Questions about making samples

[speakFathom]

Sample-making relative newbie here with questions about how to make samples. TIA for your help!

[speakFathom]

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1. When making samples for beat-driven genres like EDM, should all samples be synced to tempo both in terms of in-sample beats and sample file lengths? Clearly drum loops and fills should. But what about short one shots, single hits? And what about longer beat-less fx samples, drones and noises, should the file lengths be determined by the BPM, for example exactly 8 or 12 or 16 or 24 or 32 seconds if the sample is part of a set of BPM 120 samples?
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[enroe]

Welcome speakFathom!

That depends on the area in which the samples are to be used.
You have already answered your own question:

Samples that have a rhythmic emphasis must necessarily have a specific tempo in bpm. And
they have to be cut to bar length.

Samples with a harmonic focus, on the other hand, must have a specific pitch. This pitch
should be present in the name.

[T-CM11]

Samples that have a rhythmic emphasis must necessarily have a specific tempo in bpm. And
they have to be cut to bar length.

Not necessarily, you can stretch, repitch or slice them.

Samples with a harmonic focus, on the other hand, must have a specific pitch.

And samples without a harmonic focus... don't. (why not mention them )

[Biome_Digital]

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1. When making samples for beat-driven genres like EDM, should all samples be synced to tempo both in terms of in-sample beats and sample file lengths? Clearly drum loops and fills should. But what about short one shots, single hits? And what about longer beat-less fx samples, drones and noises, should the file lengths be determined by the BPM, for example exactly 8 or 12 or 16 or 24 or 32 seconds if the sample is part of a set of BPM 120 samples?
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Loops obviously are synced to bpm and bar length, 4/4. Not for one shot, fx ect.

[enroe]

Samples that have a rhythmic emphasis must necessarily have a specific tempo in bpm. And
they have to be cut to bar length.

Not necessarily, you can stretch, repitch or slice them.

Not necessarily, yes.

But usually. Of course you can take a section from any Wav file and build it into a track
as a "sample". But when it comes to preparing extra "samples", i.e. preparing them for
quick use as samples, then it is common for rhythmic samples (drum loops) to have a
tempo indication and be cut to the beat. If that's not the case, the musicians may
have to do immense extra work.

[speakFathom]

Welcome speakFathom!
Samples with a harmonic focus, on the other hand, must have a specific pitch. This pitch
should be present in the name.

Danke. If the sample is somewhere between an abstract 'colored' sound and a letter-pitch, should I still mention the quasi-pitch in the file name? For example, imagine a low sustained note that hovers around Eb but glisses up to E and down to D over, say, 20 seconds.

[speakFathom]

Loops obviously are synced to bpm and bar length, 4/4. Not for one shot, fx ect.

What about looping fx? E.g. a beat-less drone that loops seamlessly. Should the file sync to bar?

Let's say I have a beautiful abstract fx sound, no beat no pitch, perfect loop. It's 17.23" long and I am adding the file to a set of BPM = 120 samples. Is it okay to leave the loop as-is, or should I stretch the file into 20.00" or shrink it to 16.00" to make it fit the 120 bar?

I hope these questions don't seem too silly or obsessive!

[enroe]

Welcome speakFathom!
Samples with a harmonic focus, on the other hand, must have a specific pitch. This pitch
should be present in the name.

Danke. If the sample is somewhere between an abstract 'colored' sound and a letter-pitch, should I still mention the quasi-pitch in the file name? For example, imagine a low sustained note that hovers around Eb but glisses up to E and down to D over, say, 20 seconds.

Well, I would put the E in the name.

When creating the samples, it depends on how you want to use them yourself. Actually,
you could put together a new track from any WAVs by cutting and copying.

The whole sample technique is only there to make the process of "constructing a new
track" more pleasant, faster and more ergonomic. And to do that, you arrange the
samples on a keyboard by pitch, and so on. The better, more meaningful and more
sophisticated you do it, the faster you can construct your track from it. And that's
what it's all about.

[BertKoor]

What about looping fx? E.g. a beat-less drone that loops seamlessly. Should the file sync to bar?

Let's say I have a beautiful abstract fx sound, no beat no pitch, perfect loop. It's 17.23" long and I am adding the file to a set of BPM = 120 samples. Is it okay to leave the loop as-is, or should I stretch the file into 20.00" or shrink it to 16.00" to make it fit the 120 bar?

Nope. If there is no notion of a beat or tempo, then the loop does not need to be synced. It's the opposite: if users were to time-stretch this to their tempo, then quality will be reduced.

[Biome_Digital]

Loops obviously are synced to bpm and bar length, 4/4. Not for one shot, fx ect.

What about looping fx? E.g. a beat-less drone that loops seamlessly. Should the file sync to bar?

Let's say I have a beautiful abstract fx sound, no beat no pitch, perfect loop. It's 17.23" long and I am adding the file to a set of BPM = 120 samples. Is it okay to leave the loop as-is, or should I stretch the file into 20.00" or shrink it to 16.00" to make it fit the 120 bar?

I hope these questions don't seem too silly or obsessive!

Well it can be looped or not. I have done both, but it depends on the context as well. Is it in a "Loop Pack", or not would be a consideration.

Drones and pads are best played in samplers or synths anyway.

[speakFathom]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses to question 1. I think I more or less get it. Onto the next question:

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2. Who is the intended audience for samples? Professionals, amateurs/hobbyists? Is it considered 'cheating' for a pro to use samples rather than make everything from scratch? I'm trying to get an idea of user expectations. Thanks!
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[BertKoor]

What kind of samples are you thinking about? Any sound could be a sample. Anyone can use them.

But there are legal restrictions. You may not sell (or use) what's not yours to begin with.

[Biome_Digital]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses to question 1. I think I more or less get it. Onto the next question:

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2. Who is the intended audience for samples? Professionals, amateurs/hobbyists? Is it considered 'cheating' for a pro to use samples rather than make everything from scratch? I'm trying to get an idea of user expectations. Thanks!
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Actually, pros use samples and presets, amateurs try to do EVERYTHING themselves.

[thecontrolcentre]

Are you asking about making your own samples or using pre-recorded samples from sample packs? Anything you record can become a sample, it really depends on what you are trying to achieve. Most of my musdic is sample based, but mainly using samples of my own synths, drums & playing, or from old records (I know this is frowned upon). Use your imagination. Any sound can become a "sample"