Sample Library Organization

[thesalesdept]

I've been working on starting a sample library lately…my process is to just take records, grab small bits and pieces of things I like until the pads are all full, then I've been dumping them all to my computer, dropping them in Ableton and processing them further or making drum or instrument racks out of them, and still saving the original sample to load back on to the 404 at a later date. I've been organizing the samples on to the computer into MISC SOUNDS/KEYS/VOCALS/BASS/DRUMS. I figure this way I'll have the original samples (and further processed versions that I've made in Ableton) all ready to drop back onto the 404 when I feel like making something in the box, and I'll also have them to use in Live or Maschine or whatever else I want to use. Curious to hear other workflows though…anyone doing anything cool?

[MattCoops]

That's a more organized system than mine.
When the pads get full, or I'm spent on messing with what I got tapped out, I record to cassette. Then I write down in a list what's on there and put it in the case with the tape.
Sometimes it's a pain to find it again. But every now and then when I'm bored I pop in a tape to get ideas.
Eventually, when I get enough stuff recorded I'll puzzle it all together and make a beat tape out of it.
But it's basically a practice of recording sessions and found samples.

[kel]

On the 404, i do the same, sampling random stuff until the pads are full, then dumping it onto my hard drive. I don't really mess with renaming SP-type names (D_01, D_02) until later. So at some point I'll have a shitload of samples and dedicate a full day to reviewing them. This is fun because I'll have forgotten a lot of it and it's like hearing them for the first time. When I review the samples, I delete anything that hits me as so-so, and the good ones get named.

I used to divide my samples into folders (kicks/snares/patches etc...) but nowadays i just dump the day's work into one folder (usually titled by the date or place I was at) and name the samples with a a sort of code I can search for easily.

kicks = kik (ex. KIKTHUD, KIKCHEESY, KIKDEEP)
snares = sn (ex. SNPAPER, SNHEAVY, SNROLL2)
patches = pat (ex. PATSHIMMER, PATXZLO, PATPIANODARK)

When I feel like I've got some stuff that will work well together, or needs some MPC surgery, I'll put them together in another folder and throw them on a cf card.

[hseiken]

Everytime I've tried to make an organized library, something happens where it gets lost, a 2nd one gets started, etc. and eventually I end up just having a bunch of shit hiding away on my hard drive i never use. Good luck if you can be organized...too hard for me!

[rak]

hseiken,i CAN feel you man...

[Pip Molinsky]

I store every sample on my hard disk and use folders to keep things organized (ex. bass, drums/kick, drums/snare, drumkit/tr-808/kick). While this folder structure is good for organization it sucks for browsing and searching. A few months ago I started using AudioFinder (http://www.icedaudio.com/site/) and I absolutely love it. Some people might call me stupid for paying 70 bucks for a tool to manage a sample library but it really improves my workflow.

[thesalesdept]

I actually have AudioFinder somewhere, I should pull that out and use it in my organization. In the past I have been very unorganized so this is my attempt to try and get a system going…hopefully it sticks! Everynight I've been taking an hour or so and sampling random records. I find it's kind of inspiring because after an hour of doing that I'm ready to make some tunes.

[lodger]

I sample into the computer, arrange according to what it is (drum hit, drum loop, percussion, bass, keys, loop, or even tracks to sample). i use a program called mixed in key to identify the key of the tracks for quick reference and to make it easy to find things that will pair together well

[janglesoul]

I sample into the computer, arrange according to what it is (drum hit, drum loop, percussion, bass, keys, loop, or even tracks to sample). i use a program called mixed in key to identify the key of the tracks for quick reference and to make it easy to find things that will pair together well

Mixed in Key looks cool. I also came across an open source/freeware (donate optional) called Keyfinder. Haven't had time to try it out yet.

http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/

And here's a test of different key detection softwares:
http://www.djtechtools.com/2014/01/14/k ... 4-edition/

[LO-]

Just moved everything to the 2500 internal HD, I wiped out 4 gigs of the sounds that were already in there, didnt notice there was actually alot of good kits in there till I watched them delete, payed for kits damn, anyway , I moved all the sounds Ive been collecting for years into there, so I can finally use them without transfering with a 1/8 inch jack. word. now drums will bang, I got some MP3 breaks, So Im gonna convert them to wave with the 303 lofi and hopefully they sound good on the 2500.

[LesPasta]

I do the same thing: pulling and processing samples on my 404 o.g until the box is full and dump them onto my mac.

they get divided into 3 folders: drum hits, drum breaks and musical samples

that is all