Minimal Techno reviewed:Computer Music, March 2009
The collection is categorised into bass, combi, drum, musical, synth and top loops, as well as single hits and FX. Characteristic of this series, most of the samples are so well processed and have such cleverly crafted stereo imaging that they seem to leap out of the speakers. These are quite possibly the freshest dance sounds on the market at present – get ‘em before everyone else does! Rating: 10/10."
DJ magazine, March 2009
For those who don’t have much time in the studio, it is essential to have an array of cool percussion sounds at hand, and this has them in abundance – many of which can be used across a range of 4/4 genres. The musical loops are equally versatile and range from lush to groovy, always striking the right balance between processed and clean. Solid sounds throughout, ‘Minimal Techno’ has no fillers and an unparalleled ratio of useful audio snippets. As well as a great range of percussive loops and music loops, there are also solid combinations of the two together. And, as with all Sample Magic collections, they are nicely categorised into three tempo groups. There are also plenty of ready-made patches for the full spectrum of soft-samplers. All in all, an essential sample pack. Rating: 5/5."
Sound on Sound, June 2009
Once you’ve picked your mouse up off the floor, you’ll notice that there’s lots of other good stuff going on in here as well. In a genre that combines pounding rhythmic repetition with a disregard for ‘whistlability’, productions can stand or fall according to the imaginativeness of their synth and effects design, so Sample Magic have rightly concentrated considerable effort in this department. They reap the rewards in the form of apparently simple parts, whose inner details withstand repeated listening. Featherweight snares and clicky percussion toy with your expectations without losing the general plot; pitch modulations and real-time controller programming steer a selection of skittering and frequently delay-garnished rhythm-synths well away from the realms of complacency; and whole boxes of virtual patch-cords appear to have been applied in the pursuit of sinuous filthiness in many of the bass-synth lines. In addition to the inventively textured programming, the synth lines in general score well in terms of raw sonics. Somehow the designers have managed to imbue these sounds with solidity and power, despite pseudo-random glitchiness and sawtooth rasps aplenty. Usability is pretty good, with plenty of supported formats and a sensible tempo-delineated folder structure, although I’d have liked a bit more text description of the sounds and effects used in each loop. This is particularly the case with the drum loops, where each loop comes in several variations: it would be handy to know which is the ‘no kick’ version, for example. Even if minimal techno isn’t your primary poison, there’s a lot that could be applied more widely across electronica styles, especially where a down-the-line groove needs spicing up, The broad line-up of seismic basses and kick drums is another asset ripe for repurposing into just about any track requiring both smart attack and capacious low-end. Overall, then, this is a good library, which not only provides well for its chosen genre, but would also find applications beyond it, and with 850MB of sample material and very little filler, it also represents good value. Rating: 5/5:
iDJ magazine, March 2009
The DVD is recorded in 24-bit 44.1kHz wav format, so they’re great quality from the off. They’re also compatible with all the usual platforms like Halion, Apple Loops, Reason, Kontakt, Logic and Rex2. Recorded with such classic pieces of kit as Roland’s TR808, Novation Bass Station, Access Virus and TL Audio’s Tubetracker, there’s no lack of depth here. As with the previous packs, all the Sample Magic sounds have been broken down into bass loops, combi loops, drum hits, drum loops, music loops, FX, synth loops and even tops loops. Then, to make things even easier, all the sounds are broken down further into BPM folders of 125, 127 and 130BPM. It couldn’t be simpler… Stripped down synths, percussive grooves, deep 808s and freaky FX; Minimal Techno has all the ingredients to enable you to create your very own big room belter. The quality and their weight really make these samples stand our and I love the nice, phat analogue feel to some of the sounds. For those of you who aren’t sure where to start, check out the audio CD for inspiration. Sample Magic’s customary ‘Track One’ features sounds from the sample set looped up into a short introduction of what is possible with the included samples. The breakdown of the instruments into BPM folders makes life nice and easy; Sample Magic have a tried and tested formula, and with so many releases under their belt, you won’t go wrong with Minimal Techno. Even if techno isn’t your bag, this is worth checking out…" 
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SM11 Minimal Techno
"Quite possibly the freshest dance sounds on the market – get ‘em before everyone else does! 10/10." 
"Minimal Techno is the cream of the crop.... Solid sounds throughout... No fillers and an unparalleled ratio of useful audio snippets. 5/5" 
"The designers have managed to imbue these sounds with solidity and power, despite pseudo-random glitchiness and sawtooth rasps aplenty. 5/5" 
"This latest collection from Sample Magic features a CD and a DVD that boasts a sound library of almost 3GB of the dirtiest deep and minimal techno sounds.
