Whether you’re just starting to record your first track or you’ve been producing music for years, it’s important to understand how to use samples in your music. Sampling is the practice of taking a musical sound, like a bassline or vocal phrase, and putting it in a new song. It’s a great way to add some variety to your tracks and make them stand out from the rest of the pack.
Samples have become a popular way to create new music and are an integral part of many songs today. In fact, some of the world’s best and most recognizable artists like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lil’ Nasty, Doja Cat, and Drake have all utilized sampling in their music.
When you’re using a sample in your music, it’s essential to clear it with the copyright owner. This is so you can legally distribute it and avoid any legal issues down the road.
It’s also a good idea to save any samples you’re working with, especially ones that just don’t seem right for your song. These can often be reused in other tracks, making it a worthwhile investment of time and energy to save them for later.
If you’re unsure how to find a sample, you can search the Creative Commons database for free, licensed music that is available for use in your music. This search engine will also show you the sample’s copyright owner, which makes it easier to clear the sound for your project.
Getting samples cleared is a very important part of the music industry and one that many producers skip over because they believe it’s too costly and complex. However, it’s important to clear a sample in order to be able to distribute it on streaming services and avoid any potential legal issues down the road.
You can get a lot out of a sample by editing it. For example, you can cut the beats from a drum loop to give it a different rhythm or retime the syllables of a vocal sample to match the tempo of your song.
Another great technique for using samples is to combine them. For example, you can use a sample of a synth melody with a sample of a drum loop to create an entirely new and unique composition. This is a great technique for incorporating some magic into your music and it’s something that you’ll want to practice when you’re starting out.
In addition to cutting out the elements of a percussion loop, you can also reorder them and match their quantization. This will allow the sample to be a natural fit with the rest of your track and help it flow more naturally together.
It’s also a great idea to mix the sample in with other instruments, like guitars or keyboards. This will not only help you hear the sound more clearly, but it will also add some depth to your track.
When you’re editing a sample, it’s crucial to clean up the frequencies and gain so that it doesn’t over-process. This can cause it to sound like you’ve added too much compression or EQ to it, and will also change the way it sounds.
