samplen

Samplen is the practice of incorporating portions of existing audio recordings into a new musical work. The term is used in English and, in some languages such as Dutch, as the verb form samplen to describe the action of taking a sample from a recorded sound.

Historically, sampling emerged with the rise of hip-hop and electronic music in the late 20th century. Producers used hardware samplers to capture short sound fragments from records, films, and other sources, then rearranged them into new compositions. Early devices such as the Akai MPC series and drum computers like the E-mu SP-12 or SP-1200 played a crucial role in developing the workflow of selecting, editing, and sequencing samples. Over time, software samplers embedded in digital audio workstations expanded the technique, enabling more precise time-stretching, pitch-shifting, and reverse or granular processing.

Common techniques in samplen include selecting and looping memorable phrases, chopping samples into smaller bits for rearrangement, layering multiple samples, and applying effects to blend or transform the source material. Producers may also resample, which means re-recording a processed sample to create new textures or loops. The practice often involves careful consideration of tempo, key, and groove to ensure coherence with the new composition.

Legal and cultural considerations are central to samplen. Clearing rights for the underlying musical recording (the master) and the underlying composition (the publishing) is typically required in many jurisdictions. Unlicensed sampling can lead to copyright infringement and legal disputes, which has influenced both the aesthetics and ethics of sample-based production. Despite these considerations, sampling remains a foundational technique across genres, valued for its ability to reuse and recontextualize existing sounds to create new artistic expressions.