vsampler3en_tour
vsampler3en_tour
VSampler 3 Tour
Feature Overview
2
Revision: 23.12.2003
All product names mentioned in this document remain the property and/or trademark of their re-
spective owners. Mentioning product names of 3rd parties is for information purposes only.
Table of contents
1 Intro..........................................................................................................4
2 VSTi, DXi, Rewire, MIDI .......................................................................6
2.1 Plugin (VSTi, DXi)..........................................................................6
2.2 Standalone (MIDI, Rewire, DirectSound, ASIO) ............................6
2.3 Optimized for MS Windows............................................................7
3 Import ......................................................................................................8
3.1 WAV, LM4, Battery, SF2, HALion, Gig, Kontakt, AKAI, E-MU..8
3.2 Autoload-Preview............................................................................9
3.3 Soundbank-Manager........................................................................9
3.4 AKAI and E-MU CDs 1:1 on harddisk ...........................................9
4 Export.....................................................................................................10
4.1 SF2: for SB Live! and Audigy.......................................................10
4.2 VC3: up to 20:1 compressd for Internet exchange ........................10
5 Sampler ..................................................................................................11
5.1 High Performance Audio Engine...................................................11
5.2 from “true to nature” to experimental............................................11
5.3 Sample-Editor................................................................................12
5.4 Auto-Looper ..................................................................................12
5.5 Beat-Slicer .....................................................................................13
6 Synthesizer .............................................................................................14
7 Effects.....................................................................................................17
8 Modulation.............................................................................................19
9 Remote control and automation...........................................................21
10 User Interface - The Chameleon ..........................................................22
10.1 Different Views .............................................................................22
10.2 Variable designs using Skins .........................................................24
10.3 User interfaces should be transparent. ...........................................25
10.4 The rack-devices............................................................................25
10.5 Smart helpers .................................................................................27
4
1 Intro
It is aim of this tour to introduce the possibilities of VSampler 3 to you in a
summary.
S5000/6000 AKP files) and E-MU™ III / IV CD, as well as drumkits (LM4™,
Battery™ KIT) and samples (WAV, AIF).
The following new functions are available in VSampler 3.1 (and up):
• plays instruments of any size without being limited to RAM-size
• import formats Kontakt, Battery and E-MU III / IV CD
• group-effects and individual outputs for samples of e.g. a drumkit
Those functions are not available in OEM-versions of VSampler 3.0, which are licensed and
distributed by 3rd parties as part of their own products. At the moment this applies to
„VSampler 3.0 DXi“ of the Cakewalk product „Sonar 3 Producer“.
The upgrade to the full version is available at www.maz-sound.com for 39 € (around $47).
The unique instrument preview allows you to test different sounds with a sin-
gle mouse-click on-the-fly during playback. Owners of an SB Live!™ or
Audigy™ soundcard will be pleased that VSampler is able to save files in SF2
format as an option.
Whether quick playback module for everyday use or creative tool with synthe-
sizer qualities - VSampler fuses both in a versatile instrument.
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VSampler VSTi with Steinberg Cubase VSampler DXi with Cakewalk Sonar
3 Import
The following new functions are available in VSampler 3.1 (and up):
• plays instruments of any size without being limited to RAM-size
• import formats Kontakt, Battery and E-MU III / IV CD
• group-effects and individual outputs for samples of e.g. a drumkit
Those functions are not available in OEM-versions of VSampler 3.0, which are licensed and
distributed by 3rd parties as part of their own products. At the moment this applies to
„VSampler 3.0 DXi“ of the Cakewalk product „Sonar 3 Producer“.
The upgrade to the full version is available at www.maz-sound.com for 39 € (around $47).
3.2 Autoload-Preview
VSampler's unique instrument preview with its autoload function takes the
difficulty out of searching for the right sound; you can test different sounds
with a single mouse-click on-the-fly during playback. Before importing the
instrument, you can hear how it will actually sound in the song. If you like it,
just double-click to import it, or continue testing other instruments by stepping
to the next one by cursor keys or mouse - there's no easier and quicker way.
Very practical for everyday use is the Import Rack, which recalls the last used
location for each file type separately.
3.3 Soundbank-Manager
VSampler's integrated Soundbank-Manager with search function and category
filter offers unique comfort for the administration of extensive sound libraries.
Each instrument of the soundbank-manager can be loaded to a MIDI-channel
with a single mouse-click.
1
by the help of e.g. Daemon Tools (freeware, see http://www.daemon-
tools.org) other softwaresamplers are able to access such a "virtual CD" as well
10
4 Export
• lossy: to exchange larger sound banks over the internet, thanks to Ogg
Vorbis (http://www.vorbis.com) even at 20:1 the quality is astonish-
ingly good (better than MP3, see
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/anw-08.09.02-000), default com-
pression is approx. 10:1
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5 Sampler
The integrated Dynamic Resource Control (DRC) always provides the best
possible use of CPU power and main memory in every situation. Furthermore,
the performance of VSampler can be adapted to the arrangement, so that all
your other instruments and effects will always have the processing power they
need.
5.3 Sample-Editor
The integrated Sample Editor offers all of the basic sample-editing functions,
such as cut/copy/insert, change level, fade in/out, autotrim sample start/end,
phase and playback reversal, switch channels or convert format. Time stretch-
ing (Tempo Scale) enables a sample to be compressed or stretched without
changing its pitch. The Pitch Shifter does the opposite.
5.4 Auto-Looper
A feature that up until now has only been available in specialized programs is
native part of VSampler already: an intelligent Auto Looper. The Auto Looper
takes care of the often arduous search for suitable loop points at the touch of a
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5.5 Beat-Slicer
The Beat Slicer slices drum loops into single hits, allowing you to change tem-
po and pitch of the loop in real time, independent of each other and without
losing sound quality. The integrated Beat Detector automatically sets the mark-
ers for the individual slices with adjustable sensitivity. These beat markers can
be manually moved/deleted/added.
6 Synthesizer
VSamplers integrated synthesizer features could make some pureblooded
synths envious. For sound shaping there are two parallel usable filters with
freely adjustable velocity dynamics. The ten different filter types provide cutoff
slopes from 6 dB to 24 dB and the types lowpass, highpass and bandpass. The
target range of the filter envelopes affecting cutoff frequency and resonance can
be adjusted with upper and lower limit to precisely attain the desired effect.
The various envelope types don't give an edge to just the filter. In addition to
the volume- and filter-envelopes with their (up to) 32 freely editable points,
curve shape and loop, for each sample you have simultaneously(!) at your dis-
posal:
Each LFO and step sequencer also can alternatively operate at instrument level.
The “load from WAV” function turns the step sequencer into an “envelope-
follower”. This can result for example in marvelously scintillating pad sounds
by e.g. having the filter pulsate in the rhythm of a drumloop.
Each controller knob has its own little "Analogizer" attached. This mini-fader
allows to add a pinch of analog-like swaying to recreate the vital ever-changing
sound of analog synthesizers.
All envelopes, LFO's and step sequencers can be synchronized to the song tem-
po. The included presets for effects, envelopes and modulation will get you off
to a good start.
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4 free LFO's
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7 Effects
VSampler instruments can be further refined by the included effects (Reverb,
Delay, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Soft Limiter, Compressor, Distortion, 3-band-
EQ) or any VST-Plugin. Multiple effects can be assigned independently: 3 per
sample, 3 per sample-group, 3 per instrument and 3 per output channel. The
sample can end up passing through up to 12 effects.
The following new functions are available in VSampler 3.1 (and up):
• plays instruments of any size without being limited to RAM-size
• import formats Kontakt, Battery and E-MU III / IV CD
• group-effects and individual outputs for samples of e.g. a drumkit
Those functions are not available in OEM-versions of VSampler 3.0, which are licensed and
distributed by 3rd parties as part of their own products. At the moment this applies to
„VSampler 3.0 DXi“ of the Cakewalk product „Sonar 3 Producer“.
The upgrade to the full version is available at www.maz-sound.com for 39 € (around $47).
VSampler 3 joins forces and fuses its own strengths with those of the plugins to
endless creative freedom2. It creates unique instruments with amazing dynam-
ics, that can be played with heretofore unknown expressiveness.
2
of course the selection of the modulated effect-parameters is the responsibility
of the user, not every parameter of every plugin can be realtime-modulated with
a sensible result
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8 Modulation
VSampler provides extensive opportunities to endow instruments with an im-
pressive vitality, and to animate parameters in realtime. All modulations are
centrally displayed and managed: at the modulation matrix. For each of the 12
modulation slots you can select which Source controls what Target at what
Factor (strength). Several sources can affect the same target in order to create
particularly interesting modulation passages. Vice versa, a source (e.g. a MIDI
controller) can simultaneously control several targets at once, which is espe-
cially useful during a live performance.
In the detail view, the movements of the current modulation values are dis-
played graphically. The affect of source and factor on the modulation target can
be adapted perfectly with a freely adjustable curve. The included presets for
effects, envelopes and modulations will get you off to a good start.
For all other parameters VSampler provides a detailed Controller List where
each incoming MIDI controller can be assigned to any VSampler parameter.
The advantage: VSampler can work with any MIDI hardware even if that
hardware is unable to send Sysex messages or to be programmed.
Controller-List
3
requires a host sequencer able to record VST automation data, DXi-plugin and
standalone momentarily only support the automation by MIDI controller
22
VSampler supports the creative workflow by following the “less is more” prin-
ciple. Unused function groups can be hidden using the context menu (right
mouse button). What may sound trivial in theory is quite useful in practice:
…
… or e.g. this way:
Toolbar (right):
As shown above in the screenshots of the Edit View variants 1 and 2, the num-
ber and order of the rack buttons appearing in the toolbar is adjustable. Also,
the individual pages of the main window can appear as smaller buttons.
And there's more transparency: The transparent envelope display allows the
sample waveform (incl. loop points) and the shape of the other envelopes to
shimmer through. This way you can optically adjust the envelope to the course
of the waveform or to other envelopes (e.g. filter and volume).
At the Zones page which shows which sample per key and velocity is played,
all zones appear half-transparent as well, letting you see how the zones overlap.
Main window, Import window, Sample Editor and Bank Manager can be ma-
ximized to fullscreen.
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... Drag'n'Drop
The many supported drag & drop features of VSampler help to keep distances
short and handling easy. Soundbanks and instruments can be dragged directly
from the Windows-Explorer to the VSampler interface. It's as easy to assign a
sample to a key: just drag it onto the onscreen-keyboard. When dragging sev-
eral samples you will be asked if they should be placed next to each other on
the available keys, or on top of each other to be triggered per velocity level.
In the Instruments Pool you can copy, move or merge instruments using drag &
drop. The “Shift” and “Ctrl” keys decide between move (“Shift”) and copy
(“Ctrl”) without asking. In the Quickbrowser samples can be copied into other
instruments, or instruments can be loaded directly out of an external soundbank
without loading the soundbank. In the Import Rack instruments can be mapped
to the 16 MIDI-channels by drag & drop.
Instrument Templates: with the help of an Instrument Template you can clone
entire instruments or function-groups, and transfer their settings to another
sample set.
The left button allows you to quickly switch between the last selection and
"All", the right button lets you switch between the last selection and the current
zone. By using the right mouse-button you can select existing selection groups
or create new groups. If the current selection corresponds to a saved Selection
Group, VSampler automatically recognizes it
and displays its name.