How To Make A Sample CD, with Rogue Element
December 21
We've got a cool interview today from The Rogue Element. You might know him from his electro-house-breaks releases on Exceptional, or from his cool videos that use up-and coming talent, like this one:
Well, he's just released a sample CD through Loopmasters, called 'Twisted Electro'. I thought I'd hit him up, because I've always been interested in the how and the why of sample CD's. Thanks to Ben for some great detailed answers!
How did you come to do this project?
Well, mainly because my erstwhile partner in crime Tom Real pointed me in the direction of the incomparably reputable institution that is Loopmasters, and suggested I do a sample CD - I kind of liked the idea, it's a really good way of sharing your knowledge and experience, and an alternative way of sharing your musical philosophy, so to speak...
Well, mainly because my erstwhile partner in crime Tom Real pointed me in the direction of the incomparably reputable institution that is Loopmasters, and suggested I do a sample CD - I kind of liked the idea, it's a really good way of sharing your knowledge and experience, and an alternative way of sharing your musical philosophy, so to speak...
I always think that if I was doing a sample CD, if I made any really good sounds I'd just want to keep them for myself. How did you get around that?
As I've become more experienced as a producer I have learned to be a lot less precious about my output and just be a bit more laissez-faire in general. If you do this for a living you have to have faith in the fact that you will continue to have valuable output whatever the context, otherwise you'll just sit there hoarding ideas like some magpie... I just took it as it came - I decided I was doing this project, and whatever I came out with during the time I was working on it was going to be dedicated to Loopmasters. I can always come out with more ideas. If you feel you can't, it's time do get down the jobcentre.
As I've become more experienced as a producer I have learned to be a lot less precious about my output and just be a bit more laissez-faire in general. If you do this for a living you have to have faith in the fact that you will continue to have valuable output whatever the context, otherwise you'll just sit there hoarding ideas like some magpie... I just took it as it came - I decided I was doing this project, and whatever I came out with during the time I was working on it was going to be dedicated to Loopmasters. I can always come out with more ideas. If you feel you can't, it's time do get down the jobcentre.
On this CD, what's the balance between 'regular' stuff like drums and bass sounds, and the more weird, out-there stuff?
Ideally, the budding producer needs to be able to produce the fundamentals (such as drums and bass) from scratch using synthesis or sampling records and layering etc. So I tried to minimise the content in terms of that kind of stuff, and just select solid base sounds in terms of stuff like the drums etc and provide bass loops and patches that were reasonably interesting and at the same time sufficiently manipulable.
Ideally, the budding producer needs to be able to produce the fundamentals (such as drums and bass) from scratch using synthesis or sampling records and layering etc. So I tried to minimise the content in terms of that kind of stuff, and just select solid base sounds in terms of stuff like the drums etc and provide bass loops and patches that were reasonably interesting and at the same time sufficiently manipulable.
How did you actually make the samples anyway?
With a variety of techniques, various individual hit noises from the Logic 8 sample library mangled using Effectrix and various other bits. Layering drum samples, etc.... pretty much all done using Logic though (although Effectrix isn't a Logic plugin and it featured fairly extensively). You'll forgive me if I refrain from detailing the more arcane processes involved I'm sure.....
Do you use sample CD's yourself at all? If so, what's the best one or two you've come across?
Not so much for Rogue Element or Disco of Doom stuff, I tend to design all the sounds from the ground up using the ES2 in Logic (obviously excepting remix parts) and I will make drums mostly from split second samples from records. For the TV sync stuff I do however, Zero G are always a safe bet, particularly for world music stuff, and obviously Loopmasters for more contemporary styles like Latin and so on.
How would you like people to use this one?
However they see fit. I merely let it loose into the world, then relinquish all notions of possession over it....
Do you reckon making sample CD's and packs is going to become a more common part of a producer's workload, as people seek to find different revenue streams these days?
Possibly... however there's only so many sample CDs you can make from a single production project I would imagine. But, more pertinently, I think it represents an extra facet of the various potential revenue streams of a pro musician, and if anything the key to actually making a living from music in the future is most certainly going to be versatility. The days of making a living solely as a dj/producer are sorely numbered I am afraid...
Possibly... however there's only so many sample CDs you can make from a single production project I would imagine. But, more pertinently, I think it represents an extra facet of the various potential revenue streams of a pro musician, and if anything the key to actually making a living from music in the future is most certainly going to be versatility. The days of making a living solely as a dj/producer are sorely numbered I am afraid...
What are you up to at the minute - anything you want to plug?
Many things - there's a new Rogue Element single out right now; Lumina, with remixes from the Loose Cannons and Hot Pink Delorean, with another single (Mistakes) out in the New Year with a new version by me and a remix from Cassette Jam - plus I've a remix of Cassette Jam's 'Never Going Home' out on Beatport now. Also, Disco of Doom have the 'Butter Fingers' ep out right now on Gung-ho, with more to come in then New Year including remixes for P.Diddy, Fatboy Slim and Etienne de Crecy plus mixes on Tasted Music (Great Stuff's electro imprint) and more Skint bizzle!!!
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Posted by bassmusic
