Working with Splits

Splits are the base storage structure for Virtual Sampler Presets (instruments). Each split has an associated sample as well as several split properties like the split range, the split root key or the split output envelope as well as other settings.There are no limits on how much splits a preset can contain. There are also no limits on stacking of presets.

Creating Splits

You cannot manually create an empty split. A split does always contain a sample that is associated with that split. There are several opportunities to create a split and a associated sample:

Note: Instruments or even splits that have equal data bytes in their sample data will only be stored once. That means if  you have 2 or more instruments or 2 or more splits (in the same or in another instrument) that access the same sample, this sample will only be stored once. This prevents from a waste of sample memory. The integrity of the samples is maintained by the sampler. If you modify a shared sample (for example by changing its sample rate), you will be asked to copy the sample or to perform the action on all shared samples for all instruments or splits that access this sample.

The Root Key and Range of a Split

The Root Key for a split determines

The root key of a split does not have to be within the range of the split.

The Range of a split determines

You can change the root key for a split by either

You can specify the split range for a split by either

SplitPanel.jpg (2974 Byte)

In the split panel (see above), the currently selected split is displayed in red color. The "R" character indicates the root key of this split (the key where the associated sample was originally placed or sampled). The size of each split bar indicates the split range for the associated split. The split range is the keyboard range where the sample for the split can be played. The root key can also be placed outside the range of the split. Notes below the root key will be played with a lower pitch, notes above the root key will be played with a higher pitch.

Navigating through the splits and activating splits

To navigate through the splits or to activate a split you can either

To find the associated split for a given key, you can use the "Split/Key" button from the Virtual Sampler Main Window, this will select the split that belongs to a given keyboard key and is especially useful when you work with overlapping or stacked splits.

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Note: Most split settings (like envelopes, filters...) does only apply to the currently selected split. When you select a new preset, the first split for that preset is activated automatically.

Duplicating or moving splits

To duplicate or move an existing split do the one of the following:

1.) Duplicate or move the whole Preset that contains the split as described in the "Working with Presets" section.

2.) Duplicate the selected split by a drag&drop operation into another Preset. This is done by

Note: To move a split within the same Preset you can move the split in the split control panel by pressing the left mouse on the split and keep it pressed while moving the split.

Deletings Splits

To delete a particular split:

Note: The sample associated with the split will eventually not be deleted if it is also used by other splits in the same or different Presets.

Modifying Splits

Each split inside a Virtual Sampler Preset has several properties that can be changed:

Note: Instruments or even splits that have equal data bytes in their sample data will only be stored once. That means if      you have 2 or more instruments or 2 or more splits (in the same or in another instrument) that access the same sample, this sample will only be stored once. This prevents from a waste of sample memory. The integrity of the samples is maintained by the sampler. If you modify a shared sample (for example by changing its sample rate), you will be asked to copy the sample or to perform the action on all shared samples for all instruments or splits that access this sample.

Split Output Settings

The "Split Output" control on right edge of the Virtual Sampler Main window   specifies what output is used for a particular split. The available options (depending on the hardware or software installed) are:

SplitControls.jpg (5674 Byte)

You can specify a different output for each split. Important: Enabling more than one DirectSound driver may have effect on overall system performance and stability of Virtual Sampler. Enable only these drivers that you really need (for example if you have more that one soundcard or if the DirectSound drivers are mapped to different soundcard output jacks).

The sound output that is really used for a split depends also on the settings in the "Audio Output" dialog from the Preferences main menu entry. The options in this dialog are:

The different settings and combinations allow you for example to create banks that will use hardware voices (if available) as well as DirectSound voices. It is guaranteed that each bank that was created with Virtual Sampler will run on all systems that have at least hardware or DirectSound support. Note that DirectX plugin effects can only be used with DirectSound splits and DirectX media runtime installed.

Stacking Splits

Virtual Sampler allows stacking of splits. That means splits with overlapping split regions.  This allows several sound effects that would not be possible with one split. When stacking splits the "Play selected Split solo" checkbox on the "Presets Page" is useful that plays only the selected split and not any overlapping splits.

Note: Instruments or even splits that have equal data bytes in their sample data will only be stored once. That means if      you have 2 or more instruments or 2 or more splits (in the same or in another instrument) that access the same sample, this sample will only be stored once. This prevents from a waste of sample memory. The integrity of the samples is maintained by the sampler. If you modify a shared sample (for example by changing its sample rate), you will be asked to copy the sample or to perform the action on all shared samples for all instruments or splits that access this sample.