Sample Fuel
HYBRID Bundle by Sample Fuel Review (Updated)
2025
HYBRID Bundle by Sample Fuel Review
In our review of the HYBRID Bundle by Sample Fuel, we are looking at a sound collection for Halion 6 and Halion 6 SE. The bundle is combining two products POLY and WAVE.
Danny Lux is the key person behind Sample Fuel, Danny composes and scores for various television shows. Currently, he has more than 100 credits on his IMDB page including Grey’s Anatomy, Raising Hope, My Name is Earl and The Good Wife, among many others.. Sample Fuel did send a review copy with no strings attached.
Installation
Due to my not working so often with Halion 6 or Halion SE I did struggle with the setup which is a multistep process, I did give up at some moment but got it sorted out at the end. This is due to the way Halion works with sample patches, more straightforward install methods like we know from Omni or other samplers would really help the player.
One issue that I face was that I did need to update the Halion player, so my advice is if you do run into a problem with Steinberg’s Halion software do update and keep trying. So make sure you have the latest version of HALion Sonic SE or HALion 6 installed. The HYBRID Bundle requires HALion Sonic SE 3.1.10 FREE, HALion Sonic 3.1.10 or HALion 6.1.10 or higher. Works with soft e-licenser or USB.
Sample Fuel did improve the installation and made it more comfortable since the first review published. Outstanding move from the company to develop the installation process.
Sound
You get in the bundle two software synthesizers: POLY and WAVE.
POLY is a contemporary, traditional three oscillator synth with eight de-tunable voices and comprises Sub and Noise oscillators. Wave is a smart dual oscillator Wavetable synthesizer with a Sub and Noise oscillator.
The sound sets inspire your next track and sound deep and vibrant if needed. The sets include some usable and mellow presets and have a very wide musical palette.
Poly & Wave characteristics:
- Poly is a modern classic three oscillator synth with eight de-tunable voices. Also includes sub and noise oscillators.
- Wave is a modern dual oscillator wavetable synthesizer with a sub and noise oscillator.
- Presets have up to 2 layers, and you can load patches in up to 16 slots that can be used multi-timbral or layered by assigning patches to the same midi channel.
- The user interface that provides all the functionality you would reach for during composing or performing.
- 18 different insert effects.
- 61 Total effects via the aux channels.
- 8 Quick Control knobs to access the most common parameters for fast adjustments.
- No USB-elicenser key required. It works with soft elicenser or USB.
The developer gives some insides into the filters available in the engine powering POLY and WAVE: The main synth filter with VCF section has 24 filter shapes and five distortion modes. There are also unique morphing filters that seamlessly blend between up to 4 out of 24 filter types via the XY Page. The X and Y for the quad filter can be modulated by LFO’s, Step Envelopes, the arpeggiator or User Envelopes to create exciting filter motion.
There is also another XY morphing filter choice that can come after the central filter section via the FX page. The X or Y can have one of the 24 filter types as well.” Says Danny Lux and continues “Finally there is a fixed HI Pass and Lo-Pass filter always engaged at the end of the signal chain.
Both POLY and WAVE have beneficial patch programming especially if you use them for scoring applications. Every patch has filter cutoff assigned to the mod wheel by default. The HYBRID BUNDLE comes with almost 500 patches with the goal of making only sounds that we would personally use in our own compositions with lots of movement. Much of the value that you get is a massive amount of amazing patches that are useful…not just a few and the rest are “throw away““. You will be able to get great sounding tracks incredibly fast and easy.
As you do know I love to do sound design with additional software effects and hardware, the included sounds offer excellent opportunities for sound design to create new unheard sounds and vibes. When it comes to sound design tools from 2CAudio, Audio Damage, BOOMLibrary, FabFilter, Goodhertz, IKMultimedia, KILOHEARTS, Krotos, Kush, Sugar Bytes, and others, do indeed help in the with sound shaping.
The HYBRID BUNDLE includes hundreds to support these two new synths that enter the market at a lower price point and with high quality. The bundle that includes additional 30isch Multi-patches that combine both POLY and WAVE, those sounds are only in the bundle.
Update: Sample Fuel did increased WAVE today and added 46 new rhythmic percussion patches to Wave CRE8. All users that purchased prior May, 24th 2018 should have received an email with a link to download the new patches. If you obtain WAVE after that date the extended content is included.
User interface & Usability
The UI designed by Sample Fuel was designed to support these kinds of libraries. Danny Lux did do an excellent job when he created CRE8. CRE8 is the interface that powers both libraries.
I did struggle with the Halion Interface. This is not about the product content reviewed here it is an underlying issue I do see with the Steinberg solution.
Rating: Five out of five stars
HYBRID Bundle is an excellent way to start a new company and become known to the composer community. The sound sets are ready to use and have the unique vibe and freshness the composer looks for. Git it a try with the free version of POLY which includes 40 patches. The included Halion sound banks are produced to sit firmly in modern compositions without being overpowering. The vibe of the added sounds do inspire your arrangements and are a good starting point.
Sample Fuel updated the libraries and additional libraries for Halion have been launched which have been all stellar. It is great to see a small boutique producer provide enhancing updates and if you look at the full range of Sample Fuel libraries they jus rock. (Rating increased)
Virtual Instrument Library
80% OFF Scoring Pads Bundle by Sample Fuel + $70 Discount Code for Pad Motion Layers
2025
Scoring Pads Bundle by Sample Fuel Sale
This time limited deal features the Scoring Pads Bundle by Sample Fuel and contains CYCLE CRE8 and Pad Motion 3.0.
CYCLE – CRE8
CYCLE – CRE8 is a simple and easy to use 4 sample layer instrument that cycles through the layers in a rhythmic fashion. CYCLE-CRE8 is an essential addition for any composer who needs to add underscore, pads, and ambiances to their track. Requires HALion Sonic SE 3.2.20 FREE, HALion Sonic 3.2.20 or HALion 6.2.1 or higher. (Note: HALion Sonic SE 3 requires mac OS 10.11 or Higher/ Windows 7 or higher)
To learn more about this library take a look at StrongMocha’s CYCLE-CRE8 Review.
Cycle-CRE8 is all about moving, emotional sound waves that while in motion are always interesting to listen to. There are so many excellent patches included which you can use straight out of the box and have them evolve over time. Cycle-CRE8 is a synth engine based on samples that house 4 different sample layers with over 675 different sample sources each. The engine cycles through each layer in the order in tempo with the host/DAW. When the cycling is disabled, this instrument is capable to create thick and powerful 4 layer pads. The factory library includes over 450 professionally curate program presets.
Sample Fuel libraries are my personal favorite source for pads, textures, and ambiances. Cycle-CRE8 fits just into the line up of unheard, unique libraries, this time with a lot of attractive movements. CYCLE-CRE8 is an essential addition for any composer who needs to add underscore, pads, and ambiances to their track.
PAD MOTION
PAD MOTION is Sample Fuel’s most powerful Virtual Instrument to date and takes advantage of all 4 synthesis types (Sample, Grain, Analog Modeled, Wavetable) available in the CRE8 Engine.
Want to learn more about this library take a look at StrongMocha’s PAD MOTION – Cinematic Pads with Movement by SAMPLE FUEL Review
PAD MOTION is based on the CRE8 (also by Sample Fuel) Engine. The library is a Halion Sonic SE sound set. The company has not plan to support Kontakt as what is possible for them to deliver in Halion is not easily possible to create in those other platforms. The producer who is also a professional composer has been using the HALion platform for many years.
PAD MOTION – Cinematic Pads with Movement is outstanding to produce pads that have a unique vibe. You need a complex motion for underscore or in the background of your main track look no further this library creates different moods and textures.
Pad Motion is one of the gems available for composer and as the other libraries from Sample Fuel made me use Halion again. Always try to combine the different features, also start to experiment for example by freezing the motion and hear what happens.
Pricing and Availability
For just $49.99 (instead of $248), get the Scoring Pads Bundle (Affiliate Link) which contains 2 world-class products by Sample Fuel: CYCLE CRE8 and Pad Motion 3.0!
Pad Motion Layers
PAD MOTION LAYERS is a branch product of Sample Fuel’s flagship instrument PAD MOTION. Pad Motion Layers utilizes 4 layers of sample synthesis delivering it one of the most unique and capable sample library instruments. The patches are impressive but simple enough to let you compose with them rather than being limited to the point where you have to compose around them. Many of the presets live up to the name PAD MOTION LAYERS and have complex motion to create interesting textures and moods. Pad Motion Layers powers the more than 900unique sampled sources available.
The PAD MOTION LAYERS SYNTH section is an overview display of the sample content used in the patch. The actual display is only showing the first sample used in the loaded patch if that patch utilizes multi-samples.
This synth page also includes a sample browser/loader that allows you to switch between any of the available 900 possible sample/multi-sample choices that can be used for sound design patch creation. It also features the ability to Drag and Drop your own samples into the engine. There are also many parameters to adjust sample start times, end times, loop points, crossfade loops, etc.
Each Layer contains its own modulation modules that are preassigned to specific parameters. The user can adjust the amount the modulation modules affect the assigned parameters by the amount slider next to the said parameter.
The modulations include:
- User Envelope that can be assigned to a number of destinations.
- LFO
- Step Modulator
- dedicated GATE to the Volume.
Pricing and Availability
PAD MOTION LAYERS is available now. Crossgrade Price for Owners of Full Version Pad Motion For owners of Pad Motion the crossgrade price for Pad Motion Layers is 50% OFF the normal price. If you want to upgrade, please contact info@samplefuel.com
Sample Fuel Releases Pad Motion 3.0 a FREE UPDATE
SAMPLE FUEL announced Pad Motion 3.0 a FREE Update to its most unique and versatile sample library software instrument available immediately. This is a completely FREE update that includes improvements to the GUI, New User Envelope Presets, over 220 new sampled sources and over 1740 presets now included.
NEW FEATURES in Pad Motion 3.0 Update
- Improved GUI design for the Sample and Grain Layers.
- Improved GUI design for the Analog Modeled Synth and Wavetable Layers
- Over 220 new Sample Sources.
- Now Over 1740 Program Presets included.
- New Gate Modulation
- New “Multiplier and Divider” grid function for the User Envelopes
- New User Envelope presets
- Lo Pass Filter and Hi Pass Filter type drop down menus
- LFO Rate graphics
“Pad Motion 3.0 update brings many new enhancements, features, and presets. Pad Motion 3.0 brings now more than 900 sample sources, more than 1740 presets. In this update, we wanted to maximize the efficiency and the intuitive workflow of Pad Motion. The analog modeled synth and wavetable synth has been condensed into one layer allowing the user to tweak both synths at once without having to switch layers. In addition, the user can even switch between Sample and Grain freely in one layer 2 instead of having to load a layer-specific to either type of synthesis. With the new enhancements to the modern GUI, the simplification of layer layout and the large amount of new content, Pad Motion 3.0 is more powerful and capable to suit any compositional needs.” said Danny Lux, Owner at SAMPLE FUEL.
Key Features in Pad Motion 3.0
- Sample and granular engine with up to 8 de-tunable voices
- Over 900 sample sources
- Over 1740 program presets
- Analog Modeled Synthesizer with a Sub and 8 de-tunable voices.
- A Wavetable oscillator synth with 8 de-tunable voices. Also includes a Noise
oscillator. - Presets have up to 3 Layers utilizing 4 different kinds of synthesis at once and a
user can load patches in up to 16 slots that can be used multi-timbral or layered
by assigning patches to the same MIDI channel. - A single user interface that provides all the functionality a user would reach for
during composing or performing. - 18 different insert effects.
61 Total effects via the aux channels. - 8 Quick Control knobs to access the most common parameters for fast
adjustments. - Works with soft elicenser or USB.
Pricing and Availability
This is a completely FREE update that includes improvements to the GUI, New User Envelope Presets, over 220 new sampled sources and over 1740 presets now included available for immediate download. Price: Pad Motion 3.0 is currently listed at the promo price of $99.99 but will normally be $149.99. It is available for immediate download here.
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