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🎛️ Are Sample Packs Killing Originality?

Plus How to Make Your Drums Slap & Serum 2 review

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The Hidden Frequency
April 09, 2025

Welcome to the Hidden Frequency — your go-to source for the latest news on synths, sounds, and production techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned producer or just starting out, we provide the best tools to help you level up your music. If you were forwarded this email, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a thing!

What’s included this week:

  • SPOTLIGHT: Xfer Serum 2

  • WHATS MOVING THE NEEDLE: Are Sample Packs Killing Originality?

  • SHAPING THE SOUND: How To Make Your Drums Slap

NEW MUSIC

Every week, we bring you gems from indie labels and unsigned artists that deserve to be heard.

🔊 Dastic - Give Me Some Time [Municipal Recordings]

Got a track that you want shared with the community?

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SPOTLIGHT

Xfer Serum 2: A Fresh Look at a Classic Synth

Price: $189

Xfer Records released Serum 2 right on the heels of Arturia's Pigments 6 launch - timing that's hardly coincidental in the competitive synth plugin market. Serum has been a go-to for electronic producers for years, and version 2 brings several impressive upgrades.

The Breakdown

🔹Ease of Use: 9/10 – Still one of the most approachable advanced synths out there, with a workflow that makes sense whether you're new to sound design or a veteran.

🔹Features & Modulation: 10/10 – The expanded modulation options are excellent, giving you more ways to create movement and evolution in your sounds. The new effect algorithms also add significant creative possibilities.

🔹Sound Design Potential: 9.5/10 – Between the extensive preset library and the powerful wavetable capabilities, you can create virtually any sound you can imagine.

🔹CPU Performance: 8/10 – Definitely more optimized than the original version, though complex patches will still give your processor a workout.

🔹Value for Money: 9/10 – For what you're getting, the price point is fair – this is a professional-grade instrument that will serve producers for years.

Pros & Cons

What Stands Out

✅ The new wavetable morphing tools open up sophisticated sound design possibilities that weren't possible in the original.

✅A significantly improved effects section with better distortion, reverb, and modulation options that sound noticeably more refined.

✅The drag-and-drop modulation system remains best-in-class for quick sound design workflows.

What's Missing

❌No granular synthesis engine included, which was on many producers' wish lists for this update.

Final Verdict: 9.4/10

Serum 2 keeps everything that made the original great while adding meaningful improvements that enhance its capabilities. Whether you're cooking up spacey pads or club-ready basslines, Serum 2 gives you the tools to make it happen.

🎥 [Virtual Riot’s video walkthrough] is worth a watch — he breaks down all the new features in detail

WHAT’S MOVING THE NEEDLE

Are Sample Packs Killing Originality?

Sample packs have transformed music production, offering instant access to professional sounds and helping producers work more efficiently. But with countless artists relying on the same sound libraries, it's worth asking: Are sample packs elevating music, or are they flooding us with uninspired, copy-paste tracks?

Why Sample Packs Became Essential

Sample packs solve genuine problems for producers:

  • They streamline workflow, letting artists focus on arrangement and composition rather than sound design.

  • Not everyone has the equipment, space, or expertise to record perfect drum hits or create lush synth textures.

  • They level the playing field, allowing producers without expensive gear or studio access to compete with industry professionals.

  • A great sample can spark creativity and help overcome creative blocks.

The Problem: Same Sounds, Same Songs

While sample packs make production more accessible, they create a significant issue—overuse and repetition.

  • Loop Overload – When a catchy melody loop exists, thousands of producers might incorporate it, leading to an oversaturated sound.

  • Drag-and-Drop Syndrome – Some rely too heavily on unaltered loops, essentially assembling tracks like puzzles instead of creating something unique.

  • Less Focus on Sound Design – New producers who depend excessively on sample packs might never develop their own signature sound.

Making Sample Packs Work Without Sounding Generic

Samples don't have to undermine originality—if you know how to transform them.

1. Flip Samples Like a Producer, Not a Consumer

Rather than simple drag-and-drop, real producers transform samples into something new by:

  • Chopping & Rearranging – Cutting melodies into smaller sections and creating new patterns.

  • Pitch & Time Manipulation – Shifting notes up or down, slowing tempos, or stretching sounds into something unrecognizable.

  • Reverse & Granular Processing – Playing samples backward or breaking them into tiny fragments.

2. Process Everything Like a Sound Designer

Treat every sample as raw material rather than a finished product:

  • Resample & Reprocess – Run sounds through saturation, delay, or granular effects.

  • Add Creative FX Chains – Create innovative effect chains using distortion, phasers, or unconventional reverb settings.

  • Tweak ADSR & Filters – Even simple envelope or filter tweaks can completely transform a sound.

3. Use MIDI Packs Instead of Audio Loops

MIDI packs offer flexibility—you get the musical idea while choosing your own sound:

  • Swap out default presets for your custom patches.

  • Adjust note velocity, timing, and swing for a more human feel.

  • Change chord progressions slightly to avoid the same patterns everyone else uses.

4. Record Your Own Samples

For truly unique sounds, create them yourself:

  • Record everyday sounds around your home and incorporate them into percussion.

  • Sample your vocals and process them into textures.

  • Use hardware synths, field recordings, or live instruments for standout elements.

The Real Issue: How We Use Sample Packs

Sample packs themselves aren't the problem—it's how producers use them. They should be starting points, not the entire process. Those who simply drag and drop without customization may struggle to develop a distinct sound, while producers who creatively transform and combine samples will always stand out.

The most innovative producers use samples as raw materials to craft something original.

SHAPING THE SOUND

How to Make Your Drums Slap

Nothing kills a track's energy faster than weak, lifeless drums. Whether you're making techno, house, trap, or DnB, your drums need to hit hard, cut through the mix, and feel dynamic. Here's how to get that punchy, professional drum sound that slaps every time.

1. Start With High-Quality Samples

No amount of processing can save a bad sample. Start with clean, well-recorded drum sounds that have the right character for your track. If you need to tweak them, use EQ, transient shaping, or layering to get the exact tone you want before moving forward.

2. Transient Shaping: Punch Without Mud

  • Increase the attack for sharper, punchier kicks and snares.

  • Reduce the sustain to keep things tight and avoid excess resonance.

  • Add sustain to lengthen the tail of a drum if it feels too short.

3. Saturation & Distortion: Adding Weight & Energy

  • Use tape saturation for warmth and punch.

  • Try soft clipping on kicks and snares for a harder-hitting feel.

  • Use bitcrushing sparingly for extra grit and texture.

4. Layering for Depth & Impact

  • Kicks: Layer a subby kick for weight + a midrange kick for punch.

  • Snares: Add a clap or rimshot for extra snap and width.

  • Hats & Percs: Layer multiple sounds for texture and movement.

Use EQ to carve out space in each layer—don't let them clash.

5. Compression: The Right Amount of Tightness

  • Use fast attack & medium release for controlled, punchy hits.

  • Try parallel compression (blend in compressed signal with the original) for more weight without killing transients.

  • Apply sidechain compression to help the kick stand out by ducking other elements like bass and pads.

6. EQ: Make Space for the Punch

  • Kick: Boost around 50-80Hz for weight, cut 200-400Hz for clarity, and add some 2-5kHz for attack.

  • Snare: Add 200Hz for body, cut 500Hz for boxiness, and boost 5-10kHz for crispness.

  • Hi-Hats: Cut the lows (below 200Hz) to remove unnecessary rumble.

7. Reverb & Room Sound: Adding Depth Without Muddiness

  • Use short plate or room reverbs on snares and claps for a sense of space.

  • Try gated reverb for a modern, tight reverb sound that doesn't muddy the mix.

  • Keep reverb low in the mix—you want space, not a washed-out mess.

8. Bus Processing: Glue Everything Together

  • Use light compression (1-3dB gain reduction) to add cohesiveness.

  • Apply gentle saturation or tape emulation for warmth.

  • Use bus EQ to add some final polish.

Recommended Tools: Waves API 2500, Soundtoys Radiator.

9. The Final Step: Gain Staging & Loudness

  • Keep drum levels balanced—kicks and snares should be strong but not overpowering.

  • Use limiters carefully—don't squash dynamics, just control peaks.

  • Turn your mix down before pushing it up—headroom is key to punchy drums.

Don't Skip: A/B test your drums against reference tracks to make sure they hit just as hard.

Final Thoughts

If your drums don't slap, your track won't hit right—it's that simple. By focusing on sample selection, transient shaping, layering, compression, and bus processing, you can craft professional-level drums that cut through the mix every time.

Try these techniques on your next track and hear the difference!

WHATS BUZZING THIS WEEK

THE ESSENTIALS

Must have tools to add to your collection

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