What makes Black Octopus Sound a trusted name in professional music production tools and samples? It all comes down to the people behind it.
Behind the Octopus is our interview series created to spotlight the team that brings Black Octopus Sound to life. From the producers and sound designers shaping every sound, to the marketing, support, and tech teams keeping everything running seamlessly, there’s a dedicated group of creatives working together behind the scenes. The samples may feel effortless once they hit your DAW, but each one is built on collaboration, attention to detail, and a genuine love for music.
This series invites you behind the curtain to meet the people behind the process and hear the stories that define Black Octopus Sound. Today, we’re sitting down with Toby, our CEO of Black Octopus Sound. Toby is the driving force behind the company’s vision and growth, leading Black Octopus Sound with a focus on innovation, quality, and long-term creative impact. With a background rooted in music production, technology, and digital entrepreneurship, Toby has also carved out his own creative path as an electronic music artist, releasing dance-floor-ready tracks and earning support from notable DJs.
Behind The Octopus Interview Series – Toby
Q – What Led you to starting Black Octopus Sound?
Black Octopus Sound was created in 2011. I was a fan of the sample pack companies around at this time (Sample Magic, Vengeance, Loopmasters, BigFish Audio etc…) and was amazed at what a difference & impact using high-quality samples can have on your music. I was getting so much more better results with the right sounds. When you first start with music production you just use all the stock stuff that comes with DAWs (which admittedly has come a long way since I started with Fruity Loops 2). Once I discovered that there is a world of high-quality sound libraries available and starting using these, my productions dramatically improved. I became very interested in who created these sounds and how were they created. My interest grew to an obsession and got lost in the endless rabbit hole of sound design and was inspired to create my own sample pack company.
Q – What is your favorite artist and favorite genre as a listener?
Currently, my favorite person to listen to is Ari@home – it is incredible how he creates music on the fly and travels around and incorporates so many talented guest artists into his songs. I would highly recommend checking out his streams on YouTube or Twitch. In this world, where AI and other technologies are now taking over the more human creative side I believe artists will need to continue to push themselves in new ways. I think Ari@home right now is the prime example of somebody who is doing it right.
Q – What do you love most about working in the Sample Pack industry?
I love seeing the wide range of music artists produce for us, each with their own unique talent and style. Being connected to so many talented artists and seeing their stories and sounds evolve over time is amazing
Q – What is your favorite sample pack release from Black Octopus Sound?
The Leviathan series is always a classic. I was surprised recently by how many good usable sounds are still in Leviathan 1 and this pack was released many years ago.
Q – What about your favorite production tool or technique – any secret weapons?
I love using MPE & granular synthesis, you can get otherworldly sounds here. Plasmonic is a really interesting MPE synth that I would recommend playing around with an MPE controller.
Q – How do you see the future of music and sample pack creation? What about producers; what’s the future of helping them stay inspired?
Things are rapidly evolving in the music production space, it is no secret that AI is becoming, and will continue to become a huge part of music production in the future. Personally I think we need to be careful about it taking away creative tasks. Working on creative tasks is like exercise for your brain, and if you rely too much on other tools to take over these tasks you will no longer strengthen these abilities within yourself. There is definitely a place for it, but I am more interested in 100% human created music. I do not care about a track that you have worked on if you let a computer do 50% of it. That brings up an interesting question of where do you drawn the line, which I believe will be an ongoing fluid thought. Producers will have to continue to push themselves to stand out and be unique in this newly evolving music production industry and I think that will help push inspiration into new ways of presenting music.
Q – If you could be any animal what would it be and why?
I suppose I have to say Octopus! Although I would also like to fly, so flying Octopus.
Packs by Toby
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.
Related Links
Free Sample Packs by Black Octopus Sound