Thesis (M.Phil.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sound sample libraries represent the format in which huge collections of sampled sounds are made available for use within digital samplers and/or other digital audio workstations (DAW’s). Although in use for many years, little or no academic research has been done on the methodology of compiling a commercial sound sample library. In this endeavour, the factors influencing the design, recording and publishing of a sound sample library are investigated through the actual design of a drum sample library. The rationale behind the sampling of a drum kit is carefully depicted in the light of various other factors influencing the instrument, as well as being influenced by the instrument itself. A professional drummer was engaged to play a state-of-the art Gretsch acoustic drum kit. Samples of the kit, consisting of various individual instrument parts, were recorded in three locations within the Konservatorium of Stellenbosch University, for reasons carefully explained in the text. These numerous drum hits were mixed and cut into individual drum samples. The samples were mapped into a digital software sampler, GigaStudio, creating five distinct collections of drum samples that faithfully represent the quality of the drum kit, the recording rooms as well as the equipment used in the process. The outcome of the study is a professional product in the form of a Gretsch drum sample collection, prepared for commercial release. Many of the drum samples have already been used successfully in commercial music releases over the past 12 months. Whilst the drum sample library is currently being published, the product and documentation clearly depict the viability of the study in terms of the artistic and academic expectations that have been met. The study anticipates future research on the subject. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klankbiblioteke heet die formaat waarin versamelings van klankmonsters beskikbaar gestel word vir gebruik in digitale samplers1 en/of ander digitale klankprogrammatuur. Nieteenstaande die feit dat klankbiblioteke reeds jare in gebruik is, is geen studie waarin die ontwerp en saamstel van so ‘n biblioteek beskryf word, bekend nie. In hierdie navorsingsprojek word die faktore wat die ontwerp, opneem en vrystelling van ‘n klankbiblioteek beïnvloed bestudeer deur die skep van so ‘n biblioteek. Die oorwegings vir die keuse van ‘n tromstel is noukeurig uiteengesit in die lig van die faktore wat betrekking het tot, en wederkerig beïnvloed is deur die instrument en opname-omgewing. ‘n Professionele tromspeler is vir die projekdoeleindes gekontrakteer om ‘n Gretsch akoestiese tromstel te speel. Klankmonsters van die tromstel se individuele komponente is in drie lokale binne die Konservatorium van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch opgeneem, met redes soos uiteengestip in die teks. Klankopnames van die talle tromslae is gemeng en opgesny in individuele klankmonsters. Laasgenoemde is in GigaStudio, ‘n digitale sagteware sampler, gekarteer sodat vyf duidelik-onderskeibare klankveramelings geskep is. Hierdie versamelings lig die kwaliteit van die tromstel asook die verskeie opnamelokale en toerusting wat gebruik is duidelik uit. Die resultaat van die studie is ‘n professionele produk in die vorm van ‘n Gretsch kommersiële klankbiblioteek, waarvan verskeie klankmonsters reeds oor die afgelope 12 maande in plaaslike musiekvrystellings gebruik is. Hoewel die klankbiblioteek huidiglik vrygestel word, toon die produk en dokumentasie duidelik die artistiese en tegniese waardigheid van die studie. Die studie antisipeer toekomstige navorsings-moontlikhede wat uit die onderwerp mag voortspruit.