What is it that makes Black Octopus Sound the best sample pack label for professional music production tools and samples? It’s the team! Today we are interviewing Tom who is Sound Designer from V O E, Plugin Developer from G-T4R and Dawdio label boss. Tom has long time been part of Black Octopus Sound bringing everything from skillset to expertise into our sample packs and operations!
Behind The Octopus Interview Series – Tom (from V O E and Dawdio)
Welcome to Black Octopus: Behind the Octopus! This is our exclusive interview series where we dive beneath the surface and meet the incredible people behind the samples. While the sounds you hear in our packs might seem like magic, there’s a passionate and creative team making it all happen. From producers and sound designers to marketing, customer service, and tech, every part of the Black Octopus Sound experience is powered by real people working together to shape the future of music tools and how you produce! This series pulls back the curtain so you can get to know the personalities, passions, and stories that make Black Octopus what it is. We will be doing these each week for the next couple months. Today we sit down with Tom who knows the sample pack business inside and out; from Plugin Maker to Sample Pack creator; he has done it all within the Black Octopus umbrella! Let alone; he has blown up touring the world with his V O E Drum & Bass project Let’s get into it with Tom from V O E/DAWDIO!
Q: How did you start working in the sample pack industry and with Black Octopus Sound?
I first started working with Black Octopus Sound as a sound designer, releasing my first sample pack Future Funkstep back in 2016, which was the first step toward allowing me to work full-time in the music industry! Later joining the staff team, working a variety of roles from Content & Marketing to Quality Checks and more. My favorite genre is Drum and Bass at the moment.
Q. What is your favorite artist and favorite genre as a listener?
The drive to keep learning and improving my sound design, I love challenges, especially in creating music. The amazing outcome of this is the sounds and music I learn to create, provides inspiration and tools for other producers around the world to keep creating.
Q: What do you love most about working in the Sample Pack industry?
The drive to keep learning and improving my sound design, I love challenges, especially in creating music. The amazing outcome of this is the sounds and music I learn to create, provides inspiration and tools for other producers around the world to keep creating.
Q: What is your favorite sample pack release from Black Octopus Sound?
Not to tickle my own pickle, but my favourite Black Octopus Sound release at the moment is my own pack, Mainstage DNB by V O E. Making this pack pushed me to get my skills with Serum 2 to another level, and it turned out so good I regularly use the pack in my own production for V O E.
Q: What about your favorite production tool or technique – any secret weapons?
For my heavier side of production, one of my favourite techniques has been splitting all of my instrument tracks into Mid/Side for separate post processing. One of the great uses for this is with sidechaining, for instance, having a stronger sidechain on the Mids vs the Sides against my drums, leaving the full sidechaining effect on the mono where the Kick and Snare sit, whilst the overall Instrument sound is louder across the stereo image.
Q: How do you see the future of music and sample pack creation? What about producers; whats the future of helping them stay inspired?
I think with high-quality production and sounds becoming more and more accessible, whether that’s through AI tools or just high-quality stock sounds and plugins coming with DAWs and for free, Sample Packs will need to provide sounds that are hard to come by or make yourself. I think in a lot of ways this is a good thing, as it will continue to push the limits of sound design and songwriting for Sample Packs, providing only high-level, extraordinary or unique sounds and music.
Q: If you could be any animal what would it be and why?
A bird, so I could fly wherever I wanted and easily explore the world.
There you have it! Tom and his wonderfulness! I truly expected him to say he’d rather be a kangaroo with that Aussie blood and all; but hey, a bird works too – See you next week for another part of our Interview Series: Behind the Octopus!
Sample Packs by V O E
So who is Black Octopus Sound?
Black Octopus Sound has earned its reputation as the best sample pack label through consistent quality, artist-driven releases, and cutting-edge sound design. Whether you produce EDM, cinematic scores, chillout, or experimental music, the label offers a wide range of royalty-free sounds to level up your productions. With carefully curated libraries and collaborations with world-class producers, Black Octopus Sound sets the benchmark for every sample pack label in the industry.
A Label That Supports Creators
What truly sets Black Octopus apart is its deep connection with the producer community. From artist features and sound design tutorials to engaging blog content, the label is committed to helping musicians grow and evolve.
Trusted Quality, Global Reach
Known globally as the best sample pack label, Black Octopus Sound delivers excellence not only in sonic quality but also in user experience. Transparent licensing, easy downloads, and instant inspiration make it a go-to resource for producers everywhere.
Conclusion: Why Black Octopus Sound Is the Best Sample Pack Label
From unmatched quality and artist collaborations to free packs and expert tutorials, Black Octopus Sound proves time and again why it stands out as the best sample pack label. Dive into the catalog and hear the difference for yourself.