Unreal Is Here

A dive into sample packs, virtual instruments, and the accessibility of laptop music production.

One of the more offensive things about the new AI audio generators is their outputs sound like the schlockiest imaginable demo tracks advertising sample packs. In talking to some of my friends, I realized that many people aren’t aware of how far these sample packs have come. Which means I could probably raise VC funding claiming a simple search engine for the Native Instruments webpage is AI.

Native Instruments is a German music software company that has been a dominant force in sound generators for decades. Probably their most famous software is Massive, which brought us all of the obnoxious dubstep wobble drops of the 2010s. Remember Skrillex? Good times.

In any event, NI is a massive clearinghouse of sample packs and sound generating tools. You should go listen to the demos to be floored by what you can make with a laptop. Each of their product webpages embeds a dozen demo songs showcasing the different moods you can evoke with each sample pack. For instance, check out their newest pack, “Action Woodwinds.” Here’s a movie soundtrack made entirely from samples

And you don’t have to work for the company to generate soundtracks like this. Here’s a project by an unaffiliated film composer, Ashraf Elziftawi, who combines multiple symphonic elements in his scores:

All of this is assembled in software, using Apple’s Logic Pro audio production software (200 dollars) and Native Instrument’s Kontakt (100 dollars). Kontakt is what I used to call a “sampler,” but it’s so much more sophisticated than the clunky device I owned in the 1990s. NI now more fittingly calls Kontakt a “virtual instrument platform.” Every sound is deeply editable and configurable, and once you get a few virtual instruments together, you can create unique, compelling songs. If you pay NI 500 additional dollars, you get dozens of sample packs and synthesizers on top of Kontakt.

Ebrahim has some youtubes demonstrating his workflow: 

Oh, those voices? Fake! Err, I mean, virtual! Here is a track of just vocal samples from the "Voices of Rapture” pack.

Not surprisingly, you can do many other instruments too. Here are some guitars, all sampled and resynthesized.

If that’s not your vibe, what about a demo of someone using only samples to create a Mogwai song?

No instruments were touched in the making of this production. I mean, compare that one to an actual Mogwai song.

It’s pretty close!

Maybe you prefer strummed acoustics?

Banjos, you say?

What about Guzheng?

You can browse more example sounds on Native Instruments’ webpage or Ableton’s Packs page. There are companies that will even sell you subscription services for samples, like Splice. Once you get a sense of the sort of possibilities that are out there, you start to realize that if you want to mimic a style, there’s a sample pack waiting for you.  And if you want to merge a couple of different styles, that will just need two sample packs. Any sound you want for whatever project you are working on is within your reach. It will only take a little practice. And maybe a little money.

Companies like Native Instruments have streamlined creatives’ access. They have built a future where anyone can make great music. Whether you're a shower singer or a charting artist, companies like Native Instruments have broken barriers between the musician and the songs they dream of making. No instruments needed, just imagination, a computer, and a checkbook. It’s from your mind to music. 

Did I plagiarize that last paragraph? You bet I did.

Because, Native Instruments must be a 100 billion dollar company, right? They make it easy for the common person to generate all sorts of soundscapes. Well, actually, they were consumed by a private equity firm in 2021, merged with other music software companies, and subsequently downsized. But unicorn AI firms can still scrape their SoundCloud page. I guess that’s something.