Are you interested in making your own virtual instruments for music production? In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I created my latest instrument — Cat Toy Drums for Decent Sampler. I’ll share the full process from concept and recording, to sound design, scripting, GUI design, and beta testing. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to start building your own instrument with Decent Sampler.
And if you watch the video I’ll also share a special promo code to save 30% on my Cat Toy Drums virtual instrument.
Step 1: Start with an Idea
Every instrument begins with a concept. Mine came from a quirky inspiration: creating drum samples out of cat toys.
I was originally inspired by Lofi Sounds, who built a sample pack from childhood toys. That got me thinking: what if I recorded cat toys and other feline-related objects, then transformed them into a sample pack and virtual drum kit?
When you’re coming up with your own idea, ask yourself:
- Has someone already made a similar virtual instrument?
- How can I make mine unique?
- What sounds do I have access to that others might not?
If you need inspiration, the Pianobook website is a treasure trove of free sample libraries created by producers worldwide.
Step 2: Record Your Samples
To create a solid instrument, you need high-quality raw recordings. For Cat Toy Drums, I collected a mix of objects:
- Cat toys
- A wooden cat bed
- Food bowls
- Even a bag of cat litter
I experimented with different microphones to capture a variety of textures:
Tip: Always aim for clean recordings because they’ll give you more flexibility later during sound design.
Step 3: Sound Design and Processing
After recording, it’s time to turn raw sounds into playable drum samples. I used a mix of creative sound design techniques inspired by Venus Theory, including:
- Ring modulation
- Bit crushing
- Noise layering with plugins like Denise Audio’s Noize
Remember: your first versions won’t always be the final ones. Test your samples in your own productions and compare them to commercial packs, which helps with quality control.
Step 4: Building the Instrument in Decent Sampler
Creating a Decent Sampler instrument involves three main stages:
1. Scripting
Unlike Kontakt or Logic Sampler, Decent Sampler doesn’t have a drag-and-drop GUI for mapping samples and consequently you’ll need to learn some scripting.
AI tools like ChatGPT can help however, be cautious: Decent Sampler has limitations (for example, no “IF THEN” logic). Ultimately, I found that it’s best to reference real working examples. The Decent Sampler GitHub repository is full of example presets you can learn from.
2. GUI Design
Think about how you want your instrument to look and what controls you’ll include. For example, when creating Cat Toy Drums, I designed a GUI inspired by a vintage mixing desk. Therefore, it had an authentic feel.
I used Adobe Firefly to generate base images, which saved me time, then refined them in Photoshop. For knobs and sliders, Knobman is an excellent free resource.
3. Testing
Always beta test your instrument with other producers before releasing it in order to highlight issues or improvements. My testers requested new features I wouldn’t have thought of, like:
- A “Colour” control combining distortion, chorus, EQ, and gain
- Additional hi-hat and ride cymbal samples
- A tool-tips toggle for easier usability
Step 5: Share or Sell Your Instrument
Once your instrument is finished, you have several options:
- Share it for free on Pianobook
- Sell it via Gumroad
- Release on your own website
- Distribute through the Decent Samples website
I made Cat Toy Drums available through both Tangerine Sounds and Decent Samples websites however you may choose a different approach.
Special Offer: Save 30% on Cat Toy Drums
Remeber, you can grab 30% OFF Cat Toy Drums — my quirky lo-fi drum instrument for Decent Sampler.
👉 Watch the video for the discount code and then apply at checkout on TangerineSounds.com.
Final Thoughts
Making your own Decent Sampler instrument is an incredibly rewarding project. From dreaming up unique sound sources to recording, designing, scripting, and finally sharing your work, ultimately, every step pushes you to grow as a producer.
Whether you’re building your first free library or aiming to launch a professional sample pack, I hope this guide helps you on your journey.