Sampling is a core fundamental of making electronic music in any genre – whether that’s through the use of drum samples for beats, multi-sampled or wavetable synths, weird granular glitches or sliced-up vocal hooks. Having access to a great stock of unique sounds is key for carving out your identity as a producer.
What better way to do that than to build your own library of bespoke sounds by creating your own sample packs? That’s the focus of our latest cover feature – offering up tips to help you record and curate your own sample libraries, with a few essential tips from top producers along the way.
All print and digital readers can grab all of this issue’s exclusive download content from our new download page!
Buy this issue now via:
Apple Newsstand (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch)
Pocket Mags (iPhone/iPad/Android/PC/Mac)
In Print: Find FM on your local news stand or order your copy direct from us!
All print and digital copies include access to 18GB+ of exclusive samples and more!
Subscribe now and save up to 51%
Interviews
Carl Cox – The club veteran reveals all of the gear that refreshed his energy for music making amid the global pandemic
Cosey Fanni Tutti – The Throbbing Gristle legend on channelling Delia Derbyshire for her new soundtrack
Sudan Archives – The rising singer, songwriter, violinist and producer on the multitude of ways she reworked her instrument for her stunning new LP
Classic Album – Max Tundra the influential producer breaks down his bonkers, hyperpop-influencing classic Mastered By Guy at The Exchange
Produce Like… Dr Meaker – Can the Bristol-based drum & bass producer create a track using just a single synth? (Spoiler: yes he can!)
Technique
Create your own sample packs – Capture, process and curate your own bespoke library of sounds
Producer’s Guide – Mix and master better with the suite of tools in iZotope’s ever-growing Neutron
Reviews
Akai MPC Key 61
Moog Mavis
PreSonus Eris E5 BT
Focusrite Vocaster One
Roland Jupiter-4
sE Electronics DynaCaster
Donner DDP-80
Qu-bit Aurora
Teenage Engineering OP-1 vs Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field
& more
Samples
Percussion Grooves – We get funky and bring the grooves with all the tools at our disposal, from analogue drum synths to tambourines and cowbells.
Wave Synthesis – For this pack, we delve into the epic, textural and atmospheric capabilities of wavetable and wavesequencing synthesis.
Access the FM sample archive: Download the ‘Archive’ packs and get over 18GB of loops, hits and instruments from our back catalogue of high-quality and royalty-free samples. From vintage synths and drum machines to esoteric instruments and FX – think of it as our best of. All the samples you need to create great music!
