The Sample Page
The sample page contains a large set of controls to manipulate and maintain the sample associated with the current split. It is also used to record new samples and to set loop points for the sample as well as to change the current sample rate. It also displays a graphical representaion of the sample and allows you to edit the sample.
The Sample page consists of
A sample display that displays a graphical
representation of the sample as well as the current input level for sample recording
Several controls that affect the
selection of the sample and the loop point for the sample
Controls for manipulating parts
of the sample or the whole sample
Controls that are used for
sample recording and editing
The Sample Display
The sample display shows a graphical image of the sample associated with the selected split. The display can be zoomed using the slider on the left. Zooming allows more sophisticated settings for selections and loops. You can select parts of the sample by holding the mouse down over the sample display and drag it to the end of the selection. Selection can also be changed by changing the selection size. To do this, move the mouse over the selection start point or the selection end point until a size mouse cursor appears and drag the selection.
The "Sel" and "Loop" radiobuttons determine whether a selection in the sample display changes the current selection range or the current loop range (see selection and loop controls below). The selection range is displayed in dark grey whereas the loop range is displayed in light grey. Overlapping portions of the selection and loop range will be displayed in black color.
You can scroll through the sample by using the scrollbar on bottom of the sample display. The current position of the mouse cursor within the sample display (measured in sample data units) is displayed on top of the sample display.
The Effects button
This button allows you to apply sound effects to your sample and make the changes permanent.
You can apply up to two effects to a sample. The "Preview" button gives you a preview of the modified sample while the "Apply" button makes the changes permanent and updates the sample within the split. The "Properties" buttons open the appropriate property window for the selected effect plugin.
Note that this button is only available if you are using a Virtual Sampler Version that supports DirectX plugins (true for version 1.5 beta and higher) and if you have the DirectX Media runtime installed (available at www.microsoft.com). You can apply 2 effects to a FM voice. What effects are actually available depends on the effect plugin packages that you have installed (for demo versions of effects plugins, have a look at www.waves.com or www.sonicfoundry.com).
The Selection and Loop controls
When you select a range with the mouse within the sample display, the "Sel" and "Loop" radiobuttons determine whether the selection affects the current selection range or the current loop range. You also can change the selection and loop points manually using the "SelStart", "SelEnd", "Loop Start" and "Loop End" controls. This is especially useful for fine tuning the selections. The selections are always measured in sample data units (16 bits).
The "Enable Loop" checkbox indicates whether the loop points are used for the current split. If it is disabled, no looping is performed. If it is enabled, the split will continuously loop between the given start and end point.
The Sample edit controls
The sample edit controls are
used to change the whole or parts of the sample. The available buttons are:
Cut - This will cut the selected
portion of the sample. The current selection range determines the start and end point for
the cut operation. Note that if the sample is used in different Presets or Splits, you
will be asked if you want to create a copy of the sample or if you want to apply the
change to all existing copies of the sample.
Gain - This will perform an
amplification or attentuation of the selected portion of the sample. This option opens a
dialog window where you can specify a gain factor measured in dB (dezibels). Valid values
are -9dB to +9dB. The current selection range determines the start and end point for the
operation. Note that if the sample is used in different Presets or Splits, you will be
asked if you want to create a copy of the sample or if you want to apply the change to all
existing copies of the sample.
Edit - This button is used to
edit the current sample with an external Wave Editor (like Ed!sonWave or WaveLab). The
external editor must be capable to process and load WAV files given as command line
arguments. Note that you must define what external Wave Editor to use in the
"Preferences|External Wave Editor" menu. This command creates a temporary file
in the drive specified on the Settings page that is used
for editing. The modified wave must be saved under the same filename. The split is updated
when you close the external Wave Editor for the sample.
Synthesize ! - This button starts the
Virtual Sampler FM Synthesizer. See the "Working with the
Synthesizer" section for details.
Effects - This button allows you to apply
DirectX plugin effects to the sample. See above for details.
The Sample rate conversion
controls
The sample rate conversion controls display information about the selected sample (like the original filename for the sample, the sample length measured in sample data units and the current sample rate) and can be used to resample the sample with a different sample rate. The new samplerate is specified within the "Sample Rate" drop down box. You can choose from a list of common sample rates or enter a specific sample rate. To apply the change to the sample, press the "Change sample Rate" button. Note that if the sample is used in different Presets or Splits, you will be asked if you want to create a copy of the sample or if you want to apply the change to all existing copies of the sample.
The Sample record controls
The Sample record controls are used to record a new sample with your soundcard. The record control panel allows recording, playback, stop and pause operations. Note that the playback button has only effect if you previously have recorded a sample. After recording you can create splits for the recorded sample using the "Splits from Sample" button. The record level can be viewed by the level indicator on the right side of the sample display. Note that you must activate the "Monitor" checkbox in order to activate this level meter. The "Stereo" checkbox indicates if you want to record mono or stereo samples. When you create splits from a stereo sample, Virtual Sampler will automatically create two splits, one for each channel, with the pan position set to left and right respectively.