In this article, we’ve compiled a checklist of the best ways to get started with Splice, so you can get up to speed quickly and make the most of your subscription. Check out our video on everything you need to know about Splice,<\/a> which outlines these starting points\u2014we’ll be referring to it throughout the piece. Not a Splice Subscriber yet? See which plan works best for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n With more than 2.4 million sounds and presets at your fingertips, getting familiar with Splice\u2019s search is the best way to get you to the sound you want. The Splice search experience behaves similarly on the web as it does on the Splice Desktop app, so you can use either one to browse the catalog and discover sounds you love. Click here to jump to the search section in the onboarding video.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know what kind of sound you\u2019re looking for, you can start your Splice search by typing in the search bar. Alternatively, you can start by filtering by tags, such as instrument type, key, genre, or by loops and one-shots to make your search more specific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While searching, you can exclude filters to narrow down your search by removing sounds tagged with specific tags from the results. Hover over the \u201c-\u201d to filter out sounds with the corresponding tag. It\u2019s important to remember that most sounds have several tags. So, if you\u2019re looking for an ‘electric bass,’ don\u2019t filter out \u2018guitar\u2019 as it will likely have both tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During your sound search, you can also take advantage of Splice\u2019s Similar Sounds feature, which locates sounds with similar sonic characteristics to the one you have selected. This feature is great if you\u2019re looking for similar alternatives. That said, it\u2019s also a really useful creative tool\u2014you can layer similar sounds together to create rich soundscapes and textures, which add contrast to your compositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hands down, the best way to start an idea is with Create mode (check out the Create section<\/a> in our getting started video). All you need is a couple of minutes to create a Stack to start your track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three ways to create a Stack. For the first way, make sure you\u2019re on the Sounds page, and then click on ‘Create.’ This lets you start from nothing, but you can pick a style \/ genre to choose the direction that best fits. From here, you can adjust your Stack in several ways, such as swapping out and adding new layers, adjusting volume, muting, soloing, changing the BPM, and changing the genre to flip the Stack into a different style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second way to create a Stack is to choose a loop from the library. Eligible loops will show the ‘Create a Stack’ icon. This allows you to use a loop you love and find complimentary sounds to start with. Your loop is locked so you can shuffle the Stack around it, or unlock it and replace it entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, you can now also create a Stack by using your own audio as a starting point. To do this, hit “Start with your own loop”<\/a> and select your desired audio file. Create will then serve up fresh Stacks of compatible sounds from our extensive catalog of high-quality, musician-made samples\u2014all in perfect time and harmony. You can learn more about this feature in our dedicated guide.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have a Stack you like, save it. Give it a memorable name or use the automatic name generator. You can find your saved Stacks in your Library. From here, you can export it as a DAW project (Ableton Live and Studio One), as Stems (with all the samples pitched and stretched as you hear in the Stack), or as Original Samples, which gives you the samples in their original state. You can also choose to download a mixed stereo .wav of your Stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collections are a great way to curate your favorite sounds for later use or to share with other people. Think of it as a playlist, a mood board, or simply as an organizational tool that lets you personalize your Splice experience (check out the Collections section of the getting started video<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can create and add to Collections from the left-hand sidebar, or by clicking on the three dots beside any sample. Don\u2019t worry if your Collection has a lot of samples; you have access to the same search features as you do when browsing the library. Use the tags to find specific instruments, and use the search to find a filename that matches. If you want to share your Collection, make it public and add a description, and then share the link to your friends, followers, or collaborators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re in the flow, you don\u2019t want to have your browser open looking for sounds. You want to be able to grab sounds just as quickly as inspiration comes. That\u2019s where the Splice Desktop app comes in (watch our Desktop app walkthrough here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you first open Desktop, you\u2019ll want to get familiar with the settings. Head to the Preferences window by clicking on your avatar in the top-right. Here, you can select between light mode and dark mode to match the look and feel of Desktop to your mood or surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once in Desktop, you\u2019ll find most of the same features as on the Splice website. You can start browsing the Splice library by searching for specific sounds and filtering your results. You can browse, create, and edit Collections just as you would on the web. Most importantly, you can drag-and-drop samples into your DAW from Desktop, and you can also create Stacks from scratch or from a loop\u2014as well as export them to your DAW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One big difference in Desktop, however, is the Companion mode. When you\u2019re in a session and need the app to take up less screen space, click Companion to get a slimmer version of the window, with most of the same capabilities. Lastly, if you\u2019re using plugins on our Rent-To-Own program,<\/a> the Desktop app is what keeps them activated. This is also where you\u2019ll update or reinstall plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using Splice\u2019s Bridge plugin<\/a> alongside Desktop is one of the most powerful combos. Bridge lets you hear samples in the context of your current project to know if the vibe is right (watch how Bridge can help you work smarter<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n To use Bridge, first make sure it’s installed from the Apps & Plugins section in Splice Desktop. Then, install the plugin on a MIDI track in your DAW. Bridge will sync with the Desktop app and, once it\u2019s connected, you\u2019ll see the Bridge icon in the app go blue. Now you can preview Splice sounds in the key and tempo of your DAW project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the coolest features on all of Splice is associated with Bridge. Once you license the sample using the \u201c+\u201d button, a new button called \u201ccopy modified sample\u201d appears. This is where you grab your tempo- and key-matched sample, which you can then paste (command + V) into your DAW. If you want the original, just go the old-fashioned way by grabbing the actual loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse Splice search to find sounds you love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse Create mode to start musical ideas quickly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1.-Create-1223-New-on-Splice-inline-image-02.gif\")
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\n\n\n\nCurate your Splice experience with Collections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse Splice Desktop for a seamless sample-to-DAW workflow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2.-Desktop-1023-Desktop_v5-Blog_BlogPost@2x-1536x960-1-1024x640.png\")
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\n\n\n\nAudition sounds in your DAW with Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/3.-Bridge-4.-Copy-modified-sample-1024x631.png\")
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