But, we know that not all of our users are making music for the masses. Many of you are just starting out on your music production journeys,<\/a> and if this resonates, we\u2019re here for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. Feel free to use the table of contents below to navigate to a specific section.<\/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 over two million sounds and presets at your fingertips, getting familiar with Splice’s search experience<\/a> is a great way to find the sound you’re looking for. The search experience behaves similarly on the web as it does on the Splice Desktop app and via the Splice Sounds Plugin (more on these below), so you can use any one of these to browse the catalog and discover sounds you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an exact sound in mind, you can start by typing it directly into the search bar. You can also narrow your search by filtering with tags such as instrument type, key, and genre, or by categories like loops and one-shots. Experimenting with the four sorting options (“Most relevant,” “Most popular,” “Most recent,” and “Random”) can also help you uncover new results for the same search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you find a sound you love, download it by hitting the plus icon. Most samples will cost one credit to download, while presets and MIDI<\/a> will cost three credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collections<\/a> are a great way to curate your favorite sounds for later use or to share with other people. Think of them as a playlist, mood board, or organizational tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can create and add to Collections from the left-hand sidebar on web or the Desktop app, 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 and filtering features as you do when browsing the library. And if you want to share your Collection, simply hit the “Make Public” button, add a description, and then drop the link to your friends, followers, or collaborators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re in the flow in your DAW, you might not want to have to open your web browser to look for sounds. You want to be able to grab sounds just as quickly as inspiration comes\u2014and that\u2019s where the Splice Desktop app<\/a> comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Desktop, you\u2019ll find most of the same features as on the Splice website\u2014you can search for specific sounds, filter your results, and create and edit Collections. Most importantly, you can drag-and-drop samples into your DAW directly from Desktop, and you can also build Stacks from scratch or from a loop, as well as export them to your DAW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing that you can do in Desktop that you can’t do on web is take advantage of Splice\u2019s Similar Sounds feature, which surfaces samples with similar sonic characteristics to the one you have selected. If you\u2019re using plugins on our Rent-To-Own program,<\/a> the Desktop app is also what keeps them activated and where you\u2019ll update or reinstall plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A powerful combo is using Splice\u2019s Bridge plugin<\/a> alongside Desktop. Bridge lets you hear samples in the context of your current project to know if the vibe is right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To use Bridge, first make sure it’s installed from the “Apps & Plugins” section in Splice Desktop. Then, load 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 loops in the key and tempo of your DAW project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you download the sample in Desktop, 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 directly into your DAW. If you want the original, just go the old-fashioned way by grabbing the actual loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re an Ableton,<\/a> Fender Studio Pro,<\/a> or Pro Tools user,<\/a> Splice also has direct DAW integrations that allow you to supercharge your workflow right within your workstation, without the need of the web, desktop app, or plugin experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These integrations allow you to access some of Splice’s latest sound discovery tools like Search with Sound and Describe a Sound, in addition to a rotating selection of free samples. What’s more, you can audition and import sounds matched to your project’s key and tempo without using additional plugins like Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re a user of any of these DAWs, their integrations will provide you the best Splice workflow experience\u2014but if you’re not, we’ve also built something for you too in the form of the new Splice Sounds Plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While web and Desktop are powerful in their own right, the Splice Sounds Plugin<\/a> is our latest tool that brings Splice directly into any<\/em> DAW, unlocking a truly seamless experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With it, you can browse the full Sounds library, create your own unique variations of samples, audition loops in sync with your project, and also use discovery tools like Search with Sound and Describe a Sound which were previously only available via the DAW integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The exclusive Variations feature is particularly powerful, letting you generate entirely new, one-of-a-kind loops derived from human-made samples in the library. To generate Variations, you have to first add the source sample to your library by using credits. Downloading a variation requires an additional credit spend, which compensates the original creator again. This ensures transparent compensation to the artists behind the sounds, even as new versions are built on their DNA, in your key and tempo\u2014you can learn more here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Splice Sounds Plugin is free to install and constantly evolving\u2014to try it out yourself, you can download the Mac installer here<\/a> and the Windows installer here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to get started with Splice:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSearch the expansive Splice Sounds library<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCurate your sounds with Collections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse Splice Desktop to power up your workflow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAudition sounds in your DAW with Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSupercharge your workflow with DAW integrations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBring Splice directly into any DAW with the Splice Sounds Plugin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n