Three Free Drum Set Sample Packs for Recording Projects
Drum samples and loops are essential for modern music production, but finding unique sounds can be challenging. Tapping through hundreds of generic samples is a huge headache, and you can easily get ear fatigue and decision paralysis when the sounds aren’t getting you anywhere.
What I look for in a drum sample pack is unique sounds that can add dimension, color, and novelty to my productions. I am often using a hybrid approach with recorded percussion sounds and layered samples and loops.
I tend to avoid sounds that are too similar to something I could find among stock sounds in the DAW. The truth is that if a sound is only slightly different than the go-to 808 kick sample in your DAW, it’s probably not worth the trouble to access it outside of the native program. To find real value in a sample pack, it has to bring something to the project that I can’t get in the DAW or a recorded environment.
I have a few purchased sample packs, but I have honestly used these free packs extensively in my library with great success. Here are some excellent options for drum samples and loops that can make your music unique and compelling when blended with audio recordings.
Circles Drum Samples
Circles makes some of the most diverse and hard-hitting samples I’ve ever heard. Their approach to the process is the most deliberate and dedicated process I’ve seen from a small drum sample company, and their character shines through. These samples are a good balance of highly processed and creative ideas and straightforward utility sounds. Both have a place for music production, and Circles brings it to the table.
I often grab one of the Circles drum loops because they seem to have this natural energy and vibe to them that I can effortlessly add to the project. Many times a drum loop feels hard to integrate into the production because it’s either too basic musically or sonically. EDM drum loops tend to be more straightforward because they form the foundation of a drum groove. Circles always feels creative and innovative. I like to take their loops and time warp, distort, filter, or layer them within a pre-recorded drum groove.
Gratis | That Sound
I’ve been using this pack for probably five years now. These sounds have made it so many of my productions and I’ve expanded my library from this company with their Organic Percussion pack, Paul Mabury drum set pack, and another pack called Mint 70s Kit that I can’t find on their website anymore (that one is probably my favorite set of drum kid samples).
Gratis has something from every sample library they offer, which allows you to explore each pack and see what fits your genre and production needs. I find that That Sound excels in offering very high-quality samples that aren’t too obscure or niche. They don’t require a ton of processing if you want something straight ahead, but they offer enough variety to really embellish your projects.
Session Drums Studio | Ableton
If you’re an Ableton user, the Session Drums Studio expansion pack (free with the Suite) is a solid option for most projects. The samples are high-quality but processed enough to feel natural and organic. For a while, I was dragging and dropping custom drum samples into the Drum Rack to get the right feel for demos and early production drum part writing. Now, I usually start with this option until I get a feel for what the song needs to sound like.
The pack offers enough variety with the 12 preset drum kits, but you can pick and choose from the samples to build a unieque kit. These packs offer the advantage of more musical velocity variations as they are custom-built for Ableton and integrate seamlessly into the project.
Conclusion
What’s most important is developing a palette of drum samples that fits within your sound as a producer, artist, or engineer. I’ve used these samples on pop, country, worship/CCM, and rock projects. Having a curated pool of samples and loops that you use instead of stock sounds can add to your sense of style and aesthetic as a creative. Stock sounds can be very helpful at times, but expanding your resources to be more customized only increases the quality and attractiveness of your productions.
