Photo by Ricardo Abreu on Unsplash
Sampling is at the heart of so many genres we love — from lo-fi hip hop and chillwave to DnB, jungle, and glitchy electronica. But as we hurtle through 2025 with unlimited plugins and DAW power, there’s still something beautiful (and essential) about the art of resampling. This video we watched recently by Munich-based producer Marc Renton really nailed it, and we thought we’d break it down.
What is resampling?
Resampling is the process of taking a sound — maybe a synth line, a vocal, or a field recording — processing it, and then recording that processed version to use as a new sound source. Think of it like this:
Instead of endless tweaking, you hit record, grab the audio, and move forward with a fresh version — like a snapshot of your sonic moment.
Why resample?
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Shortcut complexity – Flatten complex chains into a single clip you can mangle.
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Creative surprise – It encourages happy accidents, the kind that make your track come alive.
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Build your sound – It’s a brilliant way to create a personal sonic palette.
Where to start?
You can resample literally anything. Try:
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Vocal snippets
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Drum loops or percussion grooves
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Synth lines with loads of FX
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Ambient recordings — buses, cafes, the tube
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TV dialogue or weird YouTube bits (be careful with copyright)
Start weird. Try sampling the middle of a loop, not the start. Cut something in reverse. Pitch up. Time-stretch. Layer two totally unrelated samples.
Tools of the trade
This producer uses:
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Ableton Live / Bitwig – for easy resampling workflows
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Elektron Digitakt – for happy accidents + drum pad play
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Machinedrum – for real-time slicing + sequencing
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Granular synths – to stretch and warp small clips into massive soundscapes
Bonus point: they’re not into the MPC (too fiddly), and the old Akai gear is fun for nostalgia but not practical for modern flow.
Refinement is key
After the chaos comes the clarity. The final part of the process is mixing, EQing, compressing, and contextualising the sample. Ask:
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Is this melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic?
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What role does it play in the track?
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Does it add character or clutter?
Shape it. Carve it. Make space. Let it shine.
Build your own sonic DNA
Sampling isn’t cheating. Resampling isn’t lazy. It’s how you build your own musical identity. Think of each resampled sound as a Lego brick in your own custom universe. The more you experiment, the more personal your tracks become.
Final thought
Resampling is freedom. It’s imperfection. It’s wild, unexpected, and deeply human — like the best music always is.