Using Samples In Music Production

Samples are one of the first tools you’ll come across when learning how to produce music, and they’re one of the most common tools that music producers have in their arsenal when it comes to creating content. But what are they, and how are they used?

Samples are pre-recorded audio segments that can be used within a DAW. Your first exposure to these most likely happened in Garageband. You opened up a new project, explored a bit, and found a bunch of pre-recorded drums, guitar, and piano audio, and wondered “what do I do with these?” The answer’s pretty simple - those samples exist for you to use as the building blocks in any beat, track, or production you’re working on.

So what kind of samples exist and how do I use them?

Samples are characterized by length or sound type. The two main sample lengths are “One Shot” and “Loop”. A one shot sample is a single sound. For example, a single hit of a kick drum, or a snare, or a piano chord would be considered a one shot sample. A Loop, on the other hand, is a repeating sample that follows a specific tempo and meter. For example, a four on the floor kick at 120bpm, or a set of four piano chords with one played each measure. Just reading about this can be a bit confusing, so I suggest you open up your DAW and try messing around with some samples. You’ll get the hang of it in no time!

Categorizing samples by sound type is very similar. There’s three main categories that these samples fall into. Percussive, Melodic, and Harmonic. Percussive samples don’t contain any specific notes. These would be drum samples, claps, or other percussion instruments. Melodic samples are made up of notes that play one at a time. An example of this would be a single piano note, or maybe a synth lead line. Lastly, harmonic samples contain multiple notes that play at the same time. This would be like an acoustic guitar strumming loop.

So where do I get these samples?

A lot of DAWs have built in samples that you can use! I recommend starting there and getting familiar with them first. Once you have an idea of how to use samples, you can start to expand on your sample library. I recommend starting small and purchasing one pack at a time. That way you can get familiar with each pack and don’t get lost in a sea of new samples.

What do I recommend?

My top four sample pack companies would be Echo Sound Works, KSHMR, That Sound, and Black Octopus. Each company will suit different needs depending on what genre you’re working in. Echo Sound Works has great samples for indie pop and singer songwriter type tracks. KSHMR starts to enter the realm of EDM, but is still usable across all genres. That Sound has some incredibly realistic samples and works very well for any genre that needs a live or authentic feel. That Sound also includes soundalike packs from popular producers and artists like Illenium or Darren King (Mutemath). Lastly, I recommend Black Octopus if you’re looking to get into heavier EDM styles. Black Octopus has some of the best sounding samples in that genre. They also are the most expensive, so maybe start with something cheaper first to figure out your tastes before diving into more expensive sample packs!

Ok, Spike. This is cool and all, but how do I use these?

That’s a great question! Each DAW is going to be different. However, with most DAWs, you should be able to drag and drop samples into your timeline from your file browser. In addition to that, most DAWs will have some sort of a native sampling plugin that comes with the software. In Ableton, these are called Sampler, Simpler, and Drum Rack. ProTools has Boom. Logic has Quick Sampler. To use these plugins, simply load the plugin into an instrument or MIDI channel, and drag samples into the playable areas!

Most of your productions will probably use those stock plugins. However, occasionally you’ll find the need for something else that changes the sample or makes it easier to establish a groove. In some cases, you may want to pitch shift a sample so it has a different effect or tone. Most DAWs allow you to do this within their workflow, but occasionally it’s helpful to use a third party plugin. If you’re looking for simple pitch shifting, I recommend Waves Soundshifter. If you need more robust drum plugins with sample editing capabilities, I recommend XLN Audio’s XO or Algonaut Atlas. These are both third party drum sampling softwares that help speed up workflow. They both have algorithmic sample organization that helps with sample selection if your collection is growing to the point where it’s hard to keep track of what is what. Both plugins have the ability to function as drum machines as well as edit the samples pitch.

Working with samples is a learning process. Take the time to enjoy learning how to work with them. It may seem confusing at first, but it will get easier over time as you establish your workflow! As always, reach out if you ever have any questions or want to hop on a music production lesson!

Keep up the good work,

Spike