wub wrote:Find a preset you like, then copy it from scratch onto a blank sound in your synth. Best way to learn what makes what noises and how in your VST.
Nice idea, but surely you can just work it out by looking at the settings.
It depends what you are using sampling and synthesis for really. I use a lot of sample libraries but I wouldn't necessarily call that "sampling" I think of it in terms of hip-hop, taking a melody and chopping to use as your main riff.
I've actually been thinking about doing this with some of my own music and seeing how that goes down.
And you totally don't need theory to write music. I'm not saying you shouldn't learn theory (because you blatently should, it does make stuff a lot easier) but I managed to write music for a good couple of years without the slightest inkling about music theory. Just noodle around on the keyboard until it sounds good.
However a recent thing that I've been trying is (assuming you have a keyboard), pick a note on the keyboard, decide whether you want major or minor (I normally go for minor) and learn that scale (check out the analysis section of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatonic_scale if you need help working out what notes to play). Just to the point where you know what is sounds like. Then compose your song in it. Badabing, you have learned a new key and composed in it... one step closer to music theory mastery.
I wouldn't say that sampling is lazy at all, it is just a different tool in your box, combined with synthesis and traditional composition on real instruments it can be very powerful indeed.
My
go sampling!!
