Is it even worth it to sample records anymore?

[lavalamp360]

I absolutely love sampling and the art of using different parts of already recorded music to make entirely new songs. But I've so many stories about the legality of sampling and how many people are having a hard time getting their songs out there because of sample clearance issues. Is sampling records still worth it or is it better to start moving in an entirely instrumental direction?

[mks]

With so many people using the same sample packs and the same synthesizer *cough*, in my humble opinion it is. Don't worry about the legalities until you are making enough that's even worth litigation.

That last sentence is probably terrible advice, but that is how I am feeling today and reflects my current views on the music industry.

[fragments]

It depends on what you are doing. I think people like DJ Shadow have a lot of problems because of how recognizable the samples remain in the final product. The way I use samples the likelyhood anyone is going to recognize my sources is somewhere near 1% ...and that's just me not discounting Murphy's Law.

I think sampling from analog sources is totally worth it. I think using a combination of completely digital synthesized sounds and analog samples gives tunes a really full feel.

I honestly didn't think this thread was going to be about copyright, more like...what's the point of sampling analog sources instead of digital.

[Today]

i sample whenever i feel like it
sometimes just a snippet, 1 shot, or ambient noise
maybe a melody or vocal or loop if it jumps out at me and hasn't been done before (to my knowledge)

and thats about it. obviousy if/when it's a recognizable loop/sample i don't publish it under my name (i suppose it'd be a "white" if anything)

[fragments]

With so many people using the same sample packs and the same synthesizer *cough*, in my humble opinion it is.

[grimsin]

I say if your not making money it shouldnt matter, but if your looking to sell your tracks maybe you should look for an alternative. I try to be 100% authentic and create my own patches and samples. Feels more original that way.

[fragments]

I say if your not making money it shouldnt matter, but if your looking to sell your tracks maybe you should look for an alternative. I try to be 100% authentic and create my own patches and samples. Feels more original that way.

[Today]

all down to style of writing and producing

[ehbes]

I say if your not making money it shouldnt matter, but if your looking to sell your tracks maybe you should look for an alternative. I try to be 100% authentic and create my own patches and samples. Feels more original that way.

im sure everyone thinks burial is just a lazy tnuc who cant make his own sounds so he jacks other people's....

[NinjaEdit]

No, because you can sample from Youtube.

[Sharmaji]

had a good conversation the other day, in which a producer buddy of mine aruged that the reason the tracks in commercial hip hop are so awful these days is that it's impossible to clear a sample affordably. It's a 2-way street, the original artists obviously deserve to be compensated for their work, but people have been fucked over for so long that they feel like they need to get everything up front. Meanwhile, there's a lot of producers who, beyond a keyboard line, some drums and an 808, aren't exactly Ali Shaheed from ATCQ on the buttons. Aside from proven folks like Just Blaze and Rich Harrison who work with budgets where they can get things replayed-- sampling is, for better or worse, becoming a far less important part of the production landscape.

financially, no, it's not worth sampling for something that may get released. Sure you can always hedge your bets, but things are far more easily traceable than they were 20 years ago.

With that said, if that's what gets you inspired, do it. Quite often, i'll start something with a sample knowing full well that i'll delete it once it becomes obsolete-- the old Blu.Mar.Ten way of writing...

[fragments]

had a good conversation the other day, in which a producer buddy of mine aruged that the reason the tracks in commercial hip hop are so awful these days is that it's impossible to clear a sample affordably. It's a 2-way street, the original artists obviously deserve to be compensated for their work, but people have been fucked over for so long that they feel like they need to get everything up front. Meanwhile, there's a lot of producers who, beyond a keyboard line, some drums and an 808, aren't exactly Ali Shaheed from ATCQ on the buttons. Aside from proven folks like Just Blaze and Rich Harrison who work with budgets where they can get things replayed-- sampling is, for better or worse, becoming a far less important part of the production landscape.

financially, no, it's not worth sampling for something that may get released. Sure you can always hedge your bets, but things are far more easily traceable than they were 20 years ago.

With that said, if that's what gets you inspired, do it. Quite often, i'll start something with a sample knowing full well that i'll delete it once it becomes obsolete-- the old Blu.Mar.Ten way of writing...

Interesting perspective. One question, how does a sample become "obsolete"...I'm being thickheaded about what you mean by obsolete?

[Maxxan]

Interesting perspective. One question, how does a sample become "obsolete"...I'm being thickheaded about what you mean by obsolete?

I think he means he samples something, builds the rest of the track around it and then once he has an arrangement he deletes the sample from the tune. I sometimes do the same, just to get some inspiriation. I find it easier to start if I have something to work around at first.

[wub]

had a good conversation the other day, in which a producer buddy of mine aruged that the reason the tracks in commercial hip hop are so awful these days is that it's impossible to clear a sample affordably. It's a 2-way street, the original artists obviously deserve to be compensated for their work, but people have been fucked over for so long that they feel like they need to get everything up front. Meanwhile, there's a lot of producers who, beyond a keyboard line, some drums and an 808, aren't exactly Ali Shaheed from ATCQ on the buttons. Aside from proven folks like Just Blaze and Rich Harrison who work with budgets where they can get things replayed-- sampling is, for better or worse, becoming a far less important part of the production landscape.

And then you end up with Trap.

[Eskimo]

had a good conversation the other day, in which a producer buddy of mine aruged that the reason the tracks in commercial hip hop are so awful these days is that it's impossible to clear a sample affordably. It's a 2-way street, the original artists obviously deserve to be compensated for their work, but people have been fucked over for so long that they feel like they need to get everything up front. Meanwhile, there's a lot of producers who, beyond a keyboard line, some drums and an 808, aren't exactly Ali Shaheed from ATCQ on the buttons. Aside from proven folks like Just Blaze and Rich Harrison who work with budgets where they can get things replayed-- sampling is, for better or worse, becoming a far less important part of the production landscape.

And then you end up with Trap.

I thought that was exactly what he meant to say... just without simply saying it

[wub]

Terrible commercial hip hop doesn't necessarily have to be Trap though. But when mid level commercial artists are backed into a corner and going down the preset/drum machine route, the genre suffers massively IMO.

[Maxxan]

It's a little sad to see how things have evolved, but there's still a lot of great stuff happening though. I feel like sampling is becoming a little more popular again, Pretty Lights and his label seems to be doing well and all the guys on there sample really heavily, Griz and a lot of other artists as well. Dunno how they get away with it though. I hope we'll see a change in the laws around this subject. I wouldn't sell a track where I've sampled a lot simply because it doesn't feel 'right', but I think other than that you should be allowed to do as you please with music. #digitalfreedom

(regarding hip hop, there's still a lot of great hip hop these days imo. Like the stuff rhymesayers etc are pushing, got some clever sampling in it and stuff as well. Just ignore the rest)

[dickman69]

if all u care about is making money then no

[dickman69]

also how can u justify shit commercial rap not clearing samples b/c price when stuff like this comes out

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

you just need to sample stuff thats nearly impossible to track back like 70s indonesian disco music or dubstep from 2 years ago.

but than again lana del fucks prodcer or wahtever stole a whole song from a greek 80s band or sth so i dunno just do what you want really