Avicii Samples: Every Sample Library & Pack He Actually Used

Most "Avicii gear" lists are a mess of speculation mixed with facts. This one is different: every entry below is labeled either verified (video or photo proof), confirmed (developer or industry source), or community-documented (researched but unverified).

What you'll find might surprise you — Avicii used far fewer external sample packs than most people assume.

Verified: Sample Libraries with Direct Evidence

These libraries appear in publicly available studio footage or photographs.

1. Mutekki Media – Ultimate Beats Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

What it is: Two drum and loop sample packs — Vol. 1 focuses on drums, Vol. 2 on Electro House content.

Evidence: In a studio session video, Avicii's FL Studio file browser is visible at timestamp 16:20. Two folders named MUB1 and MUB2 are clearly shown — these correspond to Mutekki Ultimate Beats Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, as documented on Equipboard.

These were among the few drum sample packs he kept in his project folder structure, suggesting regular use.

2. Audiobro – LA Scoring Strings (Kontakt Library)

What it is: A professional orchestral string library for Native Instruments Kontakt. Industry standard for composers who need expressive, realistic string sections without a live orchestra.

Evidence: Visible at timestamp 24:17 in the video "The Making of Dancing In My Head." The Kontakt interface is open with the LA Scoring Strings library loaded — one of the clearest tool sightings in any Avicii studio footage.

This explains the lush string arrangements found across his later work. It's an expensive library, which signals Avicii invested seriously in orchestral production quality.

3. Hookkick Sample Pack

What it is: A boutique sample pack brand with labeled drum one-shots.

Evidence: A studio photograph shows Avicii's project browser with two individual samples visible: HK HH CL 023 and HK SP Snap 12 — both matching the Hookkick naming convention, as noted on Equipboard.

4. Native Instruments Kontakt (as Sampler & Host)

What it is: Kontakt is not a sample library itself, but a software sampler that hosts third-party libraries like LA Scoring Strings.

Evidence: Kontakt 4 is visible at timestamp 24:50 in a Future Music Magazine studio session video. He later upgraded to Kontakt 5 as part of his standard plugin chain.

Kontakt served as his primary instrument host for all orchestral and complex sampled sounds.

Synths with Built-in Sample & Preset Libraries

Here's the part that changes the picture entirely: most of Avicii's recognizable sounds came from preset-based synthesizers, not external sample packs. Understanding which synths he used is inseparable from understanding his sample usage.

Nexus 2 (reFX) + XP Expansion Libraries

Nexus 2 is a ROM synthesizer — it plays back high-quality audio samples from its internal library. It's not a traditional synth where you build sounds from oscillators; you pick from thousands of preset patches.

Avicii used Nexus 2 extensively for leads, chord stabs, and melodic elements. He specifically used Nexus's XP expansion packs, which add additional ROM content on top of the factory library. Spotted multiple times in his project screenshots via Equipboard.

For producers trying to get "that Avicii sound" — Nexus 2 with the right XP expansions gets you closer than any drum sample pack.

Sylenth1 (Lennar Digital)

A virtual analog synth with a factory preset library covering the full spectrum of EDM sounds. Avicii used Sylenth1 for leads and supersaw-style chords. The stock presets and the massive third-party preset community for Sylenth1 made it a cornerstone of his setup. Detailed on Gadgets Page.

Native Instruments Massive

Massive's extensive wavetable preset library — particularly its leads, basses, and evolving pads — featured in Avicii's productions. As one of the defining synths of the 2010s progressive house era, it's no surprise he had it in his arsenal.

SynthMaster (KV331 Audio) (Confirmed)

The developer of SynthMaster, KV331 Audio, has publicly confirmed that Avicii was a licensed user of SynthMaster. This is a developer confirmation, not just a community guess. Source: Equipboard.

4Front TruePianos & Cakewalk Z3TA+

Two additional instruments with dedicated preset libraries — TruePianos for realistic piano sounds and Z3TA+ as a wave-based synthesizer with its own built-in patch library. Both appear in his documented software inventory.

Community-Documented (Not Officially Verified)

These are unverified but well-researched entries from the production community. Take them as plausible, not proven.

Vengeance Sample Packs

Status: Plausible, unverified

Vengeance Sound dominated EDM production from roughly 2008–2015. Their drum, effects, and loop packs were nearly universal among working EDM producers during exactly the period Avicii was most active. No specific video timestamp or studio photo confirms his use, but the circumstantial case is strong.

Thomas Penton FX Packs

Status: Community-researched

A detailed analysis thread on KVR Audio traced a specific sweep sound Avicii used repeatedly back to an old Thomas Penton FX pack. Separately, a long riser heard in multiple tracks was identified as originating from a 2009 remix kit made by another producer that Avicii pulled from remix stems.

These are solid leads from thorough community research, but neither has been directly confirmed by Avicii himself or his team.

What This Actually Tells You About Avicii's Sound

The picture that emerges is not what most people expect.

Avicii was not a sample-pack-heavy producer. He didn't have a folder of 50,000 drum one-shots. His verifiable external sample usage was narrow: Mutekki Beats for drums, LA Scoring Strings for orchestral texture, occasional Hookkick samples for specific hits.

The rest of his sound came from:

• Nexus 2 ROM libraries — his single most important "sample" source
• Custom synthesizer programming in Sylenth1, Massive, and SynthMaster
• Stems and remix kits — repurposing material from collaborative sessions

If you want to recreate his sound, hunting for the right sample pack is the wrong approach. Start with Nexus 2 and its XP expansions. Layer LA Scoring Strings for emotional depth. Build everything else with a capable polysynth.

That's where his sound actually lived.

Sources

• Equipboard – Avicii's Software Plugins and VSTs
• Equipboard – Avicii (main page)
• Gadgets Page – Avicii's Gear & Studio Equipment
• KVR Audio – Avicii sample pack question
• KVR Audio – Avicii organ sound/VST discussion
• Weraveyou – VST Plugins, Software and Gear used by Avicii