To Sample or not to Sample!

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Doberman

Doberman

Sicc OG
#1
May 1, 2003
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#1
I have never been the one to use any sample longer than the decay of an 808 Kick. Lately, I've been watching videos on YouTube of dudes making beats/"producing" and shit ...to see peoples setups....equipment...workflow etc. Now there is a grip of bullshit out there people using FL and even fools with shit that is beyond my dreams ...the shit that comes out of my speakers is horrible. There is however a LOT of talent to be found on the internets. Some of them start with a sample some start from scratch. The ones that start from scratch usually are the real musician...obviously. That can play the keys, guitar and the end result sounds good. It sounds like an actual composition which was planned and thought out. At the end of the video I'm usually thinking..."That was pretty damn good...even clever" On the other hand....the ones that use Samples. May they be from records or a sample CD . I watchem load the sample ...chop...edit...map it to the pads or keys. Lay down a drum track and loop it. In comes the samples. They start freestyling with some different parts. Or just loop one whole sample ...add some ear candy on top and all of a sudden this shit is KNOCKIN! I'm bobbin my head and feelin the vibe. My point is this. Wether you sample or not....agree with it or not think it's talentless or not. I think it has it's place in Rap/Hip-Hop music set in stone FOREVER. It's something about a sample that brings that perfect touch to a track ...wether it's in your face or buried in the track. Not just any beat though. If it's garbage it's garbage, and no sample in this world can save you. This concludes my random thought of the day.

Carry on!
 
S

Sick Wid It

Sicc OG
#2
Apr 25, 2002
2,207
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#2
Rap music was founded off sampling & looping other peoples work so of course it has it's place. The use a real musicians and original compositions was the evolution of the music form. I personally have no interest in songs that use looped samples. It doesn't bring any musical creativity to the table.

Sampling and looping often times (especially with internet beat makers) is used as an easy way out for people who don't really have any musical ability or talent. People have a lot of nerve claiming to be 'producers' who loop something, layer extra drums on top, and put it up on their myspace page (or whatever) as their newest beat.
 
Doberman

Doberman

Sicc OG
#3
May 1, 2003
6,431
25
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#3
Notice the " " quotes on the word Producer. I was messing around with it the other day....samples that it is. Personally, I didn't find it fulfilling. Didn't have that sense of accomplishment, and I didn't have the urge to post it up for the world to hear. I definitely wouldn't have the balls to put a price tag on it. What do you think about what he did with this sample He begins to describe what he did @ 2:55-3:20 of the video with a low-pass filter applied to the sample. neat lil trick. Probably an old trick...but new to me.
 
S

Sick Wid It

Sicc OG
#4
Apr 25, 2002
2,207
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#4
Nothing impressive there (including the beat). Really really basic stuff. You're right about filtering being an old trick used in that way but you filters in general can be very handy, especially when creating new sounds by layering. Worth playing and getting familiar with if you take making beats seriously.
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

Sicc OG
#7
Apr 26, 2006
4,496
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#7
I personally don't use many samples, usually only for percussion and single-shot type sounds. Any melody, I prefer to create myself. The only reasons why I usually don't sample much is because I'm honestly just too lazy to search, too dis-organized in the fashion of how I organize my samples, and lazy as well to edit them. Also lets say I use a sampled Piano loop, guitar loop or similiar sampled melody, I have a hard time adding in my own sounds and making it all fit right with the sampled melody.

The thing I do like about samples though is that it usually gives your beat a raw, dirty, dusty, sound. I love that lo-fi sound you hear in a lot of older beats, vinyl dust,etc... It just gives that imperfect sound which is great for hiphop. I also don't mind hearing samples that ain't looped perfectly, the ones that have a little gap or cutoff space before it loops, just because it adds that imperfection to the sample.

What I really want to start doing though is sampling drumbeats, then just flip them around to my likings. Reason being, so I can get that dirty more acoustic sound and so all my percussion sounds nicely glued together which I have a hard time doing with single-shot sounds. It's kind of hard to find drumbeats just by themselves though, usually there's a bassline over them or something else.
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

Sicc OG
#8
Apr 26, 2006
4,496
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#8
Sick Wid It said:
Nothing impressive there (including the beat). Really really basic stuff. You're right about filtering being an old trick used in that way but you filters in general can be very handy, especially when creating new sounds by layering. Worth playing and getting familiar with if you take making beats seriously.
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I don't know man, as simple as that beat is, I think it still sounds great. I mean it works for what it is, which is a chilled out beat. I have no clue where that sample came from, but it works. Definitely a chill beat. I don't think it needs more sounds or anything. Just that sample, filtered bassline and drumbeat seem to work.
 
Defy

Defy

Cannabis Connoisseur
#9
Jan 23, 2006
24,139
16,657
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Rich City
#9
I don't give a fuck. I loop, chop, and compose. look at what you consider a classic hip hop song/album and more than likely they sampled. anyone here like "The Chronic" album by Dr. Dre? Is he not a real producer? cuz damn near everything on there is not just sampled, BUT STRAIGHT LOOPED. I have beats that I looped straight up or chopped pieces and placed them together. I flipped one beat that I straight looped it, then it flips into a chopped beat. if you don't consider sampling producing then tell that to Dr Dre, DJ Premier, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, DJ Quik, Rick Rock, etc etc etc.....
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

Sicc OG
#11
Apr 26, 2006
4,496
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#11
Defy said:
I don't give a fuck. I loop, chop, and compose. look at what you consider a classic hip hop song/album and more than likely they sampled. anyone here like "The Chronic" album by Dr. Dre? Is he not a real producer? cuz damn near everything on there is not just sampled, BUT STRAIGHT LOOPED. I have beats that I looped straight up or chopped pieces and placed them together. I flipped one beat that I straight looped it, then it flips into a chopped beat. if you don't consider sampling producing then tell that to Dr Dre, DJ Premier, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, DJ Quik, Rick Rock, etc etc etc.....
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True. Some of the best shit or atleast most remembered and memorable shit usually has some catchy sample usage.
 
S

Sick Wid It

Sicc OG
#12
Apr 25, 2002
2,207
2
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#12
Defy said:
anyone here like "The Chronic" album by Dr. Dre? Is he not a real producer? cuz damn near everything on there is not just sampled, BUT STRAIGHT LOOPED.
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The majority of that album was replayed, not looped as you claim. And Dr. Dre is in fact one of the greatest producers rap music has ever seen... But then again he does a lot more then loop a sample and throw some extras drums over the top. Defy, don't take this the wrong way homie but you need to really educated yourself on the difference between someone who makes beats and what a "producer" really is.

Also, if you're good enough at what you do you can do original music that sounds sampled, and sample music that sounds original when it's done. As a producer it feels great to have worked both ends of the spectrum like that.
 
50cal

50cal

Sicc OG
#14
Apr 12, 2005
6,109
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www.freeloadmp3.com
#14
Sounds like some pete rock shit....or premiere shit..Booboo...I think when people are talking about sampling they are talking in most cases about taking a piece from a record.Is yours from the fruity loops library or a sample c.d? or maybe an acoustical guitar c.d..either way technically you are sampling, but damn in every post you talking about that funk,,or shit thats musical....keep it real the song is formatted its on beat,but that is it, it has nothing that moves ya..or nothing..its like trying to drive with out gas.....Step it up, I may be being hard but damn you can do better then that.
 
Defy

Defy

Cannabis Connoisseur
#16
Jan 23, 2006
24,139
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Rich City
#16
Sick Wid It said:
The majority of that album was replayed, not looped as you claim. And Dr. Dre is in fact one of the greatest producers rap music has ever seen... But then again he does a lot more then loop a sample and throw some extras drums over the top. Defy, don't take this the wrong way homie but you need to really educated yourself on the difference between someone who makes beats and what a "producer" really is.

Also, if you're good enough at what you do you can do original music that sounds sampled, and sample music that sounds original when it's done. As a producer it feels great to have worked both ends of the spectrum like that.
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well I did not know that. who played the instruments? I don't remember any credits regarding that at all. I remember seeing that it contained "samples" or "interpolations", I assumed he sampled them since its been almost 15 years since I looked at the cd. but still its the same shit tho, re-playing the shit or sampling, its a part of hip hop. and I'm sorry for saying producing instead of "an intricate part of beat making", I felt that foos would know what I'm talking about. I forgot about that stupid ass long beat maker vs producer thread that was in here so I'll choose my words more carefully :rolleyes:


so does Kanye sample when he makes beats? I assume he does since I don't know how he would re-play vocals then speed them up....so is Kanye not a good produ.....uuuuhhhhh.....I mean beat maker? oh wait, but he also produces too. maybe I really should learn the difference between producer and beat maker :dead:



my point is its all based on preference. I've seen nit-picking ass people not like certain beats because they were sampled yet say primo is the greatest producer (they said producer, not beat maker). people hate on puffy cuz he has shit that's the same as the original except with a bit more umph & kick. I won't say he looped it or replayed it cuz I don't know and I don't wanna assume and step on anyones toes.
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

Sicc OG
#17
Apr 26, 2006
4,496
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#17
50cal said:
Sounds like some pete rock shit....or premiere shit..Booboo...I think when people are talking about sampling they are talking in most cases about taking a piece from a record.Is yours from the fruity loops library or a sample c.d? or maybe an acoustical guitar c.d..either way technically you are sampling, but damn in every post you talking about that funk,,or shit thats musical....keep it real the song is formatted its on beat,but that is it, it has nothing that moves ya..or nothing..its like trying to drive with out gas.....Step it up, I may be being hard but damn you can do better then that.
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I actually sampled it from a Gypsy Kings song. Like I said, it's one of my first attempts at "sampling" in a very long time. So no, I didn't get this sample from a sample CD, otherwise I wouldn't be sampling it myself. I really don't know what your trying to say about it lacking the ability to move you. I don't know if you can tell, but I was going more for an underground EastCoast type beat, not WestCoast G-Funk. I wouldn't even consider it dancable if that's what your trying to say. It's just a chill listening beat, as you can tell by the guitar sample. Of course it needs a rapper which will add a bit more. BTW, what's wrong with DJ Premiere?
 
Defy

Defy

Cannabis Connoisseur
#18
Jan 23, 2006
24,139
16,657
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Rich City
#18
BOOBOO619 said:
What you guys think about this beat? Just made it. I sampled the guitar, then added in the strings, piano and drumbeat myself.


http://www.zshare.net/audio/94246934a7f66f/

One of my first attempts at sampling a melody in a very LONG time.
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I like it....well, I don't like the piano much.....but the beat is pretty fresh..... although it needs more change ups....you waited till the very end to drop the guitars you could've done that during the song too.....and switch the drums up every now & then, although thats stuff you can do once vocals are on it
 
50cal

50cal

Sicc OG
#20
Apr 12, 2005
6,109
5
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54
www.freeloadmp3.com
#20
BOOBOO619 said:
I actually sampled it from a Gypsy Kings song. Like I said, it's one of my first attempts at "sampling" in a very long time. So no, I didn't get this sample from a sample CD, otherwise I wouldn't be sampling it myself. I really don't know what your trying to say about it lacking the ability to move you. I don't know if you can tell, but I was going more for an underground EastCoast type beat, not WestCoast G-Funk. I wouldn't even consider it dancable if that's what your trying to say. It's just a chill listening beat, as you can tell by the guitar sample. Of course it needs a rapper which will add a bit more. BTW, what's wrong with DJ Premiere?
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Nothing is wrong with premier..I guess I shouldve came out and said..BooBoo..that shit was not very good..would you really want a rapper to rap on this?......I see Im gonna have to get my lil sample game on...hahah...Out of all the shit out there to sample....unless you going for a chicano rap love song with lil rob...lets hear some shit that we gonna say..damn thats hard.
 
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