VSampler Introduction

VSampler emulates a hardware sample-player on a Windows-PC and turns every DirectX- or ASIO-soundcard into a powerful 24bit/96kHz sampler and synthesizer with up to 64 stereo-voices and up to 16 individual outputs, controlled through an easy to use interface. It supports the latest audio-standards, such as DirectSound 8, DirectX instruments, Environmental Audio Extension (EAX) 2.0, ASIO 2.0 and the VST 2.0 instrument interface as well as the VST plugin interface. The program manages soundbanks and acts as sound source for internal or external MIDI devices (sequencer, MIDI keyboards,...). In addition it contains a powerful and extensible synthesizer to create brandnew sounds and to play them in realtime or as sample.

Why VSampler?

There are many other software-samplers, software-synthesizers or soundbank-editors. So why VSampler ?

Features

The program runs with Windows 9x/ME and Windows 2000. It includes the following functions:

What is a Sampler ?

A Sampler is a (hardware-) device which is able to record and playback sound. A sampler digitalizes a sound and stores the binary representation (the sound data) of the sound in its internal or external memory. This binary representation of a sound is called a sample. Once a sample had been recorded, it can be played on different keys of the sampler's keyboard or triggered by MIDI data (see "What is MIDI ?" below). Most modern samplers also allow processing of the digitalized data (for example adding effects or changing the pitch). Famous "real-world" samplers are (for example) produced by Akai and Emu. Professional samplers are pretty expensive and often have a limited memory to store sample data.

VSampler is a "virtual" sampler. That means you don't need expensive hardware (except your soundcard of course :-)) to work with it. Most properties of a real sampler are emulated by software when using VSampler. Nevertheless VSampler also uses hardware acceleration wherever possible. The sample memory is only limited by your host system memory (recommended are 128 MB, the more the better). You get the power of a real sampler at the fraction of it's costs combined with a great flexibility including future software-updates. 

What is MIDI ?

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an asynchronous serial interface. It was designed to ease the use and take control over musical instruments and other musical devices (like effect processing units and tape recorders). MIDI consists of both a hardware interface and a transmission protocol including several messages that can be sent/reveived to/from MIDI enabled devices. Most modern soundcards include a simple MIDI interface (often a MIDI IN and a MIDI OUT) and a piece of software (called a driver) to access the interface

MIDI knows three ports (or jacks):

 

  • MIDI IN
 -    used by a MIDI enabled device to receive MIDI messages
  • MIDI OUT
 -    used by a MIDI enabled device to transmit (send) MIDI messages
  • MIDI THRU
 -    used to automatically forward data received by the MIDI IN port to another device (chaining devices), all data received at MIDI IN will automatically be posted to MIDI THRU

MIDI knows 16 channels which can be used to send or receive data. The MIDI protocol deals with MIDI messages.

For correct operation of the MIDI protocol, the MIDI OUT/THRU port of one device must be linked to the MIDI IN port of another device.