"Sampling is the reuse of a portion (or sample) of a sound recording in another recording."
The use of recorded sounds, known as samples, to create new sounds or to manipulate them in various ways through techniques like looping, reversing, and time-stretching.
Analog to Digital Conversion: Understanding the process of converting analog sound into a digital format.
Sample Rates: Understanding the concept of sample rates and how they affect the quality of digital audio.
Bit Depth: Understanding the concept of bit depth and how it affects the dynamic range of digital audio.
Looping: Understanding how to loop a sample in order to create extended sounds.
One-shot samples: Understanding the use of one-shot samples and how they are different from looped samples.
Slicing: Understanding the process of slicing a sample into smaller parts in order to manipulate it.
Velocity sensitivity: Understanding how velocity sensitivity can be used to create more expressive and dynamic samples.
Layering: Understanding how layering multiple samples can create more complex and interesting sounds.
Crossfading: Understanding how crossfading can be used to smooth transitions between different samples.
Reverse Sampling: Understanding how to use reverse sampling to create unique and interesting sounds.
Granular Synthesis: Understanding the concept of granular synthesis and how it can be used to manipulate samples.
Resampling: Understanding how resampling can be used to change the characteristics of a sample.
Sample libraries: Understanding how to use and organize sample libraries in order to find the right sounds quickly.
Field recording: Understanding the process of recording sounds from the environment to create unique sample sources.
Field Recording Sampling: This involves recording environmental sounds from various locations, such as nature or industrial environments, for use in sound design.
Foley Sampling: This involves recording everyday objects and materials to replicate sounds of the real world in film or stage productions.
Synthesizer Sampling: This involves recording sounds from synthesizers or other electronic instruments for later use in sound design.
Instrument Sampling: This involves recording samples of live instruments (such as drums, guitar, piano, etc.) to be used in electronic music production or for live performance.
Vocal Sampling: This involves recording human vocal sounds, such as singing or speaking, to be used in musical productions or sound design.
Found Object Sampling: This involves recording samples of everyday objects, such as kitchen utensils or toys, and using them to create unique sounds and textures.
Percussion Sampling: This involves recording samples of percussion instruments, such as drums or maracas, to be used in electronic music production or for live performance.
Effects Sampling: This involves recording samples of sound effects, such as explosions or gunfire, for use in film, television and video games.
Ambient Sampling: This involves recording ambient sounds from a particular environment, such as a forest or city, for use in creating atmospheric soundscapes.
Looped Sampling: This involves recording a short sound or musical phrase and repeating it continuously to create a longer piece of music or sound.
"Samples may comprise elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sound effects or longer portions of music."
"They may be layered, equalized, sped up or slowed down, repitched, looped, or otherwise manipulated."
"They are usually integrated using electronic music instruments (samplers) or software such as digital audio workstations."
"A process similar to sampling originated in the 1940s with musique concrète, experimental music created by splicing and looping tape."
"The term sampling was coined in the late 1970s by the creators of the Fairlight CMI, a synthesizer with the ability to record and playback short sounds."
"Sampling is a foundation of hip hop music, which emerged when producers in the 1980s began sampling funk and soul records, particularly drum breaks."
"Samples such as the Amen break, the 'Funky Drummer' drum break and the orchestra hit have been used in thousands of recordings."
"James Brown, Loleatta Holloway, Fab Five Freddy, and Led Zeppelin are among the most sampled artists."
"The first album created entirely from samples, Endtroducing by DJ Shadow, was released in 1996."
"Sampling without permission can infringe copyright or may be fair use."
"Clearance, the process of acquiring permission to use a sample, can be complex and costly."
"American courts ruled that unlicensed sampling, however minimal, constitutes copyright infringement." (Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc, 1991; Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Dimension Films, 2005)
"VMG Salsoul v Ciccone (2016) found that unlicensed samples constituted de minimis copying and did not infringe copyright."
"In 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled that modified, unrecognizable samples could be used without authorization."
"Some artists sampled by others have complained of plagiarism or lack of creativity."
"Many commentators have argued that sampling is a creative act."
"The mid-20th century saw the introduction of keyboard instruments that played sounds recorded on tape, such as the Mellotron."
"Cheaper standalone samplers with more memory emerged, such as the E-mu Emulator, Akai S950 and Akai MPC."
"A process similar to sampling originated in the 1940s with musique concrète, experimental music created by splicing and looping tape."