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Sampling

JC Thunder

JC Thunder

Jan 3, 2011
19
5
#1
Is anybody sampling external pre recorded sound effects live?

I'm in a 4 piece band: bass (me), guitar, drums, and vocals. We play several cover songs that have small keyboard parts, or other sounds (on the original recording). For example, a keyboard arpeggio in the background during the intro or bridge. In most cases the song is fine without these added sounds...but it would be nice to add them in if possible. I envision finding or creating these sounds, recording them into a device, call up that program on said device and press a foot switch to start and stop the sample.

I'm looking for a stand alone device (sampler, looper) that could store pre recorded sounds. I don't mind loading the sounds into the device using a PC...but I don't want to rely on having a PC on stage (i.e. stand alone device I'd preferred). It would be okay if the device holding and assigning the sample required a separate foot switch...but a complete unit would be preferred.

I realize the technology is out there by reading 'looper' posts and reviews...but the reviews are limited to just the looper or sampler function more than using the playback (external recording) function in a live band setting. I also realize 'timing' could be an issue, but I only plan to use on short segments of a song and the sound effect would be a drone (keyboard chord or arpeggio) whereas the 'start / stop' timing is not crucial (expression pedal to fade in/out would be nice).

Is anyone doing this? If so, could you shed some light on what to use or guide me to other posts on this topic?
 
#3
I do exactly what you're describing with a Digitech JamMan. Its a Looper and Sampler in one. I use it for ambient noise in between songs or to transition into other parts. Since you can set it to Loop or just "play once and stop" it comes in handy.
 
#4
Syxz_ML said:
I do exactly what you're describing with a Digitech JamMan. Its a Looper and Sampler in one. I use it for ambient noise in between songs or to transition into other parts. Since you can set it to Loop or just "play once and stop" it comes in handy.
Click to expand...

The one with 1 or 2 foot pedals?
 
#6
I JUST bought something for this today! I got a new Akai MPX8 and put it on my pedalboard, was going to make a thread when I got more acquainted with it. You can load samples onto an SD card and play them by pressing the pads, and you can set each samples volume, add reverb, detune them, and set them to be one shots or loops. I am in love with it so far!
 
#9
Thanks all for the replies, I have played bass for 25+ years but Im a complete noob to sample triggering. Furthermore, I have not had any hands on experience yet...just looking for what to buy and where to start, so please bear with me. Since starting this thread, I've been looking into Abelton Live (although it takes a PC to operate) it does have the option of using an external foot pedal. I think its overkill for what Im looking for but it does have a lot of edit features plus a sound library. To those who replied using loopers, do you edit your samples on a PC before saving the sample into the looper? Then comes the question of where do you get your samples? There are several sights out there that provide backing tracks. We don't want to use a continuous track...We just want to trigger a sample (within the track) for a couple of measures. So the question is...how to find and edit the parts you want to trigger? I am familiar with splicing and editing our band recordings using Presonus capture. I assume there are other edit software out there that let's you crop the sample?
 
#12
I went to Guitar Center and they suggested an Alesis Sampler Pad. This is usually used as a drum pad but you can import external files onto a SD card and the 4 pads work great has big rubber coated stomp pedals. Plus you can add a 5th external pedal if you need it. I downloaded some samples using Audacity and it is working great so far. Ill see how it works in the mix at our next practice.
 
#14
JC Thunder said:
To those who replied using loopers, do you edit your samples on a PC before saving the sample into the looper? Then comes the question of where do you get your samples? There are several sights out there that provide backing tracks. We don't want to use a continuous track...We just want to trigger a sample (within the track) for a couple of measures. So the question is...how to find and edit the parts you want to trigger? I am familiar with splicing and editing our band recordings using Presonus capture. I assume there are other edit software out there that let's you crop the sample?
Click to expand...

This is why I think using a looper pedal for this purpose is a bad idea. It certainly is possible, but it's not really what they were designed for. That's why I recommend getting an actual sampler like the SP-404 or the Alesis that someone else mentioned. This is exactly what a sampler is designed to do, and they do it very well.
 
#15
free audio editor for pc
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

i'd agreee with the Boss RC-3 suggestion. once you have your parts recorded, plug the pedal into USB & dump the files into the 1-99 slots.

there are many ways to skin this cat, but as a "synth guy" i think that would be the simplest, most compact, cost effective & easily replacable should a meteor obliterate your rig.

if you want to do more research i'd reccommend the following
http://www.loopers-delight.com/tools/tools.html
 
#16
doubleohnodj said:
I JUST bought something for this today! I got a new Akai MPX8 and put it on my pedalboard, was going to make a thread when I got more acquainted with it. You can load samples onto an SD card and play them by pressing the pads, and you can set each samples volume, add reverb, detune them, and set them to be one shots or loops. I am in love with it so far!
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of getting the MPX8. When you say you have it on your pedalboard, do you mean you play it with your feet? I want to try that but I thought it might be a bit small.

Thankkksss! :)
 
#17
I use a Jamman for this for my own craziness. For a band setting I would recommend having your drummer trigger the samples with a SPDS pad and give him a click to play to (if he doesn't already) or headphone monitors for the sample parts so that he can make sure the rest of the band is tight with the sample.

Live sampling can create horrid timing issues if it's not done right. Your drummer really needs to be on top of it.
 
#18
thundertanks said:
I'm thinking of getting the MPX8. When you say you have it on your pedalboard, do you mean you play it with your feet? I want to try that but I thought it might be a bit small.

Thankkksss! :)
Click to expand...

I did play it with my feet for awhile but it proved to be pretty annoying. I had to stagger where the samples were so I wouldn't mis trigger them, which cut my samples per bank in half. Now I keep it on my table with my synth and mixer (yeah I use a table with my band lol).
 
#20
Hello. Any luck findin something foot-operated?
I've been trying to find out if there's any way of plugging a MIDI footswitch unit into a Akai MPX8 and triggering samples that way. Our drummer uses an Alesis sample pad, which works great, but I wanted to expand the number of samples we can use, while also keeping my hands free for playin bass.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
 

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