Re: (idm) Sampling

From Chris Fahey
Sent Wed, Jul 8th 1998, 16:40

>> About a year ago I was introduced to the Amen break via this list
>> and I began to notice that artists I had previously thought to be
>> interesting programmers turned out to be lazy samplers. This site
>> makes the extent of that very clear. Have fun!
>
>I don't know how to take this;
>Don't get me wrong.  I love 4/4 techno, just as much as I love IDM in
>general and drum & bass.  But I think that the whole electronica is
>based on samples, sequencers, hopefully giving it an organic feel to it
>by pitching in *real* instruments, vocals, warmth, rich layers, etc.  At
>least, that was the way it was at first.


    I'm not sayin sampling is lazy, I'm only saying that some people with
samplers are lazy. Okay, *most* people with samplers are lazy. I love
sampling, but I think that when using a sample one should consider
carefully:

    * Is there another option besides using the sample?
    * Is the sample essential to my musical "vision"?
    * Has this sample been used a thousand times before?
        * If so, how will my use of it distinguish itself from others who
have used it?
    * How will my use of the sample distinguish itself from the original?
    * Will my listeners be aware of the sample's source?
        * If so, how will their mental connection color their musical
experience?
        * If not, am I being deceptive? Is the listener missing something
(the aforementioned "color")?
    * Do I have the kind of money I'll need to defend myself when I get my
ass sued by some impoverished 60 year old funky drummer who hasn't seen a
dime from their effort?

    I think that sampling is cool and almost essential to the
postmodern/information age artistic impulse. I have mixed feeling about the
fact that you basically can't sample anymore unless you are either a) a
small time artist on an indie label or b) you are puffy combs. Part of me is
glad that artists are moving away from sampling and towards programming, and
I'm also glad that unpaid artists are starting to get their due for samples
used in multiplatinum hits, but I resent the fact that copyrights are so
strong that sampling is almost taboo.

    I also emphatically disagree with anyone who says that sampling is
antithetical to musical artistry.

    I still think that using the Amen Break in 1998 would be hard to justify
artistically.