The Mellotron, an electronic keyboard of recorded samples, changed pop music

Re:The Mellotron, an electronic keyboard of recorded samples... by epcoa on Thursday June 22, 2023 @06:44PM (#36440212)

The term sampling is used in DJing and music production for a short “sample” of a whole, long before digital recording technologies were used. You’re too ridgid in your definition. (I am also surprised why this specific “well akshully” comes up - it’s not like DJ sampling or hip hop sampling is obscure.)

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Re:The Mellotron, an electronic keyboard of recorded samples... by dekhn on Thursday June 22, 2023 @07:33PM (#36440717)

I believe the term "sampling" was introduced with the Fairlight, which was digital. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairlight_CMI although I would refer to previous analog work as sampling, since a sample is a generic term.

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Re:The Mellotron, an electronic keyboard of recorded samples... by epcoa on Thursday June 22, 2023 @11:32PM (#36442464)

Yes, sample is generic, which is why I admit a little bit of skepticism with the claim that Fairlight coined the term and that it wasn't used prior to 1979 by turntablists/DJs earlier in the 70s, or with analog tape sampling.

Is there a strong reference? I know that's in wikipedia, and the primary reference appears to be https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/lost-art-sampling-pa.... As much as I love SOS, this is rather flimsy evidence that Fairlight "coined" the term.

I think we agree that it's irrefutable that the use of the term sample in the past 30 years is unrelated to digital vs. analog both on wikipedia and numerous scholarly and printed works. That doesn't speak to origin of the term of course. The OED doesn't cite uses prior to 1985, FWIW.

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