F.A.Q:
Who are you guys?
Tonehammer is owned by academy award winning composer, Troels Folmann and TEC award winning sound designer, Mike Peaslee. We create world class quality musical instrument and sound sample libraries for professional use by composers for music for film, television, game and other media and recording artists, both professional and independent. We decided to create Tonehammer out of our passion for the art of deep sampling and compassion for our fellow composer friends. We believe that composers should be able to afford high quality playable samples and that they should be able to pick just the specific instruments they want. Additionally we are made of human flesh and our whole approach is social. We want to talk to you and get your feedback, which is why our entire website is made as a blog. If you want a more serious profile please click on this link and read our lengthy bios.
How does it work?
Its pretty simple. Our sample libraries come in easily downloadable packages. You surf around on this website. You find an instrument or two you like. You click the 'add to cart' button. You pay via secure transfer (paypal and/or google check-out) and we instantly provide download links to you. We are hosted on some pretty phat servers, so you should be getting your download at minimum 500k pr. sec – depending on your connection. For security, we limit the number of download attempts and time period that the links are active. However, if you have any trouble successfully downloading any or all of the data, just let us know and we'll refresh the links for you.
We do strongly recommend that you use a high-speed internet connection when downloading our libraries, as these libraries are often very large in size. We also cannot guarantee that our servers are able to support any form of "download manager" software, especially combined with dial-up connections.
Send us an email if you're having any trouble downloading your library. We can always refresh your download links or manually set you up with temporary personalized hard links on our back-up servers as needed. Just let us know if you have any difficulty and we'll do whatever it takes to get your libraries to you quickly as possible.
We recommend using latest version of Firefox, which generally produces the fastest and most reliable download results.
I've downloaded my instrument. Now what?
We use the Winrar format to compress our instrument bundles, as it reduces the server space, bandwidth and downloading time needed, as well as preserving our directory structure and relative file paths. Once you've downloaded the .rar archive file, extract it to wherever you like.
Here's a link to winrar for PC: http://www.win-rar.com/download.html
Here's a link to UnRarX for OSX: http://www.unrarx.com/
Why are some of your earlier samples only offered in mere 44.1kHz/16bit stereo?
After years of field and studio recording, making music and doing sound design, we've come to the realization that it's not always worth the extra disk space, bandwidth and memory footprint. The only truly important technical metric is how awesome an instrument sounds. It makes a lot more sense to offer more layers and round-robin variations per instrument, while remaining memory efficient so that users can think more about making music and less about the nuts and bolts. We work with great microphones, great recorders, effective recording and editing techniques and a whole lot of time and care. Our focus is on musicality and playability over fancy specifications. And we want to reach all users, not just those who can afford the best hardware.
Over time, we've stepped it up to 24-bit for most new content. However, fear not – every one of our older libraries are still just as fantastic sounding and professionally recorded and produced.
Do you process you samples, or are they truly pristine and raw as nature intended?
We proudly live the lie. Yes, we do occasional post-processing and even a little EQ and mastering work on our sounds. Our libraries are meant to sound good and punch through the mix right out the box. However, if an instrument sounds wet, we recorded it wet in a real space. We don't ever add reverb or delay, except when creating completely unreal and unique synthetic instruments. For all of our flesh and blood instruments, we prefer to capture instruments in locations that compliment their character or offer a unique flavor, wherever or whatever that may be.
I would like your samples sent on physical media?
We are completely online driven, but in rare cases, we can provide our content my mail to users who are in remote locations or have lmited web connections. We can provide our libraries on usb thumb drive or SDHC flash memory card. If you wish to have our samples sent on flash drive, please contact us prior to your purchase. We can make arrangements on a case-by-case basis. Also note that you'll be responsible for calculating, reporting and paying any sales/use/VAT tax that your country or state requires. While digital media is exempt from sales/use/VAT taxes, physical copies may not always be exempt in every state or country.
Buying/Licensing our samples:
I am a part of a music production company. Can we share a single license between multiple composers?
Come on, man. Don't be cheap! You ever heard of anybody selling super high quality sample libraries offering as many velocities and variations for the price we do? Each composer must own a license. We don't mind if you use your copy on more than one computer, as long as you're the only user. We believe in trust and know that you would never want to take advantage of us. Because we love you.
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Format:
Will you guys release in other sample formats like EXS, GigaStudio (R.I.P)?
The biggest market right now revolves around Native Instruments Kontakt. Our familiarity with the platform has made it our go-to standard, but we always try to naturally adapt to strong market shifts. We've just begun the process of converting a few of our libraries over to EXS24 and an open format called SFZ. Right now, only a few of our instruments include EXS24 and/or SFZ instrument patches, but we'll be adding a few more every now and then.
We're excited about SFZ, because it has a lot of deep features and there are a number of free and low-cost Mac and PC-based sample players and soft-synths out there that can use the format. We hear that there may even be options for Linux users down the road. If you happen to find any good SFZ compatible players or make your own port to another format, we'd love to hear about it. Our current favorite is Wuzikstation, a high-quality vst instrument (PC-only) that can play sfz ï¬les. It's affordable, supports most core SFZ functionality and the Epic Toms sound great with it. Learn more here: http://www.wusik.com
What version of Kontakt do I need?
All Tonehammer libraries require the full retail version of Native Instruments Kontakt 2.2.4 / 3.5 or 4.
Note: All ourlibraries work in Kontakt 3 or 4, however some instruments that use the Tonemachine and Timemachine engines or other advanced programing may not play properly due to unresolved bugs. Please let us know if you run into any trouble at all and we'll see if we can find a work-around.
PLEASE NOTE: The free Kontakt Player DOES NOT support any of our libraries at this time. It only supports specially pre-encoded and encrypted libraries that use the NI Service Center registration program.
Can I use Locked Sample Library Kontakt Sample Players for Tonehammer libraries?
No. The locked sample library Kontakt Sample Players are specifically designed for the original library you purchased. Locked Sample Players does not allow import of any other libraries. We know … Sux!.
What Tonehammer libraries support the Free Kontakt Player?
Our Epic Frame Drums, Solo Frame Drums and Emotional Piano are currently supporting the Free Kontakt Player. Please note you need FULL RETAIL version of Kontakt to use any of our other libraries.
How do I install a Free Kontakt Player library?
How do I install Emotional Piano?
How do I install Epic Frame Drum?
How do I install Solo Frame Drum?
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Payment/Purchasing & Cart:
How does purchasing and download work?
You find an instrument you like and click the "add to cart" button and a window pops up. You can either go directly to PayPal or Google Check-Out from this window or shut it down and continue surfing or add additional instruments to the cart. The second you want to buy – just click the PayPal or Google icon in the shopping cart window and you will be taken into the secure store on Paypal or Google depending on your choice. The second you pay – you will receive a download link and a mail containing the download link. The download link is valid for 24 hours and 100% secure.
Why is my download is not working?
Tonehammer has different solutions for this problem and it is our commitment to ensure your download goes through as soon as possible. But there is a few things you can do to help us:
Please download latest version of Firefox by clicking here (Internet Explorer and Safari can cause download issues)
Please do not use any "download manager" type of software, since it generally tends to confuse the downloads.
Please ensure that your connection is stable and the problems are not created by your home setup. We recommend testing your speed by clicking here and reset your router to ensure you are on a stable connection. Please contact your ISP if your connection seems to be impacted.
Please contact tonehammer ASAP – if your download links have run out of time/attempts and we will send you new ones within approx. 6-8 hours.
If you follow these recommendations and your download problem still persists – then we go to plan 2:
Please contact Tonehammer and describe the download problem in detail.
Tonehammer will set you up with our alternative backup server and ensure you get the product ASAP. We haven't had one customer who didn't receive their product, so trust us on this one. It may not be much of a comfort, but imagine that all this was done with snail-mail instead of download. It would take 3-5 business days instead of 3-5 hours of waiting.
Please notice that Tonehammer is using one of the biggest and most reliable file storage systems in the world hosted by Amazon. The system is always running, however a variety of complications can result in unexpected download issues (ex. ISP issues, gateway connections, malfunctioning hubs, nodes etc), but Amazon is working 99.999% of the time, so its highly unlikely its a server related issue.
Do you store my credit card information?
No. We never see your credit card information, since it is all handled by PayPal and Google.
What types of payment do you accept?
Anything that PayPal or Google allows, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and PayPal.
I am trying to add multiple items to the cart – but they don't show up?
We recommend you use the latest version of Firefox/Mozilla, which will give you to optimal shopping experience. Unfortunately some versions of Safari and Internet explorer are having issues remembering items in the cart.
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Discount:
Do you guys give discount – if I buy multiple instruments?
Yes, brother. Tonehammer offers volume based discount. Please go to this page to read more about our discount offers.
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License Agreement:
By installing any Tonehammer product you accept the following product license agreement:
1. License Grant:
The license for this product is granted only to a single user. All sounds and samples in this product are licensed, but not sold, to you by Tonehammer, Inc. for commercial and non-commercial use in music, sound-effect, audio/video post-production, performance, broadcast or similar finished content-creation and production use. 

Tonehammer allows you to use any of the sounds and samples in the library(s) you've purchased for commercial recordings without paying any additional license fees or providing source attribution to Tonehammer, Inc. This license expressly forbids any unauthorized inclusion of content contained within this library, or any any Tonehammer library, into any other sample instrument or library of any kind, without our express written consent.
This license also forbids any re-distribution method of this product, or its sounds, through any means, including but not limited to, re-sampling, mixing, processing, isolating, or embedding into software or hardware of any kind, for the purpose of re-recording or reproduction as part of any free or commercial library of musical and/or sound effect samples and/or articulations, or any form of musical sample or sound effect sample playback system or device. Licenses cannot be transferred to another entity, without written consent of Tonehammer, Inc.
2. Rights:
Tonehammer retains full copyright privileges and complete ownership of all recorded sounds, instrument programming, documentation and musical performances included in this product.
3: Refunds:
Downloaded libraries can't be returned, so we can't provide refunds. We may choose do so at our own discretion,but please be aware that as soon as you've downloaded it, you can't return it.
4. Responsibility:
Using this product and any supplied software is at the licensee’s own risk. Tonehammer holds no responsibility for any direct or indirect loss arising from any form of use of this product.
5. Terms:
This license agreement is effective from the moment the product is installed by any means. The license will remain in full effect until termination. The license is terminated if you break any of the terms or conditions of this agreement, or request a refund for any reason. Upon termination you agree to destroy all copies and contents of the product at your own expense.
6. Violation:
We don't use any form of DRM software, registration, license keys or other anti-piracy technology. We do this because we love you. That's also one of the reasons our prices are so low, even though it takes a long time to make these libraries. The other reason is because we love music almost as much as we love you. If you've done any “deep sampling” and the labor-intensive programming that comes with it, you know that it is very hard work. Remember, the more you support us, the more awesome libraries we can afford to make for you.
7. Freebies:
All Tonehammer libraries are subject to the license agreement specified above (1-6). All Tonehammer "freebies" are subject to the same license agreement unless specified otherwise.
Water harp | Tonehammer
August 22, 2010