Emax II operation manual
183
Recording good samples is not always easy; creating a really super set of sounds requires
patience, practice, and skill. Sure, you can get musically useful results within a few days
after working with the Emax II, but as you learn your craft the quality of your samples
will improve dramatically.
Sampling is a multi-stage process, and consists of:
■ Taking the best possible sample.
■ Manipulating the sample within Emax II for maximum musicality (looping, splicing).
■ Efficiently combining samples into presets.
Part One: TAKING THE BEST POSSIBLE
SAMPLE
What comes out of the Emax II can only be as good as what you put in: Strive for
maximum fidelity when sampling. Here are some ways to increase sample quality.
GENERAL TIPS
■
Live Sampling
: Sample “live” whenever possible, rather than recording a sound on
tape then sampling from the tape.
■
Beware of Overloads
: Emax II is a digital recording device. Unlike analog recording
devices, distortion does not increase slowly past a certain level; rather, it increases
rapidly above the overload point, and produces a “non-musical,” splattering type of
distortion. Monitor your levels carefully.
■
Use a Sampling Rate Twice the Highest Frequency Produced by the Sound
Source:
Because the Emax II can use different sample rates, you can optimize the sample
rate for the particular sound. For instance, if the sound source is a kick drum, a 20k
sample rate can be used to conserve memory because the kick drum does not have very
much high frequency energy over 8k Hz. Whereas, if a cymbal were to be sampled, a 39k
sample rate might be needed to capture the very high frequencies produced by the
cymbal. Although this example is theoretically correct, the distortion produced by low
sample rates can sometimes enhance the sampled sound. Use your ear for final
judgement!
■
Sampling Direct vs. Sampling via Microphone:
Whenever possible, sample elec-
tronic instruments directly into the Emax II. Avoid using a recording console, direct box,
or other device in between the instrument and the Emax II, unless the device is of very
high quality (ie. low noise).
THE ART OF SAMPLING
by Craig Anderton
General Tips
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