The pursuit of high-quality, royalty-free vocal samples is a common objective for electronic music producers in the UK, from bedroom hobbyists to professional sound designers. A variety of online platforms and creators offer free sample packs designed to provide vocal drops, ad-libs, and phrases that can humanise and elevate tracks in genres such as EDM, house, trap, and future bass. These packs often include processed, pre-chopped vocal elements that are ready for integration into digital audio workstations (DAWs). This article examines the available free vocal sample packs, their contents, and the licensing considerations that UK-based producers must understand before use.
Understanding Free Vocal Sample Packs
Free vocal sample packs are collections of audio files, typically in WAV or MP3 format, that contain recorded vocal performances. These can range from single words and short phrases to full vocal lines, harmonies, and sound effects like breaths, whispers, or screams. They are commonly used to add a human element to instrumental tracks, create catchy hooks, or provide transitional elements between song sections. The availability of these packs is a significant benefit for producers working with limited budgets, allowing them to access a library of sounds without initial financial outlay.
Many sample packs are curated and distributed by music production websites, sound design labels, or individual creators. The quality, processing, and genre-specificity of these packs can vary widely. Some are designed for broad use across multiple genres, while others target specific sounds, such as tropical house vocals or glitchy vocal chops. The process of obtaining these samples typically involves visiting a website, creating an account, and downloading a compressed archive file.
Notable Free Vocal Sample Packs and Their Features
Based on the available information, several free vocal sample packs have been identified. Each offers a distinct set of sounds and processing, catering to different production needs.
EDM Drop-Vocal Sample Pack [VOL 2.]
This pack, created by xeromynd, is specifically focused on vocal drops used in popular EDM tracks. It contains over 150 vocal samples sourced from tracks by artists such as Skrillex, deadmau5, and Porter Robinson. A key feature of this pack is that all samples are edited, keyed, and mixed to four specific tempos: 110, 128, 140, and 175 BPM. This is designed to facilitate easy mixing into live sets and mashups. Samples are typically cut to four measures to allow for cue time and are labelled with the format “BPMKeyArtist_Song” for organisational purposes. The pack includes some samples with additional elements like drums or reverse reverb trails. It is important to note the disclaimer provided with this pack: the samples are not original material, are not royalty-free, and are not intended for commercial use. They are intended solely for use in live sets and mashups, with all other uses at the user’s risk.
50 Best Free Vocal Samples (by LANDR)
This pack, compiled by the platform LANDR, is noted for its quality. It allows users to download individual samples or the entire pack at once. The samples within are tagged with key and BPM information and range from dry, unprocessed takes to processed and fully chopped vocal effects. The pack is described as being particularly effective for glitchy and left-field music productions.
EDM Vocal Samples Pack Vol. 1 (by FLP Family)
This is a more compact pack, containing 25 free vocal samples. It is focused on pre-drop phrases suitable for large club anthems, with a sound reminiscent of artists like Swedish House Mafia or Major Lazer.
VOX Reloaded (by FunctionLoops)
This pack is designed for producers seeking super-glitchy and unusually pitched vocal chops. The description suggests it is suited for experimental and highly processed vocal effects.
Free Vocal Kit II (by GhostHack)
This pack is dedicated to female vocals. It contains 60 female vocal samples, including simple breaths, chants, and one-word phrases. A notable feature is the inclusion of different versions of each sample, with added reverb or pitch modulation, providing greater flexibility in production.
Ultimate Female Vocal Samples Pack (by MusicRadar)
This is a very large collection, reportedly containing 1,337 female vocal samples. The samples are supplied in various variations and include two distinct harmony parts. It is positioned as a comprehensive resource for adding a human element to music.
Vocal Hazard Pack
This pack is described as unique due to its inclusion of non-traditional vocal sounds such as whispers, screams, and other "weird human noises." It contains a total of 748 sounds, offering a broad palette for sound design and creative vocal manipulation.
Sexy Whispers (by 91vocals)
As the name suggests, this pack focuses on hushed whispered words and sound effects. It is designed to add a layer of emotion and intimacy to tracks.
Free Vocal Ad-Libs Samples (by MusicRadar)
Another pack from MusicRadar, this one contains 327 royalty-free vocal ad-libs, including hums, short phrases, and spoken words. The samples are described as high-quality and ready for use in a DAW. They are noted as being particularly useful for creating pads or transitions between song sections.
Tropical House Vocal Samples Vol. 2 (by W.A. Productions)
This pack is tailored for producers working in tropical house or reggaeton. It is a full construction kit, meaning it includes not only top-line vocals but also harmonies, background textures, and other song elements to build a complete track.
Free Gravity (by W.A. Productions)
A substantial pack from W.A. Productions, Free Gravity offers 1.6GB of content. It includes 100% royalty-free instrumental stems and both dry and wet vocal versions, providing a complete toolkit for track production.
Heaven Vox (by Lion’s Den Sounds)
This is a mini-sample pack containing 40 vocal samples. It includes 32 layered vocal samples and 8 solo vocal samples. All samples have been heavily processed with pitch and formant shifting, as well as reverb, making them suitable for creating ethereal and atmospheric soundscapes.
Looperman Free Vocal Samples
Looperman operates as a database rather than a traditional sample pack. Users can filter a vast collection of user-uploaded samples by genre, key, BPM, and tempo. To download samples, users must create an account on the platform.
Antidote Audio X Takeaway Sound Free Vocal Samples Pack (by Antidote Audio)
This multi-genre pack contains over 300MB of samples with BPMs ranging from 100 to 174, offering a wide range of tempos for various musical styles.
Licensing and Usage Restrictions
A critical aspect of using free sample packs is understanding the licensing terms. The information provided highlights significant variations in usage rights, which UK producers must carefully consider.
The EDM Drop-Vocal Sample Pack [VOL 2.] comes with a clear and restrictive disclaimer. It explicitly states that the samples are not royalty-free and are not for commercial use. They are intended only for live sets and mashups, with any other use being at the user's own risk. This is a crucial limitation that would prevent its use in any commercially released music or tracks intended for sale.
In contrast, several other packs are explicitly described as "royalty-free." For example, the Free Vocal Ad-Libs Samples from MusicRadar and the Free Gravity pack from W.A. Productions are both stated to be royalty-free. The general description of samples on Samplephonics also confirms that their free EDM samples are available for download "100% royalty free for use in your music production or sound design project." This means that once downloaded, these samples can typically be used in commercial productions without ongoing royalties to the sample creator, though users should always verify the specific terms on the provider's website.
The Looperman platform, which relies on user-uploaded content, likely has varying licenses for each sample, and it is the user's responsibility to check the terms for each individual download.
Practical Considerations for UK Producers
When seeking and using free vocal sample packs, UK-based producers should adopt a methodical approach. First, it is essential to identify the genre and style of vocal sounds required. Packs like Tropical House Vocal Samples Vol. 2 or VOX Reloaded offer genre-specific sounds, while others like the Ultimate Female Vocal Samples Pack provide a broad range of options.
Second, always review the licensing information before incorporating any sample into a project, especially one intended for commercial release. Relying solely on the label "free" can be misleading; the key distinction is whether the pack is "royalty-free." When in doubt, seeking out packs from reputable music production platforms like MusicRadar, LANDR, or W.A. Productions is advisable, as they typically provide clear licensing terms.
Finally, organisation is key. With multiple packs containing hundreds of samples, maintaining a well-structured library on a computer or external drive will save significant time during the production process. Utilising the labelling systems provided by the creators, such as the "BPMKeyArtist_Song" format, can greatly enhance workflow efficiency.
Conclusion
The landscape of free vocal sample packs for EDM and electronic music production is diverse, offering producers in the UK a valuable resource for enhancing their tracks. From targeted drop samples and female vocal collections to extensive royalty-free libraries and unique sound effect packs, there is a wide range of options available. However, the most critical factor for any producer is the licensing agreement. Understanding the distinction between samples intended solely for personal use, such as live performances, and those that are royalty-free for commercial application is essential to avoid legal complications. By carefully selecting packs that align with their creative needs and licensing requirements, UK producers can effectively utilise these free resources to develop and refine their musical projects.