

If you happen to need a particular sample and don’t want to load a whole instrument, you can make a copy of the ones you are likely to use the most and move them into an appropriate folder with the rest of your sounds. VST InstrumentsĪ nice way to organize these is to put all of your VST instruments in a separate folder. Having everything merged won’t present a big problem if you clearly indicate which ones are in the file name. You can place loops in bigger subfolders like ”Drums” or ”Strings” so you have quick access with a couple of clicks. You don’t even have to bother labeling one-shot samples- make them default and focus on labeling loops only. Most people feel more comfortable having them in separate folders as it is more practical and looks tidier. The next thing to consider is whether you want to merge one-shot samples with loops or have them separated. Sometimes a rock snare can sound amazing on an EDM track.Ī drawback is that some sounds work very well across genres, so you might miss many good options or have to spend some extra time finding the sounds in other folders. It’s also great that you do not limit your creativity by having samples ordered by genres. If you are at a point where you are deciding which snare to use, it’s handy to have them all in a single folder so you can quickly swap them around and see which one works the best. You will have a folder for all the kick drums, snares, synths, claps, etc.Ī big advantage of this system is that you can audition various sounds on the spot. The idea is to place all the samples of the same instruments in a separate folder. Organizing Samples By InstrumentsĬhoosing to organize your samples by instruments is a great way to go about it. By the company or artist name (Shogun Audio / Rockwell).Įach method has its pros and cons, so let’s take a look at each one.By instruments or sounds (e.g., Snares / Risers).The next step is to choose how you are going to organize your samples. You really don’t want to sift through a dozen folders to find one sample. One way to achieve this is to cut back on subfolders. However, I would recommend keeping things as simple as they can be. The system you choose is entirely up to you.
#Sample manager reddit windows#
My Sample Folder Structure in Windows 10. Whether or not this applies to you will be dependent on the type of creative person you are, but most of my producer friends say that a well-ordered working environment helps them be more creative and willing to commit to work. A Clean-Looking Sample Folder Can Inspire You To Start Working You might find a couple of kick drums that sound perfect for the song you are working on. The time you save on searching for the samples can be used to try out different sounds. You could also get creative without the risk of losing too much time- if a certain sound doesn’t really work, you can swap it with another one effortlessly. You can access your desired sounds in a second and keep the initial spark of a musical idea flowing. Plus, it makes the whole process of making music in the heat of the moment a real joy. You might wonder how time-consuming can it really be to find a sample? But during a long session, saving a couple of seconds on each repetitive task can add up quite a bit. This one seems obvious enough, but If I knew how faster my workflow would be, I would have sorted my samples ages ago. Well-Organized Samples Can Improve Your Workflow Needless to say, those snares sounded amazing, and I have denied myself the pleasure of using them in my productions because they were not in my main sample folder.

I would be scrolling through the “downloads” folder looking for some images and stumble upon a kick drum sample pack I have downloaded ages ago and never even opened to hear how they sound. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve found myself accidentally coming across a sample folder on my hard drive that completely changed my approach to writing a track for the better.

While all of it may sound great, you want to eventually expand your sound and make it fresh and exciting for you, as much as for your future clients. You reach for the same tricks, same plugins, and the same samples over and over again. Working as a producer for a while can make you stuck in your ways.
