IK Multimedia releases Hitmaker:EDM for SampleTank 4 | Review (2020)
Earlier this year, we took an in-depth look at IK Multimedia’s gigantic sample collection: SampleTank 4. This product was an extraordinary feat, with it’s stunning array of instruments across a huge range of genres, and the incredible audio quality and sampling detail of the sounds.
SampleTank 4 contains a huge amount of character and sonic variety in each sample, and exploring this huge library of instruments was an absolute joy (the MAX version has approximately 8,000 sounds across 260 GB of samples). You can read our full review of SampleTank 4 here.
Among these sounds were various modern EDM-style sounds and effects, but as a whole, SampleTank 4 was more geared towards natural, organic instrumental samples and more “classic” sounds.
IK Multimedia have announced their Hitmaker: EDM sound expansion pack for SampleTank 4. They describe it’s “massive selection of stage-worthy sounds inspired by chart-topping artists to bring high energy to every beat of a production”. This sound collection contains over 100 new instruments, 1.6 GB of samples and 50 MIDI loops, including 400+ original vocal samples. So let’s take a look at how these samples sound, and do they compare against the phenomenal quality of the rest of the SampleTank library.
After a quick, painless download / installation process, Hitmaker: EDM is ready to go. When browsing through the sounds, there’s a refreshing sense of modernity in the sound design, with deep, rumbling bass and sub-bass, explosive vocal shouts and spacious, energetic synths and pads.
Personal highlights of this sample expansion pack are the bass samples and the collection of synth stabs. There are bass sounds in this pack perfect for deep house, techno, trance, big room and many other electronic genres. This incredible selection of bass sounds definitely fills in a few gaps that weren’t included in the original SampleTank 4 release. The synth stabs are sharp, dynamic and again, would fit perfectly in a range of modern EDM genres.
A selection of the EDM drum kit loops
A synth very similar to Afrojack’s “No Beef” (1:21)
As with all IK Multimedia samples, these electronic sounds were “created and processed with high-end studio gear”. This is immediately obvious from the incredible level of clarity and tonal consistency of these EDM samples.
It’s definitely worth noting that SampleTank 4 came with completely revamped, powerful sound editing and effects modules. The new edit panel added a level of versatility that just didn’t exist in previous versions of Sampletank. This panel allows you to choose from a selection of filters, adjust the oscillators, LFOs, amplitude envelopes and much more. Additionally, the effects rack includes 70 high quality sound effects, allowing you to add and edit up to five effects for the currently selected instrument or sound. These modules can of course be used to manipulate the Hitmaker: EDM sounds, resulting in an outstanding amount of creative possibilities.
A Touch of the Modern World
Hit:Maker: EDM is a fantastic addition to the SampleTank 4 library, injecting modernity into the sounds. There are certainly some more vintage synth sounds in this sample collection, but there is a clear focus on current, relevant sound styles. I’d recommend this download to producers of techno, trance, dubstep, big room but probably less so for trap and dnb.
SampleTank 4 CS (for Mac/PC) is available for free via direct download from the IK Multimedia website. Other versions of SampleTank 4 and all SampleTank Sound Libraries are available from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide.
The Hitmaker: EDM collection is now available and being offered for $49.99 (excluding taxes).
To learn more about Hitmaker: EDM, visit ikmultimedia.com/stedm
For more information about all SampleTank 4 versions or other SampleTank expansion libraries, please visit: ikmultimedia.com/sampletank
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