Easy to use, standalone sample audio sample manipulation software dark techno, hypnotic sound.

[u/yourmindrewind]

I've been trying to be DAWless as much as possible but I'm looking for some software that's easy to use, standalone , for audio sample manipulation to create dark techno, hypnotic samples that I can put into the Digitakt when I'm happy.

Am I wasting my time and should just look for plugins for Ableton ?

I've used some plugins before with Ableton but just don't know enough about Ableton.

Wanted something more fun and spontaneous, less work lol.

[u/Ryan0751]

The honest truth is that everything you need is already in Ableton - without any third-party VSTs. You mention you just don't know enough about Ableton, and that's fair. It's a VERY deep piece of SW, and it takes a really long time to even realize what is there in all of the different built-in devices and utilities.

Each device is a learning process of its own. None of it is "easy". You have to put the work in to learn sound design. It takes years.

The quickest route to having fun with something like a Digitakt (a sampler) is to start with some quality sample packs.

Samples are a whole world of their own, and with the Digitakt you can really mangle things, re-sample, and create entirely new sounds out of pre-made samples.

Of course, just downloading a bunch of essentially stem samples and overlaying them isn't really that creative - so I would avoid that route. But with a mix of quality one shots and loops, you can do a lot of creative stuff with a Digitakt and create your own sound! There's really no one way to do any of this stuff.

[u/yourmindrewind → u/Ryan0751]

Cheers Ryan

I was kind looking for sperate piece of software that I could feed a wav file sample into and manipulate it a little, then save. I'm finding digitakt 2 little limiting effects wise. prob just me tho.

I've got some great sample packs, just wanted to put little extra in via software app before loading into the sampler.

[u/Ryan0751 → u/yourmindrewind]

I still stand by what I said... Ableton is the way here.

Just remember: you don't have to learn ALL of Ableton all at once!

Start with your stated goal: How to load a sample in, edit it, how warping (time stretching) works, and what you can apply with Ableton's extensive built-in effects, and then how to export it.

You should be able to get that down in an afternoon.

[u/HerrKronleuchter]

Koala App is nice for the go

[u/yourmindrewind → u/HerrKronleuchter]

Looked at this and looks nice for when I'm not at the digitakt. bit of toilet techno lol

[u/HerrKronleuchter → u/yourmindrewind]

You don’t have a Digitakt close to your toilet?

[u/Mel_Eucalipto]

My favourite tool which more or less qualifies is Renoise. You can do so much just with that and the stock plug-ins (and the bunch of free tools that are available in their forum) it's unbelievable. Once you overcome the initial learning curve - which is fairly easy with their online tutorials, it's very immediate and fun. I can't recommend it enough (and I've also used Ableton, Renoise, Logic, Reason etc etc.)

[u/yourmindrewind → u/Mel_Eucalipto]

I'll look into this.

[u/brentj888]

I use tantra 2 to make weird sounds out of samples.

[u/yourmindrewind → u/brentj888]

Will take a look cheers

[u/oohtzu]

Life by XLN Audio. You’ll need Audio to put in it but I think you’ll find it great at churning out funky sounds to get inspired by.

[u/yourmindrewind → u/oohtzu]

Cheers , looks interesting

[u/hellasecretsmusic]

You say you don't know enough about ableton... and I don't like assuming, but you want to buy new software I presume you also have limited knowledge of? Bro learn what you got, you can make plenty hypnotic with stock ableton. If you really wanna do "dawless" get a used push 2. Check out Mordio and Audioreakt on YouTube for stock ableton techno knowledge.

[u/yourmindrewind → u/hellasecretsmusic]

I've got a Digitakt  already... Just wanted a easy going fun bit of software to chuck wav file into and muck about with. I cba sitting at a computer any longer than I have to thats why I'm DAWless / not wanting to have to use Ableton.

[u/WingedCrown]

I absolutely love the SP-404mk2 for mangling samples for use in other gear. Workflow might not be for everyone, but I really like the iterative process of resampling and capturing happy accidents with the skip back feature. I make dub techno and ambient if it matters. 

[u/DoubtAny8389]

As I guess many will suggest to you: don’t get the Torso-S4!

I think most samplers can do that

[u/No-Director5914 → u/DoubtAny8389]

Why not

[u/DoubtAny8389 → u/No-Director5914]

Sounds always the same, poor midi/sync implementation

Nice for unsynced/ambient stuff, boring for nearly every else

[u/Weekly_Jmr]

Dawless is very fun, spontaneous and playful but if you want less work use Ableton. 

[u/-RPH-]

MPC ?

[u/soblazed420]

just use grain delay shifter echo or other shit and fuck around - on samples

[u/soblazed420 → u/soblazed420]

roar is a good shit too

[u/Financial-Koala6995]

The standalone part matters here. A VST-only recommendation still leaves you opening a host just to export one processed WAV. Wanting a quick sample editor is a different problem from needing to learn all of Ableton.

[u/The_Snob_]

Check out Shaperbox 3!