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How to Subsocial

We're here to help.

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We created this page to easily answer the most common questions that we're asked about our sounds and releases.

 

You'll always find up to date guides, answers and tips right here.

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Let us know if there's something else we should have on this page that would help.

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The "Basics"

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All our audio files are 96 kHz / 24 bits.

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  • They are higher quality files than most other samples.

  • A sample rate of 96 kHz means better time stretching and pitch shifting.

  • Higher sample rates have many other benefits for professional workflows.

  • 96 kHz files can be easily converted to lower sample rates.

  • 24 bit is the standard bit depth quality of most production grade audio and recordings.

  • Higher bit depths allow for more flexibility during the production process.

  • Our flies will work fine in 16 bit or 32 bit projects in any software.

  • All of our audio files will work in any software or hardware as standard .WAV files.

  • Our audio files may exist as mono,  stereo, or a spatial format.

  • Most issues will audio files that "don't work" are due to differences in sample rate, bit depth or channel count.

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Our MIDI files are regular MIDI files.

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  • MIDI files are just patterns of notes and controller changes over time. Notes and controller changes are just numbers between 1-127.

  • Import, drag, or load them on any hardware, or in any software that is MIDI capable.

  • Most MIDI files are single parts, like chords or a melody.

  • Some MIDI files are complete songs with multiple parts that will import on multiple tracks.

  • Sometimes your software will ask you if you want to import the tempo and time signature that's in the MIDI clip. This is normal, but you should probably choose not to if you're bringing it into an existing project you're working on.

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Software Compatibility 

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  • If something is not working or loading, first try and update your software.

  • We usually develop in the latest versions of software. If in doubt, ask us and we can let you know if a release will work with your setup.

  • Each release page will specify the software it's specifically designed for.

  • You can always use any .WAV audio in our packs to make your own instruments with.

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Where to keep our files.

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  • First, you should UNZIP your downloaded files and store them somewhere you'll remember.

  • We highly recommend keeping all of our releases in a folder that doesn't move named, "Subsocial Studios" - this makes your life a lot easier, you'll see.

  • Most issues when loading instruments, effects, or presets are due to missing or moved files.

  • For software DAW specific help, keeping scrolling down.

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Avoid problems and remember this:

  • If you always keep our release folders intact and load things from their original location in the release folders, then things should always work!

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Spatial Audio

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All of our current spatial audio releases offer binaural and 1st Order Ambisonics formats.

 

We choose to release in Ambisonics B-Ambix format because it sounds good and is easy to capture, use, and produce with. It can also be converted to other spatial formats easily, and is useful as immersive audio assets in VR productions and game design.

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The binaural files we provide are rendered from the same ambisonic recordings.

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  • Spatial audio is anything "beyond" stereo

  • Spatial audio sounds impressive on playback systems that support it.

  • The files are still .WAV files in most cases.

  • The simplest spatial audio format is "binaural." It is 2 channels, and can be played back on any device that can play stereo sound. The only real requirement is using headphones to listen to the extra depth that binaural brings. You can use any of our binaural files as regular stereo files, just keep this in mind.

  • Any multichannel .WAV file with 3 or more tracks is probably "spatial audio."

  • Your software will need to support multichannel audio .WAV files in order to use it. Most professional audio software can support spatial audio.

  • You will most likely need to learn more about spatial audio production before using spatial file formats if you don't know much about it.

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Spatial
Files
Orders
Now & Forever

Downloads & Orders

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Sometimes downloads fail. All of our files and ZIP packages have been tested to work. If your downloaded file(s) don't UNZIP properly, or are missing files after you UNZIP them, please download the ZIP archive again as your download may have failed or become corrupted in some way.

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If you're a Windows user and are having trouble UNZIPPING things, please try and update your UNZIP app/utility if you're having issues with opening your downloaded ZIP files. Try using the latest version of 7-ZIP (it's free).

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After purchasing an individual release you have 30 days to download your file(s).

 

If you do not download your files within that time, or you need to download the file again after 30 days, please contact us with your original order number, and we will issue you fresh links to your download(s).

 

Now & Forever Members Downloads

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Members of our Now or Forever plan do not have download links that expire.

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When downloading through our Subsocial Now or Forever members area, you will be able to download whatever releases you want a reasonable number of times, after which you'll need to ask us to reset your download count. This is to prevent download abuse.

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Bulk downloads are available for members, but keep in mind that large downloads through a web browser with an internet connection that is slow, unstable, or disconnects randomly, will result in failed or corrupted downloads. If you don't have a fast or reliable internet connection, consider bulk downloading in "chunks" instead of everything at once.

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Ableton

Ableton Live

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Ableton Live for device/preset/set compatibility.

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Ableton Files & Folders

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If you're not sure on how to manage and use files easily with Ableton, here's a quick guide to get you up and running.

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  • Our Ableton focused releases are typically just like Ableton Project folders.

  • .ALS files are the Ableton Live set & project files.

  • .ALC files are Ableton MIDI or audio "Clips" that also have custom sounds and effects attached to them. They are sort of like track presets, so dragging them onto a new track is what they're made for!

  • .ADG files are Ableton "Device Group" files, which could be made with Ableton drum racks, synthesizers, samplers, or even just effects racks that can be loaded into another Ableton set.

 

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  • .ADV files are "Ableton Device" preset files, which could be Ableton instrument/sampler/synthesizer patches or effects presets. You can load them from anywhere by navigating to them in Ableton's Browser. Double clicking them will load them into a new instance of the associated Ableton Device.​ Keep any Ableton 12 or later .ADV files with the included "Ableton Folder Info" folders in order to take advantage of our tags and filters that we've made for them. 

 

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We highly suggest doing the following with our Ableton packs and sessions:

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  1. Create a folder named, "Subsocial Studios."

  2. Download and unzip each of our downloads into your "Subsocial Studios" folder. Future downloads can go in the same folder, and Ableton will automatically show new folders you add.

  3. Each release/download will be a folder inside your main "Subsocial Studios" folder.

  4. Open Ableton and add your new "Subsocial Studios" folder to "Places" in your Ableton browser.

  5. Drag and drop any of our sessions, .adg files, (racks, instruments, effects etc.) or our Ableton instrument preset files into any sessions you're working on, and they'll just work!

Moving an .ADG file to another folder outside of the downloaded folder, and then loading it in a different Ableton session will result in Ableton saying that "Media files are missing." This is normal.

 

You either need to put .ADG file back in its original folder, or re-link the media files in Ableton.

FL Studio

FL Studio​

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of FL Studio for device/preset/set compatibility.​​

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All of our FL Studio releases will works with all versions of FL Studio.

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FL Studio users already know that they must enable "Browser extra search folders" in Options - File Settings.. and add custom user folders to load things using the FL Browser.

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You must load files into FL using your user folders locations, or drag and drop any of our entire release folders into the FL Browser before loading anything in to your FL project.

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FL Studio Files & Folders
 

  • .FLP files are complete FL project files. They can loaded like any other FL project.​

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  • .FST files are FL preset files of various kinds. They can be anything from a single FL device, effect, or instrument preset, to a complex FL Patcher preset complete with a custom control surface.​​

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  • .FLC files are FL Score clips that are essential MIDI clips and/or automation data.

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Things will always load and work if you: 

  • Always load any files from the release folder.

  • Do not move files from where they are inside the release folder. 

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Remember: If you want to move your files, then move the whole release folder.

Logic

Logic Pro

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Logic Pro from the App store.​

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All of our Logic Pro releases will works with Logic Pro and and the version of Logic that comes with the new Apple Creator Studio Bundle. They are the same version of Logic Pro.

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Logic Pro Files & Folders
 

  • .LOGICX files are complete Logic project files. They can loaded like any other Logic Pro project. They may or may not contain embedded audio files and other project resources.​​

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  • .PATCH files are complex Logic channel strip configuration presets, that contain smart controls, audio effects and/or instruments. They may or may not contain embedded audio files and other resources.

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  • .EXS files are Logic Sampler instrument presets. .PATCH files may need these to load sampler instruments, and you can load individual Logic Sampler presets with these files.

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  • .PST files are simple single device preset files for effects or instruments.

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Things will always load and work if you: 

  • Always load any files from the release folder.

  • Do not move files from where they are inside the release folder. 

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Remember: If you want to move your files, then move the whole release folder.

Kontakt Battery

Kontakt & Battery​

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Kontakt or Battery using your Native Access app.​​

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Important Note: 

All of our Kontakt releases require the full, paid version of Kontakt to load. The free version of Kontakt, known as Kontakt Player only loads official Kontakt Libraries.

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Kontakt Files & Folders
 

  • .NKI files are single Kontakt Instrument presets. You can drag and drop or load them from your Kontakt browser. They may or may not contain embedded audio files and other instrument resources.​​

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  • .NKC & .NKR  files come with .NKI files and are needed to make the the instruments work as intended. You can ignore, but do not delete these files.

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  • .NKM files are Kontakt Multi-Instrument files. These will load multiple instruments at once with signal flow settings.

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Some of our Kontakt releases may embed the audio and resources inside the .NKI file as a monolithic type Kontakt file.

 

Some of our releases may not embed the audio files in order to save storage space because they are part of a release with multiple formats.

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If you want your Kontakt instrument to be "portable" you can save any of our Kontakt instruments as a monolithic type file so that the audio is embedded.

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Things will always load and work if you: 

  • Always load any files from the release folder.

  • Do not move files from where they are inside the release folder. 

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Remember: If you want to move your files, then move the whole release folder.

Decent Sampler

Decent Sampler​

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Decent Sampler.​

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Download Decent Sampler here.

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Decent Sampler is a high quality, easy to use, highly capable, and totally free software sampler. It works with any DAW (VST, AU, AAX) , standalone (Mac, Windows), and Apple or Android devices. It has no limitations, pay walls, nag screens, or surprise subscriptions. There is a Browse feature that allows you to buy commercial instruments, or you can load instruments like ours from your computer.

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After installing Decent Sampler, you can set your "Instruments Location" where you can store any of our releases. Just ensure that you store our entire release folders there for them to work properly.

 

You can also load our Decent Sampler instruments by dragging and dropping them into Decent Sampler once it's loaded in your DAW project or as a standalone app.

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Decent Sampler Files & Folders
 

  • .DSPRESET files are single instrument presets that need a Samples folder with WAV files and other resources to work correctly. They do not contain embedded audio files or other instrument resources. You will see these files when they are part of a release with multiple formats in order to save storage space.​​

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  • .DSBUNDLES & DSLIBRARY files have embedded audio files and resources and are totally portable. They do not need any other external files or folders to work correctly. They may be a single instrument preset, or a bank of multiple presets.​​

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Things will always load and work if you: 

  • Always load any files from the release folder.

  • Do not move files from where they are inside the release folder. 

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Remember: If you want to move your files, then move the whole release folder.

MPC

MPC​

 

For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of your AKAI software and/or hardware.​

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All our MPC releases are compatible with most modern MPC software and hardware that supports MPC Expansion (.XPN) and .XMP program/kit formats.

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MPC Files & Folders
 

  • .XPN files are drag and drop MPC Expansion pack installers that have embedded audio files and resources. Drag them into your MPC software, or onto your MPC hardware's internal storage where its Expansions are located (the Expansions folder).

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  • .XPM files are single Program files or "kits." You may see them inside the Expansion after you install it.​​

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If you are only interested in MPC kits, you may safely delete all other release files and folders in the release folder if you need to save drive space.​

Serum

Serum

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Serum for the best sound preset compatibility.

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Installing Serum Presets

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You will find .fxp Serum Preset files inside the included folder:

Serum Presets/Subsocial Studios/release name

 

These .fxp files are individual Serum presets. Each.fxp file contains everything that's needed for each preset to work.

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To install Serum presets:

Copy the "Subsocial Studios" folder inside the included, "Serum Presets" folder to your "Serum Presets Folder" on your computer.


You can easily get to the folder:

1) In Serum, click Menu (top right) then "Show Serum Presets folder".

This will open Finder on a Mac or File Explorer on Windows.

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2) Click and go inside the "Presets" folder you now see.

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3) Drag and drop our "Subsocial Studios" folder inside the "Presets" folder.
   
Note: If you already have a "Subsocial Studios" folder in the "Presets" folder, then simply drag the folder inside that's named after the preset pack to your existing one!

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A bank of Subsocial Studios presets will now show in your presets menu the next time you load Serum.

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Serum Preset files locations:

MAC
Macintosh HD/Library/Au
dio/Presets/Xfer Records/Serum Presets/Presets/Subsocial Studios

WINDOWS
C:\Users\ YOURUSERNAME \Documents\Xfer\Serum Presets\Presets\Subsocial Studios

 

Vital

Vital

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For best results, we recommend updating to the latest version of Vital for the best sound preset compatibility.

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Installing Vital Files

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You will find .vitalbank type files in these releases. These files are complete banks (collections of sound presets). They contain everything that's needed for our presets to work.

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To use this .vitalbank file, simply open up Vital and then click the Vital menu icon and choose "Import Bank" - now navigate to the .vitalbank file you downloaded and click Open. 

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A bank of presets will install automatically to your default Vital Presets folder and you will see them as a new folder bank in your presets browser, ready to play.

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Troubleshooting:

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On some Windows systems you may encounter an issue when using the above method to install your .vitalbank presets. If you're not seeing our presets in the folder after importing a bank, please try the following workaround:

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1) Rename your .vitalbank. file to a .zip file by changing the file extension to: .zip

2) Now extract your new .zip file.

3) Copy the extracted folder to the default Vital folder:

 

 "User/Documents/Vital" folder.

You can place it anywhere in your Vital folder and it should show up the next time your load Vital. 

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Tips:

If you ever move (or delete) your Vital folder, then the next time you start Vital, it will ask you where to install presets. You can then select a your new location.

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You can organize your Vital folder's presets however you like, but soundbanks or packs of presets should be stored like this with a subfolder named, "Presets":

 

"Pack or Bank Name/Presets/preset.vital"

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