Software Samplers: What, Why & How?

[BiggChev]

Software Samplers: What, Why & How? ​

Background

While I don’t often make sampled beats, the sampler is still an integral tool in my music making tool-kit. Often times I’ll load short composed loops into the Maschine sampler and chop them up to see if I can contort and squeeze out a new idea. The sampler is also a great way to manipulate one-shots (adjusting polyphony, pitching, adjusting amp envelopes, filters, and modulations) Of course, it’s the go to for chopping break beats. I have experience with Maschine, MPC 1000 and Logic’s Quick Sampler.

The Challenges

Of the three, Maschine is my main sampler - as it’s also where I initially sketch out my ideas and the one I’m most comfortable with - but Logic Pro is where I really flesh out the majority of my music and finish all my beats. This means there’s a lot of exporting, tracking, parsing out chops, and bussing to get what was started in Maschine into Logic - in a way that’s still workable.

While I really enjoy the sound and process of using the MPC 1000, it’s neither; as capable as Maschine, nor as easy to use. It also disrupts the workflow as there is a lot of tracking back and forth between Turntable/MPC/Computer.

The challenge, or hunt rather, is finding that seamless integration of a robust, capable sampler that can be used inside Logic so as not to disrupt the workflow and still have accessibility to features/functions. Logic’s Quick Sampler is a really handy tool and the integration is, of course, great! And while it may be a matter of me not exploring it enough; I don’t find it as capable as the Maschine sampler. I also think, not having dedicated 1-to-1 controls like Maschine does, may be a factor in my lack of enthusiasm for it.

Next Steps

I have an old Maschine MK1 that is literally being used as a paper-weight at the moment. With a long weekend on the horizon, I was thinking of trying to map it to Logic’s sampler to see if the tactile control will encourage me to use it more. While it would be a great learning opportunity, MIDI mapping seems like an absolute nightmare and well outside my realm of experience or expertise. Ideally, I can figure out a template and slowly build on the mapping as I go.

The Question

What software samplers are you folks using? What are some workflow advantages of your Sampler + DAW setup? Why do you like the sampler your using and How are you using it? I know we’ve got some hardware folks in here, and a variety of DAW users, so I’m keen to learn from you all.

Of course, if there’s a glaring miss in my setup and use of these tools, please point it out!

 

[Iron Keys]

Studio One's Impact plugin controlled by PreSonus ATOM.

I'm not the biggest fan of Impact. But it's there it's immediate. It's colors match my hardware.

Keep meaning to look for better software samplers that are more intuitive and better to use. Not sure which I'd go to

 

[konceptG]

In software it's the Edison/FL Slicer combo, Battery, and in the past Kontakt 3 and DirectWave.

Right now, if I find something to flip on vinyl, it's going into Edison, then FL Slicer. The reason being is that it's the combination I've been using since FL7 dropped and I'm just super comfortable with it. Chop it in Edison, then drag it to Slicer to slice it up and flip it.

When I was more into replicating a hardware workflow, Kontakt was the most ideal way for me. It was like using an Akai or E-Mu rack sampler, but without the rack sampler. DirectWave was what I used in FL to achieve a similar feel.

Battery was a way to mimic using an MPC for me. I'd just map it to my old MPD16 (which I ultimately sold to one of y'all) or my current OG Trigger Finger and get to work.

 

[BiggChev]

@Iron Keys - I'm not sure if I want to add/change my DAW but I'll check out the Atom.

@konceptG - I've always been intrigued by those old rack samplers. Not sure if I'd actually have the patience to use them though lol. To your point, I really think I just need some of that hands-on hardware feel with a controller. Let's see if I can get a mapping together for the Logic Quick Sampler.

 

[2GooD Productions]

When it comes to manipulating samples I tend to just chop the raw wav manually, and use a pitch shifting plugin and time stretching I do by micro-chopping(if necessary) and adjusting manually too. Cubase has some great audio manipulation abilities and I find I get the most control and options when I do things the more manual way. Cubase has a sample track but I never use it, the closest thing I use to a sampler now is the Steinberg Groove Agent, which makes drum programming a lot easier when its mostly all on the one track, but output to separate mixer channels Kicks, to a kick bus, snares to a snare bus and hats to a hat bus with extra percussion to a percussion bus. I do send claps to my snare bus, just so I can slap a clipper on the bus and control my snare/clap combined peaks more easily.

 

[BiggChev]

@2GooD Productions

Pretty cool use of Cubase’s built in capabilities. I’ll so something similar, occasionally, in Logic too. Flex Time and audio editing functions are pretty powerful, it is again, kinda cumbersome - but I agree, it’s probably the most control you can get over the raw sound/sample source.

 

[2GooD Productions]

@2GooD Productions

Pretty cool use of Cubase’s built in capabilities. I’ll so something similar, occasionally, in Logic too. Flex Time and audio editing functions are pretty powerful, it is again, kinda cumbersome - but I agree, it’s probably the most control you can get over the raw sound/sample source.

The reason I first started composing is because when it comes to making beats I'm a bit of a control freak. I hate to be limited by a sample so do things in a way that I can maximise achieving what I want to do without being limited to the confines of the sample. Sampling will always have its limits and confines dictated by the sample, but combining sampling with the composition gives me the best of both worlds and much more control over the end result, whether its sample manipulation or mixing.

 

[konceptG]

@Iron Keys - I'm not sure if I want to add/change my DAW but I'll check out the Atom.

@konceptG - I've always been intrigued by those old rack samplers. Not sure if I'd actually have the patience to use them though lol. To your point, I really think I just need some of that hands-on hardware feel with a controller. Let's see if I can get a mapping together for the Logic Quick Sampler.

Using hardware kinda throws you into a different mindset over software. The best way I can describe it is that choices you make are more focused, you're doing more listening to the sample as opposed to looking at it 'cause a lot of old samplers don't show the waveform, so you're chopping exclusively by ear instead of by sight, manually mapping samples across keys, etc. With software it's mostly a visual experience and the audio takes the back seat. Plus, the act of pressing buttons and menu diving changes the way you work.

It really does take patience to use rack samplers, especially if all you've ever known has been software joints.

 

[Iron Keys]

Using hardware kinda throws you into a different mindset over software. The best way I can describe it is that choices you make are more focused, you're doing more listening to the sample as opposed to looking at it 'cause a lot of old samplers don't show the waveform, so you're chopping exclusively by ear instead of by sight, manually mapping samples across keys, etc. With software it's mostly a visual experience and the audio takes the back seat. Plus, the act of pressing buttons and menu diving changes the way you work.

It really does take patience to use rack samplers, especially if all you've ever known has been software joints.

Yeah great point about the way things changing how you work which can seem subtle but actually quite significant impact!

So much hardware shit and just ways of chopping and triggering that I wish I had in my repertoire or knew where to get that understanding as some of the greats do it!

 

[E.D]

I use of course my MPC renaissance/MPC2 Software and FLstudio25. To me both DAWs are identical except for the look of the UI and workflow. I rarely use the edison or fl slicer because I always chops my samples in the playlist arrangement. If I wanted to microchop then I'll use my MPC. I guess I just like a bigger view to chop on because before I had an MPC I was sampling with a Gemini sampler (8 sec of sampling time) then I graduated to Acid Pro and they had a program called sound forge (which I still have) that I used for a lonnng time for sampling. Even when I went to Fruityloops 2.5 sound forge and then later reason recycle was my sampling chopping goto. @BiggChev you have a MPC1000 that wouldve been my number one sampler choice.

 

[Fade]

I used to have Maschine so I was doing all my sampling in there, but now I have the MPC 2500 so I sample in that. I love that JJOS has non-destructive chopping so that's a huge time-saver for me.

I don't use any software samplers but I did years ago. What I usually do is I do my beat on the MPC and then dump it into Studio One then do all the rest in there. It could be that I add VSTs or whatever, then mix it down.

I like that each sampler has its own style though. With software I can do a ton of stuff, but on the MPC it's limited, which is actually good because it forces me to be creative with my samples.

But yeah, MPC for the main beat, DAW for everything else.

 

[BiggChev]

@E.D - I love the MPC 1000 man, but really all comes down to comfortable and capability. I had been on Maschine for 11 years before I got the MPC so I know it better and it's far more powerful. I hear you on Acid/Soundforge. Back in the Fruity Loops days there wasn't a really good sampler so Acid Pro is when I started getting into sampling. The time stretch and warping features on it were great. I actually just bout Acid Pro 11 for my old work PC - and it's a piece of shit lol

@Fade - I should give JJOS a shot. At the very least, trimming samples is quicker than with Akai OS. And that's always been my main gripe with it. As powerful as the MPC is, and while it does most of what Maschine does in terms of chopping and manipulation, the time and tedium of it adds up. Again, factor in the back and forth between Sample source, MPC, computer, MIDI etc.

 

[OGBama]

MPK Mini MK3 & MPC Beats, sampling option I tried and it came out kind of okay, some Premo shit w/piano

 

[Fade]

I should give JJOS a shot

If you're interested, check out these videos I did on JJOS:

 

[BiggChev]

If you're interested, check out these videos I did on JJOS:

Will check this out. I’ve been meaning to make Maschine tutorial videos. Between the time commitment and impostor syndrome…I’ve never actually put hammer to nails though.

 

[Fade]

Will check this out. I’ve been meaning to make Maschine tutorial videos. Between the time commitment and impostor syndrome…I’ve never actually put hammer to nails though.

Yeah it's a lot of time and commitment to make YT videos. I did plenty years ago and then I stopped because I have more important stuff to do. Fade stuff.

You should make some Maschine videos if you can because it can be fun, it's just time consuming.

 

[Iron Keys]

MPK Mini MK3 & MPC Beats, sampling option I tried and it came out kind of okay, some Premo shit w/piano

I don't wanna read nothin' 'til I hear somethin'