Source
Instrument or event: kick, cello, room tone, footsteps, machine hit, riser, vocal phrase.
Plain-English sample search
Type what you mean. Hear the best matches.
Search “metallic impact with a long dark tail,” “70s dry snare,” or “124 BPM synth loop in F minor.” Sample understands details like tempo and key while still listening for mood and texture.
1 sentencefor the sound in your head—without translating it into a folder path
8 formatsacross packs, recordings, bounces, loops, one-shots, and odd little gems
Any DAWpreview in Sample, then drag the winner straight into your session
0 uploadsplain-English search listens locally on your Mac
Search patterns that carry intent
Write a brief, not a tag list.
Sample can only find what exists in your library. Your ears make the final call.
Four kinds of language, one result set.
Strong queries do not need every category. Start with the property you can hear most clearly.
Character
Warm, brittle, close, wide, dusty, hollow, wet, intimate, unstable, saturated, restrained.
Music
Explicit BPM, BPM ranges, key, mode, loop versus one-shot, or a request to preserve tempo/key around a reference.
Direction
More organic, less bright, shorter, heavier, softer, or between two known reference sounds.
Remember the name? Great. Remember the sound? Even better.
Use whatever you have: a filename, a feeling, a musical role, or one reference that is almost right.
| What you remember | Best query | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The exact file | kshmr_clap_017 | Go straight to the name you remember. |
| The sound, not the name | tight layered clap with a bright room | Let the audio—not the filename—carry the meaning. |
| The musical slot | 124 BPM bass loop in F minor | Bring the arrangement into the search. |
| A close reference | Find similar → more organic → keep BPM | Start close and steer with your ears. |
A better query in 15 seconds.
If results are vague, add one discriminating property—not a paragraph of conflicting adjectives.
Name the event
“Percussion” is wide. “Metallic hand percussion hit” removes entire irrelevant families.
Add the unusual thing
“With a papery attack” is more discriminating than five generic mood words.
Constrain only what is real
Add BPM or key when your arrangement requires it. Do not over-constrain one-shots with metadata that may not apply.
A strong query is a hypothesis, not a commandment. Audition the top results, then switch to a reference-led search when one candidate is close enough to express the target more precisely than another sentence.
One-time purchase · $129 launch price
Search the sound—not the naming convention.
Sample searches and analyzes locally on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. 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.