Sampling is my job...

As a sound designer, I have to be able to design sounds from scratch. I have to make noises to flush out other noises. For example, if there is a video of a guy cutting onions, I have to record myself cutting onions. If I don't have onions, I have to cut something else in the kitchen like apples or carrots to get that cutting sound. This is the longest but efficient way of sound designing. The golden rule is to use the cheapest source for sound.

But if I had to use a big budget sound like two cars exploding, I would record the sound from a film or video game. I could also download it from a sound library. I borrow from these things when the going gets tough. In the real world, these companies had money and access to the real sounds on location. Once they capture the sound, they just alter it to make it work.

Sampling in music is a little different. Some hip-hop producers like Kayne West sampled old records and made them hits. Legally, he had to get permission from the authors or else he would get sued. When money is involved, that is when it becomes a problem. I think this kind of sampling does not display skill. It shows your lack of confidence in originality. Some might not care about that. So if you can get permission and make money of it, go ahead and knock yourself out.

I stray away from sampling other music to make music because of the procedures. I wouldn't even know where to begin contacting the author. If he or she wanted money in advance for their music, I wouldn't be able to pay up. I could sample and ignore contacting the author, but the minute I make money of it, a law suit will be handed to me. These reasons make me stay making music from scratch.