The Virtual Sampler Main Window
When you start Virtual Sampler, the Virtual Sampler Main Window appears. The Virtual Sampler Main Window is divided into several parts. Most of its functionality os offered in notebook-style pages that can be selected in the lower section of the window. The pages are named "Presets", "Envelope", "Filter", "Effects", "LFO", "Sample", "Multi", "Settings", "Controllers" and "Synthesize". See the next picture for an illustration of the elements of the Virtual Sampler Main-Window:
The menubar
The menubar of the Virtual Sampler has the following menu entries:
The File Menu
The File menu is used to perform file operation commands. The available entries are
The Edit Menu
The Edit menu can be used when editing Splits or Presets. The available entries are:
The Synthesizer Menu
The Synthesizer menu provides access to the integrated FM synthesizer of Virtual Sampler. The available entries are:
The Preferences Menu
The Preferences menu is used to set preferences and options for the Virtual Sampler. The available entries are:
The Product Information Menu
This menu entry shows information about version number and registration information for the Virtual Sampler as well as Copyright information.
The toolbar
The toolbar of the Virtual Sampler consists of
- speed-buttons for quick access to load or save operations
- an information panel that displays information about the currently selected split and information about the Virtual Sampler audio mode.
- an information panel that displays information about the currently selected Preset (instrument)
- Two switches for selecting Virtual Sampler "Preset" or "Multi" mode (see "Working with Presets" for details)
- A switch and a selection-field for enabling and selecting a channel for the Virtual Sampler onscreen-keyboard (see "Working with Presets" for details)
- A selection field for selecting the keyboard velocity for the Virtual Sampler onscreen-keyboard (see "Working with Presets" for details)
- Two comboboxes for selecting the Virtual Sampler MIDI Input port and the optional Virtual Sampler MIDI Thru port.
- Two indicators for detecting MIDI activity on the MIDI IN port or on the MIDI Thru port (see "Virtual Sampler MIDI connection" for details)
Specifying MIDI ports
Virtual Sampler uses two MIDI ports to communicate with the MIDI protocoll. Some of the ports are defined by your Soundcard hardware, others are emulated by Virtual Sampler. The MIDI port settings are available in the Virtual Sampler toolbar (see above) Virtual Sampler supports
The Notebook Control
Each page of the notebook control can be accessed by clicking onto the associated entry. The entries in the notebook control are explaine in detail in the following sections:
The Split Panel and the Split Controls
The split panel displays the splits for the currently selected Preset (instrument) in form of green and red bars. A split in Virtual Sampler is associated to a sample (see "Working with Splits" for details). 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.
The Split Controls are buttons that can be used to modify, change or erase splits. For more information see the "Working with Splits" section.
Additionally with the "Split Output Selection" combobox you can select an audio output for each split. This option is used to define the split sound output. This can be adjusted for each split in the Preset separately. The available options are "Hardware" and "DirectSound". If you select "Hardware", the split will be played by the installed soundcard hardware using soundcard memory. The soundcard hardware that was detected by Virtual Sampler will be display in brackets. If you do not have any of the native supported soundcards (Terratec EWS 64 series, Hoontech SoundTrack series, Guillemot MaxiSound and SB!Live +AWE32 series) the entry "DirectSound" will be displayed there. This means that hardware is emulated by the DirectSound driver for your hardware. However, if another user loads the file with one of the supported soundcards installed, his hardware will be used for that splits. The second option "DirectSound" forces Virtual Sampler to use the DirectSound interface, no matter if one of the supported soundcards was found. This can be used to mix hardware and DirectSound splits on one system. Since soundcard memory is limited you could play very long samples (like pads) with the DirectSound interface and all other samples using your hardware and onboard soundcard memory. Note that this options is also affected by the "Audio Output" settings from the "Preferences" menu. See "Working with Splits" for details.
The Onscreen-Keyboard
The Onscreen keyboard is used to play Virtual Sampler splits without having a MIDI keyboard or a MIDI sequencer installed. It is also used to manage settings for the virtual sampler, such as the root key for a sample or the keyboard (split) range for a sample. Note that you also can make these settings with a MIDI keyboard by selecting the "Visualize MIDI keys" entry from the "Settings" page). The MIDI channel that is used by the Onscreen keyboard can be adjusted by changing the value of the "Kbd Ch" spinedit control in the toolbar. This is only important when "Multi" mode is activated. The velocity that is used when pressing a key on the Onscreen keyboard can be changed with the "Kbd Vel" spinedit in the toolbar. For more information see the "Working with Splits" section.
The Statusbar
The Statusbar gives important information about the current state of the Virtual Sampler. For example if you activate a split, the statusbar shows information for that split (for example the split size and the split range as well as the root key for the split). Also in the statusbar there's an indicator that displays the amount of onboard soundcard memory currently used by presets.
The Bank Viewer
The Bank viewer gives you quick access to Banks (a set of splits) and can also be used to select a Preset by double clicking onto the appropriate entry. It serves also as a drag & drop source for multi definitions (see "Working with Multis").