6. Pro & Cons

Pros

The convenience of using sample libraries heavily outweighs the hassle and expense of using real instruments, and can give you a multitude of different sounds at your fingertips - if you produce orchestral music, the cost of simply hiring a studio large enough to record a full orchestra can run into thousands of pounds before you’ve even considered paying the musicians. Using sample libraries to put down drum tracks is quicker and more convenient than miking up and recording a kit - particularly handy when inspiration strikes, and they can always be replaced later.

Cons

Samples can sometimes make productions sound ‘clinical’ and over- sequenced, especially when programmed poorly - some musicians complain about the lack of inspiration they experience when using too many samples in their compositions, making songwriting more restrictive and less creative. Realistic dynamics can be difficult to recreate when using samples alone, which can lead to tracks sounding dull and lifeless. If you have time for really detailed programming of all the nuances, then great results can be achieved – but on the other hand, a good player with a real instrument might get you the result in one take!