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Filed under: Audio •

Sony Sound Series: Platinum Theory Hip-Hop

This is one of the most inventive hip-hop sample libraries I’ve heard. Producer Henry Willis (aka lukecage) has crafted a set of 62 construction kits that show off the more experimental side of hip-hop, ranging from R&B to illbient. He’s taken a minimal approach to the art, providing 3-5 loops per kit that cover bass, beats, and additional melodic parts including a lot of piano.

From a (de)construction point of view, it is important to note that each loop in this collection is not a single instrument; it’s a submix that might include several different melodic instruments or phrases combined that assume the role normally taken by a lead instrument. The melodic parts also often intertwine in ways that allow them to be soloed or used either parallel (layered on top of each other) or serially (arranged end-to-end). The drum tracks are refreshingly varied, mixing many different types of samples to create sparse grooves. Even the bass lines are inventive, occasionally combining completely different bass sounds into a single phrase. In addition to sampling prowess, a strong turntablist influence shows through with the liberal use of sampled vinyl snippets plus creative use of muting to create interesting sounds and phrasings. The result is a very open sound, surprisingly well-recorded compared to all too many other sample libraries in the genre.

Each loop in this collection is 4 bars long, which helps compensate for the lack of alternate loops or variations in each kit (the total library weighs in at roughly 460 Megs, saved in 16-bit 44.1kHz ACIDized .wav format). Sony doesn’t list tempo or key in the names of loops, because after all their software program ACID bends those as the user requests; you’ll need to do a little sleuthing if you’re using them in a different program (most are in the 80 to 86 bpm range, for what it’s worth). These issues do affect usability for those who don’t own ACID, but I’m willing to set these concerns aside given the sheer freshness of this collection plus its very reasonable price ($59.95 list; $39.95 through Sony’s website). As a bonus for those who own ACID, Sony has a package of 20 ACID song project files are posted for free on this page.

The license is pretty straightforward: They may be used in the licensee’s own compositions, but not in a music or sample library; the one quirk is that you must ask permission to credit the creator of the loops (I guess so that you don’t try to push your own work on the back of someone else’s name).

As noted earlier, I’m reviewing music construction kits that can be used with desktop audio software to create underscores and soundtracks for video and motion graphics. Click here to read a primer on creating music using “loops” and other audio snippets such as these.

(FTC Disclosure: All of the sound libraries I’ll be reviewing were given to me by their vendors in the hope - but not expectation - that they would be reviewed. I have no other relationship with these companies.)

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