Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets: is this $19.99 stack worth it for Music & Sound Design?
You’ve probably been there: staring at a blank track in your DAW, the cursor blinking, knowing exactly what sound you need but having no idea which knob to twist to get there. You want that warm, pulsing bassline or that bright, airy lead that you heard in a track you love, but starting from a blank patch in your synth is a slow, frustrating process. This is where a well-curated preset pack earns its keep. It doesn’t just give you a sound; it gives you a starting point that’s already tuned, balanced, and ready to be tweaked. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
Sounds You Know Vol. 2 from Eric Bowman is exactly that kind of collection. It’s a $19.99 pack of 100 synthesizer presets for Vital, the free wavetable synth that has become a staple for a lot of modern producers. The idea here is simple but effective: Bowman has taken iconic sounds from popular music and recreated them as editable patches. It’s a shortcut that respects your workflow, letting you skip the initial hours of sound design and jump straight into making your track. If you’re using Vital and you’re tired of starting from scratch every time you want a specific vibe, this pack of 100 Vital presets is worth a serious look.
Quick answer
| Best for | Producers using the free Vital synth who want a library of recognizable, editable sounds to speed up their workflow. |
| Skip if | You don’t use Vital, or you prefer to build every single sound from a completely blank patch. |
| Price | $19.99 |
| Format | 100 synthesizer presets (.vitalbank file) for the Vital synth |
| One-line take | A smart, $19.99 shortcut that turns iconic sounds from popular music into editable starting points for your next track. |
What you’re actually buying
At $19.99, you’re not just buying 100 random sounds. You’re buying a curated collection of recreations of synthesizer patches from popular music. This is the core value proposition. Instead of a generic “Synth Pack Vol. 5,” you get patches that are modeled after sounds you already know and like. It’s a way to learn by deconstructing what makes a great sound work.
The pack is built for Vital, which is a huge plus. Vital is free, powerful, and widely used, so this pack has a very low barrier to entry. You don’t need to own a $200 hardware synth or a premium software synth to use it. The entire pack is a single .vitalbank file (50.5 MB), which makes installation a two-click process. You import it, and it’s ready to browse. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
What really makes this pack useful is the macro mapping. Every single one of the 100 presets has 4 macros mapped to key parameters. This is a detail that separates a professional pack from a basic one. It means you can instantly change the character of a sound—filter cutoff, resonance, envelope, modulation—without digging through a dozen menus. You can make a preset your own in seconds. One buyer put it plainly: “Fantastic quality. Great sounds as always!” Gumroad reviews
The collection spans a variety of genres, eras, and levels of complexity. This isn’t just a pack of 808s or 100 leads. It’s a diverse toolkit. And because Bowman has included select presets from his Patreon page alongside new ones, you’re getting a mix of fan-favorite sounds and fresh material. Another buyer noted, “Eric always puts out the best stuff. Tons of great patches included,” which speaks to the consistency of his work. Gumroad reviews
Why it’s on our radar
This pack is interesting because it solves a very specific, very common problem: the “blank page” syndrome in sound design. It’s not trying to be a comprehensive library of every possible synth sound. It’s a focused collection of useful, recognizable sounds that are already tuned and ready to be edited. That’s a different value proposition than a 1,000-preset mega-pack. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
The fact that it’s built for Vital makes it accessible to a huge number of producers. Vital is free, so the only cost here is the $19.99 for the pack itself. That’s a very reasonable price for 100 high-quality, macro-mapped presets. It’s a low-risk, high-reward purchase. If you’re a Vital user, this is a no-brainer. If you’re not, it’s a great reason to try out one of the best free synths on the market. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
The macro mapping is a standout feature. It shows that Bowman cares about the user experience, not just the sound design. It’s the difference between a preset that’s a finished product and a preset that’s a starting point. This pack is all about the latter. It’s a tool for making your own music, not just playing someone else’s. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
What actually matters
Before you buy, here are a few things to keep in mind: (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
- You need to use Vital. This is a non-negotiable. The presets are in a
.vitalbankfile, which is specific to the Vital synthesizer. If you’re a Serum, Massive, or VCS user, this pack won’t work for you. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets) - It’s a starting point, not a finished product. The presets are designed to be edited. The macro mapping is there for a reason. Don’t expect to just drop a preset into your track and be done. The real value is in tweaking the sounds to fit your track. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
- Check the demo video. Bowman has a YouTube video with preset demos. This is the best way to get a feel for the sounds before you buy. Listen to a few and see if they match the style of music you make. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
- No refunds. The listing is clear: “As this is a digital product, I do not offer refunds.” This is standard for digital goods, but it’s worth noting. Do your homework, listen to the demos, and make sure it’s what you want before you click buy. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
Mid-check
If you’re a Vital user who’s ready to speed up your sound design workflow, this is a solid, no-frills purchase. The price is fair, the sounds are well-curated, and the macro mapping makes them genuinely useful. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
FAQ
Is Sounds You Know Vol. 2 compatible with all versions of Vital? Yes. The listing notes that the pack was recently updated to work on any version of Vital. This is a good thing, as it means you don’t need to be on the absolute latest version to use it.
How do I install the presets?
It’s a simple process. You open Vital, click the hamburger menu, and select “import bank.” You then choose the [Sounds You](https://ericbowman.gumroad.com/l/soundsyouknow2?a=991481811&utm_source=editorbrief&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=product-brief) Know Volume 2.vitalbank file. Once imported, you can browse the presets by clicking the hamburger menu again and selecting “browse presets.” The bank will appear in the bottom left.
Are the presets just static sounds, or can I edit them? They are fully editable. In fact, that’s the whole point. Each preset has 4 macros mapped to parameters, so you can quickly change the filter, envelope, and other key elements to make the sound your own. It’s a starting point, not a finished product. (Sounds You Know Vol. 2 100 Vital Presets)
Bottom line
Sounds You Know Vol. 2 is a smart, affordable tool for any producer who uses Vital. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s a collection of 100 well-tuned, recognizable sounds that are ready to be edited. The macro mapping is a thoughtful touch that makes the pack genuinely useful, not just a collection of sounds to listen to. At $19.99, it’s a low-risk way to add a lot of value to your workflow. If you’re a Vital user, this is a no-brainer. If you’re not, it’s a great reason to try out one of the best free synths on the market.