Working with Samples
The smallest unit handled by VSampler is the sample. A sample is the binary
representation of a sound, once VSampler is playing the sample you hear it's
conversion into audible data. Samples are stored in the memory of the host computer. That
means, for bigger soundbanks you will need more memory, recommended is a minimum of 128 MB
RAM . The storage of samples is independent of the use of single samples by splits and
presets (see below), a sample is stored just one time, no matter how many presets use it.
At the sample layer VSampler knows the following attributes:
- size of the sample (in sample-frames)
- name of the sample
- samplerate of the sample
- loop settings of the sample
- SampleStart and End-Offset to play the sample
The management center for the samples is the "Sample" page:

The "Sample" page consists of:
- the sample window with the graphical display of the sample data
- a tabset panel with access to the parameters of the samples
The Sample Window
The sample window shows the data of the current sample graphically. With those two
sliders you can zoom and scroll the sample. With left mousekey you select parts of a
sample, doubleclick selects the complete sample.
The "AudioPool" Page
The "AudioPool" Page is used to manage all sample data available to Virtual
Sampler.

The "AudioPool" Page is constructed in form of a grid:
- Sample: displays the name of the sample. By double clicking this entry you can change the
name of the sample.
- Type: displays the sample frequency and type (Mono or Stereo) for the
sample. By double clicking this entry the sample is played back.
- Filename: displays the filename of the sample. For linked samples (see below) this is
the filename of the sampledata on the harddisk. For unlinked samples this is the filename
that was used when the file was imported. By double clicking this entry you can exchange
the sample or change the filename.
- Loc: displays the location of the sample, can be either RAM or
Stream (streamed directly from disc).
- U: Displays the usage count for this sample within the current VSampler bank. Samples
are shared between different presets if the underlying sample data is identical. By double
clicking this entry you can view a list of all presets that use this sample.
- L: Is used to change the link state of a sample (see below). For linked samles
"Y" is displayed, for unlinked samples "N" is displayed. By double
clicking this entry you can change the link state for this sample. Additionally you can
change the link state of all samples by using the context menu.
Linked vs. Unlinked Samples
When importing sample data VSampler offers two different modes:
- Normal (unlinked): The sampledata is read by VSampler and is stored together with
the bank. The original sample file is no longer required when loading the bank.
- Linked: The sampledata is read by VSampler but is not stored together with the
bank. The sampledata will be read again from the original file each time you open the
bank. The position of the original sample files on the harddisk is stored together with
the bank in form of a relativ path to the VSampler bank. This allows for example
moving the sample files without loosing the link to the VSampler bank. By using
this option the bank size can be dramatically reduced, but the original sample files are
required each time you open the bank.
The Link-State of a sample can be specified when importing the sample. Additionally the
link state can be viewed or changed at any time within the VSampler Audiopool (see
above). As an extra export option VSampler offers exporting a "Linked VSampler
Bank" (File|Export Bank). By using this option, all sample data will be recreated and
stored as WAV files on the harddisk relatively to the VSampler bank.
The "Settings" Page

This page shows
three pairs of start and end values for the current selection, the loop, and the
playback offset:
The checkbox "sample streaming from disc" defines whether the sample is
stored in RAM or it's streamed directly from disc (reduces the polyphony!).
The "DSP" Page

This page shows information about the current sample and allows to apply some
basic DSP operations to the sample:
- Sample Rate Change: changes the samplerate of the current sample, pitch stays
untouched.
- Sample Len Optimize: optimizes the sample size by removing silent parts at begin
and end of the sample for given threshold levels.
- Sample Name Change: changes the name of the current sample
- Sample Use Count Analyze: this option analyzes, how many splits of the current file
do actually use the current sample, those presets/splits are shown. The storage of samples
is independent of the use of single samples by splits and presets, a sample is stored just
one time, no matter how many presets use it.
- Split Stereo Sample: splits a Stereo-sample into two Mono-Splits.
This creates two new splits and deletes the original Stereo-Split. Can be
useful to apply different settings to the left and the right channel of an
instrument.
- Modify Gain: changes the gain of a sample up or down
- Normalize sample: changes the gain of a sample to the maximum value
0 dB