So are you tired of simply looping up samples? The joy of sampling is that there are no limits to the creative possibilities. Sample loops are a fantastic source of inspiration but where you take those samples is very much in your hands! In this article, we check out 5 great techniques for creative sample manipulation. Why not give them a go and see where they take your tracks?

Putting it in Reverse

It sounds simple but reversing samples almost always sounds COOL!!! Experiment with reversing small sections of the sample or even the whole loop. A useful technique is to create two tracks, one with the sample playing normally and the other with the sample in reverse. Then experiment by applying slices to both sample loops bringing reversed sections in and out.

Samples that have less drums in tend to work slightly better and are easier to use but this is by no means a hard and fast rule. A great example of a reversed sample in Hip-Hop is Dilla’s production on The Pharcyde’s Drop. The video is even flipped and filmed in reverse!

MIDI Layering

The layering of sample loops is a favourite technique of professional producers and engineers. It involves adding melodic or rhythmic elements to fill out and enhance the sonics of a sample. It can make a sample sound fuller, which in turn, gives the sample more scope when it comes to the mixing process.

Luckily with many DAWs featuring audio-to-midi conversion, you don’t have to be a master of the keys to emulate the sample’s melodic or rhythmic content. Unfortunately, this technique is not always perfect and a bit of post tidying is often in order. It is worth persevering however because once you have a complimentary midi track it gives you so much scope for advanced sonic sculpting. You now have the power to change instrumentation, add texture, pan, apply effects and generally go to town using your arsenal of VSTs and plugins.

STOP PRESS: Don’t want to analyse and create your own midi layers? Luckily royalty-free sample makers often provide corresponding midi tracks to audio samples. Look out for MIDI inclusion when searching for sample packs. Just head over to RouteNote Create where we have hundreds!!!

Filtering Fun

This one is a favourite of the 90’s Boom Bap Hip-Hop sound. Filters are used to take the low or more often the high frequencies out of a track. By removing the high frequencies you are often left with a nice warm bassy sample. A lot of 90’s Hip Hop tracks would feature the main unfiltered loop used for the chorus with the samples high and mid-range frequencies filtered out for the rapped verses.

This technique can be taken one step further by applying automation to the filtering. Ride the filter to create a funky wha-wha effect. Hip Hop producer Pete Rock is a master of this (check out the example below) Another great filtered sample technique is to filter the sample leaving the low frequency. Then take short snapshots of the sample with the low frequencies removed and apply a delay or echo to these parts. This works particularly well with elements such as Horns, synths or vocals.

Changing the Timing of Sample Loops

Changing the tempo or time signature of a sample is a slightly more advanced technique but can be highly transformative when used with the right sample loops. It can even be used to force samples with unusual time signatures into 4/4 timing or vice versa. This technique generally involves the chopping of your sample into small incremental pieces of equal size. 8th notes tend to work well. Once you have sliced up your sample into little bits play them back into your sequencer in either the original order or a rearranged configuration. Now for the fun part. Grab your tempo dial and adjust the tempo up and down. Generally, this technique works best when slowing the tempo down. Small incremental adjustments can create a swung feel to the sample while dramatic tempo shifts can produce interesting melodic and rhythmic variations. Give it a go and see what happens.

Getting Granular

Finally enter granular synthesis and its unique ability to completely freak with audio. Granular synthesis is an audio synthesis method that decomposes a sample into tiny segments known as grains. These typically range from 1 to 100 milliseconds in length. By manipulating these grains in terms of their size, position, envelope, density and pitch, granular synthesis allows you to extensively transform the original sample.

Granular synthesis can be used on a wide range of sample sources but it is particularly effective at producing interesting textures and experimental sounds. The effects it can create often lend themselves to industrial, electronic and experimental forms of music. The real-time manipulation of the sample grains can offer much musical fun times, often taking you to places that you were not expecting. Check out the video below to hear the effects for yourself.

Summary

Sampling is an amazingly powerful compositional technique and while you can certainly have a smash hit off the back of a simple 4-bar sample loop why stop there? Going to work on your samples is not only creatively fulfilling. It’s also a lot of fun!

We hope you’ve enjoyed these suggestions. Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg as modern technology offers so many fantastic tools to manipulate and transform audio. Use these techniques as a starting point and see where they lead you. Happy Sampling!

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