anybody bought sample kits off of ebay??

That collection you're looking at is probably simple soundfonts, like the ones freely available on the net for Reason, FL etc.

99% of the time these samples are plain BS. Washed out, cheesy, way too digital and dry sounds.

You need to get yourself some real samples. Here's a starting point: go look out for Northern/Motown soul 45's.

I had a a list of resources on my blog, here's the link for it. TONS of free drum sounds from classic samples to drum machines, check it out:

http://www.beatstatus.com/2009/04/5-resources-for-free-drum-sounds/

kebzer wrote:That collection you're looking at is probably simple soundfonts, like the ones freely available on the net for Reason, FL etc.

99% of the time these samples are plain BS. Washed out, cheesy, way too digital and dry sounds.

You need to get yourself some real samples. Here's a starting point: go look out for Northern/Motown soul 45's.

yeah kebzer is on point. ebay will most likely have some "pre-loaded" samps for you to mess around with, but you really dont know what you are getting. the samples could be cut off (esp on the crashes). bad quality. etc.kinda seems like ebay samples are an easy way out. ive bought drums off of ebay before and i think i lucked out because i do use them. not the greatest, but they are neat. cool sounds. however i take MY sampled drums or sounds that ive sampled (i miced a hollow wall and hit it for a kick once among other things) and layered those with the drums i got from ebay. so i guess its all how you use them... if they are good.

i end up digging for records like 3 times a week. i shouldn't do it anymore because im broke haha. but you gotta find your nitch with what you like to sample or what you're going for. ive played alot of classical music and sometimes in orchestra there are samples in my head for days. But yeah for drums motown/northern soul. that IS where its at.

peas

The ebay samples are always sketchy, and you never know the legality to use them. It'd suck to spend a lot of time making beats only to have Roland/Yamaha or whoever come after you for using sounds illegally ripped from their machines. Well that isn't as likely to happen (though it can still be illegal), what is more likely is that the samples could be ripped off from a top track and may be recognized as such. At least if you record your own samples you know the source, who to credit and who to make nice with if you make a track that ever becomes successful. The defense, I got it from some dude on ebay that nobody can find probably won't hold much water when the lawyers come bangin.

So pros:
A lot of samples dirt cheap
Don't have to sample own stuff
Avoids "digger's lung"

Cons:
Questionable legality to use samples
Probably junk anyways
Time wasted sorting the good from the bad