How Do You Arrange Your Sample Library?

Elektron Gear Digitakt
1

Greetings…

I’m new to the world of Elektron and the use of a dedicated drum machine/sampler.

So, I would like to hear how you organize your samples.

Do you group them by type (kicks, snares, FX, pads, etc.) into folders?

Do you group them by origin (eg. Elektron packs, loopmasters, your own creations)?

I can foresee an ever increasing sample library and would like to establish best practices now rather than try to go back and do so when it gets messy and complicated.

I welcome the sage advice of the community… thanks in advance.

2

Consider turning samples into sounds. From there you can tag sounds things like Kick, Snare, Tom etc.

Which then would leave a more personal method of managing your sample library

3 Likes
3

OK… I’ll spend more time looking at the sounds vs. samples aspect of the DT.

I take it that the advantage here is that they can be tagged and the sounds can then be filtered by tags and collected that way within the machine.

That makes sense, but do you have recommendations for a sample library architecture to collect, organize, tag, filter an expanding library of samples outside of the constraints of a particular piece of hardware?

In the world of photography there are a number of archive softwares to perform that function - is there the equivalent in audio? I’m going to start looking for myself, but I would welcome recommendations from those far more experienced than I…

4

I organize by type and key (if possible) but I rename everything according to my preferences :slight_smile:

GB_BD_808_G_(bpm)_01.wav
(Collection from GoldBaby) _ (what sound) _ (from where - nature) _ (what key or tuning fundamental) _ (bpm if loop) _ (incremental number)

If you are on mac… better finder rename is a must have app. You can batch process your sample and rename (of course there is mind thinking and organisation before to win time in the process)

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5

I need to read up on the samples/sounds thing too. Function + data encoder shows an empty list. I load my uploaded samples on the track, press yes on the … to browse for a new sound and add it in the list of 127.

I guess for them to show up in the sounds list (function + data encoder) I have to export the sample from a track to that list? Sounds like a lot of work thats not really needed? I can send samples to the DT and use them on my tracks which all I need.

Why would I use the sounds thing? Maybe I’m missing something here, but my sounds list will most likely stay empty forever :sweat_smile:

Maybe someone can do an explanatory video of this stuff :blush:

6

Aha!

It will come in handy when you have happy accidents and want to save that for later use. Just exported the changes I made to some single cycles to my sounds. So edgy! :sunglasses:

7

I believe one of the big advantages of Sounds in the +Drive can be P locked and changed per step. So one track could have 16 different sounds. Iirc.

8

I don’t think it works that way. A sound loaded from the +Drive sounds list will replace or take up of the 127 slots. You can however p-lock any of those 127 samples to any trig. With 64 steps you can have 64 samples on 1 track p-locked. You can also live record scrolling trough the sample list on any track for some funny effects.

1 Like
9

Yeah, the DT doesn’t do sound locking unfortunately.

And I agree, saving (exporting) sounds is probably the slowest of all DT’s workflow interactions. Could be a lot simpler and intuitive.

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10

What is sound locking? Cuz I can p-lock a different sample on each step in the sequencer, up to 64 samples per track. Or use a longer samples/sample-chains and p-lock the starting point.

11

A sound lock is like sample locking except it loads everything (sample, start / end, filter, amp, lfo) in other words all the elements that make up a sound on a step by step basis via a p-lock on the sound pool.

It’s a feature in the OT/A4/RYTM.

12

I trust to old proper entropy. It never fails.

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13

Ah yeah, that can’t be done on the DT as far as I know. The sound browser only allows for in and exporting sounds to a track. But maybe I’m wrong. I doubt they will re do the sounds/samples thing. But it is confusing/odd to say the least. I use the sound browser only to store sounds that I tweaked and might need in other places.

On another note, I noticed in the save menu you can choose to save the sequence or kit or pattern data. I need to dive back into the manual.

1 Like
14

Thanks to all…

William_WiLD - your file naming scheme seems a good one. I’m on a PC so I’ll need to do some research for a renaming application.
Let’s say that you purchased a sound pack with various hits (BD, cymbals, clave, etc.) - would you break the pack into separate dedicated folders (one for BD, one for cymbals, etc.) and then export into the DT? Or would you keep the pack intact? I think that you would use dedicated folders from your post, but I’ll wait offline for your response.

Thanks again…

15

There’s no sound locks in Ot unfortunately.
Only sample locks, slices, loop points for each slice…

16

i never break soundpack i modify. i keep an exact copy from the store in a folder soundpacks_bought, that one is kept alongside my software setup folder where i kept all setup.

Then on my audio harddrive i copy soundpacks. each one is store firstly by brand like GoldBaby, DrivenMachineDrums, WaveAlchemy… i usually keep in every sample Two letters or Three to remember where it comes from. (for instance GB, DMD, WA…) If for instance, the pack is called SuperAnalog808 and it comes from Goldbaby i will rename the soundpack folder GB_SA808 and i will use that part in the renaming scheme of the sample.

But i keep it where it is and name as it is.
In the first step, you will have to rename it by step and by nature of sounds so one by one from BD folder, Clap folder, Ohh folder, Chh folder, SD folder, Htom - Mtom - Ltom etc…

SO let’s say you ready you open up your batch software, you choose number sequence method.
Your prefix scheme is GB _ SA808 _ BD _ (key) _ (Bpm if loop) _
Then after the last underscore will be your incremental number sequence 01, 02, 03… if you have more than 99 samples you will have to make 001, 002, 003 etc…
Then you drag and drop every BD from BD folder and click on apply or whatever to rename every Kicks from your soundpacks in another destination of your choice. Then you upload it on the RYTM.

i also listening everything to kept only the one i liked the most. Because you have a limited amount of space on the RYTM don’t forget that. At the end on mine i upload some of the best classical drum machine and put a lot of effort to upload a transients folder to use it for Layering purpose. Then for every other sounds like voice, fx, instruments i upload it in the context of a song and not as personal factory sample

Make test on few sample before to batch a lot of samples to see if the scheme suit yourself. Sometimes on gear you have truncated name file so it’s better to keep in the beginning the most suitable informations.
If RYTM truncate things and you will have to watch in few location and method on the rytm to browse sample, when it’s loaded in ram you will have to count how much letters/numbers is shown and make the most of this results. Sometimes you will prefer to keep brand at the end. like BD_(key)_SA808_GB_001.wav or even without underscores to shorter the sequence.

So ig GB_0001.wav is truncated you ever see the most important your sample is a BD in key of (G for example) and it’s comes from a 808…

Hope it make sense :wink:

6 Likes
17

Quel sens de l’organisation ! :thup:
Do you use something like Advanced Renamer software?

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18

I’m on MAC and i use this one :
http://www.publicspace.net/ABetterFinderRename/

For Converting sample rate and bit-depth :
http://myriad.aurchitect.com

3 Likes
19

Thank you William_WiLD…

That helps a lot.

I’m on a PC - so I will need to find the appropriate software to help with the renaming duties. I’ll also look to see if I can find an audio archive database software to help keep the little audio beasts in their cages.

I’ll post my results if successful.

20

Great renaming software! Converting isn’t needed, the transfer app does that for you.