Spicing Up Instruments?

[RawShock]

So I got a bunch of pads and various instruments that sound good in their own rights, but I don’t feel comfortable using them straight out of the box, as it feels kinda cheap to do so.
What I usually end up doing is tuning them down and applying various effects.
Any other nifty little things that can be done to change them up a bit?

Thanks in advance.

[Fullofkittens]

Make an interesting figure, record it, make that a new instrument. Repeat.

[RawShock]

Don’t think I understand what you mean. Could you elaborate?

[td6d]

If you just use those samples and someone elses techniques you’d still not be using your own style

[RawShock]

Vital parts of my brain aesploded after you revealed the paradox here.
I might have used the wrong term, but by samples I mean just sounds, not prewritten melodies or anything like that.

[tode]

@EatMe

Any affecting of sound could spicen up sound?

The point is, sometimes the effect is undesired.

The Lo Fi mat is the best way to spicen up sound with that 4 bit flavour.
The EQ is very delicate in use, very spicy, apply with care with the 300-800 Hz overspiced pressure presence EQing.
Chorus just makes spice from anything that doesn’t taste.
Flanger will give you the imagination things are spicy.
Phaser has the taste of a spice from outer space.
Ring Modulators are mostly roots of spice, not that tasty.
Reverb has a very good aftertaste for a kind of spice.
Delay leaves less room for other spices, a very powerful spice thus.

Sugar, cheese and brick walls are not spices. Those are ingredients.

This was what I cam here to write + a few other things.

[td6d]

@EatMe

Any affecting of sound could spicen up sound?

The point is, sometimes the effect is undesired.

The Lo Fi mat is the best way to spicen up sound with that 4 bit flavour.
The EQ is very delicate in use, very spicy, apply with care with the 300-800 Hz overspiced pressure presence EQing.
Chorus just makes spice from anything that doesn’t taste.
Flanger will give you the imagination things are spicy.
Phaser has the taste of a spice from outer space.
Ring Modulators are mostly roots of spice, not that tasty.
Reverb has a very good aftertaste for a kind of spice.
Delay leaves less room for other spices, a very powerful spice thus.

Sugar, cheese and brick walls are not spices. Those are ingredients.

Great, now I’m craving for spiced food

[BotB]

@EatMe

Sugar, cheese and brick walls are not spices. Those are ingredients.

Ontopic: don’t forget the FX column!!

• 09XX can turn any sample into something completely different.
• 01XX and 02XX can add various flavours, from simple octave drops, to tremolos
• 0FXX is insta-flavour, its power is sometimes tricky, but applied correctly and it brings life to the dullest sines.
• 0B00 a simple reverse, in combination with other flavours, can give great inspirational insights, do not underestimate it!

[RawShock]

Shit, that didn’t even cross my mind. Thanks, bot!