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What do you use samples for?

This is a question just out of curiosity more than anything.

I was watching a Ben Rosser trance tutorial the other day and the entire track in the tutorial was created out of sample loops.

I only really use them for drum sounds and FX, with the odd hat loop thrown in here and there. And of course vocals. I don't recall ever using a sample for a synth part, although that's just personal choice more than anything. I like to have control over the notes!

Can you post the video link!!!!!

I only use samples for drums and Fx's really.

I did make a house song out of Samples only, but that was just me mucking about, as i don't normally do house music but thought would give it a try.


I think it all depends in the genre as well.

Depends on what I want to make.

Trance or other dance music: only for drums.

Ambient: pretty much everything. Samples of acoustic instruments and environmental sounds have a certain texture that I hardly ever find in synthesized stuff. Personally I find their texture ideal for making the style of ambient music I like. But usually I find ways of warping them until they no longer sound like the original. ;-)

Noise / glitch: not very much, and if I put them in I throw them through lots of effects. Again, it has to do with the texture, I find synthesized stuff best for getting the dirty yet highly "technical" and artificial sound I want for this kind of music.

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Originally posted by Waza Can you post the video link!!!!! I only use samples for drums and Fx's really. I did make a house song out of Samples only, but that was just me mucking about, as i don't normally do house music but thought would give it a try. I think it all depends in the genre as well.

http://conservatoriumofaudio.com/

He's got a few decent tutorials on there.

I think i'll start experimenting with more than just percussive samples. Should create some extra inspirations!

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Depends on what I want to make. Trance or other dance music: only for drums. Ambient: pretty much everything. Samples of acoustic instruments and environmental sounds have a certain texture that I hardly ever find in synthesized stuff. Personally I find their texture ideal for making the style of ambient music I like. But usually I find ways of warping them until they no longer sound like the original. ;-) Noise / glitch: not very much, and if I put them in I throw them through lots of effects. Again, it has to do with the texture, I find synthesized stuff best for getting the dirty yet highly "technical" and artificial sound I want for this kind of music.

/looks at the price of kontakt......

Samples have always seemed like cheating to me, at least looped ones. Aside from percussion, that is, but the percussion usually just accents my music, it's never the focus.

People using melodic VEC loops and things like those and building tracks around them are wasting any production or songwriting talents they might have, IMO.

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Originally posted by Kysora Samples have always seemed like cheating to me, at least looped ones. Aside from percussion, that is, but the percussion usually just accents my music, it's never the focus. People using melodic VEC loops and things like those and building tracks around them are wasting any production or songwriting talents they might have, IMO.

In my head I hear myself agreeing with you.

The only caveat for me would be if a truly great track were built around a good sample as a starting point.

That's talking about standard 4/4 stuff I think. Using layered samples creatively and effecting them in a big way isn't something I could do well!

Here are a couple example ambient tracks:

http://jbj.raceriv.com/JBJ--Your-Mirror.mp3
http://jbj.raceriv.com/JBJ--Not-So-Fast.mp3

If I remember right (no longer have the arrangement files), both tracks are made completely from samples except for one or two sounds. I doubt you could identify the source from the sounds, though. ;-)

I use one-shot samples mostly for drums, percussion, and SFX, but I use various samplers (e.g., Kontakt, EWQL RA & Symphonic Choirs, MOTU Ethno) for "real" sounds, and of course I use some romplers and sample-based synths. Whatever tool gets the job done.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Here are a couple example ambient tracks: http://jbj.raceriv.com/JBJ--Your-Mirror.mp3 http://jbj.raceriv.com/JBJ--Not-So-Fast.mp3 If I remember right (no longer have the arrangement files), both tracks are made completely from samples except for one or two sounds. I doubt you could identify the source from the sounds, though. ;-)

Only had a chance to listen to Your Mirror so far and that's a stunning texture you've created there. I see where you're coming from as well, you couldn't really do that with synths. Food for thought. I'd guess some of the sample are from Yello's Stella!

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Originally posted by cryophonik I use one-shot samples mostly for drums, percussion, and SFX, but I use various samplers (e.g., Kontakt, EWQL RA & Symphonic Choirs, MOTU Ethno) for "real" sounds, and of course I use some romplers and sample-based synths. Whatever tool gets the job done.

For some reason I hadn't included instrumental sample sounds in my head

Totally see why they'd be used, and I've used them myself in Halion! You can't beat a good choir pad!




I think what struck me was the use of long loops of bassline and synth parts. What's the point? You might as well fire up Ejay.

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Originally posted by tehlord I think what struck me was the use of long loops of bassline and synth parts. What's the point? You might as well fire up Ejay.

I agree! That's why I hate sample packs that include hundreds or thousands of loops.

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Originally posted by cryophonik I use one-shot samples mostly for drums, percussion, and SFX, but I use various samplers (e.g., Kontakt, EWQL RA & Symphonic Choirs, MOTU Ethno) for "real" sounds

This pretty much sums my situation.

I would never use a loop personally, but I have no problem with others doing so.

I only use samples I've recorded myself. I'll never understand how anyone could feel right about assembling a track out of a bunch of loops they bought and calling it their own.

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