Beta Monkey Music Drum Loops: Frequently Asked Questions

Beta Monkey Music - Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to help you get the best grooves as well as service. If your question is not answered on this page, feel free to email us directly for more personal attention.

ORDERING QUESTIONS

1. How much does it cost to ship to overseas?
2. I do not use PayPal. What other ordering options are there?
3. I'd like to get my order overnighted. Can I do this?
4. How long will it take for my discs to arrive?
5. What happens if my discs are damaged or lost in the mail?

LOOP QUESTIONS

1. Which loop format is right for my software?
2. Which CD should I get if I want to write a song like (insert song name here)?
3. Are these loops license-free? Any strings attached?
4. Can I mix and match loops from different loop sets on a disc?

COMPANY QUESTIONS

1. Why are Beta Monkey Music's prices so much better than the competition?
2. Am I going to get a disc of funky v-drum hip hop loops when I really want some slamming rock loops?
3. I've been burned by other loop companies on the net. What makes Beta Monkey Music so different?

1. How much does it cost to ship to overseas?

All shipping is free when you spend over $50. For purchases under $50, shipping is $8 to anywhere in the world.

2. I do not use PayPal. What other ordering options are there?

First off, you do not need to be a PayPal member in order to purchase any Beta Monkey release. If you click "Buy Now" for any release, you will be presented with two options by PayPal: One for existing PayPal members; the other is for those "that do not currently have a PayPal account." You want to take the second option (on your screen, it will be to the right). Choosing that payment option allows you to simply use your credit card and in no way join or become a PayPal member.

A second option is to purchase any release (or disc combo package) via our other credit card provider CCNow. You can purchase all CD's through CCNow at our CCNow Order Page. Same prices, same catalogues of releases.

A third option is to make your purchase the "old fashion" way: sending in payment via snail mail with a check or MO. Simply download the printable Beta Monkey Order Form and send in your order. If you email us and give us the heads-up, we can have your order packed and ready to go immediately upon receipt of payment. In fact, we have sent orders out AHEAD of payment. So, ask nice! We can do this for most orders without any problem. And, if you're wondering, we have not been burned yet, by a single person, in over two years of doing business.

3. I'd like to get my order overnighted. Can I do this?

Yes. That is easily done. Just email us with the request. We will bill you the going rate for overnight delivery ($13.65 with the USPS). Just remember, overnight orders must be made BEFORE 2:00 for anywhere beyond the east coast. East coast orders can be overnighted up until 4:00. We need an hour to get your order packed and off to the PO so don't cut it too close!

4. How long will it take for my discs to arrive?

All U.S. orders generally arrive in THREE to FIVE business days. International orders can vary but are generally no more than seven to ten days (typical shipping time to the U.K. is six days and to Australia is seven days). However, please feel free to contact us should there be a significant delay in your order. While it is rare, it has happened. We are more than happy to track your order (if possible) or, in rare cases, reship the order free. We want to make sure you get your grooves!

5. What happens if my discs are damaged or lost in the mail?

We will reship orders FREE, no questions asked. It is so rare that we don't mind resending discs if need be. Same goes for damaged discs. In fact, if you EVER have a problem with your discs and you email us nicely, then we can send out new ones. We want you to know that we want youto be 100% happy. Sending out a few re-orders or new items to replace damaged ones is the least we can do to keep you as a loyal Beta Monkey Music customer.

1. Which loop format is right for my software?

Sometimes it can be confusing to know which loop format is the one best suited for your software or stand-alone DAW. Unless you are currently recording in 24 bit, you should always choose 16 bit. Obviously, you know your setup best, but here are our recommendations for the most popular programs using Beta Monkey drum loops and samples:

Ableton Live: 16 or 24-bit WAV format.

Acid: 16 or 24-bit WAV format. Obviously, this one is a no-brainer!

Adobe Audition: 16 or 24-bit

Cakewalk Products: 16 or 24-bit WAV format

Cubase, Nuendo: 16 or 24-bit WAV or REX format. Users probably already know REX format is, in some ways, a better format to work with but either WAV or REX/REX2 is compatible.

Digital Performer: DP supports REX as well as Acid WAV (3.1 and above) and Apple Loops (4.5 and above).

Fruity Loops: 16 or 24-bit WAV format

GarageBand: Apple Loops

Logic: Logic 7 users should use Apple Loops format. Older versions (6.0 and below) should use REX format.

Propellerheads Programs: REX format, of course.

Pro Tools: 16 or 24-bit WAV format

DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS: (BOSS, Roland, Yamaha, etc.): 16-bit WAV. 24 bit can be used in some, but definitely not all DAW's. If you in doubt, check with your manufacturer's website.

Of course, if you are still unsure, email customer support and we'll make sure you get the right format for your next project.

2. Which CD should I get if I want to write a song like (insert song name here)?

Feel free to write anytime to run questions like this by us. We'll do our best to see if we can find a match. And, if we can't, we also cut custom loops. Right now, there are no fixed prices for such a services but this is in the works for a dedicated service. We've done it on numerous occasions and would be happy to see if we can cut some custom grooves for you too. Now, if you ask us to play Zappa's "Black Page" that might be a different story! But, short of that, we can handle most requests.

3. Are these loops license-free? Any strings attached?

Yes and No. "Yes", they are completely license-free and "no" there are no strings attached. Just don't resell the loops as is - you need to use them in a musical composition of your own creation. We have caught people reselling our loops - not nice. Don't do it.

4. Can I mix and match loops from different loop sets on a disc?

The problem with a lot of loop discs is the fact that so many of the loops on a particular disc do NOT work together. In most cases it is because you have a random assortment of drum sounds, varying from one loop set to another. We offer several discs that are UNIFIED collections of loops. By that, we mean the entire disc features one single drum sound (all loops are taken from the same kit, same room, same recording session). This means all the loops - grooves, groove variations, fills, one shots, and multi-velocity samples - sound EXACTLY the same. If you are looking for sonic consistency and want the ultimate in versatility, these are our SINGLE SESSION loop CD's:

Drum Werks Volume I
Drum Werks Volume IV
Drum Werks Volume V
Drum Werks Volume VI
Classic Backbeats Plus
Natural Grooves
Jazz Essentials

All of our other discs contain mixed sounds but contain an abundance of loops at particular tempos or styles that you have more than enough for song construction. These discs are for those of you who need and like the variety of sounds that real drums offer.

1. Why are Beta Monkey prices so much better than the competition?

Ah, yes, the big question. Here are two answers, the short and the long, with the long one first:

You want to know why we charge less than everyone else? Because we think they charge too much. We have bought our fair share of discs for $50 and up. Some were good, some were OK, and some were flat-out useless. But, in every case, we always felt the price tag was just way too stiff. Now, many will say, "Oh, but these are license-free loops!" or "It takes a lot of money to book studio time, buy equipment, and produce CD's." And, sadly many people will buy it. We didn't. And we still don't. We offer our discs, which pound for pound put other commercial releases to shame, at FAIR prices. We've found through experience that people truly appreciate rock solid, no-nonsense, 100% acoustic drum grooves and fills at the prices we offer them for. Proof enough is the amount of repeat business we do. Unlike most of the others out there, we aren't out for the quick "one hit" purchase. We have ten releases and plan to release another ten in the next year. We want you back. And, we can only do that if you feel you got what you paid for (and we prefer you feel you got MORE than what you paid for).

"But, you get what you pay for!" is what some will counter. Well, this is true with a lot of things in life (like cheap microphones or cheap instruments), but we can assure you it's not true with Beta Monkey. Plus, for our prices, you can actually try us out and still not be out a bundle. Think you would take the same risks with a $100+ sample CD? Not nearly as likely.

The bottom line is our price is a major selling point. If we felt like screwing people, we would charge $49.99 like everyone else. We don't. We won't. We can't. It's just not what we believe in. But, hey, if you want to spend more and get less, email us. We know of more than a few places who will gladly stiff you for more and send you a disc of even stiffer loops.

The Short Answer? We're just not greedy like our competitors. We want to offer great products at a price ALL musicians can afford, from working pro musicians with an unlimited spending budget to the project studio artists with more limited means. We know - we have been both.

2. Am I going to get a disc of funky v-drum loops when I really want some slamming rock loops?

No. For that, you want to visit Sonic Foundry or any of the others you might call our competition. You can view the table of contents for all discs prior to purchasing and we do our best to describe the discs as accurately as we can. When we say rock, we mean rock. If we label a disc Bluesy (like our Volume III CD), then you are going to get shuffles and 6/8 feels. And, for goodness sake, a Roland v-drum will never be found at Beta Monkey Studios. Arguably , they are the worst scourge brought upon the drumming and general music community since disco. And, the sad thing is people will swear, "Oh they sound cool!" or "I just have to dial up the kit I want and there's the sound I want!" It's really sad. It breaks our hearts to hear the loops people claim are "rock" loops when they are v-drum garbage that sounds only somewhat better than what GM sounds were like in the mid-90's. Please, people do yourself and your music a favor and never use a v-drum or midi loop again. You can do better.

3. I've been burned by other loop companies on the net. What makes Beta Monkey Music so different?

If you haven't figured it out by now, then we don't think you will ever see it. But, one simple way to remedy this would be to email us. Get to know us, ask questions, see who and what you're dealing with. That will probably distinguish us from the competition even more than the quality of our grooves.