Sampling (music)

reproduction of short extracts from a musical work

In sound and music, sampling is reusing a part (or sample) of a recording for another recording. Samples may have elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sounds or bars of music, and may be layered, equalized, sped or slowed, repitched, looped, and controlled into different ways.

Legal issues change

Sampling someone else's songs without their permission is illegal. The punishment for illegal sampling is usually a significant fine.