Sampling complete melodies - rip-off or fair game?

[aircooled]

I've been going into a bit of a dubstep overdrive over the past week, after discovering barefiles that is! One thing that struck me about most of the big tunes is that they don't rely on any samples (at least I think they don't, maybe my knowledge of the genre means I'm missing something). This strikes me as kind of different to what happened when house music was kicking off. In the early 80s, everyone was sampling each other; records were built from parts culled from other records. Bearing in mind the amount of one off dub plates and CDRs that are kicking around, I would expect samples to crop up a bit often.

So how do you producers view the use of samples in your music. If a big tune relies on an old reggae hook, does it make it any less worthy? If an artist blatantly exploits sampled material, will they be looked down on?

Thanks

[forensix (mcr)]

a big tune's a big tune no matter how much it samples somet else, ive used big chunk's of other tunes doesnt bother me. Just go with what you think's right mate

[sidesteppa]

Well it's all sound i guess but i reckon it doesn't say much about your imagination if you keep it the same. Fair enough do it as a remix or alternativly warp it into something new and it's yours (+the sample PRS or whoever won't find you out and demand royalties....!!).

[fubar]

I think you can do what you want to be honest, allthough I personally never sample whole melodies or beats if I can make them myself just because theres so much more control that way and you can have a bit more pride in what youve done maybe, I reckon sampling reggae is all good aslong as you think youve done it justice.

[paradigm_x]

everything is true nothing is permitted
nothing is true everything is permitted

got ive come over all philosphical today

do what you feel comfortable with, ive always used samples but try to use less and less these days. Vocals bits maybe but not whole tunes.

But imo sampling and remixing other tracks are really good skills to learn. Play with things, have fun and learn your equipment.

If youve got a killer sample, use it, but use it well. loads of classic tunes are built on samples (circles adam f, all dj shadow, amon tobin) - its all about what you do with them.

Schpec

PDX

[Jubz]

LTJ Bukem-Atlantis

[8bitwonder]

LTJ Bukem-Atlantis

safe ltj

[jim beats]

I like the idea of making sample-based music, but recording/making my own samples. Recording a little riff, single percussion hits, random noises, that kinda ting - then build a tune from your own samples.