Sounds has an easily
navigable structure so
you can pinpoint exactly
what you are looking for.who aren’t just using Splice as a music
production tool, but also need it for video
editing or commercial cinematography
audio creation. Next to that is the genres
menu, which is always a must-have
feature. These have labels so you can
browse through and find samples from the
same production team. There’s also a MIDI
section, with note sequences, basslines,
melodies, and chord progressions to
download and add to your track. This range
of features makes it easy to find the exact
sounds you need.
Sounds.com doesn’t quite have the
diversity that Splice offers in terms of a
learning and studio platform. Instead,
it focuses its attention on the ‘sounds’
element, splitting them up into categories.
Along the top, you have a browse section,
a similar interface that you’d experience
on Spotify or Tidal where you might find
something new and interesting. Next to
that is the collections page. This is where
you can search through artists on the site
and view their libraries. This is handy if
you’re a fan of an individual’s work and
want to keep up with their releases.
Moving on from there is the instruments
page. Like Splice, this is a pretty self-
explanatory menu, but it’s easy to find
samples relating to a specific instrument.
It’s great for cutting out unnecessary
samples as both of these sites have large
libraries. Like Splice, Sounds has a genre
menu to further split samples and sounds.The last menu is a page where you can
store your library. Here, you can create a
collection of sounds that you like, view your
previous downloads and see your saved
sounds. This place is convenient when you
find something you like, but don’t want to
use it straight away. Or if you are listening
to music out and about, you can search for
a sound on your phone and save it into your
collection to download when you get home.
In terms of functionality, Sounds takes
the crown for this category, as finding
and compiling sounds is slightly easier
than on its rival Splice. With bold and
clear categories, both sites won’t exactly
leave you scratching your head, but the
organization on Sounds just seems to be
one step ahead. Like some royalty-free
image websites, both pages use a credit-
based system where you can pay a monthly
fee to buy a set amount of credits. You then
use these credits to purchase samples and
soundbites in order to download them to
add to projects on your DAW.
Sounds initially appears to offer better
value for money, but look a little closer
at the pricing and you’ll find that’s not
necessarily the case. Though Sounds
gives you more credits per month, Splice
has a larger library and, with a range of
other features, including lessons and
tutorials on creating your own music, it not
only has a wider choice but it also offers a
more intensive service for those who are
© WWW.SOUNDS.COM serious about producing digital music.
Splice
CONNECT Vast library; clean
UI; monthly rolling unused
credits; great variety of services.
DISCONNECT Credits are lost if you
unsubscribe; overwhelming at times.
Splice Sounds + $10/pm (100 monthly credits)
Splice Creator $20/pm (200 monthly credits)
Splice Creator + $30/pm (500 monthly credits)
http://www.splice.comSounds
HARMONY Organized with
neat, easily searchable layout;
image-rich; handy library function.
EAR ACHE No workstation; no lesson
option.
Sounds Essential $10/pm (150 credits)
Sounds Pro $20/pm (500 monthly credits)
Sounds Ultimate $30/pm (1000 monthly credits)
http://www.sounds.com9
8
VERDICTVERDICTSounds is also a valuable resource, but
Splice edges it as the better option. If you’re
looking for samples and instruments only,
Sounds might be the better choice, but for a
more inclusive package, Splice is the route
we recommend. Of course, a larger library
doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better, but at
least there should be a greater chance of
finding something that works for you in its
catalog. –SAM LEWISMAR 2022 MAXIMU MPC 93