99Sounds vs Zenhiser

99Sounds is an independent sound design label and free sound effects repository launched in 2014 by Tomislav Zlatić. Its collections include cinematic effects, drum samples, field recordings, rain sounds, loops, and other categories. Audio files and plugins are royalty-free for personal and commercial projects, including music, video, game development, podcasts, and sound design, and attribution is not required. The license does not permit selling or redistributing downloaded audio, either separately or as an attachment to work. It also bars use of the sounds in noise, white-noise, sleep-sound, or similar apps. Free instrument plugins are listed in VST, VST3, and AU formats. The maker says its instruments work with VST and AU hosts on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and macOS, but not macOS Catalina. Drumplayer includes twelve kits, eight slots, stereo and multiple mono outputs, channel volume and pan, and pitch-modulation LFO. Upright Piano includes four sampled notes per octave, six dynamic layers per note, and adjustable envelope, tremolo, filter, and reverb. Sound and plugin downloads cost nothing.

Zenhiser sells downloadable sounds, loops, MIDI and presets for music production. Its catalog is aimed at producers, remixers and film scorers, and the company says it serves producers at all levels. The Technology sample pack includes song starters, loops, stems, drum sounds and one-shots; its listing specifies 461 samples, 5.1GB unzipped and no MIDI, with drum kick samples also identified. Technology audio is supplied as 24-bit WAV and described as 100% royalty free; the listed sample format is 24-bit 44.1 kHz WAV. The pack is priced at $53, paid once. After an order is complete, download links appear on the order page and in a backup email. Links do not expire, but each product allows five download attempts, which are IP logged. Purchases grant a non-exclusive, non-transferable license for use in musical or audio compositions; redistribution as standalone files or collections is barred. Zenhiser was founded in 2005 by Tony Rapacioli.