One to make your tracks by yourself: Classic Disco Sample DVD

**17 in 1983** · January 31st, 2009, 10:54 AM

Hello all

Is there any musicians there? If so, please check Zero-G's sample/loop library
Classic Disco

ZEROGcs - Classic Disco

and Satin Grooves

ZEROGcs - Satin Grooves

Please check those demo mp3's on Zero-G website and tell me did I captured that famous sound!

Cheers, people!

D.Devcic

**ashley_k** · January 31st, 2009, 04:55 PM

Well for the most part I think you did capture the style, if not always the famous sound ...now you did ask for opinions on them, didn't you.

"Classic Disco" has some great sounding bits and some not so great bits - but that's just like the 70's/80's you have stuff that sounds nice and fat in one hand and in the other hand you have stuff that sounds horribly cheesy! Anyway going by the demos of "Classic Disco" it's probably the best Disco sample library around.

Not so keen on the sound of "Satin Grooves" not enough fatness for me, some nice parts, but unfortunately in parts it sounds like MIDI files of weak 80's sterile soul tunes played through a GM sound module, anyway I'm sure some will love it, but I'd have preferred a few more fat sounding early 80's boogie tune sounds.

I did have my eye on "Classic Disco" a while back when it came out, but the price and the construction kit format put me off buying it, I think Zero-G are asking a bit too much for these libraries, but for me the worst thing is that the loops in construction kit format tend to be swamped with effect like reverb/delay which makes them sound great, but limits the use of the loops quite a bit, I wish they'd include a set of really dry loops so you could add a bit of grit to them and add your own effects, rather than them coming with ear candy sheen already applied.

So going by the demos you have produced two very nice sound libraries for Zero-G, even if I think they are over priced and limited by the construction kit format, of the two libraries I prefer "Classic Disco" over "Satin Grooves".

Having said all the above I think you've done a great job on these libraries.

Apart from that I have to say that Zero-G's customer services is first class, I've bought quite a few Zero-G libraries over the years and Zero-G have been fantastic at answering question and sorting stuff out.

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NOTE: Just to be clear the above comments are only based on listening to the demos, also the comment about MIDI files of weak 80's sterile soul tunes has more to do with the fact that I don't like late 80's sterile soul, rather than a fault with the sample library.

Also comments on the "construction kit format" are based on the use I would put the samples to, and should not be taken as a complaint against these two libraries, as nearly all construction kit format sample libraries are like this.

If you are looking for libraries of Disco/Funk/mid-tempo funk & soul from the 70s/80s "Classic Disco" and "Satin Grooves" should be at the top of your list.

**17 in 1983** · February 1st, 2009, 04:54 AM

Thank you for your wide elaboration. It's very useful for my future work. But, one little thing: You said that you didn't buy it. So I can understand your wrong conclusion:

QUOTE
"but for me the worst thing is that the loops in construction kit format tend to be swamped with effect like reverb/delay which makes them sound great, but limits the use of the loops quite a bit, I wish they'd include a set of really dry loops so you could add a bit of grit to them and add your own effects, rather than them coming with ear candy sheen already applied."
QUOTE ENDED

One of the reasons why Zero-G libraries is so expensive (I either not so happy with 120 euro price tag) because they give you a lot. On "Disco" and "Satin" there are TONS of DRY separate loops. Guitars, bass, keys, syths, vocals on Disco, drumloops, you name it. I would say-there is the treasure for producers. Especialy gutar, basses and keys.

And about the sound. Yes, you're right. I tried to recreate that great sound. I manage (I think) to approach to about 50% of that level, maybe less. It's that damn MIDI. The 1983-1987 sound is easier, but that 1979-1981 EWF or Quincy Jones "The Dude" sound is impossible to make without serious investment in big studios and best musicians availible. And maybe Bruce Swedien :icon_smile:

Yes, and about "Satin Grooves". Yesterday I saw on "Time+Space" page (I assume you're buying as you're from UK on that page) - the review in Future Music gets 10/10 score. I'm so proud.

One small hint: There are two downloadable packs on Tracksource for a fraction of that (over)price of DVD.

Sorry about my boxy english. As you can see by surname, I'm Croatian.

Cheers and thanks. Wait for "Classic Disco2", coming Q4 2009!

**ashley_k** · February 1st, 2009, 11:24 AM

Well I hope my comments maybe useful and they didn't come across as being too negative, as I don't own "Classic Disco" or "Satin Grooves" I was making the comments on the construction kit format based on the wide range of libraries I own (and I own a lot), I do also understand that the amount of effects is subjective - I just prefer loops/samples to be as dry as possible, but I know to a certain extent you need to make the loops sound good straight out the box, it's kind of a limitation of the construction kit format, as obviously if you put completely dry loops in everyones going to go this sample library sounds flat and lifeless, and also as the producer of the library you want it to sound good.

Having said the above it would also be great to have very dry loops/sounds also on the disk, or what could be even better would be a "Classic Disco - the dry sessions" download pack at a reduced price on Time&Space/Zero-G - well that's my great idea of the day!

I think you've got very close to the sound, and you can get away with it sounding a bit less authentic when it's the faster tempo disco type stuff, but with the slower tempo stuff it shows up a bit more, taking into consideration all the factors I definitely think you got to 50% and over. I think once the loops are take from a kit and placed with other loops, then add a bit of creativity to it and your going end up with some floor fillers... I don't really think a construction kit should sound like it's a perfectly finished track anyway - people have to bring something to it and add that last little bit of magic.

As for price I don't think these libraries are massively over priced - but they could do with being a little more competitively priced, personally for me I don't think I'd get enough use out of them to justify the price at the moment, if I had extra cash floating around I'd probably grab them.

Having listened to a lot of sample library demos, I can usually workout what's good now and I think both your libraries should be getting good reviews.

No need to apologies about boxy English "Nema problema" (I hope that's right), anyway your English is a lot better than any attempt I would make at Croatian trust me!

"Classic Disco2" I hope that was not a secret! sounds promising...

P.S. I've added a couple of lines to my original post, just to clarify a couple of points - I don't want to discourage people from purchasing these sample/loop libraries, as if your looking for loops/samples in the styles covered by "Classic Disco" and "Satin Grooves" they should be at the top of your sample shopping list.