Dubstepforum.com

I just wondered what with all the talk about the best VSTs to use, best soft synths, best hardware setup, does anybody actually work exclusively with samples alone?

Can you create great tracks just with using samples alone?
If not, why not?
Are there really any limitations by just using samples?
Is there any extra work involved if you choose to work exclusively with samples alone?
And lastly, do any of the top producers of Dubstep create music with samples alone, or have done in the past?

I'm just interested in what people think about this and whether it's absolutely necessary to get the latest VST or soft synth, or whatever.
I'm wondering if rather than trying to find a VST or soft synth that has a sound that I want, maybe it's better to grab sampled sounds from anywhere and make my own instruments out of them?

One last question, what would somebody need to watch out for and be careful of if choosing to work with samples alone?

i do pretty much. once in a while ill grab albino but cpu restrictions keep me from keeping them in for most of a track usually i will bounce out of the synth pretty fast, wich then makes it basically a sample anyway.

audio,samples/sampler,synths...all different methods and sounds each has limitations and advantages, you just got to find how you like to work and what your after to decide wich method will work for you.

the better your samples sound before you put them in your song the better your song will end up sounding. shit in...shit out.

i think more then worry about where sounds come from we should just worry about getting dope sounds, wherever they come from.

^^^wow

your tunes are always on point, so I find that both amazing and impressive

I find a nice balance between synth and samples works best for me

alot of my sub bass sounds are samples that I'll run through filters

but my melodies are hardware or VST's

I have another friend that told me ALL of his sounds were samples and I was floored because his tunes are 100% genius IMHO

i dont know about dub step but i know that alot of hip hop is just made from samples. if u sampled all the basic waveforms from a mogg you could bring them into a sampler and improve your sound. i find that the problem with VSTi is the sound wave being generated. i use reason so i spend most of my time making things sound better. one day when i cba i will do this but im lazy.

FSTZ wrote:^^^wow

your tunes are always on point, so I find that both amazing and impressive

thank you kindly good sir.

it comes from learning and using reason and just never really bothering with the synths when i was learning. there is def advantages to using synths..especially for melodies that go up or down real far (to far pitched samples are poo), but i find myself finding samples of stuff like that then flippin them rather than making them completly from scratch.

I use mostly samples. Been doing more and more synthesis but even then I often render the sound and work with it further in a sampler. My bass sounds especially start out as a synth more often than not.

heavy on the samples...
been learning loads over the past 2 or 3 months so it is starting to change. very slowly tho'

Press wrote: (to far pitched samples are poo),

QFT.
Likewise, I mostly use samples due to CPU restrictions and bounce synth parts as required. I like to make my own bass patches etc, so I'll often begin a track with just basics, i.e drums and bassline, once thats nailed I'll bounce it and start to layer samples.
If you are creative with edits and effects then your tracks are gonna reflect that... simply dropping a sample into a tune is a great receipe for a derivative tune, so spending time editing with your favourite editor and plugins tweaking a sound is essential.

i use 100% samples, dont have a midi controller. cept an MPD16, but i need more ram so its kinda pointless.

SURLEY U NEED TO MAKE UR SAMPLES IN KEY WITH YOUR TRAK USING SAMPLERS SOMETIMES ? THEn YOUR SAMPLE IS MIDI! same as a synth just another dirty waveform

subindex wrote:SURLEY U NEED TO MAKE UR SAMPLES IN KEY WITH YOUR TRAK USING SAMPLERS SOMETIMES ? THEn YOUR SAMPLE IS MIDI! same as a synth just another dirty waveform

i make my stuff in Acid 4.0, so as far as changing pitch i adjust it "+1 or -1" (or however far i need) which technically speeds up or slows down the sample. thank goodness for solo instrument records and sample packs.

new mpcs can pitch correct without affecting tempo

we use a lot of field recordings...works out sick...sample skateboarders (you get some huuuge snares)

captaindboom wrote:we use a lot of field recordings...works out sick...sample skateboarders (you get some huuuge snares)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRFx9f7-_LU

check that man. has a nice little beat made purely from skateboard sounds on the intro.

also gonna be doing much more feild recordings come this october.

big one!!

captaindboom wrote:we use a lot of field recordings...works out sick...sample skateboarders (you get some huuuge snares)

Yeah yeah! Just bought a Zoom H2 and am building a collection of future drums... great idea about the skates.

OneLouder wrote:

Press wrote: (to far pitched samples are poo),

QFT.

Depends how you process them IMO
Just listen to that Vocal hook in 'Pangea - Router' (or is it 'you and I'?)
..dont even get me started on the 'B' word

I just bought a really sweet digital recorder, and so therefore I will be getting MAD amounts of samples, from real life.