Dubstepforum.com

I know that people are going to tell me oh synthesising all the time, but how much sampling do you do and how much synthesis do you do?

I'd like to start synthesisng most things from scratch (pads, strings, risers, leads) but I have neither the CPU or the know how.

So I use either the DAW presets or the synth presets whatever I'm using.

And then there's whole samples of things like melodies pianos etc from sample sites that I tend to use simply because I don't know enough theory to write my own music.

I know this is coming across as lazy in a way. But better to have a sample than attempt your own and it be terrible innit?

So what are your views on this: Do you sample more/synthesise more?? And if so why?

jaydot wrote:But better to have a sample than attempt your own and it be terrible innit?

Not really, this way you'll never learn to synthesize, gotta practice

Really depends, but i'd say I sample a bit more then I synthesize, but slowly it's shifting the other way around. Both have it's uses.

If I'm teaching a beginner synths I'll use my DAW's presets, other wise if it comes to sampling I show them how to.
I usually make my own presets but if I'm lazy I'll use an obtained one.
Sampling is much more fun in the end, get to take anything from one perspective and make it another!
Working with guitar riffs right now, it's mind blowing! go sampling!!

My NY resolution is to synthesise more! :6

Gotta mix and match like, sampling is great for making atmospheres and gives you a whole load of stuff to work with that just can't be synthesised, and when you just hear something in a song or whatever and you know right then you have to have it sampling is there to help. Synthesis is great for making a unique sound or something that really stands out. There's some stuff I'll always synthesise and some some I'll always sample (or record if I have the time). They go hand in hand which is why resampling is awesome. Imo people need to sample a lot more to get away from that stale synthetic tone a lot of dubstep (and electronic in general) has now.

ive never really got my head around sampling, i mean yea ive used vocal samples n stuff like that but mainly i just synthesise, i wud like to get more into sampling though, its just the whole process of what you do with the sample that i havent got in touch with really, so all in all i use synths more but really wanna get into samping aswell.

Dont look for a 'quick fix' from sampling at the stage you're at Jay, seriously.

Going back to that discussion we had on SC a couple of weeks ago, im still of the opinion that you're kinda 'want everything now' and are MAYBE cutting corners in order to get a track upped.

Just an outsiders view, but i think you over work, and possibly over think things in your production routine. Slow down a bit, learn new techniques, if that means you arent getting as many tracks done as usual, then so be it.

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.

Echoi wrote:Dont look for a 'quick fix' from sampling at the stage you're at Jay, seriously.

I don't know how to take that comment whether it was a compliment or a put-down

"Echoi" wrote:Just an outsiders view, but i think you over work, and possibly over think things in your production routine. Slow down a bit, learn new techniques, if that means you arent getting as many tracks done as usual, then so be it.

I agree but atm I've got fuck all to do but to produce, no job, no college/uni course. I sit in all day and sorta am forced into making tracks.... or at least playing around with the daw.

I find myself sampling more and more the longer I've been producing for. Think at the start I wanted to make as many of my own sounds from scratch but now I realise that sometimes it feels just as personal if you find the perfect sample somewhere and use it in a really interesting way. Not sure if that's exactly what you were asking but whatever XD

Been learning more about synthesis at the moment, so, synthesis for me.

jaydot wrote: I sit in all day and sorta am forced into making tracks.... or at least playing around with the daw.

Why though? If you've got all day every day free, take a day off from the DAW and read some online articles on music theory/synthesis/chord sequences etc.

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

EDN wrote:

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.

Depends on the way your brain is wired. I can look at something a million times and not get it, but if I do it for myself once over, it'll usually stick with me.

Yeah, fair shout I'm like that as well... might give your method a go

jaydot wrote:

Echoi wrote:Dont look for a 'quick fix' from sampling at the stage you're at Jay, seriously.

I don't know how to take that comment whether it was a compliment or a put-down

"Echoi" wrote:Just an outsiders view, but i think you over work, and possibly over think things in your production routine. Slow down a bit, learn new techniques, if that means you arent getting as many tracks done as usual, then so be it.

I agree but atm I've got fuck all to do but to produce, no job, no college/uni course. I sit in all day and sorta am forced into making tracks.... or at least playing around with the daw.

No i wasnt putting you down at all, it wasnt really a compliment either. But dont take offence to it.

What i meant was, i do take notice of your work when you up it, and recognize the stage you're at, and think you would be far better off taking the time to learn things rather than looping samples.

You'll not only get a greater sense of pride when you pull off desired effect, but you wont get caught up in a habit of sampling when you could be learning, see what im saying?

A couple of years ago i went through a MAJOR stage, of about a year in total just synthing, and layering loads of drums into 16 bars, putting loads of elements into 16 bar loops and striving to make it all gel, i barely wrote any music in that time. Litterally just spent the year experimenting to get all these different bits and pieces sounding good together.

use both.

synths for synthy noises and samples for not-synthy noises.

e.g. you will have a lot of trouble making a synth sound like a piano or a drumkit. so use samples.

although saying that, if you try to replicate non-synth noises with a synth you can get some interesting results. so have a got at that too.

just experiment basically, if you do the same thing all the time making tunes will quickly get pretty dull.

Echoi wrote:

jaydot wrote:

Echoi wrote:Dont look for a 'quick fix' from sampling at the stage you're at Jay, seriously.

I don't know how to take that comment whether it was a compliment or a put-down

"Echoi" wrote:Just an outsiders view, but i think you over work, and possibly over think things in your production routine. Slow down a bit, learn new techniques, if that means you arent getting as many tracks done as usual, then so be it.

I agree but atm I've got fuck all to do but to produce, no job, no college/uni course. I sit in all day and sorta am forced into making tracks.... or at least playing around with the daw.

No i wasnt putting you down at all, it wasnt really a compliment either. But dont take offence to it.

What i meant was, i do take notice of your work when you up it, and recognize the stage you're at, and think you would be far better off taking the time to learn things rather than looping samples.

You'll not only get a greater sense of pride when you pull off desired effect, but you wont get caught up in a habit of sampling when you could be learning, see what im saying?

A couple of years ago i went through a MAJOR stage, of about a year in total just synthing, and layering loads of drums into 16 bars, putting loads of elements into 16 bar loops and striving to make it all gel, i barely wrote any music in that time. Litterally just spent the year experimenting to get all these different bits and pieces sounding good together.

I would synth everything I possibly could, but when you're running three or fours instances of cracked massive on a shit computer it's just not possible. Getting a newer laptop for my birthday in April though and going to really hit the synthesis.

^ just need one instance to learn

Project EX wrote:^ just need one instance to learn

True say