Sample Spotlight: Chop Shop Samples Interview

Producer Loops: Hi Marco, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. We love your output and are excited to hear more about you and the label.

Chop Shop Samples creates mainly Techno packs as well as Deep House & Tech-House. Was this a natural occurrence because you were making this genre anyway, or how did this come about?

Marco Duranti: Hi, thanks for this interview, I'm very happy for the opportunity to talk about my label with you.

For me, it's natural to make Techno, Tech-House, House and Deep. I've produced these Underground genres since 1995. As UGLH, I’ve released many tracks with big labels such as Get Physical, Noir Music, Suara, 8bit, Rawthentic, Great Stuff, Plastic City and more. And of course, on my own label Caramella Records, too.

I've also produced other genres like Chillout, Nu-Jazz, Soulful and Breakbeat for the Italian label Irma Records with artists such as Duran Y Garcia and Belladonna. I have tracks on V.A. compilations on Wagram like the Saint Germain Cafes des Pres, Buddha Bar and Café Del Mar series.

What is it about Techno that you like?

I like every style from the Underground scene. I love Techno because it is a very free style, a game of refined and experimental sounds, where there isn't any limit for the production.

Not as heavy as some of Chop Shop's output but that doesn't say much because this one is definitely not a softie! Everything you hear in the demo is in this pack from vocal FX to analogue & acid basses. It's inspired by the underground Techno scene and it doesn't hold back. There's a really good mix of sounds for all elements that make up a Techno track including nice melodies and punchy percussion.

- Producer Loops staff

Who are your favourite Techno artists?

I like for sure well-known artists like Skudge, Roman Lindau, Mike Dehnert, Ben Klock, Len Faki, Marcel Dettmann, Radio Slave, Truncate, Marco Faraone, Carlo Lio and lesser known artists you can only find on vinyl such as Appointment, Analogue Solution, Pacific Blue and many more.

What are your favourite Techno labels?

I love Fachwerk, M-nus and Plus 8, Figure, Rekids, Ostgut Ton, Truncate, 2020 Vision, Rawthentic.

What do you predict the future of Techno will be like?

I don't know for sure, but I think there will be less Melodic Techno and more raw and deep Techno.

Are there any other genres you would like to branch into? If so, which ones and why?

I've already made more Underground genres as my artist name UGLH like Tech-House, House and Deep. My best track, made on Noir Music and number one on the Beatport Top 10 for 58 weeks in 2010, was Tech-House. So, I will make more packs on this style and Deep, House too because these are genres I really love.

The Chop Shop teams ventures into Deep House territory keeping it classic, energetic, and irresistibly danceable. It's all rather tasty but if we had to choose, stand-out samples include piano, electric piano, pads and saxophone licks. For an upbeat smorgasbord of delicious Deep House delights this pack gets the Producer Loops seal of approval.

- Producer Loops staff

What's your set-up? What hardware and software do you use to make your sample packs?

There was a time I had a big studio with lots of synths and samplers. I had two Emulator 4x turbos, an Akai 5000, Matrix 100, two Access Virus synthesizers, a Roland Jp-8000, a Korg DW-8000, a Roland JV-1080, a Roland MC 505 Groovebox, a Nord Lead and more. Then I started to produce with Ableton, Reason, Cubase and use Native Instruments plugins at first. Now I want to create the same classic sound with the new software and plugins. I still have my old friend Emulator E4X Turbo, a TR-09, and a TB-03!

Who is Chop Shop Samples - do you work alone or is there a team?

Chop Shop Samples is me and my son who helped me with his fresh new taste. He DJs and has a great sense of the current music culture. Some of the sample packs we put out come from other producers.

Are you working on anything exciting right now? Can you tell us a bit about that?

I'm always working on something exciting because music is exciting for me.

What are your plans for the future of Chop Shop Samples?

I think Chop Shop Samples will start to deliver not only sample packs but also sounds for some synths and Ableton Templates.

What tips would you give someone who wants to create Techno sample packs? In terms of creating actual packs and in general?

For creating Techno or Underground Music in general, you must immerse yourself in the music culture first. You have to listen to lots of music and play it too. Then when you have this, you have to study your DAW, you have to know it very well. Most importantly, create your own sounds, make fresh and new sounds, and choose the right kick for the right bass. This is the beginning but the most important things to do.

What moment are you most proud of in creating the Chop Shop Samples label so far?

I think I'm proud of Chop Shop Samples because I can offer my experience and help to many people to make music better and give them new inspiration.

Have you experienced any instances of your sample packs being used by artists in their tracks that you know of?

Sure, I've heard Chop Shop Samples in lots of tracks on Beatport as well as on some promos that labels send me to UGLH, which is funny. I know for sure that there are big artists who use our sample packs including Carlo Lio, German Brigante, Nick Curly, Gorge, and DJ W!LD.

A nice little Minimal Tech pack bringing the groove to your studio. Minimal doesn't mean nihilistic as far as this pack's concerned. The highlights here include the groovy loops and vocals ready to bring warmth to your mix and the hi-hats and snare rolls which will get any dancefloor warmed up nicely.

- Producer Loops staff

What other projects are you working on music-wise besides making sample packs, if any?

Making sample packs takes a lot of time and it's hard to find the time to make a lot of other music, but I have made some EPs and remixes with my son Guglielmo. A track was on Top 100 Techno 2016 on Traxsource. The latest EP I made with my son and my friend Andre Salmon is out now on the legend label of Paul Johnson, Moody Recordings.

You post some fun videos on your Instagram of cartoons and people from old film dancing along to your demo tracks. They're great! What inspired this?

Maybe my adolescence.

What role has social media played in developing the Chop Shop Samples label? How has it helped?

Social media is really important for visibility and I use it a lot. I find Instagram and Twitter work best. Though I don't know if they really help without a good product. The mailing list is very important too, in fact we have a Chop Shop Samples site where you can find our news and a 300 MB pack of free samples for our subscribers.

Thank you for answering our questions - it's been insightful.

Thanks for the interview, it was a pleasure.

Music is the answer.

Check out Chop Shop Samples' current range of sample packs and make your best music.

This pack has all the makings of a hit inside it. Focusing soley on vocal chops & FX, it isn't limited to one genre. Old movie style vocals are distorted into nightmarish sounds, deep voices are chopped to an inch of their life, and eerie female vox echo dramatically. Named genres include Nu Disco, Tech-House, Chillout & Techno but this pack could spew a hit used in IDM or even Dubstep if that's your thing.

- Producer Loops staff