As far as sampling goes from the CDs, I try to cut and/or tweak stuff up so that the sound is original, but I have been known just to use the sample as it is packaged. I've even sampled my own beats to come up with something new. I don't think sampling is too bad because I consider Daddy Kev a genius and he samples the shit outta things. As far as composing my own melodies, yeah I do come up with stuff. Mostly basslines though. Leads are a bit complicated at this moment, but I will continue to learn. I learned the blues scale so I work with that, but I'm still an amateur. The Oxygen 8 sound like a good idea to me because it will allow me to play around with making my own melodies and playing chords. I currently use the piano roll and computer keyboard in FL to make shit, so I feel very limited in that sense, though it does help me associate the sounds with the corresponding piano keys.