Top 10 loops de la crème Kontakt libraries
Discover the ten best LDLC libraries according to users!
In October 2024, we ran a survey asking users to select their three favourite LDLC libraries and share what they liked about the instruments. A total of 420 users participated in the survey. Points were attributed according to the users’ votes (top1= 3pts, top2 = 2pts, top3 = 1pt) in order to establish the top-ten list below. You can find a detail of the survey scores for each library at the bottom of this page :)
TOP TEN LIST
1. CYMBAL ROLLS
Realistic cymbal rolls that you control in real-time with your mod wheel
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €42 (+VAT for EU customers)
WHAT USERS SAY:
“I use cymbal rolls in nearly every project. The level of ease in the controls/gui mixed with the cymbal selection, and how real the articulations sound make it one of my top kontakt libraries. Perfect for building transitions and connecting two parts of a song.” Gordon Oswald
“These are awesome for dramatic video scenes, they integrate seamlessly!” ViS (Fadi Y.)
“I use this quite often in my live performance. I assign the roll intensity to my expression pedal. Indispensable in my live set-up.” Chee Liow
2. MAGIC AFRICAN DRUMS
Authentic sounds and grooves of central and western African percussions
WHAT USERS SAY:
“The Talking Drum is phenomenal, and the rest of the library is no slouch either! The dryness of the recording makes it easy to place and mix as well.” David Lennstrom
“LOVE the sounds captured here, a lot of original and bespoke percussion sounds taken from Julien’s personal collection of handmade instruments. The round robin is great as well as the ability to change the drum pattern with the mod wheel! There is a personal and spiritual vibe that I feel in these recordings, as it was done by an artist for artists. Music is about connection beyond our differences, and having access to these authentic African drums and being able to play them effortlessly in Kontakt is a gift of this modern interconnected world. I would otherwise not have access to these organic sounds.” JJ Jennings
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €112 (+VAT for EU customers)
3. ORGANIC TRANSITIONS
Percussion transitions, textures and soundscapes
WHAT USERS SAY:
“ I use this in every single project. It is so useful and works like audio glue to create organic transitions between different sections of a song.” Hans Scheffler https://www.youtube.com/@Digitalaudiodesign
“I'm a huge fan of transitions in general, and Organic Transitions is hands-down the best transitions library I've encountered or used. The beautifully curated sounds, the variety of sounds, and the ease of use all converge to form a stunning instrument that has become one of my regular go-tos.” Mervyn Warren https://mervynwarren.com/
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €59 (+VAT for EU customers)
4. PREHISTORIC DRUMKIT
Percussive, melodic and atmospheric instruments inspired by Prehistory
WHAT USERS SAY:
“This is simply the most fun little percussion library! It really captures the joy of banging rocks together, and the included soundscape textures provide a wonderful atmosphere.” Nathan S.
“I had to get this one when I saw it. Rocks and sticks being struck against one another just like how humans started playing music. It inspired me to write a song with that theme almost immediately.” Jasonology
“Magical, surrealistic. And very unique.” MaraBu
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €59 (+VAT for EU customers)
5. CHIMES DELUXE
Ultra-realistic bar chimes instruments
WHAT USERS SAY:
“Very well sampled: one note per chime. And when you play a chime, the ones next to it resonate too, just like real bar chimes. The result is very natural.” David D. - website: https://www.david-deplagne.com/
“Something magical about this one! Super easy to use, and the three different instruments provide lots of sonic options. “ Kristina G.
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €49 (+VAT for EU customers)
6. CLAPS - STOMPS - SNAPS
Replicate the sound of a group of people clapping and stomping together!
WHAT USERS SAY:
“My tracking room is pretty dead, so I appreciate the ambience and space of these samples. Very useful!” Alex. Website: https://www.killerpenguinproductions.com/
“Really like this library because of the sound quality and controllability. I have a couple of other clap stomp libraries that don’t quite hit the mark—i constantly find myself going to this one because of how accessible the GUI is and for the realism in the recordings. Perfect for adding energy to a track!” Gordon Oswald
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €4 (+VAT for EU customers)
7. BELL EMPIRE DELUXE
A huge collection of cinematic bell instruments
WHAT USERS SAY:
“This libary is HUGE. It is really the best compendium and sum of bells that I have ever tried and I assure You after 30 year of computer music I have tons of Kontakt instruments.” Carlo Alberto Villani Rigo
“So many great sounds, and the multis are well organised and super useful. Very well sampled too!” Roberto M.
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €119 (+VAT for EU customers)
8. EASY TAMBOURINE
Easy and realistic tambourine grooves
WHAT USERS SAY:
“The name says it all! Easy to make groove and add energy, and the included effects makes it very easy to mix and get the right sound!” David O.
“Not everyone has a Stevie Nicks or Hope Sandoval around to play in the pocket and in the groove when you're laying down your sweet 70's track, or your downtempo goth blues rock anthem. This does the trick and much more.” J from Ambientnauts https://www.youtube.com/@Ambientnauts
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €8 (+VAT for EU customers)
9. 80s SNARES
The essence of the 80s for tomorrow's music :)
WHAT USERS SAY:
“Great sounding 80s snare sound. I use them in big ballads to get that authentic sound.” Alexander Kriche https://www.alexanderkriche.co.uk/
“Who doesn’t love an eighties snare? Think wild hair, crazy colours and make-up. It’s snare time. Add a gate’d reverb and transport back in time. Time for some air drums.” monophreak, https://monophreak.com/
“Super sound quality, with the authentic style of the decade. Saves you messing about with plugins to get the tone right - just use these instead and hey presto...” Christopher T.
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €24 (+VAT for EU customers)
10. EASY THEREMIN
WHAT USERS SAY:
“ Smooth legato. Smooth amplitude changes. Smooth vibrato. Sounds good!” Fretman https://www.taxi.com/members/fretman
“Used it all over the Universal Pictures movie ‘Doula’ !! It was the sound of the main character!!” Stefan Skarbek
“Easy Theremin sound great. I love the built-in extended range and all the variations. It’s very easy to get great sounds and melodies from it. I used it on this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDifRMYaMqU “ Casey Mason
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €32 (+VAT for EU customers)
Libraries ranked 10th to 20th place
The following libraries didn’t make it to the top ten, but the results were very close and many users included them in their top-3 picks:
11. AQUATIC DRUMKIT
A collection of percussive, melodic and atmospheric instruments inspired by water
“Nice and original tools to use the natural musicality of the water in sound composition.” Emiliano L. https://emilianoise.bandcamp.com/music
“Surprisingly useful, and a very complete library with soundscapes and melodic instruments too. Lovely!” Hans G.
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €79 (+VAT for EU customers)
12. MANHATTAN DRUMS
A superb jazz drum kit with breathtaking realism
“Well recorded, creative and supremely usable!” Daniel Portis-Cathers https://deepseamusic.bandcamp.com/
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €64 (+VAT for EU customers)
13. PRIMES GOLD
A collection of 20 world-class percussion libraries
“The breadth and depth of this collection is really fantastic. There are so many interesting percussion instruments included, all sampled with great attention to detail. The standouts for me have been the mallet drums/percussion, the XXL chimes and the iron bars.” Nathan S.
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €399 (+VAT for EU customers)
14. SONGBIRD VIRTUOSO
The first fully playable virtual songbirds
“What a beautiful product and so extraordinary! Nothing comparable in the market. That's what got me into loops de la crème.” The Duke Creates https://www.duke-creates.de/
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €39 (+VAT for EU customers)
15. MAGIC 70s DRUM CREW
Reproduce the sound of musicians grooving and improvising together!
“Very groovy for jamming and getting a fun vibe!” Shane Griffiths
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €49 (+VAT for EU customers)
16. UDU DELUXE
“A deep sampling work that explores and compiles the most nuances and sound potential of a rich tonal percussive instrument.” Emiliano Lopez
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €39 (+VAT for EU customers)
17. BATTLE OF THE MINI SYNTHS
A unique collection of portable synths and toy keyboards
“Who has all those all synths and working? !! love it!” Stefan Skarbek
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €39 (+VAT for EU customers)
18. TIMBALES DELUXE
The ultimate timbales library
“These are possibly the best sampled and most detailed Latin music timpani on the market. highly recommended. 9/10” Juan Pedro Falcon Prieto
19. PALACE ROCK DRUMS
Your go-to drum kit for powerful and punchy drum tracks
“Most probably the best drum kit library for Kontakt. Both snares sound fantastic , kick and toms are there to eq to taste leaving room for personal explorations and experimentation , if you want that. Rides & cymbals are also great and fit in the mix with little to no effort. Overall tone is great and easy to work with. Excellent dynamics , plenty of velocity layers plus round robin make it versatile and the low velocity samples (soft playing) are detailed and pretty much amazing , ghost hits are very satisfying , making it suitable for various genres.” Petros Metaxakis
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €89 (+VAT for EU customers)
20. KICK N’ BRUSH
Easily play realistic jazz brush grooves
“Unique and funky, high quality samples and nice MIDI grooves!” Simon R. https://soundcloud.com/septimon-band
Read more info on the product page
LIST PRICE: €79 (+VAT for EU customers)
SURVEY RANKINGS AND SCORES:
420 users participated in our ‘top-ten survey’ and selected their top three favorite libraries. Points were attributed according to the users’ votes (top1= 3pts, top2 = 2pts, top3 = 1pt). Here are the results:
1. CYMBAL ROLLS (184 points)
2. MAGIC AFRICAN DRUMS (115 points)
3. ORGANIC TRANSITIONS (104 points)
4. PREHISTORIC DRUMKIT (99 points)
5. CHIMES DELUXE (92 points)
6. CLAPS STOMPS SNAPS (90 points)
7. BELL EMPIRE DELUXE (88 points)
8. EASY TAMBOURINE (87 points)
9. 80s SNARES (85 points)
10. EASY THEREMIN (82 points)
11. AQUATIC DRUMKIT (80 points)
12. MANHATTAN DRUMS (79 points)
13. PRIMES GOLD (76 points)
14. SONGBIRD VIRTUOSO (75 points)
15. MAGIC 70s DRUM CREW (72 points)
16. UDU DELUXE (69 points)
17. BATTLE OF THE MINI SYNTHS (68 points)
18. TIMBALES DELUXE (65 points)
19. PALACE ROCK DRUMS (64 points)
20. KICK N’ BRUSH (61 points)
