BandLab Sounds vs ProjectSAM
BandLab Sounds
bandlab.comProjectSAM
projectsam.comSide by side
| Figure | BandLab Sounds | ProjectSAM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8.25/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 15 |
| Spec score · Music Sample Libraries | 8.6 (#3) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Founded | 2015 | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Redistribution restriction | Redistribution or resale of BandLab Sounds as standalone samples is prohibited. | The EULA prohibits resale or redistribution of the samples and their derivatives, including edited samples, loops, stems and sampler patches. |
Plans
BandLab Sounds
- FreeFree
- BandLab Pro$14.99 a month
- BandLab Pro$99 a year
- BandLab Max$199 a year
ProjectSAM
- The Free OrchestraFree
- Colours: Animator$119, paid once
- Colours: Orchestrator$119, paid once
- Colours: Adaptive Runs$179, paid once
- Pandora Core$199, paid once
- Symphobia$299, paid once
- Symphobia 2$299, paid once
- Lineage Percussion$349, paid once
- Lineage Percussion$349, paid once
- Lineage Strings$349, paid once
In their own words
BandLab Sounds
BandLab Sounds is a library of royalty-free loops, samples, and one-shots for music creation. Its website advertises more than 160,000 loops and one-shots. Users can browse Packs, Loops, and One-Shots, preview sounds, save favorites, and download them; samples can also be dragged into BandLab Studio to make tracks. Downloads use claims that refresh weekly without carrying over: the Free plan gives 20 claims per week, BandLab Pro gives 100, and BandLab Max gives 500. A non-exclusive, royalty-free license allows use in personal or commercial compositions when a sound forms part of a larger composition, but standalone redistribution or resale is prohibited. My Sounds lets members upload external audio to cloud storage, organize collections, and search with custom tags. Supported formats are AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, and WAV, with a 2 GB allocation and a one-minute limit per file. BandLab Sounds is available on Android, iOS, and the web, including through the BandLab mobile app and Sounds Hubs. Listed prices include $14.99 a month for Pro and $199 a year for Max in the first year, then $299 a year.
ProjectSAM
ProjectSAM makes cinematic orchestral sample libraries for musicians, composers, and production studios scoring film, television, and games. Its Symphobia series combines pre-orchestrated ensembles, articulations, and orchestral effects. The collection covers full orchestra, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, keyboards and harp, choir, sound design, and multis; vocal content is included. ProjectSAM describes recording instruments in a concert hall with an ambient multi-microphone setup. Libraries use 44.1 kHz, 24-bit samples and Kontakt Player instruments. Most titles work in the free Kontakt Player, and Adaptive Sync matches sampled crescendos, rolls, and risers to project tempo. The Free Orchestra includes 14 instruments and 1.8 GB at free. Listed paid libraries include Lineage Strings and Lineage Percussion at $349, paid once, Swing More! at $449, paid once, and Symphobia 4: Pandora at $499, paid once. The pricing note says paid options start at €199. Libraries run on macOS and Windows.