What Makes a Quality Music Sample Pack?

When looking for quality music sample packs online there are a few key pieces of information that will help you succeed in your effort. The first is to know what type of music you are looking for. Be familiar with the types of instruments that are typically associated with that particular style. With this information you can filter through many sample packs that do not fit your needs. The next most common thing to take into consideration is how limited the instrumentation appears to be. Typically you find loops of drum beats or short samples of a particular composition.

If this is what you are looking for then your search should not be a painful one, but if you are looking for single notes or a more limited range of sounds from particular instruments then the process can be a bit more tedious. The kinds of sounds we are talking about here are individual snare drum hits or single notes from a saxophone. Samples such as these allow for a broader range of creative options and more freedom for the individual producer.

Once you have narrowed down your parameters for the type of sample that you are looking for then you can start investigating the quality of the actual content in the package. Here, we are talking variety. A common problem to run into is a huge amount of samples that are only slightly different. Another common problem is the palette of the instruments. Often packages contain kits of a particular instrument. This kit will contain an instrument played in a particular style such as jazz or rock. In a quality music sample pack you should find a greater variety of instruments, rather than a small amount of instruments played in a wide range of styles.

Quality packages often provide information regarding where the sound was obtained or the musician that produced them in order to be used. This information can guarantee for the user a 'natural' feel to the sounds available. This point brings us to the final element crucial to finding good music packages online, and that is the quality of the individual sounds or how natural a particular instrument sounds. If an individual is looking for something more techno or house oriented then a concern would be how synthetic or computer generated the texture is for a particular sound.

However, if as a producer one is interested primarily in jazz, then the human element prevalent in the sound is a major concern. Also related to the quality of individual sounds are question such as, "How crisp is the snare drum and how full are the kick pedals?" Keeping these things in mind when searching for quality music sample packs online should lead to the success of any aspiring musician or producer.

For more information on the topics mentioned in the article such as using sample packs, please visit Dance Midi Samples where they have tutorials.

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Synthetic or Real: Which Makes for a Better Djembe?

After catching a beat from a djembe drum one time, the urge to purchase one for oneself is hard to resist. Once the urge has matured into solid purpose, that is, it's time buy a drum, an important decision between synthetic djembes vs. wooden djembes needs to be made. This article aims to help with that choice.

Unsurprisingly, each drum material has its particular sets of strengths and weakens. The trick is for prospective djembe players is to decide what features are most important to them. For example, if durability is important, because, say, the drum will be played outdoors a lot, synthetic, fibreglass djembes may be the best bet. Synthetic djembes are also a little more user friendly than wood because they produce a solid drum tone easily, allowing far more wiggle room in regards to miss-hits.

For players more strictly concerned with sound, it's important to know that fibreglass djembes produce a bright, clear sound, whereas a wooden drum has a warmer, full-bodied tone. Players who play in small circles or with just a few other instruments, like acoustic guitars or banjos, may prefer the more organic, earthy warmth of the wooden drum, while a player in a large circle or ensemble will want to be heard, preferring the sound of synthetics. All of these choices depend on the purpose that a player has for the instrument - Is it going to be played in ensemble or solo? Indoors or out? Is the drum going to need to travel a lot? Answering these questions will aid in deciding whether fibreglass or wood is the better material for a djembe.

Drum heads can also be synthetic or natural. Natural heads are goatskins. Goatskins can produce a vast variety of tones and effects depending on the quality of the hide and the way it has been treated. A helpful hint for players heart-set on a goatskin drum head is "look for the stripe!" A stripe down the centre of the skin is normally an indicator of high quality and strength.

Synthetic drumheads were created to mimic the sounds of goatskin, while providing more sturdiness. Like with the fibreglass mentioned above, synthetic heads are also more beginner-friendly, producing solid tones even if hit goofily.

The base materials and drum heads can be mixed and matched. Some players prefer synthetic drum bodies and natural goatskin heads, others prefer to go all natural, or completely synthetic. The important thing to remember is that it's a matter of individual preference rather than objective superiority. With djembes, it's hard to go drastically wrong. Once the decision is made, then the real fun starts, with drum circles, collaborations and solo jams ready to be enjoyed.

Are you looking to purchase an African instrument, such as djembe drums, then visit the Djembe Drum Shop for a great selection.

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What Makes Band Music Great

The other day, I was at a local high school football game, and I heard a song that I recognized. It was from a movie that I had seen a long time ago, but could not quite remember which. I realized at that moment how great band music was, because they play music that many of us recognize, but never really appreciated while it was actually happening.

I remember that shortly after they finished that piece they played another piece of band music that was actually a version of a classic '70s rock song. I could not ever imagine hearing "Magic Carpet Ride" as played by a high school marching band, but sure enough, they broke into that, much to the delight of the crowd, and that kind of brings me to my next point.

One of the more interesting aspects of band music to me is to hear the parts being played by horns and woodwinds that one would normally hear from guitars and basses. It just seems like there is more of an attention to detail with band music, and that each individual part is more articulated.

A few minutes later, the marching band launched into the Hey Song. I think this is an all-time classic among band music because I have yet to see a band that does not perform it at some point in their show, and usually to a great response. The thing about this song, and other band music, is a lot of it provides the opportunity for the audience to get involved, either by singing or dancing.

When the game was over, I heard two songs that are especially unique to band music, which of course were the school's fight song and Alma Mater. I always love to hear those songs because I like seeing the crowd's reaction. I still remember how my school's fight song and Alma Mater sounded and how much I loved hearing our band play them.

I think of all of the band music that I heard that night, however, my favorite had to be at the very beginning of the game when the home school's marching band played the Star-Spangled Banner. Besides being our national anthem, it is a very expressive piece of music, and does a good job of incorporating most of the instruments of the band, including the eve important cymbals, into the action. I think what I admired most was the fact that so many of the kids seemed to take such pride in playing it and playing it well.

Band music holds a very special place in my heart because it can cover so much ground. Perhaps it is just the fact that it takes me back to a simpler time in my life, but I always look forward to hearing the high school bands play at their schools' sporting events.

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