Sampling - Volume levels

This is a real newbie question here.

When your sampling anything, but say Bass for an example, how bassy should you sample it at?! Should it be sampled as you'd wanna hear it on a cd or should you sample it with the bass turned down on my mixer so you can then turn it up after its recorded?!

Hope people understand the question

Thanks...James

Most of the time when you sample you just have to watch your peak levels.Sampling the sound is only the first step in making the track.You still have to consider pitching,e.Q'in,compression.Effects,etc.Cause those will determine how the track sounds in the end.

sample as hot as you possibly can without clipping. whether or not you EQ on before sampling or after, or both, is a matter of preference.

Like stryke said, once you have a good, hot, clean sample, you can do all the manipulating you want, but you need a strong loud sample to begin with.