The Beat Pharmacy
Cookin Up Dat Dope
A Great read I thought yall might enjoy
Combining Samples and Synth Sounds
By Sa'id
Combining synth sounds with standard vinyl samples is not particularly necessary, but certainly useful in some situations. Either way, however, if you do decide to do a synth-sample blend, remember this: when blending a synth sound with a sample, never forget that you are trying to match the synth to the sample, not the other way around. That being said, here are some other factors to consider when blending or combining synths with samples.
What’s the scope of your verse and hook sections (if there is one)? How different is your verse section from your hook section? What about the framework of your sequences. That is, what bar framework is your verse section based on? Is it a 2-bar, 4-bar, or 8-bar loop? What about the sample scheme you’re using? Are you using just one main sample that is heavily chopped? Are you using multiple samples woven together? Are you using a relatively unmodified break of 1 or more bars? Each one of these factors will better determine what sort of synth combination is likely to work with your samples.
I use a combo of synths and samples. But here's the catch: I never try to play a synth in the same key as the sample(s) I'm using. Whenever I add in synth sounds to a sample-based beat, I usually do so for one or two reasons: A.) to boost or “beef” up the sample, sort of like stacking synth sounds; and B.) to accentuate or emphasize a moment or element of the sample(s) I'm using.
In most cases of a sample-based beat, the sample itself contains multiple instruments, and thus for me, it becomes an issue of manipulating the pitch (higher or lower) of the particular synth sounds that I'm using. More specifically, it's an issue of manipulating the pitch of the synth sounds higher or lower than the pitch of the primary sample and the sample scheme that I'm using. For instance, if I'm working with a low-pitched sample (something with a bass tone), I usually try to offset its sound with some level of brightness. In cases like these, I'll add in some synth sounds. This contrast makes for a unique, unforced change and/or accent. Here, one thing I wanna point out is that matching the synth closely to the "feel" (not necessarily the key) of the sample, typically works better. Keep in mind that synth sounds (which are first generational) have a completely different sonic quality than samples from vinyl recordings. And thus, typcially, whenever the synth sound is made to match the key of the sample, what happens is that the synth sound winds up competing with--if not outright dominating--the sample. Thereby turning a sample-based beat into really a keyboard-based beat.
Now, here's how I combine samples and synths. Either I play a phrase(s) straight up (from my Roland Fantom Keyboard) and record it through MIDI into a sequence on my Akai MPC 4000, or I play a phrase(s), sample it, then assign the phrase(s) to one drum pad or more. Sampling the synth phrase(s) allows me more flexibility over the tone and timbre of the synth sound, because once it's sampled, I can filter it, compress it, add reverb, whatever it takes to match the feeling (not the pitch) of the sample and the overall beat. For those times where I sample the synth sound, I run my Fantom through my Akai S950 sampler or my MPC 4000, depending on the feel and sound of the main sample. If I want more clarity and a bit more brightness, I sample the synth phrase(s) with my MPC 4000. However, if I want a warmer, perhaps "thicker" sound, I sample the synth phrase(s) through my S950.
One more tip In cases where I'm using synth sounds for slight emphasis or slight accents and changes, I focus in on the softest (deadest) part of the sample, then I add in the synth sounds. And sometimes when I have a sample cut off right at the loop point of a sequence, I'll throw some light stacked synth sounds right at the point of where the end of the sample drops out.
Combining Samples and Synth Sounds
By Sa'id
Combining synth sounds with standard vinyl samples is not particularly necessary, but certainly useful in some situations. Either way, however, if you do decide to do a synth-sample blend, remember this: when blending a synth sound with a sample, never forget that you are trying to match the synth to the sample, not the other way around. That being said, here are some other factors to consider when blending or combining synths with samples.
What’s the scope of your verse and hook sections (if there is one)? How different is your verse section from your hook section? What about the framework of your sequences. That is, what bar framework is your verse section based on? Is it a 2-bar, 4-bar, or 8-bar loop? What about the sample scheme you’re using? Are you using just one main sample that is heavily chopped? Are you using multiple samples woven together? Are you using a relatively unmodified break of 1 or more bars? Each one of these factors will better determine what sort of synth combination is likely to work with your samples.
I use a combo of synths and samples. But here's the catch: I never try to play a synth in the same key as the sample(s) I'm using. Whenever I add in synth sounds to a sample-based beat, I usually do so for one or two reasons: A.) to boost or “beef” up the sample, sort of like stacking synth sounds; and B.) to accentuate or emphasize a moment or element of the sample(s) I'm using.
In most cases of a sample-based beat, the sample itself contains multiple instruments, and thus for me, it becomes an issue of manipulating the pitch (higher or lower) of the particular synth sounds that I'm using. More specifically, it's an issue of manipulating the pitch of the synth sounds higher or lower than the pitch of the primary sample and the sample scheme that I'm using. For instance, if I'm working with a low-pitched sample (something with a bass tone), I usually try to offset its sound with some level of brightness. In cases like these, I'll add in some synth sounds. This contrast makes for a unique, unforced change and/or accent. Here, one thing I wanna point out is that matching the synth closely to the "feel" (not necessarily the key) of the sample, typically works better. Keep in mind that synth sounds (which are first generational) have a completely different sonic quality than samples from vinyl recordings. And thus, typcially, whenever the synth sound is made to match the key of the sample, what happens is that the synth sound winds up competing with--if not outright dominating--the sample. Thereby turning a sample-based beat into really a keyboard-based beat.
Now, here's how I combine samples and synths. Either I play a phrase(s) straight up (from my Roland Fantom Keyboard) and record it through MIDI into a sequence on my Akai MPC 4000, or I play a phrase(s), sample it, then assign the phrase(s) to one drum pad or more. Sampling the synth phrase(s) allows me more flexibility over the tone and timbre of the synth sound, because once it's sampled, I can filter it, compress it, add reverb, whatever it takes to match the feeling (not the pitch) of the sample and the overall beat. For those times where I sample the synth sound, I run my Fantom through my Akai S950 sampler or my MPC 4000, depending on the feel and sound of the main sample. If I want more clarity and a bit more brightness, I sample the synth phrase(s) with my MPC 4000. However, if I want a warmer, perhaps "thicker" sound, I sample the synth phrase(s) through my S950.
One more tip In cases where I'm using synth sounds for slight emphasis or slight accents and changes, I focus in on the softest (deadest) part of the sample, then I add in the synth sounds. And sometimes when I have a sample cut off right at the loop point of a sequence, I'll throw some light stacked synth sounds right at the point of where the end of the sample drops out.
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