Uncover six of the most powerful and capable sampler plugins available today
Sampling is arguably one of the most important and widely used music production processes in contemporary music. Since its initial conception around 60 years ago, sampling has had and continues to have one of the most profound influences on a wide range of musical styles. While the foundation of sampling is grounded in hardware samplers such as the Mellotron, the software sampler market continues to grow.
As well as software emulations of hardware synths such as Arturia’s software remake of the Mellotron, the power of modern computers has brought with it some highly advanced sampling tools that wouldn’t be possible in hardware form. In this article, we’re scouring the market for some of the best sampler plugins for music production available today.
In This Article
-
Plugin Boutique Zampler//RX
-
Tracktion Dawesome Novum
-
Audio Blast Rave Generator
-
Inphonik RX 1200
-
HY-Plugins HY-Slicer 2
-
AIR Music Technology Flex Beat
Plugin Boutique: Zampler//RX - FREE
Best completely free sampler plugin
|
Price: |
FREE (Download now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
VST, AU |
|
Features: |
Multi-mode filter, inbuilt effects section, three LFOs, three ADSR envelopes, step sequencer and arpeggiator |
We’re kicking things off with our own contribution to this list of the best samplers on the market, which also happens to be a free sampler. Zampler//RX is a free sample workstation which boasts a huge feature set as well as a simple-to-use interface and workflow. With a range of modulation options, a sample oscillator and an inbuilt effects section, Zampler//RX can stand up to some of the more established soft samplers on the market. It also features an inbuilt step sequencer and arpeggiator, designed to help you get your creative juices flowing.
Once you’ve dialled in a sequence, Zampler//RX makes it simple to craft the sound you want. The modulation section packs three LFOs and ADSR envelopes, as well as an advanced modulation matrix to apply all six mod sources to a range of destinations. The multi-mode filter lets you shape the tone of your sound with low, high, band pass and band stop, as well as combinations of these. Finally, the inbuilt effects section lets you refine your sound with the included tube saturation, equalisation, phaser, chorus, delay and reverb modules.
Zampler//RX ships with two high-quality sample banks, as well as a range of samples that have been carefully curated from Loopmasters sample packs. If that’s not enough, there are a tonne of additional sample banks available for the plugin that cover a range of styles and genres.
Tracktion: Dawesome Novum - £174.95
Best sampler for sound design enthusiasts
|
Price: |
£174.95 (Buy now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
AU, VST3 |
|
Features: |
Advanced cross-synthesis, granular and subtractive synthesis engines, inbuilt FX section, full MPE support and over 300 samples |
Tracktion are the developers behind one of the most popular free digital audio workstations, Tracktion Waveform, as well as its bigger, more feature-rich brother Waveform Pro. As well as their contribution to the DAW market, they’re also responsible for a range of unique and powerful plugin VSTs that are compatible with any DAW. One such example is their advanced creative sampler plugin, Dawesome Novum.
The concept behind Dawesome Novum is that it allows users to deconstruct a single audio file into six layers, combining various timbral and temporal characteristics of each. This innovative approach to sampling uses synthesis and cross-synthesis to provide unparalleled control over the contents of your samples, opening up a huge world of sound design potential. Add to that advanced subtractive and granular synthesis engines, an inbuilt FX section and full MPE support, and Dawesome Novum shapes up to be an absolute must-have in any sound designer’s arsenal.
Audio Blast: Rave Generator 3 - £129.00
Best sampler for classic rave sounds
|
Price: |
£129.00 (Buy now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
|
Features: |
Over 250 factory presets featuring the most well-known rave samples in history, inbuilt effects, up to 16 layers of sounds |
Now on its third iteration, Audio Blast’s Rave Generator has gained somewhat of a cult following since the launch of its original version nearly a decade ago. While Rave Generator 3 added a whole host of new features and functionality, the concept remains the same; to provide modern electronic music producers access to some of the most coveted and pivotal samples in dance and rave music’s history.
Rave Generator is a multi-timbral ROMpler and sampler plugin with over 250 factory presets, each designed to capture the essence of 90s rave music. From impactful stabs to soaring leads, thunderous kicks to deep basses, this plugin ships with everything you need to make a dance track straight out of The Haçienda. You can even stack up to 16 sounds for the ultimate blend of authentic sounds from the rave era. There’s an Akaize control for giving sounds that crunchy bitcrushed vibe, plus an inbuilt delay, reverb, phaser and filter for complete control over your signal’s character.
If you want to use a simple but effective sampler that grants access to just about every classic rave sound you can think of, Rave Generator 3 has you covered.
Inphonik: RX1200 - £26.00
Best vintage sampler emulation on a budget
|
Price: |
£26.00 (Buy now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
|
Features: |
Authentic E-mu SP1200 sampler sound, 32 sample slots across four banks and eight pads, sample editor, over 900 samples included |
Based on the legendary E-mu SP1200 vintage sampler from the late eighties, Inphonik’s RX1200 manages to emulate some of the sonic characteristics that made the original so desirable. The RX1200 uses the same 12-bit resolution, 26.041 kHz sample rate, as well as a SSM2044 low-pass filter emulation to simulate the sound of the SP1200 as authentically as possible.
As well as the familiar look and sound of a piece of hardware sampling history, Inphonik set out to make the creative experience reminiscent of using the original too. The 32 sample slots across four banks and eight pads make this plugin a great addition to your library if you thrive on jamming and experimentation. One way in which the RX1200 has been improved upon compared to the SP1200, is its included sample editor. Browse, edit, sort and assign your samples with ease, so you can spend less time faffing and more time creating.
HY-Plugins: HY-Slicer 2 - £47.95
Best sampler for inbuilt slicing and sequencing
|
Price: |
£47.95 (Buy now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
VST2, VST3, AU |
|
Features: |
Eight sample slicer units, five sample tracks, 16 grid lanes, grid sequencer, Track FX, Step FX and Global FX |
While this next plugin may look complex, the concept is simple. HY-Slicer 2 is a sampler plugin designed to take up to eight audio loops or samples, and automatically chop them up into new samples and phrases. With an inbuilt groove editor and randomizer, this is a plugin that rewards creating freely and quickly.
Each sliced sample can be assigned to one of the 16 grid lanes within each of the five samplers. Not only that, but each sampler has its own grid sequencer and Track FX section. Then there’s a global Step FX section and a Master FX section, so it’s easy to see how comprehensive HY-Slicer 2 can be as a sampler plugin.
AIR Music Technology: Flex Beat - £79.99
Best plugin for rhythmic sampling and groove
|
Price: |
£79.99 (Buy now) |
|
Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
|
Type: |
Sampler |
|
Format: |
VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
|
Features: |
Three playback modes, 16 performance pads, huge bank of factory presets, quantized patterns |
The final plugin on this list comes courtesy of a developer with some serious skin in the sampling game, and the heritage to match. Flex Beat is an extremely versatile sampler plugin from AIR Music Technology. The software developer is part of AKAI Pro, the company behind legendary hardware samplers such as the AKAI S2000 and 3000XL. Through the hundreds of presets that are included with the plugin, Flex Beat lets you quickly and easily apply a range of audio processes to your samples.
Apply rhythmic beat chops, DJ-style scratches, trance gates and reverse or half-time effects to your samples with just a few clicks, and sync them to your DAW’s tempo for effects that fit perfectly with your project. The grid-based pattern editor makes it easy and engaging to quickly create sequences, controlling the pitch, velocity and parameters on a per-step-basis. One Shot, Loop and Hold modes bring a performance aspect to the plugin, and make it an ideal solution for producers who create music by jamming and experimenting.
