Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
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By Ronin Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:34 pm
Menco wrote:Another reason to really dig for yourself is to find out what kind of music works for you to sample. You really have to buy/ download a lot of **** to know and understand what kind of samples you like that are the foundation of your signature style.

Me for example like dramatic music with a lot of stuff going on in a short phrase because most of the time I sample my melody from one record. Others like to sample solo phrases from different records and put that together or like to layer that with vst's or synths.

You can only find that out for yourself by trial and error.


I can dig that.
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By mp3 Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:40 pm
Another tip. Make sure you check the bridges and outtros to songs as well as the intros. Sometimes they have open instrument and drum samples there. But still check the whole song, you never know what you will find. Especially early on. As you get more experience digging, you can start to tell which songs will have a lot of bridges and switchups and which ones will be static the whole way through.

A good way to make your pitched instrument samples stretch across the keyboard with better sound quality is to use the computer audio editor to pitchshift them up (and/or down) an octave, and then map the original samples and the pitchshifted versions to separate keyranges. Also some audio editors offer autolooping or crossfade looping tools. Use that too.

Also, you can often use filters and EQ to isolate or eliminate stuff from a sample, so you end up with a usable one shot sound. For example, if a bass and flute are layered, you can use filters to isolate one or the other. Same goes for noise gates and drumhits or stabs. But really, you should also use layered samples to your advantage. If you can't isolate the keyboard from the guitar, for example, that shouldn't disqualify the sample.
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By thx Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:30 pm
mp3 wrote:Another tip. Make sure you check the bridges and outtros to songs as well as the intros. Sometimes they have open instrument and drum samples there. But still check the whole song, you never know what you will find.


that's right
By roxstar Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:51 pm
The quick way is to download kits off the internet.
The best way is to skip to fast route, and sample drums when you come across them. Build you own library over time.
Personally, I could never use a "Premo" kit, but I don't see anything wrong with downloading kits from vintage drum machines. I've taken sounds from Youtube before, so even if you don't have the money or accessibility to vinyl it really doesn't matter. Its almost 2011 and technology allows people to do things that we couldn't do in 1991. Use your computer to its fullest. Google is your friend! :)
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By cyrus Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:05 am
Ronin wrote:
slop1977 wrote:Dig deep Son.....
Why would you want to sample things that have already been sampled mad times?
Be creative..............

:lol: again, maybe my wording was not precise enough. I am not looking for samples like loops and such. I was referring to instrument samples. but to kill all the negative vibes and tensions, I'll take what you all have said to heart. Preciate giving me advice.


i dont think its always finding something someone hasnt used. its about how you use it and about the quality of the sound. you can take a loop from an already sampled artist, but chop the loop, disect it, mangle it. for example. say someone sampled some ohio players already, well you aint gotta sample the same shit and use it how they did! but say there is a nice string swell in that same loop. chop it out, save it for later, create a keymapping of it and use it on a differant beat!

look for sounds you like regardless of who used it. if you concerned about who used it, chances are you arent being creative enough with it.

you need to look for quality sounds, sounds that evoke emotion, sounds that you like, sounds that make you feel good, whether thats a loop, hit, stab, note, half loop, a dadingly ring ding dong noise, or whatever.

there is a reason why the same artists get sampled over and over again. its cause they have dope quality sounds!

dont be afraid of loops either. loops are all about context. you can find a phrase, loop it, take it co mpletely out of the original context and make something completely differant out of it. or you can make some forgotten intro straight hiphop! dont be afraid to loop. thats hiphop too.

take the same approach with instruments as you would with drums.

1.look for open sounds, hits, notes, etc.
2.look for quality sounds, those open sounds need to be nice, some character, or quality that make em unique or interesting or emotional. just like drums, you want to find some kicks that already bang right! some snare that already got snap! or some hats with crusty character right! do the same for your instruments. quality shit that you aint gotta do anything to make it sound ill.
3.look for loops, when you look for drums you try to find loops cause the kick and snare and hihat already sound good together right? well that dont mean you have to just loop them drums, you can create your own kick, snare, hihat kit by chopping that loop and make your own patterns.......same thing with instruments dunny! notes in a loop or phrase already match. you aint gotta just loop the shit, make your own instrument kits and ptterns.
4.loop it if it works, dont be a pussy, if it bangs, it bangs.
5.chop it and rearrange if it works, but dont chop just to chop. make quality selections and quality chops.
6. organize and categorize your sounds. say you find 1/3 of a dope loop but need something else to make it complete loop, if you have organized sounds, you can find exactly what you want.
7.dont be lazy! its like cooking a delecious meal, the more you know about your spices, ingredients, etc. the easier it is to hand select the quality shit that tastes good. you begin to figure out what combinations work, and what stores have best quality for what you trying to accomplish. ya know!