A hardware unit or software module that stores short audio clips and lets a DJ trigger them on demand, layered over the main mix.
A sampler is a device or software module that records or loads short audio clips and plays them back on command, independently of the tracks running on the main decks. In a DJ context, samplers are used to layer drops, vocal stabs, sound effects, and extra percussion over the live mix without interrupting playback.
Why it matters
A sampler expands a DJ's palette beyond the two or four decks available on a standard setup, allowing original layering and edits that would not exist in any single track. It is especially valuable for open-format and turntablist DJs who want to introduce elements not present in the source music.
In practice
Load samples at the correct relative gain before the set so they sit in the mix without clipping or disappearing. Triggering a one-bar vocal clip at the start of a phrase, and letting it loop for four bars while the incoming track builds, is a clean way to bridge two tracks that would otherwise clash harmonically.
