Serato Sample

Sampling refers to the use of a portion of an audio recording in another different audio recording. Ever since the 1970s, this technique has helped shape the evolution of popular music, especially when it comes to genres such as pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. The 1980s have seen the rise of the sampler as an instrument; synths that used this technique (instead of relying on oscillators) were more affordable than the first analog synths and sounded more realistic.

Flash forward to the present, when the advancement of music software has made music creation even more accessible than samples ever did. Nevertheless, the technique is still widely used throughout many genres. If you’re looking for ways in which you can introduce samples into your productions, then you should give Serato Sample a try.

If you’ve ever been interested in DJing, then you have surely heard of Serato DJ Pro. Their program is a top choice for many digital DJs, so it’s a bit surprising to see the name associated with a music production tool. Or is it?

It’s safe to say that if you’ve ever used Serato DJ, then Serato Sample’s interface will look familiar. The audio files you load will be displayed using the same type of colorful waveform from the DJ software. Also, cue markers are used to display the beginning of a sample. You can load any audio file and set up to 16 sample points on the track. Then you can easily play them with the help of your MIDI controller, directly into your DAW. This process allows you to get really creative with a sampled track, but also quicken your workflow once you get used to it.

Serato Sample also allows you to control the attack, release, and level of a sample, but also add a filter. You can shift the key of the audio portion, but also time-stretch it and play it in reverse. I can only conclude that Serato Sample is an easy-to-use tool and a great plugin for producers who want to get the most out of sampling.