If you’re into sampling and looking to spice up your sound design, this post is for you. Today, I’m diving into some creative sampling techniques using a completely free plugin that could seriously enhance your music production workflow.
Let me introduce you to Momentum by Big Fish Audio — a powerful, intuitive tool for sample playback and manipulation that won’t cost you a penny.
Why Creative Sampling Matters
When working with samples from libraries, it’s always a good idea to add your own twist. Not only does this help you avoid issues with content ID systems on platforms like YouTube, but it also ensures that your sound is unique to you. Whether you’re making beats, scoring video content, or building full tracks, personalizing your samples adds that extra layer of creativity and originality.
A Quick Word on Samplers
Most major DAWs come with their own sampler plugins. Logic Pro, for example, offers the Sampler and Quick Sampler (formerly EXS24). These tools are great for:
- Mapping one-shots across a keyboard (think: building your own drum kits).
- Slicing loops into MIDI-mappable sections, giving you flexible, rhythmical control over your samples.
But if you’re looking to go deeper — slicing loops, adjusting pitch per slice, adding effects per segment, and juggling multiple samples in one interface — then your stock sampler might hit its limits.
Meet Momentum: A Free Creative Sampler
Enter Momentum. Unlike most bundled samplers, Momentum allows you to manipulate individual slices of audio, apply different effects per slice, and work within a slick drag-and-drop interface. And yes, it’s 100% free.
🔗 You’ll need to sign up for a Big Fish Audio account to use it, and you do need to be logged in while using the plugin — just a heads up.
Momentum works with any DAW and can be downloaded from Big Fish Audio’s website.
Getting Started: How It Works
The core area of Momentum is the Slice View. Here, you can:
- Load your samples (just drag and drop)
- Auto-slice or manually define slices
- Switch between effects view and slice view
- Pitch shift the entire sample
- Choose playback modes like stretch, beat, or loop
Here’s a super useful example: switching to stretch mode allows the sample to play back smoothly without gaps — essential for looped keys and pads.
You can also:
- Manually add or remove slices
- Choose slicing based on grid (e.g., 1/8th notes)
- Use modes like backwards, boomerang, and one-shot
- Enable latch mode for uninterrupted slice playback
Slice-Specific Effects
This is where Momentum really shines. Each slice can have its own unique effect chain, including:
- Volume and pan
- Pitch shifting
- Reverse
- Stutter
- Lo-Fi
- Delay
- Reverb
- Filtering
- Sub bass
- Glide
- Limiter
Want to go wild? Use the randomize button to instantly apply random effect combinations — a great way to stumble into unexpected inspiration.
Global Effects and Workflow
You’re not limited to individual slices — Momentum also supports global effects, which can be applied across the whole sample. These effects can be configured as inserts or sends, depending on your production style.
Once you’re happy with a setup, you can save your custom patches for future use.
My Sample Packs
In the demo video, I used some loops from my Lo-Fi Keys sample pack — check them out at tangerinesounds.com. You can also grab my Free Lo-Fi Essentials Pack, which includes a bit of everything: drums, keys, guitar, and percussion. Perfect for getting started.
Pros & Cons of Momentum
✅ What I love:
- It’s free.
- Extremely powerful for loop slicing.
- Multiple samples in one interface.
- Slice-specific effects + global effects.
- Built-in randomizer for creative sound design.
- Save and load custom patches.
⚠️ A few gripes:
- The interface can feel overwhelming at first.
- The plugin window isn’t resizable.
- You need an account and login to use it.
- If you want to use Big Fish’s sample library, a paid subscription is required (but you can just use your own samples, which works perfectly).
Final Thoughts
Momentum is easily one of the best free creative sampling tools out there. It competes with premium products like Serato Sample — and for zero cost, you really have nothing to lose. Whether you’re a beatmaker, lo-fi producer, or sound designer, this plugin opens the door to hours of experimental fun and sonic discovery.
🎧 Try it out, experiment with your own sounds, and take your sampling game to the next level.
Big Fish Audio Website: https://www.bigfishaudio.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqwv9XJ0TnPfOmpGHFjW0VckBS4VmQcBcqf0pW6Gfy-quxAjgw-
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