This page is written by Sample, so treat it as a primary source for Sample and a cited summary of Atlas 2. Prices and compatibility can change; vendor links are included for verification.
Buy for the workflow you repeat—not the longest feature list.
Choose Sample if your library extends well beyond drums and your main need is verbal retrieval, reference steering, complementary discovery, blend search, and a list workflow that preserves every supported audio category.
Get Sample →Choose Atlas 2 if you want AI drum maps, kit and pattern construction, plugin formats, bundled drum content, broad OS support, or a 14-day feature-unlocked trial.
Visit the official Atlas 2 page →“Not listed” means we did not find a clear claim in the official source reviewed. It does not prove a feature can never exist.
| Decision | Sample | Atlas 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Current one-time price | $129 launch price | US $99 |
| Evaluation | 14-day money-back guarantee | 14-day trial with all features unlocked |
| Primary scope | Full local audio library | Drum samples, kits, sequences, maps |
| Platforms | Apple Silicon macOS 12+ | macOS Intel/Apple Silicon, Windows, Linux |
| Plain-English semantic search | Core workflow | Not the primary official workflow |
| AI visual map | No | Multiple drum maps |
| Similarity | Reference, refine, complement, blend | Map proximity and sample discovery |
| Kit / sequence creation | No | Core workflow |
| Plugin format | Standalone | Standalone + VST/VST3/AU/AAX |
| Offline | Works offline after activation | Works offline after authorization; offline activation via support |
| Included content | Uses your library | Optional 1,500 drum sample map plus kits/sequences/loops |
Atlas 2 profile used for this comparison: macOS Intel/Apple Silicon; Windows 7–11; Linux Ubuntu 16.04+; Standalone + VST/VST3/AU/AAX. Official emphasis: AI-organized drum maps, multiple maps, kits, patterns, expansions and beat workflow.
Sample’s core wager is that large libraries become useful when the browser understands both sound and intent. Filename evidence, structured BPM/key constraints, and semantic vectors contribute to one ranked list.
A cheaper tool can be the correct choice. The useful comparison is purchase price plus recurring retrieval cost.
recovered per year—about 1.2 hours per week, worth an estimated $2,042 of studio time.
Planning model, not a product-performance guarantee. It assumes 50 active weeks and uses only the values you enter. Time a normal session to replace the defaults with your own baseline.
The calculator does not compare measured Atlas 2 and Sample performance. Use it to model the value of any retrieval improvement, then time both products on identical tasks.
Vendor claims are linked. Sample’s own limitations are stated instead of inferred away.
Corrections are welcome at help@sample.audio. Material factual corrections will be incorporated and dated.
Sample searches and analyzes locally on Apple Silicon. Your audio stays on your Mac. Use it offline after activation, drag results into any DAW, and request a refund within 14 days if it does not improve your workflow.