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Turning a voice note to a fully-fleshed loop<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Soul Surplus team took over Drexel\u2019s Studio 1 for a full-day interactive experience designed to provide students with an exclusive glimpse into the creative process behind crafting some of Splice\u2019s most iconic samples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The takeover began with guitarist John Smythe playing a voice note on his phone, first announcing the key and then playing a chord progression on acoustic guitar. A melody followed on the voice note, and the rest of the band listened intently to the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team moved into the studio and immediately started fleshing out the idea into a comprehensive arrangement. Pudge Tribbett laid down the foundation with drums, and John McNeill solidified the groove with a bassline. John Smythe replayed his original melody idea on electric guitar and Joel McNeill complimented it with some keys. Soul Surplus engineer Elvin \u201cWit\u201d Shahbazian and Drexel faculty Cyrille Taillandier pressed record as the newly-created loop started to take shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The band kept playing and iterating until they felt like they had nailed the feel of the new loop: warm, distinctive, accessible, and unmistakably Soul Soul Surplus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s so much more to a loop than just the recording\u2014so the team gathered in the control room to share some of their favorite techniques for time stretching, mixing,<\/a> and adding effects to loops and samples. Students immersed themselves in every step of this process, asking questions throughout, and the team shared insights spanning entrepreneurship, life as a full-time sample creator, overcoming creative blocks,<\/a> advanced recording techniques, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Smythe<\/a> shared some of his best tips for sample pack creation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Music Industry Professor James McKinney reflects, “The Splice studio takeover with Soul Surplus was a perfect day of practical experience creating sample packs, from ideation to execution. We covered everything from musicianship to musical expression to recording techniques. Even further, the intellectual exchange of our students with Soul Surplus is something I wish I could have experienced as a student.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe day’s event went beyond mere education; it was a transformative experience that profoundly impacted our students. Many have shared that it was among their most memorable and valuable experiences at Drexel University. This event is a highlight for our students and a shining example of the rich, practical learning experiences we aim to offer at the Music Industry Faculty of Westphal College.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Splice is meeting creators like the students at Drexel at the very beginning of their musical journeys, giving them the creative tools and resources to make music for a lifetime. We embrace events like this with a strong sense of responsibility for our part in enabling a new generation of creators to realize the lifelong power of making music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n College students, educators, and other Splice users who register using a valid .edu or .ac email address are now eligible for a discounted monthly price on our Sounds+ plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explore our educational resources, including free lesson ideas and our Magic Link program to get your students started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image1-1024x683.jpg\")
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\n\n\n\nTips on making samples from GRAMMY-nominated producer John Smythe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nGoing beyond education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSplice for Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nReady to bring these ideas to your classroom?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n