Sample File Planning
For best results, carefully select and prepare the sample files you will use with your QSR Drum Synthesizer.
Before you begin
- Audition the built-in samples, Programs, and Mixes in the QSR, making notes about the built-in samples you will use.
- Obtain or create custom sample files you want to use.
- Determine your sample preparation strategy. Make sure the strategy is compatible with your skills and available software tools. Make a plan that includes the number and types of samples you will use, how the samples will be used in Programs, and what sample-processing tools will be used.
- Have a good understanding of the operation of your Digital Audio Workstation, plug-ins, or mastering tools.
About this task
I discuss below the general approach for preparing sample files for the QSR Drum Synthesizer. While a complete discussion of sample file creation and processing details is beyond the scope of this Manual, an example procedure for processing a sample in Wavelab Elements is presented in the Processing Sample Files topic.
There are many sources of sample files on the Web, but the quality of free samples varies considerably. You will find sources that advertise dozens of drum samples, but only a few may be usable. You want to find samples that sound good to you, which means spending a lot of time auditioning sample files and making notes about the candidates you identify. Many samples simply don't sound natural or may not be the sound you are looking for.
- normalizing levels,
- resampling to change the sampling rate and/or bit depth,
- converting between file formats,
- applying effects,
- trimming the samples, or
- using other mastering techniques.
The high-level procedure for preparing sample files consists of the following steps: