1st Edition

Audio Sampling A Practical Guide

By Sam McGuire, Roy Pritts Copyright 2008
    230 Pages
    by Routledge

    230 Pages
    by Routledge

    Bringing sampling to a new generation of audio engineers and composers Audio Sampling explains how to record and create sampled instruments in a software setting. There are many things that go into creating a sampled instrument and many things that can go wrong, this book is a step by step guide through the process, from introducing sampling, where it begins to recording editing and using samples, providing much sought after detailed information on the actual process of sampling, creating sampled instruments as well as the different ways they can be used.

    The software used is the NN-XT a sampler that is a part of the Reason studio software and ProTools LE, however the material discussed is applicable and can be used with any sampler.

    The companion website has exclusive material including a comprehensive comparison of the different hardware software available, as well as audio examples and video clips from each stage of the process

    1 Introduction to Sampling
    What is sampling?
    A sampler survey
    Basic Sampler Expectations
    Other expectations
    Additional software sampler features
    Benefits to using samplers without creating your own instruments
    Benefits to creating your own sampled instruments
    Summary

    2 Making connections
    Required equipment
    Capturing the sound source
    Using microphones
    Using a line input / instrument input
    Using microphone preamplifiers
    Using analog to digital converters
    Using audio interfaces
    Using an alternative audio interface
    Hooking it all together
    Cable types
    Balanced vs. unbalanced
    Grounding
    MIDI connections
    General equipment tips and tricks

    3 Source preparation
    Choosing your source
    Preparing your source
    Understanding your source
    Putting it all together

    4 Recording the First Sample
    Ear training
    Goals
    Transparent listening
    Focused listening
    Listening memory
    Projected listening
    Summary
    Basic Acoustic Issues
    Microphone Choice and Placement
    The recording session
    Tidying up

    5 Sample Editing
    Editing styles
    Basic editing
    Advanced editing in the digital audio workstation
    Adding additional effects/processors

    6 Creating the Instrument
    Importing files into zones
    Advanced mapping
    Fine tuning
    An example of mapping
    Additional sampler features

    7 Using Samples
    MIDI
    Musical terms and definitions
    Sampling, composition and orchestration: a maximum of ingenuity with a minimum of resources
    Musical terms
    Compositional Techniques
    Performance characteristics
    MIDI Performance control
    Observations

    8 Examining the roots of sampling
    Timetable of processes
    Timetable of historically innovative systems
    Bibliography

    9 Thoughts on the future of sampling
    Modeling
    Future uses of sampling
    Summary

    Biography

    Sam Mcguire is on the faculty of the University of Colorado Denver and has served at the Appalachian State University as assistant professor and director of the Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio.