# Citizen DJ

> Remix free-to-use audio and video from the Library of Congress.

Citizen DJ is an experimental browser-based audio tool created by Brian Foo for the Library of Congress Innovator in Residence Program. It lets music producers navigate thousands of historical sound recordings, speech clips, and public-domain videos using an interactive visual sampler. Users can audition slices against drum patterns directly in the browser and download sample packs for their own digital audio workstations.

Website: https://citizen-dj.labs.loc.gov/

## What it is for

- Find public domain spoken-word clips and interviews for music production
- Audition historical audio samples over drum patterns directly in the browser
- Download curated, royalty-free sample packs to use in external DAWs

## Features

- Interactive visual clip explorer for navigating large historical audio archives
- In-browser beatmaker interface to audition samples against rhythmic patterns
- Direct sample pack downloads for external DAW workflow
- Archival collections covering Edison recordings, blues, jazz, early cinema, and dialect interviews
- Clear licensing and public domain usage guidelines for remixers

## Pricing

Free public access

## Details

- Type: Web app
- Category: [Other](https://xiry.app/topics/other.md)
- Platforms: Web
- For: Music producers, hip-hop beatmakers, sound designers, and educators seeking public domain audio.
- Alternative to: Splice, Tracklib, Loopcloud
- Tags: music, samples, sampling, public domain, audio archive, beatmaking

## Why it was saved

- [@dotmvsic, 3 February 2026](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUTxRblj38x/): Provides high-resolution public domain speech, interviews, music, and sound bites arranged into an intuitive visual drum machine/sampler interface.

## Compare

- [Alternatives to Splice](https://xiry.app/alternatives/splice.md)
- [Alternatives to Tracklib](https://xiry.app/alternatives/tracklib.md)
- [Alternatives to Loopcloud](https://xiry.app/alternatives/loopcloud.md)

## Related

- [Sampling Yourself](https://xiry.app/resources/sampling-yourself): Recording original instruments and sounds to build private, copyright-free sample libraries. (Tip, Free)
- [Tracklib](https://xiry.app/resources/tracklib): Catalog of real records and royalty-free sounds with pre-cleared licensing. (Web app, Paid)
- [Vinyl Frontier Extra](https://xiry.app/resources/vinyl-frontier-extra): YouTube channel curating obscure vinyl rips, loops, and library music playlists. (Website, Free)
- [Dollar Bins at Thrift and Record Stores](https://xiry.app/resources/dollar-bins-at-thrift-and-record-stores): Finding unique, unindexed samples in cheap vinyl bargain bins. (Tip, Paid)
- [Internet Archive: Sample and Sample-Patch CDs](https://xiry.app/resources/internet-archive-sample-and-sample-patch-cds): Public collection of vintage sample CDs, synth patches, and retro soundfonts. (Website, Free)
- [Lost World Radio (The Nightly)](https://xiry.app/resources/lost-world-radio-the-nightly): Curated web radio stream of rare, vintage, and obscure world music (Website, Free)

Updated 3 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/citizen-dj

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