The History of Sampling in Video Game Music
What's the one thing that Malcolm X, Adam West's Batman, and a common work printer all have in common? You can hear all of them in various Sonic the Hedgehog songs — and I can prove it.
This video is an in-depth exploration of music sampling in video games, covering its long history, showcasing the sheer range of samples used in gaming, and the unique origins behind some of the most iconic samples heard in video game music. Even if you think you know all there is to know about sampling in gaming, there might still be a few surprises in store for you here...
A good pair of headphones is highly recommended for this video!
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Axelayer
THUMBNAIL ART BY: KiwiBoxers over on Discord!
INTRO CARD ART BY: https://twitter.com/ZygAZoon
ENDSLATE ART BY: https://twitter.com/JackoonZ
SPECIAL THANKS to: Kuri, for editing input and assistance on some of the research!
FULL LIST OF VIDEO CREDITS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14FYIewkgI0dS7de_IrrkBV4HDd1K7eUgCUuMXa2qnzo/edit?usp=sharing
While a LOT of research went into this video, I still wouldn't consider it a definitive source on music sampling in gaming by any means. In fact, if you're interested in learning more about how sampling is used in games, then please consider checking out some of the following links!
- "VGM Sound Sources" spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o/edit?usp=sharing
- "Pop Fiction: The Fire Temple Chants," by GameTrailers (RIP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U34MFcJdGCo
- "SAMPLING in Video Game Music," by ToffeeBun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTkOUjayW0
- "The Samples Used in Silent Hill," by gilmasan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpsXD_kCurQ
- "Sonic CD Sample Pack + Some of it's origins," by Collision Chaos Radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnx7EBUHv_s
- "Golden Sun Restored" playlist, by Cyanne
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV6mzFBoOTIV3SCiOEKAFoZVqF26ofyf
- The Toby Fox Sample Sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10is6jIBxYlPm0Bcaf0KFFw9TE0bph8L0pcXSiz6xs5E/edit#gid=97520973
- UNDERTALE Sample List
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1853ZT02oS3YWlG3Sp7ziQHrpJPXRp-D-QZl1J3Z6edM/edit#slide=id.p
00:00 - [INTRO]
03:00 - Sample CDs, Composers, and You
06:38 - Sample Batch 1
10:11 - Mystery Samples (Xenogears, Killer7, C&C)
14:21 - Sample Batch 2
16:47 - The Infamous Adam West Batman Sample
19:05 - Sample Batch 3
22:09 - Games that sampled... other games???
27:39 - The Obligatory Amen Break Section
29:20 - The Less Obligatory Think Break Section
30:51 - Conclusion
34:00 - [ENDSLATE]
MUSIC USED (that isn't already listed in the video):
Red Hot Skull ... for Red Mountain - Sonic Adventure
HaKox Theme B - Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
File Select - Super Mario 64
U.M.N. Mode - Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Where Money Flows Like Water - Skullgirls Encore
Don't Preheat Your Oven Because If You Do The Song Won't Play - Pizza Tower
Redial - Bomberman Hero
Save & Exist =garage life= - Auto Modellista
Beefzone - DJ Joel (Vinesauce Joel/Vargskelethor)
Number One (Sonic R) - Kamikaze Bitch remix, Sonic Jamz: Volume One
(https://youtu.be/N9ShDnpjAD8?si=A2wTmynTApYwNZBD)
SOURCES CITED/REFERENCED:
https://www.factmag.com/2016/06/25/sampling-hip-hop-copyright/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/10-classic-sample-packs-changed-electronic-music-1
https://www.reddit.com/r/XenoGears/comments/7z91a8/what_is_being_whispered_in_knight_of_fire/
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/199365-xenogears/73348616
https://youtu.be/Y0S1buCBwGI
https://www.tracklib.com/blog/music-sampling-guide
https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=2332
https://www.thomann.de/blog/en/a-brief-history-of-sampling/
https://www.romanolaw.com/2022/10/14/music-sampling-rights-what-you-need-to-know/
https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-rights/clear-samples-to-copyrighted-music/
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/lost-art-sampling-part-1
https://www.reddit.com/r/tipofmytongue/comments/een5t/tomtthe_mind_of_man_rests_on_a_delicate_balance/
https://zero-g.co.uk/pages/company-founders
https://twitter.com/DingalingGames/status/1682533490011828225
https://abbeyroadinstitute.co.uk/blog/sampling-role-in-hip-hop-and-its-legacy-in-music-production/
https://www.pressreader.com/australia/computer-music/20181228/282011853459267
https://tulamics.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-the-akai-mpc
https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/16/16615352/akai-mpc-music-history-impact
#Sampling #Music #Sonic
This video is an in-depth exploration of music sampling in video games, covering its long history, showcasing the sheer range of samples used in gaming, and the unique origins behind some of the most iconic samples heard in video game music. Even if you think you know all there is to know about sampling in gaming, there might still be a few surprises in store for you here...
A good pair of headphones is highly recommended for this video!
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Axelayer
THUMBNAIL ART BY: KiwiBoxers over on Discord!
INTRO CARD ART BY: https://twitter.com/ZygAZoon
ENDSLATE ART BY: https://twitter.com/JackoonZ
SPECIAL THANKS to: Kuri, for editing input and assistance on some of the research!
FULL LIST OF VIDEO CREDITS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14FYIewkgI0dS7de_IrrkBV4HDd1K7eUgCUuMXa2qnzo/edit?usp=sharing
While a LOT of research went into this video, I still wouldn't consider it a definitive source on music sampling in gaming by any means. In fact, if you're interested in learning more about how sampling is used in games, then please consider checking out some of the following links!
- "VGM Sound Sources" spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o/edit?usp=sharing
- "Pop Fiction: The Fire Temple Chants," by GameTrailers (RIP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U34MFcJdGCo
- "SAMPLING in Video Game Music," by ToffeeBun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTkOUjayW0
- "The Samples Used in Silent Hill," by gilmasan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpsXD_kCurQ
- "Sonic CD Sample Pack + Some of it's origins," by Collision Chaos Radio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnx7EBUHv_s
- "Golden Sun Restored" playlist, by Cyanne
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV6mzFBoOTIV3SCiOEKAFoZVqF26ofyf
- The Toby Fox Sample Sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10is6jIBxYlPm0Bcaf0KFFw9TE0bph8L0pcXSiz6xs5E/edit#gid=97520973
- UNDERTALE Sample List
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1853ZT02oS3YWlG3Sp7ziQHrpJPXRp-D-QZl1J3Z6edM/edit#slide=id.p
00:00 - [INTRO]
03:00 - Sample CDs, Composers, and You
06:38 - Sample Batch 1
10:11 - Mystery Samples (Xenogears, Killer7, C&C)
14:21 - Sample Batch 2
16:47 - The Infamous Adam West Batman Sample
19:05 - Sample Batch 3
22:09 - Games that sampled... other games???
27:39 - The Obligatory Amen Break Section
29:20 - The Less Obligatory Think Break Section
30:51 - Conclusion
34:00 - [ENDSLATE]
MUSIC USED (that isn't already listed in the video):
Red Hot Skull ... for Red Mountain - Sonic Adventure
HaKox Theme B - Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
File Select - Super Mario 64
U.M.N. Mode - Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Where Money Flows Like Water - Skullgirls Encore
Don't Preheat Your Oven Because If You Do The Song Won't Play - Pizza Tower
Redial - Bomberman Hero
Save & Exist =garage life= - Auto Modellista
Beefzone - DJ Joel (Vinesauce Joel/Vargskelethor)
Number One (Sonic R) - Kamikaze Bitch remix, Sonic Jamz: Volume One
(https://youtu.be/N9ShDnpjAD8?si=A2wTmynTApYwNZBD)
SOURCES CITED/REFERENCED:
https://www.factmag.com/2016/06/25/sampling-hip-hop-copyright/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/10-classic-sample-packs-changed-electronic-music-1
https://www.reddit.com/r/XenoGears/comments/7z91a8/what_is_being_whispered_in_knight_of_fire/
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/199365-xenogears/73348616
https://youtu.be/Y0S1buCBwGI
https://www.tracklib.com/blog/music-sampling-guide
https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=2332
https://www.thomann.de/blog/en/a-brief-history-of-sampling/
https://www.romanolaw.com/2022/10/14/music-sampling-rights-what-you-need-to-know/
https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-rights/clear-samples-to-copyrighted-music/
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/lost-art-sampling-part-1
https://www.reddit.com/r/tipofmytongue/comments/een5t/tomtthe_mind_of_man_rests_on_a_delicate_balance/
https://zero-g.co.uk/pages/company-founders
https://twitter.com/DingalingGames/status/1682533490011828225
https://abbeyroadinstitute.co.uk/blog/sampling-role-in-hip-hop-and-its-legacy-in-music-production/
https://www.pressreader.com/australia/computer-music/20181228/282011853459267
https://tulamics.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-the-akai-mpc
https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/16/16615352/akai-mpc-music-history-impact
#Sampling #Music #Sonic
