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:
- Use the command "Load
Sample" from the file menu of the main menu bar or choose the "Load Sample"
button from the "Preset Page". This will open a
file open dialog where you can select the WAV file (sample) that is used for that split.
Initially the split ranges are set to the entire keyboard.
- When working with the integrated FM synthesizer, use the button "Splits from Sample"
from the "Synthesizer Page". This will create a
split for the specified FM voice. Initially the split ranges are set to the entire
keyboard.
- Use the "Splits from Sample"
button on the "Sample Page" to create a split from
a previously recorded sample. Initially the split ranges are set to the entire keyboard.
See "Work with Samples" for details.
- Import an instrument with the import facilities of Virtual Sampler. This will
create one or more splits (depending on the instrument imported) as well as a new Preset.
- Use drag&drop operations to
duplicate or move splits from existing Virtual Sampler instruments. This will create a
split with the same settings and sample as the source split. This is discussed in detail
below.
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 key that was originally used to
record the sample
- The base frequency that is used to
play the note
The root key of a split does not have
to be within the range of the split.
The Range of a split determines
- the lowest and the highest note that
can be used to play the sample associated with the split. Notes outside this range are
ignored for that split
You can change the root key for a
split by either
- Pressing the "Set Root Key"
button in the lower right edge of the Virtual Sampler Main Window.
In the statusbar of Virtual Sampler appears a message that you must now select the root
key with the mouse on the OnScreen Keyboard. You must confirm the root key with the right
mouse button after you have selected it with the left mouse button. If you have enabled
the "Visualize Midi Keys" checkbox on the "Settings
Page" you also can use a connected MIDI keyboard to set the root key by pressing
the appropriate key on that keyboard.
- Selecting the command "Set Root
Key" from the context menu of the OnScreen keyboard and follow the steps as described
above
- Moving the while split with its
rootkey within the split panel (see below for details)
You can specify the split range for a
split by either
- Pressing the "Set Range"
button in the lower left right of the Virtual Sampler Main
Window. In the statusbar of Virtual Sampler appears a message that you must now select
the key that is used for the start of the range. Afterthat you must select the end of the
range (look at the messages appearing in the statusbar). If you have enabled the
"Visualize Midi Keys" checkbox on the "Settings
Page" you also can use a connected MIDI keyboard to set the split range by
pressing the appropriate keys on that keyboard.
- Selecting the command "Set
Range" from the context menu of the OnScreen keyboard and follow the steps as
described above
- Changing the split range by dragging
the split's borders on the split panel. To do this move the mouse onto the left or right
edge of the split until the appropriate mouse cursor appears, press the left mouse button
and drag he frame to its new position on the split panel (see Virtual
Sampler Main Window).
- Moving the while split with its
rootkey within the split panel (see below for details)

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
- Press the "<" and
">" buttons in the lower right edge of the Virtual
Sampler Main Window. This will select the previous or next split in the order of
splits for a preset.
- Use the "Previous Split" or
"Next Split" commands from the context menu of the OnScreen keyboard.
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.

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
- Select the appropriate split in the split panel with the
left mouse button
- Press the right mouse button and keep it pressed
- Move (drag) the mouse to an empty or existing
Preset(instrument). The "Action on drop" in the "Presets
Page" must be set to "Copy Split". If dropping is possible onto
the current mouse position, Virtual Sampler will display an arrow with a rectangle,
otherwise a stop symbol is displayed
- Release the right mouse button
- Press the left mouse button and drop the split on the new
location
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:
- Select the split in the split control
panel by clicking the left mouse button or activate the split to be deleted like described
above
- Press the "X" button in the
lower right edge of the Virtual Sampler Main window to delete
the selected split or use the appropriate command from the context-menu of the OnScreen
keyboard.
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:
- The range and root key for the split.
See above for details on how to change these properties.
- The sample for the split as well as
the loop definition for the split. The sample can be changed on the "Sample Page". See "Working
with Samples" for details.
- The output settings for the split.
This can be changed on the "Presets page". See
below for details.
- The envelope and volume settings as
well as panning, detuning and velocity sensitivity for the split output volume. These
settings can be changed on the "Envelope Page".
- The filter settings as well as the
filter envelope settings. This can be changed at the "Filter
Page".
- The effect settings for the split.
This can be changed at the "Effects Page". Note
that you only can define different effects for splits if you are using the DirectSound
interface and have DirectShow (formerly ActiveMove) 5 as well as DirectX plugins
installed. Otherwise the effect settings for the Terratec EWS64 series, Hoontech
SoundTrack series and Guillemot MaxiSound series are the same for each split and you only
can specify the amount of effect that is applied to a particular split.
- The LFO settings as well as the LFO
envelope. This can be changed at the "LFO Page".
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:
- Hardware (for example Hardware
(EWS64)). This option is only available on Terratec EWS64, HoonTech SoundTrack and
Guillemot MaxiSound cards.
- One or more DirectSound devices
depending on the devices available in the system and the settings in the "DirectSound
Devices" dialog from the preferences main menu entry.

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:
- Hardware - with this setting enabled, Virtual Sampler
will always use hardware voices to play a particular split, no matter what you specify for
the spilt output. If the hardware is not available or not supported, Virtual Sampler
automatically uses the DirectSound interface no matter of the settings in "Audio
Output" or the split output settings.
- DirectSound - with this setting enabled, Virtual
Sampler will always use DirectSound voices to play a particular split, no matter what
hardware is installed or what you specify for the split output.
- Mixed Hardware/Direct Sound - with this setting
enabled, Virtual Sampler will use the driver that is specified by the settings for the
split output. If you select "Hardware" for the split output and the hardware is
not available or not supported, Virtual Sampler automatically uses the DirectSound
interface.
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.