Samplers? Aren’t they for battle DJs from the 90s? Sure, everything is possible with software now, but having an additional device besides your DJ decks is a good idea. Using multiple sound sources is the key to making music that sounds vivid and fresh. Here are three ways to use a sampler in your next set.
Dedicated hardware samplers
The Roland404 series is still very much the OG of commercially available hardware samplers, but really any device that allows for playback and manipulation of samples will do the trick. From single one-shot triggers to loops and even full tracks, samplers are limited only by onboard memory and your imagination.
Modulation devices that can act as samplers
While devices like the Kaoss pad are devoted more to the realtime modulation of an audio signal than the playback, they can in fact be samplers, too. There’s a small amount of onboard memory that allows for the device to store pre-loaded samples or even those created on the fly. Syncing loops to your main beats gets a bit tricky (you’ll need to connect the device to your computer or decks), so consider using it as a fun gimmick rather than a cornerstone of your set.
Looper devices and guitar pedals
Guitarists all know the Boss range of instrument pedals, which all allow for signal modulation of some kind. They have a range of loopers with varying amounts of functionality, all of which can be used to trigger samplers in interesting ways. Their delay pedal range includes ‘hold’ functionality, which can also be hacked to be used as a real-time sampler!
Samplers are a superb way to bring a fresh vibe to your set. Let’s be honest - DJ sets downloaded entirely from Beatport by algorithmic suggestion only do sometimes sound a little flat and homogenous. Bringing additional devices into your set is one way to give the floor some life! So little time, so much DJ course material learning to do!