Arcade by Output vs Samples From Mars

Arcade by Output is a playable sampler and instrument plugin for exploring, shaping, and tweaking samples and instruments on macOS and Windows. An Arcade subscription includes over 60 product lines, 4,400 samplers, 1,300 chromatic instruments, and 80,000 samples. Output says the royalty-free library is updated daily with synths, vocals, textures, drums, and multisampled instruments. Users can add their own samples for automatic chopping, slicing, and effects, then create playable kits. Sounds can be locked to key and tempo and reshaped with sampler tools. Arcade works with major DAWs through 64-bit AAX, AU, VST, and VST3 formats, and MIDI is included. It can run as a standalone application for previewing, playing, and downloading, but recording is unavailable there. Internet access is needed for login and downloads; downloaded kits and loops work offline for 30 days. System requirements include macOS 12 or later or Windows 10 or later, 8 GB RAM, and a 64-bit system and DAW. Arcade monthly access is $12.99 per month.

Samples From Mars sells sample libraries and software instruments made from vintage electronic and vinyl instruments. Its team captures sounds using hardware, consoles, tape machines and vinyl, then provides libraries as ZIP files containing 24-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV files. Downloads are for offline use, not a cloud sample service, and products are sold per item. The free 101 Drums From Mars plan includes 60 drum hits and is 60 MB unzipped. Cassette Drums From Mars costs $29, paid once and includes 430 one-shots, 16 pre-made kits and 488.5 MB unzipped. 808 From Mars costs $39, paid once and lists 16 formats. Other listed content includes 18 multi-sampled instruments, 22 drum patterns and fills, vocal synths and trumpets. Formats include Ableton, Battery, FL Studio, Kontakt, Logic, Maschine, MPC, Reason, SFZ and WAV; installation instructions name Ableton, Kontakt and Maschine. Sounds are royalty free in commercially released musical compositions, but redistribution is prohibited and use in websites, applications or software requires a separate license. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Brooklyn, New York.