Actually, both. I wrote on article about sampling on the last Another World fanzine, which was spread last year (with a rather strange confidentiality). Maybe I should ask Hicks if he can publish it...
But anyway:
Before loading into AT2:
- cut the sample as much as possible.
- try to normalize it, but you don't have to.
Inside AT2:
- when your sample is loaded, edit it and try to fiddle with the "volume ratio". On CPC, samples are better when compressed like hell.
On export:
- Simply follow the steps of the MOD player page/source and you should be fine.
Playing sample is not easy on CPC, because it will most of time sounds like crap

. It's a lot of trial-and-error.
You can use a software editor to remove the low-end frequencies, boost the middle frequencies.
You can also use a command-line software called "SoX" that takes a sample, modify it (normalize, boost/remove frequencies, etc.) and save them. Then you can create a song with them. But it's always a bit boring to do...