1.4 - Sampling

Question 1

What is the definition of a sample and how is it triggered?

Answer 1

A sample is a pre recorded piece of sound - it is triggered when something tells the sampler or software to play it - this cab be sending a MIDI note to a sampler instrument

Question 2

What are the advantages of using samples?

Answer 2

• access to high quality sound
• saves time
• creative freedom
• Cost effective

Question 3

What is trimming

Answer 3

Means cutting the start or end of a sample or audio clip to remove unwanted parts - like silence, noise, or anything you dont need.

Question 4

List two advantages of using sampled drum sounds in a pop production compared to recording a live acoustic drum kit

Answer 4

1. Sound choice - easy access to a wide variety of perfectly recorded drum sounds
2. Editing flexibility - MIDI triggered samples can be easily quantised for perfect timing, velocities adjusted, and individual drum sounds replaced or processed without issues like mic bleed

Question 5

You are creating a sampled instrument from a series of short “ooh” sounds. How can you use pitch mapping and velocity layering to make it more playable and expressive via a MIDI keyboard?

Answer 5

Assign each recorded “ooh sample to its corresponding key or a small range of keys on the MIDI keyboard. If one pitch was recorded, the sampler would transpose it across the keyboard. Record the “ooh sounds at different intensities. Assign these different samples to trigger based on how hard the MIDI keyboard is pressed. This allows for dynamic variation in volume and potentially timbre, making the sampled vocal instrument more expressive

Question 6

What is sampling in music production?

Answer 6

The process of capturing and manipulation audio recording for use in new musical compositions

Question 7

Why is sampling important in modern music?

Answer 7

It bridges traditional recording with digital creation, enabling creative reuse and transformation of existing sounds

Question 8

What does digital audio capture involve?

Answer 8

Recording sounds from sources like vinyl, CDs or live performances

Question 9

What are one shot samples

Answer 9

Individual sounds like drum hits or vocal stabs triggered once

Question 10

What are loop

Answer 10

Rhythmic or melodic patterns that repeat seamlessly

Question 11

What are long form samples used for

Answer 11

Extended section used for atmosphere or texture

Question 12

What is the WAV format

Answer 12

Uncompressed professional standard audio file

Question 13

What is AIFF

Answer 13

Apples uncompressed audio format

Question 14

What is beat slicing?

Answer 14

Cutting drum loops into hits for rearranging rhythms

Question 15

What is melodic chopping

Answer 15

Rearranging melodic parts for harmonic variety

Question 16

What is granular sampling

Answer 16

Breaking audio into tiny grains for extreme manipulation

Question 17

What does pitch shifting do

Answer 17

Changes the pitch without changing duration

Question 18

What does time stretching do

Answer 18

Changes duration without changing pitch

Question 19

What is formant correction

Answer 19

Keeps vocal tone natural during pitch changes