How to Sample in BandLab

Sampling in BandLab: What You Can Do

Sampling is the art of taking existing audio, transforming it, and building something new. It is the foundation of hip-hop production, and BandLab provides the tools to do it directly in your browser. While BandLab does not include a dedicated sampler instrument like some desktop DAWs, its audio editing capabilities let you import, chop, rearrange, pitch-shift, and process samples into original compositions.

The sampling workflow in BandLab is region-based. You import audio files, place them on the timeline, split them into pieces, rearrange those pieces into new patterns, and layer them with your own MIDI instrumentation. It is a different approach from instrument-based samplers, but the creative results are the same.

For battle producers, sampling skills are essential. The ability to flip a simple musical phrase into something unrecognizable and original separates experienced producers from beginners. BandLab gives you the tools to develop these skills without spending money on software.

Importing Audio into BandLab

1. Open your project in BandLab's Mix Editor.
2. Click the + button to add a new Audio track.
3. Drag an audio file from your computer directly into the timeline on the new track. BandLab accepts WAV, MP3, FLAC, and other common formats.
4. Alternatively, click the upload area or import button on the track to browse your file system.
5. The audio appears as a waveform region on the timeline.
6. If the sample's tempo does not match your project, you may need to adjust the project BPM to match the sample, or use time-stretching if available.

Sample Source Recommendations

• BandLab's Loop Library: Royalty-free, tempo-matched, and legally safe for any use including battle submissions.
• Splice: Professional-quality samples with clear licensing terms. Free tier available with limited credits.
• Freesound.org: Creative Commons licensed sounds. Always verify the specific license for each sample.
• Your own recordings: Record vocals, instruments, or field recordings directly into BandLab using the mobile app or browser microphone input.

Chopping Samples

Chopping is the process of cutting a longer audio sample into smaller pieces and rearranging them into a new pattern.

1. Import your sample onto an audio track in the timeline.
2. Zoom in on the waveform so you can see individual beats, hits, and transients clearly.
3. Position the playhead at the point where you want to make a cut. Listen carefully to identify musical phrases, chord changes, or individual notes.
4. Split the region using the split tool or the split command. This creates two separate regions from one.
5. Repeat the process to chop the sample into as many pieces as needed. A typical sample chop produces 4-16 individual slices.
6. Rearrange the chops. Drag individual pieces to new positions on the timeline. Place them in a different order than the original to create a new musical phrase.
7. Delete unwanted sections. Not every chop is usable. Remove the pieces that do not fit your vision.

Chopping Strategies

Time Stretching and Pitch Shifting

Time stretching changes a sample's speed without affecting its pitch. Pitch shifting changes the pitch without affecting the speed. Both are essential for making samples fit your beat.

Time Stretching

1. Select the audio region you want to time-stretch.
2. Look for a flex or time-stretch option in BandLab's audio editing tools. This may appear as a toggle or in the region properties.
3. With flex enabled, the audio adjusts its playback speed to match the project tempo. A sample recorded at 100 BPM plays correctly at your project's 90 BPM without pitch change.
4. If manual stretching is needed, drag the region's edge while holding the appropriate modifier to stretch or compress the audio.

Pitch Shifting

1. Select the audio region you want to pitch-shift.
2. Look for the pitch or transpose control in the region properties or editing menu.
3. Adjust the pitch in semitone increments. Positive values raise the pitch, negative values lower it.
4. Use pitch shifting to match a sample to your project's key. If your beat is in C minor and the sample is in D minor, shift the sample down 2 semitones.

Creative Pitch Applications

• Pitch down for lo-fi: Dropping a vocal sample 2-3 semitones creates the classic slowed, dreamy lo-fi texture.
• Pitch up for chipmunk: Raising a vocal sample 5-7 semitones creates the pitch-shifted vocal style heard in many hip-hop beats.
• Harmonize with yourself: Duplicate a sample chop, pitch one copy up a third (4 semitones) or fifth (7 semitones), and layer them for instant harmonies.

Building a Beat from Samples

Here is a complete workflow for building a sample-based beat in BandLab:

1. Find your source material. Choose a sample with clear musical content: a chord progression, a melody, a vocal phrase, or a rhythmic groove.
2. Import and listen. Place the sample on a track and listen to it multiple times. Identify the key, tempo, and the specific sections you want to use.
3. Set your project tempo. Match it to the sample's original tempo, or set a new tempo and time-stretch the sample to fit.
4. Chop the sample. Split the audio into usable pieces: individual chords, notes, phrases, or rhythmic hits.
5. Rearrange the chops. Build a new 4 or 8-bar loop from the rearranged pieces. The goal is to create something that sounds musical but different from the original.
6. Layer drums. Add a MIDI drum track with your own programmed pattern on top of the sample arrangement.
7. Add bass. If the sample does not include strong bass, add a MIDI bass track that follows the chord progression of your rearranged sample.
8. Process everything. Apply EQ to carve frequency space between the sample and your added instruments. Add reverb for cohesion.
9. Arrange into a full beat. Use the sample loop as your main section, create a stripped-down version for the verse, and add fills and transitions.

Processing Samples with Effects

Effects transform raw samples into polished production elements:

Sample-Based Battle Workflow

When entering a sample flip battle, speed and creativity both matter. Here is the workflow:

1. 0:00 - 1:00 | Analyze the sample. Listen to the provided sample 2-3 times. Identify the key, tempo, chord changes, and the sections with the most musical potential.
2. 1:00 - 3:00 | Chop and rearrange. Import the sample, chop it into 8-12 pieces, and arrange the best pieces into a new 4-bar loop. Delete the pieces you do not need.
3. 3:00 - 4:00 | Process the sample. Apply a high-pass filter to cut sub frequencies. Add subtle reverb for cohesion. Optionally pitch-shift for a different feel.
4. 4:00 - 5:30 | Add drums. Program a drum pattern that complements the sample's rhythm. The drums should enhance the groove, not fight it.
5. 5:30 - 7:00 | Add bass and extras. Add a bass line that follows the sample's implied harmony. Optionally add a counter-melody or additional texture.
6. 7:00 - 8:30 | Arrange. Create verse and chorus variations. Use the full sample chop for the chorus and a stripped version for the verse. Add transitions.
7. 8:30 - 10:00 | Mix and export. Balance volumes, check for clipping, export as WAV, and submit.

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