotion would normally cost approximately $239, making it a significant value for qualifying users.

To access these samples, users needed to register their SPD-SX device through a provided link. While this promotion has ended, similar offers may become available in the future, so users should monitor official Roland channels for announcements about new promotions.

Conclusion

The Roland SPD-30 Octapad offers extensive possibilities for customization through WAV samples. While the official Roland Cloud provides premium sample packs, several resources offer free or low-cost alternatives. RecordMixAndMaster offers both free and paid SPD-30 specific samples, including basic drum sounds, vintage reggae fills, and comprehensive percussion collections. BrianRosenthal's SoundCloud provides creative examples of what the SPD-30 can achieve, though in a less practical format for most users. Additionally, websites like Free-Sample-Packs.com offer a variety of Roland-compatible samples that can be adapted for use with the SPD-30.

For users seeking to expand their sound library without additional cost, these resources provide valuable options. However, it's important to note that some samples may require additional processing or organization to work optimally with the SPD-30. As with any sample collection, users should verify compatibility and quality before incorporating them into their performances or productions.

Sources

1. Roland SPD 30 Drum Samples
2. 10000 Free Samples and SPD-SX Editor
3. Roland SPD-30 Octapad Samples
4. Free Roland Sample Packs
5. Roland RC One-Shots