Samplitude Music Studio: Studio science made simple

The first thing to point out is that Samplitude Music Studio is only currently available for Windows users, perhaps best described as the PC equivalent of GarageBand for producers who can’t justify to themselves spending upwards of £1000 on a Mac just to record their music. Retailing at €99 for the full package it costs considerably less than its counterparts, with Ableton as a go-to example coming in at a cool €599 for full access to its complete bundle. For the stereotypical ‘struggling musician’ or perhaps those just beginning to learn the basics of sound recording, Samplitude Music Studio definitely offers a more attractive package in comparison to its rivals.

Granted, it doesn’t have the complexities of Logic Pro or the infinite possibilities of Ableton, but it doesn’t need them. Whereas other DAWs can seem daunting at first - or ‘DAWnting’, if you will - when you’re faced with an empty screen wondering what the hell to press first, Samplitude Music Studio’s strengths lie in its simplicity. Within five minutes of opening up the programme I was able to navigate my way around its interface and build sounds using both my external instruments plugged in through my soundcard, but also it’s plug-ins using a USB-attached MIDI controller.

Samplitude Music Studio comes with 19 built-in instruments including guitars, synthesisers, drum racks and bass sequencers, all supported and fully integrated by MIDI. While the more basic presets within the software cover concert piano, trance stabs and punching pop drums, once you delve deeper into its arsenal the possibilities for experimentation becomes apparent. The Beatbox drum machine for example allows for complex drum patterns programmable within its 8, 16 or 32-bar step sequencer, while Jon Hopkins-esque sonic soundtrackings come in the form of the ‘Cinematic Soundscapes’ plug-in.

If you’re feeling perhaps a little uninspired and are looking for something to create that spark - we all have our off days - then Samplitude Music Studio offers up thousands of built-in samples and loops for you to chop up, morph and mangle beyond all comprehension at your will. Have your own recordings or samples you want to Samplify? No worries, just drag and drop them from your computer into the timeline and take it from there.

The greatest appeal for potential users is that the software bridges a gap between being an accessible music production starter pack for beginners, but also delivers something more powerful once you progress. Whether it’s recording your first demo tape, learning the basics of studio mastering and sound design or scoring for TV and film, Samplitude Music Studio offers users a learning curve that develops as you do. It pushes you to try new things, encourages experimentation and - perhaps most importantly - won’t leave your wallet dry. And what DIY musician doesn’t want that?

This article is a sponsored post