Steve PMHWhile listening to your favorite songs, you might’ve noticed some loops or a repeated chorus. Well, you can thank the convenient creation of a music sampler for that.
With the use of sound recordings, music samplers can produce songs or tunes. It can record more than just conventional instrument music and an artist’s voice.
You can record random noises, like splashing water, and combine them to form a unique rhythm on its own.
A music sampler truly tests a musician’s creativity. Stick around to get a deeper look into what is a music sampler.
Music Samplers In Brief
A music sampler is a helpful gadget, similar to a tape recorder, that allows you to catch bits of audio. That audio is called a ‘sample.’
The electronic musical instrument can diversify your song by incorporating recorded samples from all kinds of music.
Whether you’re hoping to create your beat or enhance your songs, music samplers do it all.
The History and Development of Music Samplers
When you’re thinking of music samplers, tape recorders might come to mind. Essentially, that’s what samplers are. Let’s take a look at how they’ve evolved.
- The earliest form of a music sampler developed was a tape-replay keyboard, otherwise known as a Chamberlin. The electronic keyboard was first developed in the 1940s. Imitating the appearance of a piano, a Chamberlin held keys that each played eight-second recordings.
- The early samplers found their way into the music industry shortly after. These music samplers were simple. All you have to do is record your playing instruments and sequence them together.
- You can consider drum machines one of the earliest forms of a music sampler. Its concept was first developed in1206 by Arab engineer, Ismail Al-Jazari. Although these are ancient history, a programmable prototype was initially created in 1972 by EKO. They named their drum machine the ‘ComputeRythm.’
- Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) have given more control to musicians. They’re able to mix, add audio effects, edit, etc. Their creation paved the way for more modern samplers.
- Digital samplers were invented by composer and engineer, Peter Zinovieff in 1969. The sampler was named the EMS Musys.
The first commercially available music sampler was the digital Fairlight CMI in 1979. Soon after, other brands like Roland and Akai followed in producing commercial music samplers for the public.
How to Choose a Sampler
Today, samplers have numerous functions in the music industry. So much so that they’ve advanced towards acquiring countless specifications and features. Each sampler has a specific addition that can be perfectly tailored to each musician.
Check out each category available. You’ll be able to tell which one you can benefit from more.
Sample Space
Sample space, as the name suggests, is how many recordings you’ll be able to fit in your sampler. Nowadays, you can store your samples on your hard drive or memory cards.
Polyphony
Polyphony can be considered the main attraction in a music sampler. It decides the number of separate voices, notes, or melodies you can play together to form your customized chords.
Audio Output
If you’re planning on connecting your music sampler to a lot of equipment, you might want to consider the number of audio outputs it has.
Channels
The number of channels available in your music sampler determines the number of MIDI channels of each musical instrument you’ll be able to fit.
Bit Depth
Bit depth ultimately regulates the sample’s sound quality. Technically, it refers to the number of bits of information in separate samples. If you’re working professionally, 24 bits can be enough.
Application of Samplers in Producing Music
Since music is filled with a plethora of genres and rhythms, various musicians have catered sampling to their genres.
If you’re looking for a sick beat, your sampler can be your drums. You can easily modify your drum’s beat through your sampler’s sequencer.
By inputting a microphone in your sampler, you can record your voice, or any other voice to add to your song. It doesn’t have to be limited to human noises, just check out the viral animal cover of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You.’
Benefits of Using a Music Sampler
Music today wouldn’t be what it is now without the use of music samplers. Through their evolution, they’ve carried plenty of benefits. Here’s an overview of some of the advantages music samplers have given us.
Cost-Effective
Financially speaking, music samplers have cut down several production costs. Imagine having an abundance of music recordings all at the tip of your fingers. There’d be no need to buy that expensive drum set or fancy piano.
Ease of Access
You might expect some legal issues to arise from copying another artist’s tune. Nevertheless, you don’t need to worry too much in that regard. You’re able to sample music from other artists without fear of repercussion as long as you also credit them.
Stay Trendy
You can keep up with the rising music trends by using a music sampler. Use your sampler on popular music to inspire you to create your melody.
Creative Outlet
Your only limit is your imagination. Music producers have flawlessly showcased their musical creativity in this aspect. Just check out Robin Thicke’s sampling of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got To Give It Up’ in his hit song ‘Blurred Lines,’ featuring Pharell Williams.
Appeal to the Young with the Old
You can modernize older classics to appeal to a younger audience. For instance, In The Winstons’, ‘Amen Brother,’ there’s a famous drum solo that is widely sampled in newer songs. Most notably, you can find their sample in N.W.A’s ‘Straight Outta Compton.’
Cultural Diversity
Music comes from a blend of cultures all over the world. Sampling bridges these cultural diversities and can form beautiful multiethnic musical pieces. In the wake of cultural globalization, songs such as M.I.A’s ‘Jimmy,’ sample Indian classics, like Parvat Khan’s ‘Jimmi Jimmi Aaja.’
How Can You Use a Music Sampler?
Music samplers are immensely fluid in their function. They can give you the impression of playing a traditional instrument such as the drums, without laying a finger on a drumstick.
Using Samplers as Instruments
With the help of a hardware sampler, you can customize your notes with a mixture of pitches. Since most samples require an original artist’s permission, you can use free music samples found online.
Nevertheless, samples can be layered, slowed down, sped up, pitch-adjusted, and repeated to your liking. You can consider music samplers any remix’s holy grail since they thrive on their uses.
Get Creative With Your Sampler
Your imagination is the limit when it comes to recording your samples. Music samplers can give you the ability to truly stand out among other tracks. You can slice, warp, and distort any sound of your choosing to create a workable beat.
How Does it Work?
Since music samplers are mostly built differently, there’s no one common way to use them. The one thing that they all must have is a key mapping system. This is where all the music manipulation occurs.
The mapping system can work through an attached input MIDI controller or electric keyboard. If you record an assortment of pitches with a MIDI sampler it’s referred to as multi-sampling.
How to Operate a DAW
One of the many forms a music sampler takes is through a DAW. These software devices have eased the sampling process for you. Here are a few components to familiarize yourself with a DAW.
Sequencers
Sequencers are what DAWs rely on for, you guessed it, sequencing your recorded samples. They also aid in organizing each instrument’s samples in their respective tracks.
Channel Strips
The sequencer also carries channel strips where you can adjust functions such as panning and routing. When you pan, you decide on which area the sound is affixed in your stereo, whether it’s left or right. To route is to locate where your music will be coming from and going to.
Timeline and Playhead
Your tracks are laid out in a timeline. The time is mapped out vertically (the line is referred to as a playhead), while the tracks are shown horizontally. Simply press play and your playhead will synchronize through your track from left to right.
Transport Unit
Highly used, the transport control unit allows you to pause, play, record, repeat, among numerous other tasks.
Mixer
If you want to change your track’s volume, use your DAW’s mixer.
Tips For Better Sampling
- The trick to seamlessly add a sample to your track is to equalize. You wouldn’t want people noticing the abrupt change in frequencies as soon as a sample comes up. That’ll give a more natural feel to your song.
- Imitating the key signature of your track with the sampled work will also give you a more authentic sound.
- Not sure which key signature your sample is played in? There’s no need to worry since most online ones in sample libraries provide you with the key. You can also use online tools to find the key you’re working with.
Hardware vs. Software Music Samplers
Music samplers can come in different forms, such as hardware and software. While hardware music samplers may seem old and less advanced, they can prove to be more useful in certain tasks.
For example, hardware music samplers can memorize your settings without having to constantly adjust them. Nonetheless, software music samplers have more settings to choose from.
Hardware samplers can include standalone samplers. They’re conventionally operated through an attached keyboard. The standalone variety is perfect for live performances as well as fulfilling last-minute tweaks, without needing a DAW.
Virtual Studio Technology, a software sampler, has seen nothing but growth in the past few years. The sampler incorporates sound effect units and synthesizers into DAWs, making all of its function purely on a software interface.
As can be expected in this digital age, software samplers have become more widely used than their hardware counterparts. This is why music engineers have found ways to boost hardware sales. They’ve built portable and battery-operated music samplers.
How Can You Legally Sample Music?
Essentially, by sampling another song in your music, you’re copying a piece of their creative work. In a world of countless copyright laws and probations, the legalities behind sampling music can leave you confused.
No matter how insignificant the amount of sampling you take is, you need to heed copyright laws. You’re probably thinking about how you can obtain another artist’s permission. There are two ways you need to go about it.
- Firstly, you’re going to need a license to use the master recording often owned by the music label.
- The other license is needed for the underlying composition. This permission is mostly in the hands of the songwriter or publisher.
If you want to get ahold of the publisher of your sample, you can identify them through several databases, such as ASCAP, Harry Fox, and BMI.
Extra Costs
Once you’ve got your license and permission or approval, the original artists might require you to pay some fees. There’s no standard amount to be paid since each sample differs in size and quality.
In some instances, the original artist may also ask for a percentage of the revenue you receive from the sampled song. The number also depends on how much space the sample takes up in your song.
That’s not all, unfortunately. Extra costs can include up-front fees as well as roll-over fees. The latter is decided based on the number of copies your song sells.
This is why we recommend you consider all these costs before taking up a sample. You can try to re-record the sample yourself to avoid all this copyright drama.
Famous Sampled Songs
If you want to get your creative juices flowing, here are some popular songs using music samples.
- Kanye West ‘Bound 2’sampling Ponderosa Twins ‘Bound.’
- Daft Punk ‘Harder, Better, Faster’sampling Edwin Birdsong ‘Cola Bottle Baby.’
- DJ Khaled ‘Wild Thoughts’ Rhianna and Bryson Tiller sampling Santana ‘Maria Maria’ft. The Product G&B
- Katy Perry ‘Swish Swish’ft Nicki Minaj sampling DJ Le Roi ‘I Get Deep’ Roland Clark, The Notorious B.I.G ‘Juicy,’ and Snow White and The Seven Dwarves.
