Hey, what’s good, producers and beatmakers! If you’re diving into the world of music production and want to learn how to sample in FL Studio without the headache, you’ve come to the right place. Sling, AKA Mister Different, is breaking down exactly how easy it is to sample inside FL Studio using only the stock plugins that come with the software. No fancy setups, no expensive third-party tools—just pure, straightforward techniques to get you sampling like a pro in no time.
Sampling is a fundamental skill for producers, especially if you want to create beats with that classic vibe or add some authentic textures to your tracks. Whether you’re a beginner or just want to refine your process, this guide will walk you through the essential steps, tips, and tricks to mastering sampling in FL Studio. Plus, Sling shows you how to find the tempo and key of your samples using some handy tools, so you can keep everything locked in and sounding tight.
Table of Contents
- Why Sampling in FL Studio Is a Game Changer
- Step 1: Preparing Your Sample
- Step 2: Loading Your Sample into Edison
- Step 3: Finding the Key and Tempo of Your Sample
- Step 4: Setting the Grid and Trimming the Sample in Edison
- Step 5: Looping and Snapping Settings for Perfect Loops
- Step 6: Selecting and Perfecting Your Loop
- Step 7: Dragging Your Sample Back into the Playlist
- Step 8: Adjusting Tempo and Time Stretching
- Step 9: Pitching and Adding Effects
- Step 10: Adding Drums and Additional Elements
- Advanced Sampling Techniques
- FAQs About Sampling in FL Studio
- Final Thoughts
Why Sampling in FL Studio Is a Game Changer
Sampling lets you take snippets of existing music, sounds, or recordings and rework them into something fresh and new. It’s been the backbone of hip-hop, electronic music, and many other genres for decades. FL Studio makes this process super accessible with its intuitive tools and stock plugins that come with every installation.
One of the biggest advantages of sampling inside FL Studio is Edison. This plugin is a powerhouse for recording, editing, and slicing audio, and it’s built right into the DAW. You don’t need anything else to get started, which makes it perfect for beginners. Plus, when you combine Edison with FL Studio’s flexible workflow, your creativity can flow without limits.
Step 1: Preparing Your Sample
First things first, you need a sample to work with. He likes to start with a vibe that inspires him For this tutorial, he pulled up a nice ambient jazzy sample by Robert Vigor. It has a smooth, chilled-out feel that’s perfect for layering and chopping.
Before you start slicing, it’s important to get a feel for the sample. Play it back, listen to the nuances, and decide which part you want to loop or chop up. Sampling is all about capturing moments that speak to you musically.
Step 2: Loading Your Sample into Edison
Once you have your sample ready, the easiest way to start chopping it up is by loading it into Edison. There are two simple ways to do this:
- Open Edison directly on a mixer channel and drag your sample there.
- Right-click your audio clip in the playlist or channel rack, select “Edit Audio,” and it will open straight in Edison.
Edison is where the magic happens. You can trim, loop, normalize, and slice your audio all within this plugin. It’s incredibly powerful and user-friendly, making it the go-to for sampling in FL Studio.
Step 3: Finding the Key and Tempo of Your Sample
Before chopping your sample, it’s crucial to know its tempo (BPM) and musical key. This helps you keep your beat in sync and makes it easier to add instruments or vocals later on.
While FL Studio has built-in tools for tempo detection, he prefer’s using Serato Sample for quick and accurate key and BPM detection. It’s a third-party plugin but only used for analysis, not for sampling itself. You can grab Serato Sample here: Serato Sample.
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If you want a free alternative, Virtual DJ is a great option that does the same job: detecting the key and BPM of your tracks effortlessly. Download it here: Virtual DJ.
For the sample he’s using, Serato Sample showed the key as C# minor and the BPM as approximately 172.27. I rounded the BPM to 172 to simplify things.
Step 4: Setting the Grid and Trimming the Sample in Edison
Now that you know the tempo, it’s time to sync Edison’s grid to your sample’s BPM. This makes chopping and looping much more precise.
Here’s how to do it inside Edison:
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- Click the little icon that looks like two folded papers to open the properties.
- Enter your sample’s tempo (e.g., 172 BPM) into the tempo field.
- Enable “Tempo Sync” and hit accept.
This locks the grid to your sample’s tempo, helping you slice in perfect time.
Next, click the trim icon next to the normalize button. This trims any silence or unwanted noise around the start and end of your sample, ensuring the sample begins right on the transient for clean looping.
Step 5: Looping and Snapping Settings for Perfect Loops
Now, hit the loop selection button in Edison. This will loop the section you select, so you can audition your chops in real time.
For snapping, he recommend’s setting it to Zero Crossing. This snapping mode aligns your selection points where the waveform crosses the zero line (where the wave switches from positive to negative or vice versa). This reduces clicks and pops in your loop, creating seamless transitions.
You can also experiment with snapping to grid or region depending on your sample type, but zero crossing is usually the safest bet for smooth loops.
Step 6: Selecting and Perfecting Your Loop
Choose the section of the sample you want to use. Usually stick to loops between four and eight bars. This length gives you enough material to work with while keeping the vibe intact.
Zoom in and fine-tune the start and end points to make sure they snap exactly at zero crossing points. This prevents awkward cuts and makes your loops sound professional.
Listen back to your loop repeatedly and adjust until it sounds smooth. With zero crossing snapping enabled, you’ll notice your loop almost always sounds perfect right away.
Step 7: Dragging Your Sample Back into the Playlist
Once you’re satisfied with your loop in Edison, just drag it out and drop it back into your FL Studio playlist or channel rack. This creates a new audio clip with your trimmed and looped sample ready to be arranged.
Make sure your project tempo matches the sample’s tempo to avoid unwanted speed changes. If your project is at a different BPM, you can adjust the sample’s time stretching mode as we’ll cover next.
Step 8: Adjusting Tempo and Time Stretching
If your project tempo differs from the sample’s original tempo, don’t worry. FL Studio allows you to time stretch your sample to fit your beat perfectly.
For example, if your sample is at 172 BPM but your project is at 80 BPM, you can double-time or half-time the sample to make it fit. You can do this by:
- Right-clicking the sample in the playlist and selecting “Time stretching.”
- Adjusting the “Time” knob to fit the desired bar length, like four or eight bars.
FL Studio also offers different time stretching modes such as Resample, Stretch, and Elastic. Each mode affects the sound differently:
- Resample: Changes pitch and tempo together, good for natural sound.
- Stretch: Changes tempo without affecting pitch, but may introduce artifacts.
- Elastic: More advanced stretching with better quality.
Experiment with these to find the sound that fits your style best.
Step 9: Pitching and Adding Effects
Once your sample is locked in tempo, you can start playing with pitch. FL Studio lets you adjust the pitch in cents (100 cents = 1 semitone) to fit your musical vision.
For a creative twist, try pitching your sample up or down by several hundred cents to create unique textures. You can also add lo-fi effects like Sketch Cassette to give your sample a vintage, gritty vibe.
Adding effects is where you really make the sample your own. Play around with EQ, reverb, delay, and saturation to craft the perfect atmosphere.
Step 10: Adding Drums and Additional Elements
No beat is complete without drums! You can use FL Studio to find or import drum loops, chop them up just like your sample, and align them perfectly in your project.
I recommend chopping your drum loops and matching their tempo to your sample. You can then layer your own kicks, snares, hi-hats, or any percussion to build your rhythm section.
Since you already know the key and tempo of your sample, you can confidently add melodic elements like pianos, synths, or basslines that complement your sample perfectly.
Advanced Sampling Techniques
While this guide covers the basics, sampling can get much more complex and creative. Techniques like chopping your sample into smaller pieces, rearranging sections, layering multiple samples, and using automation can add depth and uniqueness to your beats.
If you’re interested in learning advanced sampling methods like slicing, chopping, and manipulating samples in crazy ways, drop a comment below and I’ll make a detailed tutorial for you.
Sampling in FL Studio is a skill that grows with practice. The key is to start simple, master the basics, and then expand your toolkit as you get more comfortable.
FAQs About Sampling in FL Studio
Q1: Do I need third-party plugins to sample in FL Studio?
No, you don’t. FL Studio’s stock plugin Edison is more than enough to get started with sampling. You can record, edit, loop, and export samples without any additional tools. Third-party plugins like Serato Sample are useful for key and BPM detection but not necessary for sampling itself.
Q2: How do I find the tempo and key of a sample?
You can use free software like Virtual DJ or plugins like Serato Sample to analyze your sample’s tempo (BPM) and key. These tools make it easy to keep your projects in sync and harmonically sound.
Q3: What is zero crossing snapping and why should I use it?
Zero crossing snapping aligns your sample cut points at points where the waveform crosses the zero line, reducing clicks and pops in loops. It’s essential for creating smooth, professional-sounding loops.
Q4: What length should my loops be?
Loops between four and eight bars usually work best. They give you enough material to build a groove without making it sound repetitive.
Q5: Can I change the pitch of my sample without affecting the tempo?
Yes. FL Studio’s time stretching modes, especially “Stretch” and “Elastic,” allow you to change pitch or tempo independently. Experiment to find the best sound quality for your project.
Final Thoughts
Sampling in FL Studio is simple once you know the workflow. With Edison, you can chop, loop, and manipulate your audio quickly and efficiently. Using tools like Serato Sample or Virtual DJ to find tempo and key makes your productions sound polished and professional.
Remember, the best way to get better is to practice regularly. Start with basic loops, then experiment with pitching, effects, and layering drums. Before long, you’ll be crafting beats that stand out.
For more tips on music production, beat making, and sampling techniques, check out these related articles on our site:
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Keep creating, keep experimenting, and most importantly, have fun with your music. Sampling in FL Studio is a skill that can elevate your productions to the next level, and now you have the tools and knowledge to get started right away.
Stay inspired, and catch you in the next tutorial!
