Digital Sampling

Ways samplers can record audio

one-shot, single note samples or short loops

one-shot

samples which play once per hit and are designed to create custom patterns

loops

pre-arranged and play a continuous pattern

single note samples

a single sound/note which plays continuously while being pressed

consequence of early digital samplers having limited memory

Produced lo-fi low bit depth and sample rate samples

how drum machine samples were ideal for early sampling technology

short and at a single pitch so did not take up much memory

Roland TR-909 (1983)

used real samples of cymbals along with synthesised drum beats used in Madonna’s Vogue (1990)

Roland TR-808 (1980)

drum machine which synthesises drum kit sounds and was used in Michael Jackson’s Beat it (1982)

AKAI S900 (1986)

Drum Machine used in the Prodigy’s - Out of Space (1986)

Keyboard tracking in DAW sampling

Spreading a sample across the keyboard pitch shifted (not too extremely otherwise it becomes noticeable)

Multisampling

Taking a sample every few notes and mapping across the keyboard so samples are pitch shifted in a smaller range of notes

Velocity layering

Switching between a number of samples depending on the MIDI velocity of the note

Artefacts

noticeable when sampling has been executed badly

zero crossing point

point of a waveform where the sample can be cut without producing a click

crossfade

method used to reduce sound gradually and prevent clicks between audio tracks

where samples are best looped

in the sustained section of the sample

Types of crossfade

Equal power crossfade: curved fades line but still equal

Linear Crossfade: Two directly proportional fades

Sample manipulation techniques

Loop

Transpose

Normalise

Stuttering

Gapping
Reverse

Time stretch

Pitch Shift

Reverse

playing sample backwards

Normalise

increase volume to maximum without distorting

Transpose

Changes the starting pitch by semitones

Pitch shift

changing pitch of a sample up or down usually also alters the speed of playback

Stuttering

Repeating small parts of the sample to create a stuttering effect

Time stretch

Slowing down or speeding up the sample usually also alters pitch

Gapping

adding spaces between small parts of the sample

Destructive editing

making changes to an audio file which can not be reversed

examples of destructive editing

-making physical changes to tape

-editing in a DAW sample editor

Praise You (1999)

used deliberate artefacts in sampled piano loops to add interest