Review: Prime Loops VIP Synths Dubstep & DnB Edition

Library: VIP Synths: Dubstep & DnB Edition
Format: Kontakt, EXS24, Halion, Reason Refill, Sonar SFZ, WAV
Genre: Dubstep, Drum n' Bass, Grime, Breaks
Distributed by: Prime Loops
Price: £24.95
Demo: Audio demos on the product page.

In a sample library market flooded with an endless supply of loops and pre-made songs in "construction kit" format, it seems rare to find a library that features just synth sounds to actually make your own music with. That's not to put down loop-based forms of music, but if you don't make that kind of music, those libraries just aren't that useful. You'd think synth sample libraries would be commonplace, but that just isn't the way it is. So, when a collection comes along that does just that, it really stands out. That's precisely what we have with Prime Loops new library VIP Synths: Dubstep & DnB Edition.

This library consists of 270 synth sounds aimed at the darker, grittier side of electronic music, all available pre-mapped to most popular software samplers. The sounds are divided into separate self-explanatory categories of Bass, Lead, Pad, Reece, SFX, and Stabs. To bring these sounds to light, producer Dimitry Vasilyev tapped into his extensive synth collection including the Nord Modular, Access Virus, Korg MonoPoly, and Roland MKS-30, as well as plentiful effects processing. The result is one of the best collections of this kind I've heard so far.

If you're trying to get into producing your own dubstep or drum n' bass, but you're having trouble nailing the types of sounds that dominate those genres, you owe it to yourself to check this collection out. The programming is extremely well done and nearly every sound is brimming over with grimey, gritty, dark, angry, ugly (the good kind) attitude. Just about every type of sound commonly used in these genres is represented here in several variations, and plenty of original twists are included as well. Everything from gut-rumbling subs, to sinister wobbles, to fizzy FM sounds, to ear-spanking hoovers and reeces, to abrasive leads, to both dissonant and melodic pads and sound FX is represented here. The sounds are aggressively processed (appropriately so) and are pretty much ready to drop in the mix as-is. Some sounds have tempo-dependent elements which might limit their usefulness a bit, but as products like Kontakt 4 and Absynth that have the ability to maintain a tempo across the keyboard become more popular, this is really a minor issue.

Prime Loops have always made high quality products, but until now, I hadn't heard anything that absolutely, positively hit it out of the park. That's changed with this collection. VIP Synths: Dubstep & DnB Edition has found a great balance of reasonable price & a generous selection of very well-programmed sounds. If those genres fit the kinds of sounds you're looking for, look no further. Everything you need to create your next track is here. Just add drums. [10/10]