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 ?
- VSampler supports all soundcards via DirectSound driver and/or ASIO
driver under Windows 9x/ME and Windows 2000
- VSampler optionally works as native VST instrument or native DX
instrument, enabling sample-exact
playback (no latency!) of sounds from a MIDI-track inside the host sequencer, independent of the
hardware you use (DirectX, MME or ASIO)
- VSampler got an easy to learn user interface, provides VMIDI-ports
through the included VSampler MIDI driver and supports every common MIDI
sequencer (Cubase VST, Logic, Cakewalk, Sonar...)
- VSampler manages soundbanks of virtually unlimited size and supports lots
of realtime effects for the sounds (envelopes, volume, panning, filter, ...)
- VSampler includes a powerful software-synthesizer. Currently there's a
very good DX7 emulator and an analog-synth emulator integrated. Due to the open
synthesizer-interface it's possible to use synthesizers of 3rd party developers (VST
instruments and VSampler synthesizer-DLLs)
- VSampler is fast: very low latency combined with low processor usage
- VSampler is future-compatible: it creates hardware-independent
samplebanks. That means: the generated banks or complete songs can be swapped with
other users easily and you can continue to use your valuable banks after you got a new
soundcard.
- VSampler imports sampledata in the common SoundFont (SF2) format, as WAV
and from AKAI S-1000 and S-3000 CD-ROMs/ZIP discs - which opens access to a giantic
samplelibrary.
- VSampler supports VST effect-plugins
- VSampler supports the Environmental Audio Extension (EAX) for SB Live! and
family.
- VSampler allows the creative customization of the graphical interface via Skins
- you can make the interface match the mood of your song!
- VSampler allows easy creation of drumloops with the integrated pattern sequencer
- VSampler allows flexible achiving of sounds and sample-CDs with the integrated
bank manager
Features
The program runs with Windows 9x/ME and Windows 2000. It includes the
following functions:
- full 32 bit support
- 64 banks a 128 presets
- up to 64 stereo voices at 16 MIDI channels (depends on the performance of the host
system and the number of used effect-plugins)
- Preset and Multi Mode (omni/poly)
- up to 65535 splits per voice incl. velocity switching, up to 64 sample-layers per
split
- mono and stereo split with panorama control
- latency <10 ms (good DirectSound driver required) and 0 ms if used as native VST
instrument respectively
- one envelope (ADHSR) per split with adjustable linear or logarithmic scaling per
envelope section
- two LFOs 10mHz-10Hz per split with adjustable target and 5 different waveforms (sine,
square, saw, noise, envelope) as well as an ASHSR envelope
- two resonant filters (LP/HP) per split with velocity control, envelope and additional
LFO
- unlimited samplememory and samplelength (depends on available host system memory)
- DSP realtime effects (filter, reverb, chorus, delay,...) for each split, provided by
included effects or external VST plugins.
- panning- and volumesetting for each split
- realtime pitch shifting and sample detuning
- realtime controls (modulation wheel, assignable controllers, pitch), fully customizable
- Multi mode and 64 user defined multis for quickly changing sounds within your songs
- integrated software-synth interface (VSampler synths and VST instruments)
- integrated DX7 software synthesizer emulator
- integrated analog synth emulator
- support for Cubase VST plugins, ASIO 2.0 and Environmental Audio Extension (EAX) 2.0
- VKeyboard for direct triggering of sounds including chord function
- integrated pattern-sequencer to play drum sequences live or to create drumloop samples
- integrated bank-manager for archiving sound-files or sample CDs
- integrated mixer with level meter and brickwall-limiter for each of the 16 MIDI channels
- Import/Export of sounds in SF2 format
- Import of TerraTec's TTI instruments
- Import of AKAI S-1000 and S-3000 sample-CDs
- Import of AKAI S1000 PRG and P files as well as of AKAI S5000/S6000 AKP
files
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):
|
- |
used by a MIDI enabled device to receive MIDI messages |
|
- |
used by a MIDI enabled device to transmit (send) MIDI messages |
|
- |
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.