Welcome to the class! In this video we will give a quick explanation of what we will be covering, and how we will be covering it.

In this video we will talk about the similarities to synthesis, and talk about the main tools we will be using. (Ableton Live and Reason)

In this video we talk about the legal issues around sampling, and, more importantly, how to aviod them entirely by using free, legal, samples that you can find online with one simple trick.

Just like in synthesis, we have four key elements that we need to learn to identify when we approach any sampler. In this video we will find and discuss these key elements.

First, we will poke around the NN-19 and see what is here, especially looking for our four key elements.

One of the most important concepts that separates a sampler from a synthesizer is Keyzones and rootkeys. In this video we dive into these topics using the NN-19.

Here we will start from scratch and make our own instrument using the NN-19 Sampler.

The first of many preset deconstructions! We look at one of the presets in the NN-19 and pick it apart to see how it works. Hugely informative!

We start the same as before: Poking around and see what is here. Looking especially for what is familiar from the NN-19, and what is new.

We already know what Keyzones are, but what about Velocity Zones? We couldn't do them in the NN-19, but we can in the NN-XT. So we will look at them here.

In this video we will get a little more indepth with the modulation and filter parameters to add some texture to our sounds.

Here we will start from scratch again, and design an instrument that uses samples to create a dynamic sound with multiple keyzones and velocity zones.

Again we will pick apart one of the presets, this time in the NN-XT to see how it works, and how it was designed.

The Ableton Live Simpler interface works a bit differently than our Reason samplers, but all the same stuff is there, just laid out differently. (Plus some more things!)

When we work with drum sounds, we use a lot of the same elements, with a few differences. In this video we will examine those differences to work with drums.

From scratch! Here we will start fresh and use the Ableton Live Simpler to create a unique sound.

Here we go again: Another preset deconstruction. This time using the Ableton Live Simpler.

Diving right in, here we will walk through the whole device and see how it works. Get comfy for this one!

Last one! Here we deconstruct one of the presets in the Ableton Live Sampler and see how it works, and how it was designed.

Where do you want to go next? Some tips for going deeper into sampling and other music ideas.

Lets check out Ableton Live's Sampler. This is a grown-up version of a Sampler, but has a deceptively simple (looking) interface. The key to its power is hidden in the "zones" tab, which we will look at next.

In most sampling instruments, you will be working with more than one sample. This is how you set up a sampler to hold multiple samples, and make really expressive instruments with it.

In this section I'm going to open up a orchestra library sample pack that I have, using a Sampler. Its got about 300 different samples in it, so lets walk through how they are triggered.

I've been asked a lot about preparing individual samples to go into a sampler. A great (free) tool for that is Audacity. I have a separate class on Audacity, but here is a quick overview of how it works. 

There is so much more to learn!