Composing Your Samples

by Steve Raymar

I'm relatively new to sampling and started out recording mine one at a time from various sources using Cool Edit 96. After I had a sizable collection I decided to use the Mix/Paste feature to combine two or more samples to make complex composite samples. This was interesting but time consuming then I had a minor revelation that I hadn't heard or read about.

Like alot of you I have a sequencing program that records both midi and digital audio which in my case helped me to collaborate with another synthesist, Peter Geisheker, who lives a few thousand miles away from me on our latest Aftertouch 12 release "Marfa Lights". Somehow I overlooked the idea that you can use your sequencer program to make composite samples. By placing several samples in various tracks you can hear the final result before mixing. This method allows you to pan them, adjust the volume, and place them either in sync with the note or anywhere during its duration or in other words by using sequencer control you can "compose" your samples then export them as a sound file.

You can combine MIDI with the samples as well and use your synth arsenal utilizing all of the midi control available for one note that has incredible texture and/or animation all the way over to ultra complex psychoacoustic events. While the above is happening you may ad a live performance with a mic, TV, radio, a tape recording, or whatever else you have laying around.