How To Organize Your Loops & Samples...I Can't Believe I Didn't Do THis Sooner

[@SnowbadgerCentral]

Thanks for posting this! Still useful 4 years later. Was looking for some examples of how others organize their samples. This is exactly what I was looking for. I also keep the original collections of zip files my sounds came in stored on a separate backup drive (so they take up less space than the fully extracted files). I use a sort of shorthand label code in the extracted filenames so I know where to get the original from again if something gets corrupted or deleted or if I need to review the license for them, etc. Example would be like all the extracted sample files that came from a "Loopmasters Ultimate Deep House Collection" zip file would get bulk renamed with a label code of something like "L_1 - " inserted at the beginning of the filenames. I catalog the zip files in a spreadsheet with the label codes and the associated collection names and zip filenames. I can also add a brief note for them to indicate if they came with a particular piece of gear I bought, were purchased separately, or downloaded for free from somewhere. A bit of an extra pain up front but saves a lot of time from having to poke around in a bunch of zip files to get the original sample back while still keeping the extracted filenames much shorter than if I were to use more descriptive collection names when I rename them.

[@DonMcHardy]

Another good idea I saw somewhere is to add a favorites folder in each category for really quick access to your best samples. As you audition sounds, copy and paste the best ones into your favorites.

[@Bittamin]

Logic also lets your favorite sounds as a built in feature, so you can filter everything out this way!

[@AdamSupremeWisdom]

I can't wait to finish organizing my library. I feel I could produce more once I know what I have. If it sucks, it's getting deleted. Poor quality samples have wasted enough of my time. -Adam Wisdom

[@JustinVachon]

Adam Wisdom 100%

[@UndalandFortress]

Sononym

[@user-hl5xj2qh8q]

Those are some words of wisdom Adam.

[@thegiantratthatmakesalloft9415]

Adam Wisdom really gives us wisdom

[@electropunkzero]

I ended up putting my stuff into large buckets based on broad genres. Adjacent genres would get lumped together. This helps me know where to go when I’m looking for certain aesthetic

[@JustinVachon]

I like it! It's all about what works best for you to be as fast as possible and stay in flow

[@DudeWheresMyTom]

Always knew I wanted a system similar to this but just could not implement it myself, great video cheers!

[@JustinVachon]

Glad it's helpful!

[@nickvieru8969]

A great way to organize the sample you have indeed, dope stuff!

[@JustinVachon]

Thank you! I hope it helps!

[@djvoiceless]

Man I've been trying to write down a way to catalogue my sound library for like 3 years now and sometimes I just give up, but now this gave my the exact idea I need, thanks a lot for sharing!

[@JustinVachon]

Glad this helped!

[@Juliano_DJOL]

Using the alias folders will save you x2 space, then you can leave all the orginals in the orginal folder amd make a copy of it that just links back to the orginal file. PLUS THIS WILL SAVE YOUR PAST PROJECTS FROM LOSING FILES/SAMPLES. So old projects samples still in same place, but new ones have better organization!

[@snrmark1042]

This right here is gold

[@Juliano_DJOL]

But be careful with the orginal copy and try not to move it! I have screwed myself before but now I pretty much lock the OG/Master Folder so it can't be renamed or moved!

[@JustinVachon]

I didn't double any space by doing this. So no, they won't save me 2x the space.

[@Tyoung152]

For some of us it is actually earth shattering and helpful to be able to model a good folder structure. Thanks.

[@JustinVachon]

Hope it helps!

[@JimJuno]

Try adsr sample machine Your welcome 🙂

[@camdenwyeth316]

Thanks for the video. Just got into samples recently and already have like...20 gigs that need to be organized. Glad you could help out!

[@birdsiview6845]

It’s smart to do this straight off, because now every time you open an old project, your project might open and sometimes one of your sampler plug ins like battery might tell you it can’t locate the sample. Unless of course it’s a battery sample. You could also create an Alias of them reorganized on an external. That is if you have tons of projects and you do not want to move samples from their original location.

[@JustinVachon]

Even if you open an old project, it’s easy to relink the samples

[@AlexLapugean]

And a good practce, hopefully everyone is smart enough to do this, is to ALWAYS copy used samples into the project folder. Not manually of course, every decent DAW should have the option to automatically collect all samples into the project location. The only exception to this is the Battery / Kontact / Maschine etc samples, that obviously need to stay in their original location for the original respective libraries to work. The alias is a really good option there, as it will still allow you to include those samples in your library (so you could use them independently), but not loose the functionality of the original software instrument.

[@mihaipolmusic]

Renaming files it's defeating the purpose of making alias in the first place, so alias it's useless in this case...

[@mack.partners]

Thanks a lot - very helpful!!! All the best, Julian

[@timetravelvictim]

Just stumbled on this video looking to see how others organize their samples. Liked the video for the great content. Subbed for the Pennywise hat.

[@JustinVachon]

🤟🤟

[@jongdonglu]

Legend absolute freaking legend mate! thank you for this video, i have been sitting and thinking about how i was going to organize my crazy collection, this video visually confirms a good percent of what i had already though up and given me a great set of ideas to finish of the hierarchy... Thanks Justin!

[@JustinVachon]

Glad you enjoyed it! I used to dread trying to find sounds because it was such a black hole. I actually kinda know what I have now. Hope it helps!!

[@UndalandFortress]

Yeah. Sononym will do the trick. Plus it does sooooo much more. You're not going to believe you didn't KNOW of this sooner.

[@JustinVachon]

Looks dope!

[@deussery]

Seattle check. Thank you for this! I’m afraid to start. 😂

Why does this only have 4 comments? People out here okay with searching for a one shot for six hours?

[@JustinVachon]

Hänz Nobe so much time is wasted on that and I find it kills all flow if you can’t move quickly!

[@UndalandFortress]

Sononym

[@ascensionrecordings]

XLN Audio XO Drum Sample Organizer and Sequencer Plug-in

[@AlexLapugean]

This amazing software saved my life. Literally even the drum map alone is worth the cost. But it does have its limitations (for example drum/instrument loops, it just chugs them together), so it's still useful to have a properly organised library.

[@stevekirkby6570]

I feel your pain ... 40 years worrth here: currently sorting to leave as a legacy :)

[@vincentlobsinger1548]

your the best keep up the good work uncle

[@seeonwater1140]

this is just awesome, I appreciate your tips

[@JustinVachon]

I hope it helps!!

[@janjezek9333]

@Justin Vachon another way: Renaming files with apps like "Name Mangler" and automatically PREFIX the files with name of the parent folder. Then flatten the folders, so all Clap-files are in one folder, named like "CM123 - 24Bit Balleric Bliss Samples.wav" and so on... You then can use the "Search" type "Claps" and all claps are in the list, which you can quickly browse... Another hint: when in the MacOS Finder or Ableton browser use the arrow keys to navigate. In Finder press SpaceBar to open the preview, do not close it, and then navigate through with the arrows... Not sure if it works (not having Battery) but it should be able to drag and drop from Ableton Browser into Battery directly..

[@JustinVachon]

I love name mangler for stuff like that.

[@teunmathijssen7459]

I don't really see how flattening the folders makes just the clap files end up in the same folder. Doesn't flattening the folders make _all_ samples end up in the same folder?

[@noisecommander590]

What's the difference between drum breaks & drum loops in your Loops folder?

[@JustinVachon]

Drum breaks are chopped or full drum kit pieces Like the “amen” break

[@petruhe]

There is «library” tab in the battery. All you need is make tags for you samples snd forget about folders.

[@johngoewie3190]

Use sononym and you don't have to do this. this was my way also in the past. now the computer is doing this for me with this perfect software. with extra filters to find quick the correct samples that fit in the project. Even with the note of the sample + if loop, the Bpm + the correct category like in this video. Sorry if somebody already has given this info.

[@MicahVaultzWAV]

my g. great strategy share

[@SMEL]

Gratitude 🤝🏾...

[@JustinVachon]

Glad it helped!

[@calebmcandrew9056]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JustinVachon]

Caleb McAndrew I hope it helps!

[@aevin_io]

Useful 🙏

[@Kjohny44]

Thanks. Got 1100GB of samples to re-do. Should be done within few weeks 😂

[@JustinVachon]

Haha that's insanity! But think about how awesome it's gonna be when you can find what you're looking for! Good luck!

[@UndalandFortress]

have you tried Sononym yet?

[@TheJimmyJoker]

Nice Video! You live in Vancouver? Do you know Konrad Old Money, formerly Pos Crew?

[@JustinVachon]

Hey! No I don’t

[@Dylanguitar69]

Awesome vid. Thanks!!!

[@JustinVachon]

Hope it helps man!!

[@quarterpoundmusic]

That looks like me sample library.

[@66KhzProductions]

I think the dogs heard it lol - anyway nice one I am about to sort my eons of sample dumpster truck loads of samples, this gave me a starting point of the folder structure as well as dealing with all my sample CDs, rex etc. Thanks for taking the time to upload this man. Is the structure still working well for you?

[@JustinVachon]

Thanks! Yes I still find it handy. If I want a kick I go to kicks, and the sub folders based on the library or vendor is working for me because now I tend to know what kind of kick I want and what vendor or library will usually have what I am looking for. If anything it has helped to learn the content in the abyss of this sample library. Good luck!

[@66KhzProductions]

Great that for the reply - after a month watching your video again finally got some down time from clients. Thanks again! So doing it today, only 100 gb so hopefully won't take weeks lol @@JustinVachon

[@JustinVachon]

@@66KhzProductions nothing a 6 pack can't get ya through! Hope it went well! The thought of doing it was actually harder than the task of doing it for me haha

[@jordanchery1906]

PLEASE MAKE A TEMPLATE!!!!!! Like... PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@mcaba0]

XO by xlnaudio

[@rt5u]

I love this! I'm currently trying to optimize this Idea as much as possible. I was thinking that maybe it would make sense To split up this whole structure into two meta Folders for Drums/Perc and Instruments. What do you guys think?

[@JustinVachon]

My opinion is to pick whatever is going to be fastest for your workflow so you can stay in the creative flow. For me I wanted to be able to quickly find a snare drum for instance if that was what I was looking for, but also preserve what library it came from. Hope that helps!

[@WarrenPostma]

Why not just use one of the sample managers that you throw the big mess at and it finds all your kicks and groups them visually for you.

[@BlackSuneEmpire]

please can you send me your sample library, I will happily sort them for you :D :D :D

[@drkryovak3026]

I feel your pain because I've been collecting computer music magazine and future music samples for years too and I know folders leading to folders over and over, I wanted to ask if you have tried a free sample management vst like ASDR Sample Manager? The reason I asked is I'm only now giving this a try because like you i'm tired of searching through folders. Also when you said Beleric bliss I knew exactly what samples your talking about because I use those. Lol

[@JustinVachon]

That's too funny! As far as sample managers I bought Soundminer which is geared towards sound effects and sound designers for post production/film/game audio and it's great as a catalog but it relies heavily on metadata so it's only as good as the metadata assigned to the sound effect or sample. So that can be a time consuming process. Some people have mentioned a few other softwares in the comments but I have yet to try them. Waves just recently came out with a stand alone software too that uses AI like the others mentioned, and while I have their Mercury collection, I haven't downloaded it to try it out yet. If you use ADSR sample manager let me know how it goes!

[@drkryovak3026]

For ADSR I think need to put all my sample folders into 1 folder, because I don't want to spend so much time adding the folders into the vst side bar. Then I need to grab all my 1-shot samples and put them into 1 drum folder so XLN Audio XO can find them, I can already tell this is going to take a long time. Fingers crossed it's worth it.

[@JustinVachon]

@@drkryovak3026 Good luck man! It took me a couple days to do it the way I did it, breaking down by sounds and maintaining a folder for the vendor but once I stopped dreading it and procrastinating on it it got fairly quick. Just remember how much your future self will thank you 😊

[@Juliano_DJOL]

Just make alias folders on the same hdd. Split samples folder into two folders orginals and alias copies or organized. Then just drag and drop each sample from OG file to the alias.

[@GV_777YT]

never heard of this it sounds efficient. how do you go about creating alias folders?

[@Juliano_DJOL]

@@GV_777YT right click, create alias or I have it set up as keyboard shortcut control A. I love the alias folders!

[@mihaipolmusic]

@@Juliano_DJOL Ableton doesn't see the alias folders in it's Browser, i don't know what you are talking about...

[@Juliano_DJOL]

@@mihaipolmusic I don't use Ableton so I wldnt know but I'd bet there's a way to get around it. But alias can def be a pain sometimes too if u don't have a good system for when use and not use them, I used to have Automator thing set to replace all alias with a copy of the orginal file but last time I tried to use it it wouldn't work.

[@Juliano_DJOL]

@@mihaipolmusic make a alias of the whole folder not the file or just drag and drop straight from the finder

[@Juliano_DJOL]

Some of the packs need to try to lessen the folders! It's crazy there's like 15 folders before u get to a sample smh

[@rautshsale1948]

lmao i'm sorry but i think this is ludicrous! literally dragging every sample/folder individually + having to rename the all folders ? won''t the finished folders or subfolders be just as huge and impossible to go through? + this will mess up completely the previous folder structure from already existing projects using the same samples i've been looking for a way to sort through my samples, i guess a 3rd party software is a must. ADSR does not do this properly at all, loopcoud is no longer free. came here really hoping to find a way to do this manually, in hopes of not spending money for such a software, but i guess this is necessary. at least black friday is around the corner

[@JustinVachon]

Not ludicrous at all. Everything is organized way better and faster. All the kicks are in Kicks with one folder layer straight to the sample. Every single software that needs to relink samples can find them in the main folder in less than two seconds. I gave you a way to do it manually. Sounds like you're just avoiding the little bit of work to get it going. Good luck!

[@osten_petersson]

hm now i think a simple app with db, ui , tag cloud makes sense, might be wrong but flattening folderstructures works for a while - then you will be stuck in folder angst again :)

[@JustinVachon]

With this method I won't have any more master folders than what I showed in the video. The next level down is what library it came from, so far it's working fast enough to stay in the flow when I'm creating :)

[@42ty]

Ty bro you help me a lot 🤌🏽