Questions on sampling!!!

**mmc** · 08-08-2011

Hello guys. I am a beginner on sampling. I am using Ableton and mpc1000. After I try to do some sampling. I got couple questions wish you guys can help me out. I am from Hong Kong, where lack of sampling knowledge and resources here. Really thanks if u guys can answer me!

1. May I know when is the proper time to use time stretch on mpc1000? For example, the song I sample is 70 bpm, but the beat I am making is in 95 bpm, so I should use time stretch make the song that I want to sample from 70bpm to 90bpm, is it correct? If not, may I know when i should use that?

2. Sometimes, people use sample just without chopping, just speed it up or slow it down. Sometimes, they chop it and make their own sound. May I know when I chop it, when I shouldn't?

3. I can make my own drum pattern, however, I always feel like not groove enough, is there anything I missing? Is it because I quantize them?

4. I don't know any instrument. After I make a simple loop with the sample and the drum. is there any method for ppl like me who doesnt know any instrument to make the bassline?

5. What is the difference between sub bass and bass? Is that I put low pass filter on the sample, and that means sub bass?

6. After i put the drum and sample together. They are correct on the rhythm but i feel like the groove is not perfectly match. Any special way i can make them perfectly match in groove as well.

7. I dun understand the swing on mpc.... what is the percentage means?

8. I chop the sample each piece with 1/4 note, but after i watch video on youtube. seems its not really correct.... I am confuse abt that.

9. What is the meaning of " make drums from scratch "?

I really need help from you guys. Thanks a lot!!!!

**Xabiton** · 08-08-2011

The answers to most of your questions are experiment. there are no real right or wrong answers its just developing your ear and trial and error. I can tell you all the answers to your questions but unless you understand when its the right time to use or to not use that technique you'll never get it. Its like playing a sport. I can tell you how to shoot free throws but you won't get it unless you are the one actually doing the work. An example to your question. i know when its appropriate to use time stretch but I don't use it. In 8 years of producing 6 of which I mostly sampled I have never used time stretch on a beat.

**mmc** · 08-08-2011

First of all, thanks for replying this post. I understand what you mean, but I wish someone can share some of their experience, so I can try with some guide and helping me understand on some theory. Now seems I dunno how I can solve those problems I am facing. Of course, I know there is no absolutely right or wrong on doing music. I just wish someone can give me some advice. Thanks for reading this post anyway!!

**dev vision** · 08-08-2011

as much as i hate lil b, hes thought me something. do what ever the **** you want and whatever YOU think sounds good

**Xabiton** · 08-08-2011

Originally Posted by mmc

First of all, thanks for replying this post. I understand what you mean, but I wish someone can share some of their experience, so I can try with some guide and helping me understand on some theory. Now seems I dunno how I can solve those problems I am facing. Of course, I know there is no absolutely right or wrong on doing music. I just wish someone can give me some advice. Thanks for reading this post anyway!!

well time stretch is for closing gaps of audio if the loop falls short of a full loop in your sequencer. example its a 4 bar loop but it starts again early which happens in most non sequenced music (basically most music before the 80s). You should only chop it when you have a good idea of how to use it in a new composition. theres nothing wrong with sampling and is a personal choice of how to use a sample. If your groove is off its because you have no groove. quantizing can kill some groove but just because you are on time with no quantize doesn't mean u have a good groove and I've gotten great grooves and made them better with quantizing because I know when and when not to quantize. For bass its all about your ears. its music you have to use your ears to make something sound good. a sub bass is just a really low bass note generally in the c1 c0 range on your keyboard. They are bass you feel but may not hear. Swing is a groove tool play with it to get the feeling you want. making drums from scratch can mean many things for many people. To some its building a new kit for every song using different drum sounds every time. to some its actually sampling new drums for every song for some its playing drums over each song different for some its creating drums on a synth. and there is no wrong way to chop samples. I used to sample entire bars. most people these days chop everything to 16ths.

**Dr.Strangelove** · 08-08-2011

read the mpc manual here
http://www.akaipro.com/stuff/content...ors_manual.pdf

get the jjos upgrade here
MPC1000 JJ OS

watch videos on youtube here
‪mpc‬&rlm; - YouTube

check out these tips here
Akai MPC Forums - Everyone gather round, and post some tips/techniques! : Popular Questions & Essential Info

**sssvvvsss** · 08-10-2011

4. It doesn't really matter if you know how to play an instrument, just try and jam on it until you figure out something you like...after doing that a while you'll probably learn how to play

**jyri** · 08-11-2011

1. Totally up to you. If you need to speed something up, you can time stretch or just simply pitch up the sample to make it faster.

2. Chop it, don't chop it. Do what ever you like. There's no rule to this.

3. Turning quantize off for drums will help as long as you don't go too much off-beat. Adding swing to the pattern can also help. Try quantizing hi-hats and adding a little bit of swing in them, quantize snare and move it forward or backward a millisecond or two, and play the kicks without quantizing.

4. You mean you can't play instruments? Find a bass sound sample, find the root key and start from there. Or simply use low-pass filter to bring out the bass in the sample.

5. Sub-bass sounds are heavy on the low frequencies. Non sub bass sound has a lot more action in the mid frequencies.

6. You'll just have to work on the drums and get them work together with the sample.

7. The percentage is the amount of swing added to the pattern. Try different percentages to find out more about it and get a feel on how to apply it.

8. There is no right or wrong way to chop a sample. Do it the way you want to do it.

9. From "scratch" could mean using synthesis to create drum sounds. Some "producers" seem to say that when they are just editing and layering drum sounds from sample kits or records.

Like Xabiton said, just experiment with things. There is no right or wrong way, but there could be your way.

**saucedrop** · 08-13-2011

Ableton has the best drum rack ever, GET TO KNOW IT. You build your own individual drum hits by tweaking their source of samples to a great. Make a master drum rack for yourself and make some macros to help get the creative juices flowing.