Preparing to sample

Digitakt allows you to chop sections from a longer loop and save them as individual samples

While being spontaneous and building on ‘happy accidents’ is a huge part of making great beats and loops, it’s worth having a wide range of samples in mind before you start making a beat, otherwise you can find your whole process slows down mid-flow and that can be a creative show-stopper! It’s worth thinking about the bigger picture stylistically and collecting sounds that will fit your style/project.

One great thing about Digitakt is that the recorder allows you to not just record and sample audio, but to directly chop sections from a longer loop and save those chops as individual samples which can then be exported to the pads quickly. This means that you don’t need to be chopping samples into slices in your computer first and then exporting them (unless you want to of course). The other great thing is that you can cut as much as you like out of the original sample in the recorder, time and time again, without fear of losing the original full-length recording, as this always remains available in the recorder. As a bonus, you can even sample with the sequencer running too!

Sample-wise, it makes sense to start with some drum one-shots (varied kicks, snares, closed/open hats, rides and toms) and grab them from anywhere you like: plug in your phone/iPod and sample from tunes you have on there, or go to YouTube or anywhere else on the net. Just remember if sampling copyright material be very creative with it (or you could be in trouble!) and be sure to credit/clear where it’s due.

If you don’t want to sample and already have some favourite one-shots, you can also import them using the Elektron’s new transfer utility software. Also, don’t worry if your samples have noise on them – in fact the more character the better (and obviously you can go for clean sounds too as a contrast).

Always try to source sounds that have a very full frequency spectrum (from low to high) as you’ll give Digitakt’s filters/envelopes more to chew on and once you have your one-shot drums imported, start sampling/ importing melodic and chordal loops/ one-shots that fit your music. Isolated chords, single bass notes and drones are all great fodder and using the chromatic mode, you can easily flip these into full range chromatic instruments. Finally, sample vinyl crackle, voices, noise, bleeps and earth hum, or record ambient outdoor noise onto your phone then sample that in; Digitakt can transform it all easily.