During SampleScience’s first five years, I released several HD sample packs featuring the hardware drum machines I’d collected over time. In this email, I’m revisiting these high-definition libraries — all of which are available for free.

SampleScience RX-11 HD Sample Pack

The Yamaha RX-11 is a true 80s classic — Yamaha’s first digital drum machine, released in 1984 and packed with 29 punchy PCM drum sounds.
Its 12-bit encoding gives it that unmistakable gritty attack heard across countless vintage drum machines of the era. The RX-11 has powered the rhythms of major artists like Erasure on their early tours and even Aphex Twin, who featured it on his album Syro.

To preserve its character, we sampled the RX-11’s raw output in 32-bit high definition, with additional 24-bit and 16-bit versions included at 44.1kHz. You get the full spectrum — from pristine HD capture to classic, production-ready formats.

Add a touch of reverb and you’re instantly in synthwave, retrowave, or synth-pop territory.
A perfect addition to any producer’s vintage toolkit.

Get this sample pack for free by entering 0 in the price field.

SampleScience RX-17 HD Sample Pack

The Yamaha RX-17 is one of those hidden 80s gems — a drum machine released in 1987, right in the middle of the synth-pop era, when gated snares ruled the charts and electronic drums defined the sound of pop.
Loaded with 26 classic hits, it blends a full acoustic drum set with a dedicated Latin percussion bank, giving it a unique hybrid character rarely found in machines of its time.

Think of it as the unlikely child of the RX-21 and RX-21L — but with its own attitude.

• The kick hits like the RX-21,
• The snare has a distinctly electronic edge unique to the RX-17,
• The toms are completely different,
• And the overall sound quality is noticeably better thanks to 12-bit PCM samples (instead of 8-bit).

The result is a punchy, expressive, unmistakably 80s drum palette — perfect for modern retro production.

To preserve every detail, we captured the RX-17’s output in 32-bit high definition, with additional 24-bit and 16-bit versions included at 44.1kHz.

Add a touch of reverb and you’re instantly in synthwave, retrowave, or classic synth-pop territory.
A must-have for any producer chasing authentic 80s flavor.

SampleScience RX-21 HD Sample Pack

The SampleScience RX-21 HD Sample Pack is a high-quality, free collection of classic Yamaha RX-21 drum machine sounds — captured in pristine detail.
Released in the mid-80s as an entry-level unit, the RX-21 delivers a versatile drum kit that also appears in other Yamaha models, including the RX-11 — famously used by Aphex Twin on both