What is the point of a soft sampler?

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blues man

blues man

In Transition
I am confused on what exactly the point of a soft sampler such as Kontatk and the purpose of it. I understand that you can edit samples and everything in it, but you can already do that in programs such as Edison or Slice X (Fl of course.) So why do people go out and buy these expensive sampling vsts? What do they offer that free programs don't?
 
Hey blues man,
The primary reason why I use Kontakt personally isn't so much as a an editor, although as an editor it is powerful with some of the sample morphing features and the convolution effects and such you can use on your samples within it. I use it more because of the libraries that I can buy for it. There are some really quality ones out there. The Scarbee libraries from NI for example are really well sampled and I don't have the Alicia's Keys yet, but I read really good things about that too. My personal favorites are the Tonehammer libraries, they are really highly detailed and unique instruments, beautiful sound, they are done round robin style and they are velocity sensitive, so the things you play with them sound organic. I also recently got Vir2's Electi6ity which is a great electric guitar collection (but does require some time to tweak to get it where you want). There probably better alternatives to Kontakt for chopping, but it is really nice if you are creating or playing multi-velocity, multi-layered instruments.
 
The term sampler is very diverse. It generally means anything that plays back a sampled sound. Meaning a motif, m3 and fantoms are just as much samplers as a mpc but they serve different purposes. As weird as it sounds not all samplers sample or allow for sample editing.
 
Find what works for you and roll with it.

Good question though.
 
blues man said:
I am confused on what exactly the point of a soft sampler such as Kontatk and the purpose of it. I understand that you can edit samples and everything in it, but you can already do that in programs such as Edison or Slice X (Fl of course.) So why do people go out and buy these expensive sampling vsts? What do they offer that free programs don't?
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If you have a large library of samples for hardware samplers, Kontakt may read them. Kontakt supports the following hardware sample formats:

AKAI
S-1000, S-3000 / Mesa CD-ROM, S-5000 / S-6000 Program, S-5000 / S-6000 Multi, Z-4 / Z-8 Program, MPC Sound, and MPC Program.

EMU
EOS IV, EIII, Esi, Emax II

KURZWEIL
K2000 / K2VX, K2500, K2600

ROLAND
S-50 / S-550, S-700 / S770

ENSONIQ
EPS, ASR-10, ASR-X

PULSAR
Pulsar STS Program, Pulsar STS Sample, Pulsar STS 5000

YAMAHA
A3000, A4000, A5000

PLUS it reads nearly EVERY software sample format.

Mind you, it's also a multi-timbral, multi-output VST device, so one instance of Kontakt can give you a gang of instruments to use by itself.
 
I see no use for me in the editor side of a sampler, but I see the potential of using a sampler for playing sample libraries. Now is it possible to purchase sample libraries and use them without a soft sample vst?
 
blues man said:
I see no use for me in the editor side of a sampler, but I see the potential of using a sampler for playing sample libraries. Now is it possible to purchase sample libraries and use them without a soft sample vst?
Click to expand...
Depends on the library. Some if not most of the NI libraries will work with the free player version, but it is more common on third party libraries that you would need to own the full version. I am not sure how that may have changed or how they may be affected by the new Komplete Elements package though. That might allow playback for even those 3rd party libraries. I know there is a video on that on NI's website that might be worth looking through. Seems like that may be a good option if that is allowed and you only need the player side of the program.
 
blues man said:
I see no use for me in the editor side of a sampler, but I see the potential of using a sampler for playing sample libraries. Now is it possible to purchase sample libraries and use them without a soft sample vst?
Click to expand...

that's because you're probably a preset junkie. When (if) you get into creating sounds on your own instead of relying on presets, you'll find a use for the editor.
 
I feel like im in the same boat, I use softsamplers that I like for their libraries, not for their editing.
 
logic7 said:
that's because you're probably a preset junkie. When (if) you get into creating sounds on your own instead of relying on presets, you'll find a use for the editor.
Click to expand...

Yeah now that I think of it, I would consider myself a preset junkie. Theres hunders of presets to choose through anyways, so I wouldn't need to worry about "designing" my own sounds with all the pre designed ones. There are hi quality presets out there
 
that means you will never have a distinct sound of your own because your so used to using presets. some sounds you will never find in presets unless you tweak sound yourself.
 
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i think you have totally misunderstood the whole concept of hip hop production (if thats is what you do?)

and so have 99% of people who post or comment on here

u use a sampler (soft of hardware) to PLAY samples ON KEYS OR PADS! (these samples can be vsts youve played urself, drum 1shots, samples from old vynal watever)

WITH DRUMZ YOU JUST BANG OUT UR PATTERN N RECORD THAT, SEQUENCIN IZ A FOOLS GAMES IT TAKES LONGER AND TENDS TO SOUND ROBITIC (u can sort of correct that with groove but its best to just actually play to ur own groove its ultimetly more efficiant then spendin 30 mins sequencin somthing that mite not even sound all that).

WITH YOUR LEAD YOU SEQUENCE OUT A PATERN THAT SOUND NICE, EITHER 2, 4 OR 8 BARS USALLY, YOU THEN CHOP TO THE 1/4 BAR.
THIS IS RESAMPLING AND ITS THE BACKBONE OF HIP HOP PRODUCTION.
ITS BEST U USE A DRUMPAD STYLE SAMPLER FOR LEAD RESAMPLING, BECAUSE WHEN UR LEAD SEQUENCE IS CHOPPED TO THE 1/4 BAR SAY IF IT WAS A 4 BAR SEQUENCE THAT WOULD SPREAD THE SEQUENCE EQUALLY OVER 16 PADS WITH EACH ROW OF PADS HAVING 1 BAR OF THE SEQUENCE ON IT CHOPPED IN 1/4THS.
BY SIMPLY GOIN FRU THE PADS IN TIME FROM THE 1ST TO THE 16TH PAD YOU ARE PLAYING YOUR 4 BAR LOOP YOU SEQUENCED IN UR DAW/SEQUENCER BUT THE PATTERN WILL SOUND MORE HUMAN KUZ UR PLAYIN IT (OVCOURSE U FOLLOW THE SIMPLE DJ PREMIRE RULES OF HAVIN POLLYFONIC SET TO 1 AND RELEASE TURNED UP TO FULL SO THE PADS PLAY THE 1/4 BAR SAMPLE IN FULL AFTER BEIN HIT AND CUT EACHER OFF)
SO YEA U CAN PLAY UR LOOP BUT MORE TO THE POINT U CAN REARRANGE IT HOWEVER YOU LIKE ON THE FLY!
A LOT OF THOSE 1/4 NARS ON THE PADS WITH BE CLIPS OFF THE END PARTS OF INSTRUMENT NOTES U JUS CANT PLAY USIN A MIDI NORMAL VST N MIDI KEYBOARD (WHICH MAY BE WERE U GOT THE ORIGINAL SAMP FROM)
REARRANGIN TO THE DEGREE YOU CAN USIN THIS METHOD OF SAMPLE IS A LONG AND DRAWN OUT EXPERIENCE IF U TRY TO DO IT WITH A COMPUTER MOUSE! N U JUS WONT GET THAT ON THE FLY INSERATION.

WHAT I HAVE DESCRIBED BASICLY IS HIP HOP

IF YOU ARE NOT DOIN THIS

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU DO N THE QUALITY OF IT THEN LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF IT!

I SEE A LOT OF GUYS ON HERE MAKIN TRACKS WITH JUS VSTS N THATS KEWL

BUT WITH MANY THERE JUST NOT ENUF VARIATION THERE

ALL THEY GOTTA DO IS CHOP UP THERE LEAD INSTRUMENT OR SOUNDS N REAGGANGE THEM ON THE FLY N THEY KUD BE CHARGIN 10X MORE FOR THERE BEATS N PRODUCIN SOME REAL FIRE

TO CHOP A LEAD TO THE DRUMPAD SAMPLER TO THE 1/4 NOT IN ABLETON LIVE TAKES 0.5 SECONDS
THEN TO RECORD A VARIATION OF UR LEAD WUD TAKE MAYBE 10 SECONDS.

PLAYING SAMPLES IS FASTER N SOUNDS BETTER THEN SEQUENCING EVEN IF U SEQUENCE WITH GROOVE/SWING (WHICH IF U SEQUENCE U SHOULD!)

its ashame not one person on here told you this apart from me but what can i say real hip hop is a dieing art.

---------- Post added at 08:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 AM ----------

mrgibbs said:
that means you will never have a distinct sound of your own because your so used to using presets. some sounds you will never find in presets unless you tweak sound yourself.
Click to expand...


i wonder whats happened to producers these days?

presets really are jus examples of what an instrument can do

you can always get thousands of sounds that its unlightly anyone else has out of any instrument by tweaking.

are these guy who dont even slightly twaek present really producers?

are these guys whu sequence n dont play even midi devices let alone hardware really producers?

are these guys who use pre made loops without even slicein them up n replayin them producers?

my honest hand on heart answer is no they are not producers!

there just random tallentless people who like to **** about with music software n thanks to idiots like soulja boy and zaythoven n the foolfull people who gave them record deals these misguided talentless wanna be producers seem to think that is producin!

the world truely is becoming a very very sad place!


*im a musican not an english teacher so more fool you if all you can do (kuz u know im right in some way or have expossed you) is take a pop at my spelling.*
 
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ceetheproducer said:
i think you have totally misunderstood the whole concept of hip hop production (if thats is what you do?)

and so have 99% of people who post or comment on here

u use a sampler (soft of hardware) to play samples on keys or pads! (these samples can be vsts youve played urself, drum 1shots, samples from old vynal watever)

with drumz you just bang out ur pattern n record that, sequencin iz a fools games it takes longer and tends to sound robitic (u can sort of correct that with groove but its best to just actually play to ur own groove its ultimetly more efficiant then spendin 30 mins sequencin somthing that mite not even sound all that).

With your lead you sequence out a patern that sound nice, either 2, 4 or 8 bars usally, you then chop to the 1/4 bar.
This is resampling and its the backbone of hip hop production.
Its best u use a drumpad style sampler for lead resampling, because when ur lead sequence is chopped to the 1/4 bar say if it was a 4 bar sequence that would spread the sequence equally over 16 pads with each row of pads having 1 bar of the sequence on it chopped in 1/4ths.
By simply goin fru the pads in time from the 1st to the 16th pad you are playing your 4 bar loop you sequenced in ur daw/sequencer but the pattern will sound more human kuz ur playin it (ovcourse u follow the simple dj premire rules of havin pollyfonic set to 1 and release turned up to full so the pads play the 1/4 bar sample in full after bein hit and cut eacher off)
so yea u can play ur loop but more to the point u can rearrange it however you like on the fly!
A lot of those 1/4 nars on the pads with be clips off the end parts of instrument notes u jus cant play usin a midi normal vst n midi keyboard (which may be were u got the original samp from)
rearrangin to the degree you can usin this method of sample is a long and drawn out experience if u try to do it with a computer mouse! N u jus wont get that on the fly inseration.

What i have described basicly is hip hop

if you are not doin this

take a look at what you do n the quality of it then look at the quality of it!

I see a lot of guys on here makin tracks with jus vsts n thats kewl

but with many there just not enuf variation there

all they gotta do is chop up there lead instrument or sounds n reaggange them on the fly n they kud be chargin 10x more for there beats n producin some real fire

to chop a lead to the drumpad sampler to the 1/4 not in ableton live takes 0.5 seconds
then to record a variation of ur lead wud take maybe 10 seconds.

Playing samples is faster n sounds better then sequencing even if u sequence with groove/swing (which if u sequence u should!)

its ashame not one person on here told you this apart from me but what can i say real hip hop is a dieing art.

---------- post added at 08:33 am ---------- previous post was at 08:22 am ----------




i wonder whats happened to producers these days?

Presets really are jus examples of what an instrument can do

you can always get thousands of sounds that its unlightly anyone else has out of any instrument by tweaking.

Are these guy who dont even slightly twaek present really producers?

Are these guys whu sequence n dont play even midi devices let alone hardware really producers?

Are these guys who use pre made loops without even slicein them up n replayin them producers?

My honest hand on heart answer is no they are not producers!

There just random tallentless people who like to **** about with music software n thanks to idiots like soulja boy and zaythoven n the foolfull people who gave them record deals these misguided talentless wanna be producers seem to think that is producin!

The world truely is becoming a very very sad place!


*im a musican not an english teacher so more fool you if all you can do (kuz u know im right in some way or have expossed you) is take a pop at my spelling.*
Click to expand...

one of the realest post i've read in a while much respect to you brother. BUT YOU SPELLED UNLIKELY WRONG LOL .
 
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blues man said:
I see no use for me in the editor side of a sampler, but I see the potential of using a sampler for playing sample libraries. Now is it possible to purchase sample libraries and use them without a soft sample vst?
Click to expand...

If you buy a sample library, it will be compatible with specific samplers. Without the sampler, I'm not sure what you could do with it??? Some instrument types are proprietary and they hide the contents of the instruments. In other words, the instrument may contain 500 samples that are used to play back the instrument, but you will only have 1 or 2 files. You can't see the samples. Others will expose all of the samples and if you wanted to "do whatever" with those samples, you could.
 
Im not a preset guy either but you cant call somone a non producer just

because they dont tweak when someone listening to a beat or a song

they can give a shit bout what presets you use once a gain producers

judge to hard which comes with self-consciousness yall need to let that

go to each his own do what works dont listen to other producers do what works for you Danja a produced plenty hits admitted he used

presets Rob Halladay who produced for Drake and Dawn(from danity kane) you can find all of his sounds from sylenth and Nexus 2 don't

let another producer tell you your not a producer because you have different techniques

Remember you make music because you love it and most likely want to

make a living from it so make whatever sounds good and have fun

---------- Post added at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 AM ----------

and about sequencing once again to each his own I understand giving some professional advice "as if everyone on this website is multi-platinum producers and at least produced one hit them self" why tell

somone there doing something wrong just because there doing something different then you

If the world makes you sad build a time-machine stop ranting on a

website you just sound bitter that other producers played there cards

right and your on a producer forum giving advice like yalls multi platinum producers and shit
 
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What i have described basicly is hip hop...if you are not doin this...I see a lot of guys on here makin tracks with jus vsts n thats kewl
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ummm...i see you have skipped a large part of hip hop history and just went with the sampler ...before the sampler rap music was made on keyboards (vsti now) . the sampler came into use when e-mu sp-12 came out and what year was that ...1985 ,so was there rap music before that ..yes , and how was it made turntables,drum machine's and keyboards . so What i have described basicly is hip hop is not hip hop as a whole but in part.
 
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ty baby said:
im not a preset guy either but you cant call somone a non producer just

because they dont tweak when someone listening to a beat or a song

they can give a shit bout what presets you use once a gain producers

judge to hard which comes with self-consciousness yall need to let that

go to each his own do what works dont listen to other producers do what works for you danja a produced plenty hits admitted he used

presets rob halladay who produced for drake and dawn(from danity kane) you can find all of his sounds from sylenth and nexus 2 don't

let another producer tell you your not a producer because you have different techniques

remember you make music because you love it and most likely want to

make a living from it so make whatever sounds good and have fun

---------- post added at 09:18 am ---------- previous post was at 09:15 am ----------

and about sequencing once again to each his own i understand giving some professional advice "as if everyone on this website is multi-platinum producers and at least produced one hit them self" why tell

somone there doing something wrong just because there doing something different then you

if the world makes you sad build a time-machine stop ranting on a

website you just sound bitter that other producers played there cards

right and your on a producer forum giving advice like yalls multi platinum producers and shit
Click to expand...

i hear that but like i stated before he wont have his own distinct sound just using presets sure tons of multiplatinum producers use preset but majortity of them have sculpted own of there own that wasn't made using presets. They use preset but i can garantee they tweaked those presets. Danja handz to me sound like timbaland. He dope can' t take nohting away from him but he's sound like timbo and rob holliday the records he made for drake weren't really my style of hip hop. I don't like drake that much. It think he flow is boring but thats just me.
 
mrgibbs said:
i hear that but like i stated before he wont have his own distinct sound just using presets sure tons of multiplatinum producers use preset but majortity of them have sculpted own of there own that wasn't made using presets. They use preset but i can garantee they tweaked those presets. Danja handz to me sound like timbaland. He dope can' t take nohting away from him but he's sound like timbo and rob holliday the records he made for drake weren't really my style of hip hop. I don't like drake that much. It think he flow is boring but thats just me.
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naw that was towards ceetheproducer my bad shoulve quoted it of course you need to learn somewhat synthesis to make it that's why all

music sounds the same and is so easy to remake its just the people who bash other producers like there the next timbo or something
 
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