REVIEWS

The fourth title in this series contains 2.58GB of content. Single hits include kicks, snares. chords, synths, basses, percussion, cymbals and FX. There are plenty of Oliver Schmitt's famous kick-free loops, as well as general percussive, bass and synth loops. The standard of production here is absolutely first-class, and while the stylistic focus is often dark, dirty and gritty, this fine library will prove its worth to any dance music producer.

Rating: 10/10

There's actually a surprising amount of variation in the countless dance-based samples packs that land on the MTM doormat. Despite the recent massive influx of electro house based sound libraries, each one has a slightly different angle that sets it apart. This latest pack from German sound wizard Oliver Schmitt, for instance, leans towards the more experimental and dark edge of electro and techno, offering a choice selection of familiar and new twisted sounds.

The DVD contains 333 bass, drum and synth loops in 24bit/44.1 WAV, Apple Loops and REX2 format. The bass and synth loops are all expertly produced but not too over cooked or compressed, with a little subtle stuttering and ambience for added character. The drum grooves have several versions of each loop for added flexibility, ranging from thin kick free percussion to full multi layered beats.

Although these loops are excellent, the main focus of the pack is the huge collection of instantly playable sounds, with patches mapped out for EXS24 and Kontakt. There are hundreds of heavy electro basses, lush housey chords and synths, twisted bleeps, effects and whooshes, plus more than 1,200 soft and hard drum and percussion samples. Schmitt has also added folders of more experimental sounds with processed live-recorded rhythms, scratches and vocal phrases, even including some effected recordings of his two-year-old son!

All of the above adds up to a massive pack with excellent production and a lot of variety. Whilst the more traditional Electro-House sounds are all catered for, experimentation is the key, with some highly original and quirky hits and grooves that could be used to help your music stand out from the crowd.

//VERDICT//
Excellent selection of traditional and more cutting-edge and experimental electro sounds
Rating: 9/10

One thing that sets Sounds of Revolution apart from the rest of the companies putting out sample DVDs right now is their love of kick-free loops. Most of the samples here would be suitable for producers of just about any kind of House or Techno and with 684 kick-free loops all at 127bpm. They're fantastically versatile sounds which will add to your productions rather than just being a set of finished loops that do all the hard work for you. As with FX Revolution, this is a pricey disc but you get what you pay for.
Rating: 9/10

"Die Loops bestechen wie auch schon bei der FX Revolution Vol.1 durch einen klaren, druckvollen und rauschfreien Sound. Die Loops sind alle samt neu und keine abgewaschenen Beats die man schon 1000 mal gehört hat. [...] Im Gegensatz zu dem ein oder anderen Mitbewerber hat man sich hier nicht an einen Lowcut Filter bedient und einfach alle tiefen Frequenzen abgeschnitten, sondern gleich ohne Bassdrum produziert. Meiner Meinung nach die beste 'No Kick Sample CD 2009'."

[...] Immerhin gibt es jeweils zwei oder mehr Varianten, sodass auch Steigerungen möglich. [...]

Kick Free ist jedenfalls sexy: Dance-orientiert, rhythmisch und inspirierend klickert, rasselt und dengelt es und wartet auf kreativen Einsatz. Kaum ein akustischer Sound trübt das Bild, alles wirkt synthetisch und dynamisch, auch die perkussiven Loops. Eine echte Empfehlung!"