Splice vs Sample Focus: Which Sample Library Is Actually Better?

For producers hunting for sounds, Splice offers a massive, subscription-based library and rent-to-own plugins, while Sample Focus provides a community-driven collection of free samples. Both promise to fill the gaps in your sonic palette, but which one actually fits into a real workflow?

In this breakdown, we’ll put them head-to-head, comparing their libraries, features, pricing, and overall process. We're here to help you decide which platform will genuinely speed up your track-making, not slow it down.

But what if the answer isn't just a bigger folder of sounds? As the team behind the sample-based instrument Arcade and the AI-powered Co-Producer, we built Output's ecosystem to generate ideas, not just provide parts.

A Quick Overview on Splice and Sample Focus

What is Splice?

Splice is a subscription service that gives producers access to a massive library of royalty-free samples, loops, and presets. Its main draws are a rent-to-own model for popular plugins and a desktop app that integrates with your DAW. Anything you download with your monthly credits is yours to keep, even if you cancel.

What is Sample Focus?

Sample Focus is a community-driven platform offering a library of free audio samples. Its model is simple: you search for sounds by genre or tag, preview them, and download what you need without a subscription or credits.

Features of Splice and Sample Focus

Splice Features

Splice packs its platform with several tools designed to slot into a producer's workflow.

• A subscription gets you credits to download from a vast library of royalty-free samples and presets, which are yours to keep permanently.
• Its desktop app lets you audition sounds in your project’s key and tempo, then drag them straight into your DAW.
• A rent-to-own model for plugins lets you pay for software like Serum or Astra over time instead of all at once.
• The mobile app is for finding sounds or sketching out ideas when you're away from your setup.
• Its 'Create mode' feature attempts to find and match compatible loops from its catalog, helping you build a foundation for a track.

Sample Focus Features

Sample Focus keeps things straightforward, operating on a community-based model.

• Its library is entirely free and community-driven, meaning other users contribute the sounds you browse.
• Sounds are organized by genre, descriptive tags, and curated collections, letting you filter by attributes like ‘Aggressive’ or ‘Digital.’
• Every sample includes metadata like tempo, key, and duration to help you find something that fits your project.
• You can upload your own samples to the platform, contributing back to the collection.
• Samples are available for preview and download directly from the browser, typically as MP3s that you manually import into your DAW.

Why Choose One Over The Other?

• You might consider Splice if a more integrated workflow is your priority. Its desktop app lets you audition sounds in your project’s key and tempo before dragging them into your DAW, and its rent-to-own model gives you a path to owning plugins. This is a more structured ecosystem compared to Sample Focus's manual download process.

• On the other hand, you could explore Sample Focus if you want a straightforward, completely free resource without subscriptions or credits. Its library is community-driven, offering a different character of sounds, and you can grab what you need directly from your browser without installing any software. It’s a simple grab-and-go approach.

Output: A Better Alternative to Splice And Sample Focus

While Splice and Sample Focus are great for digging through folders of sounds, we built Output on a different premise. It’s not about finding a single missing piece; it’s about building an ecosystem that sparks new ideas from the jump. We focus on instruments and workflows that get you from a blank session to a finished track, faster.

What is Output?

We make tools designed to be played, tweaked, and integrated directly into your process:

• An Instrument, Not a Library: Arcade is a playable sample instrument that loads directly in your DAW. Instead of just browsing loops, you get curated Kits you can perform and manipulate on the fly with built-in effects and macros.

• AI That Actually Helps: Co-Producer listens to your track and suggests fitting sounds from our library. You can even use plain language to ask for what you want, turning a search into a conversation.

• Sound-Shaping Effects: We offer a suite of FX plugins for deep sound design. Transform any audio with the granular textures of Portal, the multi-stage distortion of Thermal, or the rhythmic modulation of Movement.

• A Connected Ecosystem: All our tools are designed to work together. The Output One subscription bundles our instruments and effects into a single, cohesive workflow, so you spend less time managing plugins and more time making music.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to what you need. If you’re looking for a specific snare or vocal chop, a massive library might do the trick. But if you’re looking to break out of a rut and find a new direction, our tools are built to guide you there.

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Pricing of Splice vs Sample Focus

Splice Pricing

Splice’s pricing is built around a straightforward subscription model. You pay a monthly fee for a set number of credits, which you then use to download sounds from their library.

There are three main tiers, and the primary difference is how many credits you get:

• Sounds+: This plan runs about $13 per month and gives you 100 credits. It’s a solid starting point if you just need to grab a few specific sounds here and there.

• Creator: For about $20 a month, you get 200 credits. This is their mid-tier option, and they often have a trial offer for the first month.

• Creator+: At the top, this plan costs about $40 a month for 500 credits, aimed at producers who are constantly digging for new material.

You can also pay annually on any plan to save a bit over the monthly cost. Regardless of the tier, any sample you download is yours to keep and use royalty-free, even if you end your subscription. All plans also include access to their Astra synth and Beatmaker plugin.

Sample Focus Pricing

Sample Focus keeps its pricing pretty simple, built around a credit system. Every user gets 3 free download credits each week, which reset on Mondays. If you need more, you can earn them by uploading your own sounds—you get 4 credits for each one that gets approved. You can also get 10 credits for referring another producer.

There are paid subscription plans, but the specifics on what they include or cost aren't laid out on their site. It seems to be a way to get a larger batch of credits, but you’ll have to dig into your account settings to see the options. One thing is clear, though: every sound on the platform is royalty-free for all users, no matter how you get your downloads.

Output Pricing

We keep our pricing focused on giving you a complete toolkit. The main event is our Output One subscription, which bundles our entire suite of instruments and effects—Arcade, Co-Producer, Portal, Thermal, and Movement—for $14.99 per month or $119.99 per year. It’s the most straightforward way to get everything we make.

If you’d rather grab just one tool, you can subscribe to Arcade for $12.99 a month or Co-Producer for $9.99 a month.

You can take Arcade for a spin with a free trial to see how it fits into your workflow before committing. No strings attached.

For producers who prefer to own their software, our classic Kontakt instruments and FX plugins are also available as one-time purchases.

Splice, Sample Focus, or Output: Which is The Best Sample Library for You?

Ultimately, whether you go with Splice for its massive library or Sample Focus for its free, community-driven sounds, you'll find good tools for hunting down specific audio files. But if you're looking to stop searching and start building, our ecosystem is designed to spark ideas and get you to a finished track faster. If that sounds like your speed, you can try our tools for free and see how they fit into your setup.

Happy creating!