Splice VS. Tracklib: Which Sampling Platform is Best for You?

Why choosing the right platform matters

If you’re just starting out in music production, the word ‘workflow’ is going to be a recurring term you come across. Just like a chef picks the right pots, pans, cookware, and kitchen utensils for his type of cooking, the same goes for a producer: the selection of a digital audio workstation (DAW) and hardware, which music production tools to use, how and where to search for music samples, and how to set-up a home studio all play a part in an efficient, productive, and user-friendly workflow. All so you can start cooking beats in the best way possible.

That’s why it’s important to look into the best music sampling platforms. What is right for you can be different from someone else’s preferences. After comparing Tracklib with Sample Focus, this time we make the comparison with another sample library: Splice.

What is Splice?

Splice is an online music production marketplace selling everything from sample packs to plugins. Regarding samples, Splice's sound library allows subscribers to browse a wide range of loops, sample packs, and one-shots from some of the most renowned producers and music services in the game. In addition, Splice presents a blog with Tips & Tutorials, stories, and a series called Beyond the DAW with inspiration and music promotion.

How does Splice work?

With Splice's subscription model, you receive a certain amount of monthly credits, which can be spent on individual samples or expansive sample packs. They also allow you to filter through their library by genre, instrument, BPM, key, and sample type.

All music offered on Splice is 100% royalty-free, unlike traditional sampling—where the producer must go through the tedious process of finding the rightsholders and negotiating a sample license and royalty splits. This is partly because Splice sells pre-made loops, one-shots, and samples specifically designed for royalty-free use.

However, the royalty-free nature of Splice is a double-edged sword. Things got messy in the past with content ID conflicts and licensing issues between producers who used the same one-shots or loops from Splice. Watch the video below for more on that:

Splice Proof of License

A new feature was introduced to combat the issues surrounding content ID and copyright claims. The feature allows users to generate a PDF document as a certified license for any sample downloaded on the platform. Generating a certified license is free, and users can generate as many licenses as they want. More information can be found in the official announcement by Splice.

What is Tracklib?

What Tracklib does is vastly different than royalty-free sampling services. Their offering is two-fold: the Songs section consists of 100K+ songs of all genres and decades, ready for sampling with unlimited sample clearances included for two of their plans. Most of the music even comes with the original multitracks and stems of the music.

The new Sounds section is fully royalty-free with a complete offering of sample packs, one-shots, loops, and FX. That means you get the best of both worlds: real music for legal sampling and royalty-free material to freely use, packaged in one subscription.

In addition, Tracklib’s Blog comes with a vast range of content, including inspirational stories around songs to sample, educational guides such as How To Make Money Selling Beats Online and Here Are All the Royalty-Free Vocal Samples You Need, and a full overview of Sample Breakdown videos.

How does Tracklib licensing work?

Unlimited sample clearance might sound too good to be true. But this became a reality in 2024 when Tracklib launched the feature for two of their plans. That means that with the Premium and Max plans, you can freely and legally sample music and multitracks from the platform without the need to worry about sample clearance or tracking down rightsholders.

After many decades of legal hurdles and complexities around sampling, this way of licensing is truly a game-changer: it’s the first time ever producers can create tracks using real music to their liking, ready for official release and commercial use.

Licensing models: royalty-free vs. direct licensing

Royalty-free music and direct licensing both offer material for sampling, but the models feel like two worlds apart. The offering is vastly different. Royalty-free music is typically offered free of charge or, in the case of Splice, as part of a subscription model. In A Full Guide to Royalty-Free Music, we go into more detail for a better understanding of royalty-free music—and how it’s different from copyright-free music. The guide also features pros and cons of royalty-free music versus direct licensing.

Direct licensing, on the other hand, applies when a producer or beatmaker wants to sample originally released music. This typically involved various rightsholders and the need to negotiate a royalty split, getting a slice of the publishing, and/or an advance fee. In the case of Tracklib, the platform takes away the need to handle direct licensing by offering unlimited sample clearances.

Library content: stems and multitracks vs. loops and samples

Both Splice and Tracklib offer a wide array of loops, one-shots, royalty-free samples, and sample packs. What sets aside Tracklib in this comparison, though, is the offering of exclusive stems and multitracks of originally released music. Highlights include previously unreleased multitracks of Isaac Hayes, collections of rare multitracks, world-class orchestral compositions with the original stems, or the never-before-heard multitracks by Sun Records.

Because these are the official multitracks of releases, the quality beats any AI music production tools like acapella extractors or AI stem splitters. Tracklib offers stems and multitracks straight from the source!

Splice vs. Tracklib: Key Differences, Pricing & Subscription Comparison

Is Splice royalty-free?

The entire sample library of Splice is royalty-free, meaning you get access to millions of sounds specifically created for sampling.

Is Tracklib royalty-free?

The Songs section on Tracklib with originally released music is what is called royalty-fair. The section called Sounds is completely royalty-free, offering a wide selection of sample packs, loops, FXs, and one-shots that can be freely used.

Splice vs. Tracklib: Workflow compatibility and integrations

Both Tracklib and Splice offer a desktop app to sync samples and integrate them in your DAW. This adds to your efficiency and creative workflow. Similarly, Splice’s mobile app offers a way to browse the library and come up with ideas on the go.

Both platforms offer a vast sample library. A key difference is that Tracklib offers both royalty-free material and originally released songs. That means you only need one subscription to download and sample songs and royalty-free sounds, which is a huge advantage for your workflow and search process.

Who should choose Tracklib?

If you want everything in one place, Tracklib is the best way forward. The platform offers songs and royalty-free sounds, all ready for sampling with everything at hand to improve your workflow. Two plans even include unlimited sample clearances, which means you can freely sample music without licensing difficulties or future issues. Everything on Tracklib is suited for commercial use and official release.

With all songs and sounds selected by an in-house team of producers, crate-diggers, and selectors, Tracklib offers hand-picked original material for those who are serious about their craft and value creativity. That curational aspect offers benefits to search specific genres, record labels, artists, and even collections inspired by the sound of major artists and the best producers in the game.

With Tracklib, you essentially get the best of both worlds: sample real music just like your favourite producers, and get royalty-free Sounds as a huge add-on to complete your sampling toolkit. All in one subscription.

Who should choose Splice?

If you only need royalty-free material, then Splice offers a huge library of sounds. Their user-friendly interface is easy to get into for beginning producers, allowing users to browse genres, instruments, and a wide range of filtering options to narrow down the sound(s) you are looking for. Extras like the mobile app to create on the go, shows that the platform is ideal for producers who want to shape new ideas and go from there. Splice offers flexibility in the use of royalty-free music.