Sample smarter

How much does it cost to clear a sample?

What clearing a sample really costs: upfront fees, publishing splits, royalties and the hidden costs, with typical ranges for independent releases.

How to clear a sample, step by step

A practical walkthrough of clearing a sample: finding the label and publisher, writing the request, negotiating, and getting it in writing.

Can you put a song with samples into Content ID?

Why songs built on licensed samples usually can't go into YouTube Content ID, what goes wrong when they do, and what to do instead.

Selling beats with samples: what beat makers need to know

Can you lease or sell beats that use samples? What sample disclaimers really do, who's liable, and how to sell sampled beats without the risk.

Sampling vs interpolation: what's the difference?

Sampling uses the original recording; interpolation replays it. What each one needs cleared, why big releases replay samples, and when it's worth doing.

What happens if you use an uncleared sample?

From nothing at all to takedowns, lost royalties and lawsuits: what really happens when you release a song with an uncleared sample.

Do you need to clear samples for YouTube or SoundCloud?

Uploading beats and songs with samples to YouTube or SoundCloud: how claims, strikes and takedowns work on each, and how to protect your channel.

Master vs publishing: the two rights in every sample

The difference between the master recording and the publishing (composition), who owns each, how each earns money, and why sampling needs both.

Royalty-free vs pre-cleared samples: what's the difference?

Royalty-free and pre-cleared sound like the same thing. They aren't. What each term actually promises, and the questions to ask before you use any sample pack.

How to chop a sample

How to chop samples cleanly: where to cut, how to avoid clicks, how many slices to make, and how to rearrange chops into something new.

How to flip a sample so it sounds like yours

Techniques for flipping a sample into something original: new chord orders, pitch and tempo changes, layering, texture and arrangement.

How to use stems when you sample

What stems are, why they're a big advantage when sampling, and practical ways to use them: muting parts, rebalancing, processing and building new arrangements.

How to chop samples in FL Studio

A step-by-step guide to chopping samples in FL Studio with Slicex: loading, slicing, sending slices to the piano roll and playing your chops.

How to chop samples in Logic Pro

A step-by-step guide to chopping samples in Logic Pro with Quick Sampler's Slice mode: slicing by transients or beats, playing chops and building patterns.

How to chop samples in Ableton Live

Two ways to chop samples in Ableton Live: Simpler's Slice mode, and Slice to New MIDI Track with a Drum Rack. Step by step, with tips for soul samples.

How to chop samples on an MPC

A step-by-step guide to chopping samples on the MPC: Chop mode, Threshold, Regions, BPM and Manual slicing, and turning your chops into a playable program.

Why hip hop keeps coming back to soul

From breakbeats to chipmunk soul to today's loop-driven records: why soul has been the foundation of sampling for so long, and what producers hear in it.

Sample subscription vs buying packs: which is better?

Subscriptions or one-off sample packs? How they compare on cost, choice, licensing and workflow, and how to pick the right one for how you make music.

What to look for in a sample pack

How to spot a great sample pack: musicality, recording character, stems, originality, and the license terms that decide what you can release.