Trying to make beats like The Weeknd? You're not alone. His blend of dark R&B, 80s synthwave, and modern pop has dominated the charts for over a decade. But getting that signature sound of the moody pads, crisp drums, and nostalgic synths can be tough if you're starting from scratch. That's where sample packs come in.
A good sample pack can give you the building blocks you need to create authentic, professional sounding The Weeknd type beats. But with thousands of packs out there, which ones are actually worth your money? We’ve gone through the Loopmasters catalog and found the absolute best sample packs to help you capture that iconic sound. Whether you're looking for the dark, atmospheric vibes of Trilogy or the retro futuristic synths of Dawn FM, this list has you covered.
The Weeknd's production has evolved over the years, but certain elements stay consistent. Here's what you need to recreate his sound across different eras.
From Trilogy to Dawn FM, The Weeknd's tracks are built on thick, atmospheric pads. These aren't just background filler they create the entire mood. You'll hear long, sustained notes with heavy reverb and chorus effects. The pads often sit in the mid-to-low frequency range, giving the track that dark, late night vibe. Think of the opening of "The Hills" or the dreamy intro to "Starboy."
Starting with After Hours, his sound shifted hard into 80s territory. You'll need bright, punchy synth leads like the ones in "Blinding Lights." Analog style basslines are huge too fat, warm, and slightly detuned for that vintage feel. Producers like Max Martin and Oneohtrix Point Never used a lot of FM synthesis and classic Roland Juno style sounds. Arpeggiated synth patterns are everywhere, usually running through the entire track.
The Weeknd's drums hit hard but stay clean. You'll hear crisp 808 kicks, sharp snares, and fast hi-hat rolls that come from modern trap production. But there's also a strong influence from 80s drum machines, especially the LinnDrum. Tracks like "Save Your Tears" use that classic gated reverb snare sound. The key is layering: modern low end punch with retro top end snap.
Vocal chops are a signature move. Short, chopped up vocal samples with heavy pitch shifting and reverb create texture without taking over the track. Guitar work is also important, especially on his disco influenced songs. You'll hear funk guitar riffs with delay and chorus effects, like on "I Feel It Coming." These guitars are usually clean toned, not distorted.
Here are our top picks from Loopmasters to get you started on your next Weeknd inspired banger.
Best for: The After Hours & Dawn FM Sound
Don't let the slightly different name fool you; this award winning pack from Singomakers is directly inspired by The Weeknd's work with Daft Punk. It's packed with funky, delayed guitar loops, vintage synth melodies, and punchy disco house drums. If you're trying to replicate the sound of tracks like "Blinding Lights" or "I Feel It Coming," this is your starting point. With over 1.3 GB of content, it's a comprehensive toolkit for that retro pop sound.
Key Features: 1.34 GB, 123 BPM, 70 Guitar Loops, 40 Melody Loops, 70 Drum Loops, 12 Full Vocals.
Best for: Authentic Analog Synth Sounds
If you want that true analog warmth without spending thousands on hardware, this pack from Apollo Sound is a must have. All 100 synth loops were recorded using real vintage and modern synths like the Oberheim Matrix 1000 and Dave Smith Mopho. It's full of the smooth pads, funky bass riffs, and silky keys that define The Weeknd's synth heavy tracks. This pack is perfect for adding an authentic, expensive sounding analog layer to your beats.
Key Features: 460 MB, 95-110 BPM, 100 Synth Loops, 100 MIDI Files, recorded from real analog hardware.
Best for: Complete Song Starters
Directly inspired by The Weeknd and Dua Lipa, this pack from Function Loops is designed to give you everything you need to build a full track. It contains 5 full construction kits, complete with drums, basslines, melodies, and full vocal acapellas. This is perfect for producers who want to deconstruct a professionally produced track or need a strong foundation to build upon. The vocal acapellas alone are worth the price.
Key Features: 600 MB, 5 Construction Kits, 112 Loops, 10 Vocal Acapellas, 16 MIDI files.
Best for: Cosmic, Daft Punk Inspired Vibes
This pack is another gem from Singomakers that nails the retro futuristic sound. It's described as a fusion of Cosmic Disco, Retro Beats, and "The Weeknd Styled Vocals." This is the biggest pack on our list, clocking in at over 1.5 GB. It's absolutely loaded with content, including retro drum loops, live recorded guitars, and wet/dry vocal loops. If you want a massive toolkit for creating spacey, synth heavy disco pop, look no further.
Key Features: 1.52 GB, 120 BPM, 76 Melody Loops, 60 Drum Loops, 46 Vocal Loops, 46 Guitar Loops, 128 MIDI files.
Best for: Modern Radio Ready Pop
This pack by IQ Samples is all about creating modern, chart topping pop hits. While it's inspired by a range of artists, it explicitly mentions The Weeknd and delivers on that promise. It comes with 7 construction kits that provide a polished, professional sound right out of the box. The focus is on Pop House, so expect clean production, catchy melodies, and sounds that will cut through any mix.
Key Features: 885 MB, 119 BPM, 7 Construction Kits, 186 WAV Loops, 45 MIDI files.
Best for: Catchy Vocal Hooks
Another excellent pack from IQ Samples, this one focuses heavily on catchy vocal elements. It includes 7 construction kits, but the standout feature is the 20 additional vocal chop loops. These are perfect for adding that signature Weeknd style ethereal vocal texture to your beats. The overall sound is modern, clean, and perfect for dance pop tracks.
Key Features: 776 MB, 117 BPM, 7 Construction Kits, 154 WAV Loops, 20 Vocal Chop Loops.
Best for: Future Pop & Dance Crossovers
Inspired by the more dance floor oriented side of The Weeknd's sound, this pack delivers powerful, full track vocals and slapping bass loops. It also comes with 40 Serum presets, giving you an extra layer of customization if you own the popular synth. It's a great choice for producers looking to make high energy, festival ready tracks that blend pop and dance music.
Key Features: 627 MB, 122-126 BPM, 5 Construction Kits, 133 WAV Loops, 40 Serum Presets.
Crafting a The Weeknd type beat is all about selecting the right sounds, and these sample packs give you a massive head start. From authentic analog synths to funky disco guitars and catchy vocal hooks, this list provides all the ingredients you need. Stop spending hours searching for the right sounds and start creating. Pick the pack that best fits the style you're going for, and you'll be well on your way to producing your next dark R&B or synth pop hit.
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