The Best Soul Samples: Collections, Loops & Packs

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• What is a soul sample?
• Where can I get free soul sample packs?
• Is it okay to use sample packs?
• Soul samples on Tracklib
• Where to download the best soul sample packs & loops (Overview)
• A guide to buying soul samples & loop packs
• Final thoughts

What is a soul sample?

A soul sample is simply an excerpt of soul music that has been extracted and recontextualized by a producer. Soul samples have traditionally been sourced through a process known as crate-digging. This means that a producer searches through stacks of vinyl and then listens for an extract that can be used in their beat.

Take for instance the iconic sample of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" on Kanye West's "Devil In A New Dress" or Mos Def's terrific use of Aretha Franklin's "One Step Ahead" on "Ms. Fat Booty." More recently, Kendrick Lamar used a generous sample of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" for "The Heart Part 5."

These are just a few notable examples, but there is a goldmine of underappreciated soul music out there. Indeed, just as producers have sampled the greats, many producers like to dig for more obscure gems.

Soul samples are the backbone of hip-hop. The rich history of the genre makes for a perfect source for samples.

Where can I get free soul sample packs?

Sample packs are simply curated packages comprised of multiple downloadable samples and loops (guitar licks, vocals, drums, etc.). For the most part, high-quality sample packs will come at a price. But if you look hard enough, there are top-notch soul sample packs out there for free.  So where can producers go for these packages?

Firstly, producers may want to check out the free soul sample page over at Samplephonics. This includes a variety of 100% royalty-free samples. Similarly, beatmakers might want to take a look at sites like Looperman and SampleFocus.

On Tracklib, in addition to a wide range of soul records (Songs to sample with clearance included!), there's a complete offering of soul sample packs and soulful loops and one-shots in the Sounds section.

Is it okay to use sample packs?

If a sample pack is free and available to use, it is perfectly legal to simply download it and use it for your production. Be careful, though: upon publishing your work, the creator of the sample pack may demand credit. The key thing to remember here is that you must read the conditions of the sample pack creator or seller. For example, some sample packs may demand credit or even a cut of the royalties. Thus, remember to read the fine print.

For a far less complex process, take a look at Tracklib's library of soul samples with guaranteed sample clearance. The same goes for all one-shots, loops, and sample packs on Tracklib: all of these are fully royalty-free and ready to be used in your productions.

Soul samples on Tracklib

All songs and stems on Tracklib are original, previously released records made by real musicians. By sampling original music, you capture the spirit and studio sounds that can't be recreated. Whether it's analog aesthetics or the chemistry between musicians during iconic studio sessions: sampling vintage recordings is the way to go!

Tracklib offers a wide range of soul samples. Take, for example, the pioneering Philly Soul by the Delfonics, produced by Thom Bell and sampled by The Alchemist, DJ Premier, and RZA. If this doesn't pique your interest, check out our collections like Dope Soul Samples or our high-quality, hand-picked selection of drum loops in Unexpected Breaks. The styles on Tracklib range from modern synth soul to early doo-wop to the soul jazz archives.

Loopcloud soul selection

Though Loopcloud is primarily an online marketplace with sample packs from various different labels, they have got some productions themselves. Among their notable soul music creations, we have the calm tones of Soul Vibe Keys, the spacey synths of Neo-Soul Infinity, and the jazzy guitars of Funky Soul Guitars. It's well worth checking out and entirely affordable.

Splice soul selection

Splice's Reworked Soul Selections will probably be highly sought after by hip-hop producers. These contain pre-flipped sample loops, one-shots, and catchy melodies. Alongside Reworked Soul Selections, producers should check out Splice's* *Resampled Cinematic Soul, their Chop Shop: Resampled Soul Stacks, and the excellent, Broken Soul.

Loopmasters soul selection

Loopmasters market themselves as the "sample boutique." With their Neo-Soul sound pack, their VIBES collection, and their unparalleled Lack of Afro series, Loopmasters' catalog of sounds is worth a look for any aspiring hip-hop producer. Most of their top-line sound packs are fairly pricey, coming in at between $30 and $40. Nonetheless, you can hear the quality of the samples, all recorded by actual musicians.

Apple Loops soul selection

Apple Loops doesn't actually have a genre filter for Soul. Nonetheless, producers can find some beautiful soulful samples in the funk and jazz section. These include groovy guitar riffs, soulful choir samples, and a variety of great drum breaks. These are all stock plugins for GarageBand or Logic Pro making them entirely free.

70s Soul sample packs

We've covered some of the best soul sample packs from a variety of different sellers. But what if you're looking for a bit more specificity? What if you want a more obviously vintage sound in your samples? Below, we've compiled a list of 70s Soul Sample Packs.

Super Rare Soul sample packs

Cashmere Brown's Rare Soul Sample Series is worth checking out. However,  before you use any samples, make sure you read Cashmere Brown's terms and conditions regarding licensing.

Best free sample packs

Looking for high-quality free soul sample packs can be a tricky business. Thus, here are some top-notch soul sample packs that are both free to download and 100% royalty-free. One of them is Samplephonics' extensive library of soul sample packs.

Among the highlights is the collection of sounds on Vintage Soul Freebie and the free drum loops in the Crunchy Drum Breaks pack.

Elsewhere, if you are looking for the lush brass arrangements of much classic soul, check out Soulful Brass Constructions Freebie. If Samplephonics doesn't fit your needs, check out MusicRadar's collection of 264 free funk and soul samples.

Soulful piano samples

If you're looking specifically for soulful piano samples there are several resources. Firstly, SampleFocus hosts a sample pack made by Prod. Jaw Breaker. Elsewhere, there are some free samples if you filter for Soul and Piano on Looperman.

LoopMasters also offer the sample packs Soul Keys Vol 1 and Soul Jazz Keys. For a particularly high-quality piano loop pack, check out Soul Surplus's Piano Sample Pack Volume 1. It's worth diving into their wider keys catalog, too.

Soulful Guitar sample packs

As for guitar samples, it's once again worth browsing through Soul Surplus's catalog. Packs like Smythe Nylon Guitar, Daydream, and Strat Pack are worthy entries to any producers' toolkit. Elsewhere, we have the versatile collection Hip-Hop Soul Guitar available on LoopCloud. If these aren't sufficient, take a look at Image Sounds' Soulicious Guitar Grooves 2.

Soulful drum packs

For drum samples, there is a notable standout from Loopmasters: Vintage Soul Drums. Producer Cookin Soul also offers a range of soulful drum packs. There are also several drum collections from Touch Loops and LANDR.

Modern Producers' soul collections

Modern Producers' soul collection contains high-quality samples, one-shot samples, and loops, suitable for any hip-hop producer. If you are looking for Dilla-style guitar loops, take a look at their Detroit Soul Guitars pack. If you want some soul samples for drill music, browse through their Drill Soul pack.  Modern Producers' work is a benchmark of the sample pack market.

A guide to buying soul samples and loop packs

There are several key elements to remember when buying soul sample and loop packs. Firstly, know what you are looking for. Do you want a vintage feel or a modern feel? Are you looking for pre-flipped samples or do you want to take a raw sample and flip it yourself? Do you want actual vintage recordings or do you want recreations or emulations of a particular sound?

If you want to easily clear a vintage soul song and flip it yourself, your best bet would be to use Tracklib's extensive library of soul music. If you just want a soulful guitar lick or one-shot, you might want to browse some of the aforementioned soul sound packs.

Final thoughts

Finding sample packs that suit your needs can be difficult. Often the sounds can feel overly synthetic and soulless, devoid of the vintage authenticity that makes so many hip-hop beats feel so alive.

Nonetheless, if none of these sample packs contain that true soul sound or feeling you're searching for, it's worth delving into Tracklib's enormous collection of real soul records to sample. With our catalog of both rare and classic soul (all of which are easily clearable), Tracklib provides the online equivalent to the age-old hip-hop tradition of crate-digging.