3 Tips for Using Sample Shots to Create a Great Track

You don't have to play an instrument to create great music. If you can listen to different instruments and know-how they should be put together, you would more than likely enjoy mixing sample shots. Sample shots are tracks with only a single instrument on the track. Sample shots are usually combined to create new, engaging tracks. Here are a few tips to help you create engaging tracks using one-shot samples.

Tip #1: Loop the Sound

One of the best things you can do when you find a sample you like is to create a loop of that sample. A great sound loop can add a feeling of consistency and strength to your track. When you loop a sound, be sure to have some fun with it. Adding a little crossfade to your tract will help smooth the sound.

Remember, you don't have to use the loop throughout the track. You can create a loop and use that loop for a set number of seconds during a specific part of your song. For example, you can create a five-second loop that repeats for thirty seconds and use that loop during the chorus of your song.

Tip #2: Change the Pitch

You can take a sample shot and create something unique by changing the pitch of the sample. In your music editing software, you can adjust the pitch of the sample either up or down multiple octaves. This will create a unique sound that doesn't sound like the original sample at all. Play around changing the octaves on different sample tracks that you have until you find a sound you want to add to your track. This can be a great trick for getting multiple unique usages out of a single sample shot without it sounding like you are using the same sound again and again in your music.

Tip #3: Mix Samples & Originals

Sample sounds are great for adding to the music you already created. Perhaps you created a great guitar track, but you really need some precisions to add to the mix. You can use a variety of sample sounds to add percussions to the music. Or you love the guitar track you recorded, but you want the track to have a little more depth. You can add other guitar sounds from one-shot tracks to give your guitar track a little more depth.

One-shot sample kits provide you with single-instrument sounds. These single-instrument sounds can be looped, mixed together, or added to your original track in order to create the perfect music track.