| When using digital recording technology there are 2 | | | | drums and acoustic piano samples that technology can |
| primary ways to produce music: one is to record real | | | | produce today sound very good and are viable |
| instruments and convert them into digital audio, and | | | | enough to be used to replace less than desired sound |
| two is by using MIDI-based or virtual instruments that | | | | sources in professional recordings. There are even |
| simulate the sound of instruments. Virtual instruments | | | | freeware VST (Virtual Studio Technology, a virtual |
| are made using either synthesizing sounds or by | | | | instrument format) that provide sampled drums, pianos |
| making samples of real instruments. This article talks | | | | and other instruments for free download. The quality |
| about sampling, the techniques behind sampling, and the | | | | of the sampling is of course linear to the price of the |
| uses of sampling to create musical compositions. | | | | product in question (the best sounding samples are |
| What is Sampling? | | | | often the most expensive ones - they are because of |
| Sampling is the process of recording a sound source | | | | a reason). |
| into a hard-disk recorder. The aim of sampling is to | | | | How Do I Use Sampling? |
| produce a digital audio file that can be recalled using | | | | Knowing that in computer-based music production the |
| various programs or compatible software. After the | | | | use of real instruments can be replaced with the use |
| sound source has been recorded and made into a | | | | of virtual instruments, sampling plays an important role |
| digital audio file, the sample can then be edited using | | | | for the aspiring and even professional music producer. |
| software and/or be used as a sound in a musical | | | | Entire string ensembles or certain grand pianos such |
| composition. | | | | as the Bosendorfer that were previously inaccessible |
| The most common use for sampling in digital music is | | | | for the budding musician can now be had at a |
| drum sampling. Perhaps you've heard of various drum | | | | significantly reduced budget. These musicians can use |
| software such as Addictive Drums, BFD, EZDrummer | | | | recorded samples of some of the world's most sought |
| etc. These software contain drum samples that are | | | | after instruments in their very own compositions, right |
| recorded and edited using highly complicated and | | | | from the comfort of their home studios. You can get |
| engineered processes. The drums are often high | | | | samples of the famous '58 Fender Precision Bass in |
| quality drums played by professional players in an | | | | your latest disco groove for the club, or summon the |
| acoustically treated environment to ensure the highest | | | | Vienna orchestra to play that magnum opus you've |
| quality sound is obtained in the final recording. The | | | | been working on for the past 3 years. |
| drums can also be recorded at various velocities (or | | | | Vice versa, you can also produce your own samples if |
| volumes, such as soft, medium, and loud) and then | | | | you have the equipment. Most Hip-Hop artists do this |
| layered into a velocity-sensitive program so that when | | | | since sampling is an essential part of the Hip-Hop |
| the sample is played back using a MIDI trigger it will | | | | sound. What you need is a sampler such as the |
| respond with varying timbres depending on the velocity | | | | ubiquitous AKAI S1000 (which is a vintage instrument in |
| value of the MIDI data it receives. The drum samples in | | | | it's own right), find the sound source that inspires you, |
| these software are often combined with user-friendly | | | | spice it up with various creative effects and you can |
| and attractive graphical user interfaces (GUI), often | | | | get a very fresh and rare sound to use in your tracks. |
| with a picture of a drum kit that you can point and click | | | | The possibilities are only limited by the skill you have as |
| to get the sound of a kick, snare, and other members | | | | a musician. |
| of the drum kit. | | | | I hope this article can help you to produce more value |
| Another example of an instrument that is commonly | | | | through the music you create. |
| sampled is the acoustic piano. In my opinion, both the | | | | |