Serato Sample
by Serato · Sampler · Sample chopper with stems
vst3s Score 8.7/10 · rated #5 of 11 samplers & workstations
A sampling plugin for finding, chopping, key-shifting and time-stretching samples. You load a track or loop, set up to 32 cue points across pads, and play the chops from a keyboard or pad controller.
Version 2 adds real-time stem separation, so you can pull the vocals, drums, melody or bass out of a sample before chopping it. It's aimed at beatmakers who build tracks from records and loops.
Best for: Drums, Vocals, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, R&B & Soul, Lo-Fi, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: pads, basses, drum machine, inspired by, live performance, lo-fi, sound design, subscription, tempo-synced.
What it does
Serato Sample is a plugin for chopping samples into playable pads. It borrows the tempo, key and waveform tools from Serato's DJ software.
- Stems: real-time separation into vocals, drums, melody and bass, so you can sample just one part of a track.
- Chopping: up to 32 cue points on pads. Find Samples, Set Random and Set Slicer place the chops for you, and a beat grid keeps them in time.
- Time and key: BPM sync, key shifting and time-stretching that keeps the pitch, plus colour-coded frequency waveforms.
- Per-pad controls: level, filter, attack, release and reverse, pad names and favourites. Keyboard Mode plays one chop chromatically.
- Hardware: MIDI controller support and velocity mode, with Serato's setup guides for Maschine and Ableton Push.
It is also included with the Producer Suite subscription.
When to use it
Serato Sample does one job well: turning a record or loop into chops you can play right away. It is less deep than Kontakt, HALion and CR8 for building and shaping sounds, and less about vintage colour than RX1200 and TAL-Sampler. Serato Sample is about speed, clean time-stretching and key-shifting, and splitting stems before you chop.
- Best for: flipping samples into beats, isolating a vocal or drum break from a full mix, and chopping on pads in an MPC style inside any DAW.
- Genres: hip-hop and trap, R&B and soul, lo-fi, and sample-based electronic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want multisampled instruments or deep modulation (Kontakt, HALion), or gritty vintage-sampler character (RX1200, TAL-Sampler).
What producers say
Beatmakers like its speed. Criticism has centred on the tools it lacked at launch.
- MusicRadar (2017, version 1) called it "a flawed gem". It praised the fast, fun workflow, the pitch-shifting and time-stretching, and the Autoset feature, but noted there was no looping, no effects and no transient detection.
- KVR users rate it 3.67/5 from three reviews. They praise the interface and sound, with complaints about time-stretch quality, a UI that doesn't scale and missing velocity options (velocity mode has since been added).
- Recognition: nominated in the 2025 KVR Readers' Choice Awards.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $129
- Serato: $129 (One-time purchase. Also part of the Serato Producer Suite subscription ($9.99/month).)
- Plugin Boutique: $129
- AudioDeluxe: $159
Tutorials and reviews
- Serato Sample - Sampling and Stems Plugin (Serato)
- How to use Serato Sample with Maschine (Serato)
- How to use Serato Sample in Ableton Live (Serato)
- Serato Sample VST Plugin Review
- Serato Sample 2.0 Has Evolved Sampling Again!!!
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