Virtual Sampler Overview and features

Virtual Sampler was developed to exploit the capabilities of the Terratec EWS 64 series, Guilemot MaxiSound series, Hoontech SoundTrack series and Creative SB!Live and AWE32 series as well as any DirectSound compatible soundcard. It gives the ability to manage sounds and samples, a DirectX (DirectSound) software-only version supports all soundcards that do support DirectX 5.  The program has been designed to quickly manage soundbanks and to make sounds available to external or internal Midi equipment. The newly developed Virtual Sampler Device makes a connection to sequencer programs as easy as can. It also features a powerful FM synthesizer that can be used to synthesize new samples out of 6 operators and 43 different operator algorithms with envelope, filter and effect control. Additionally starting with Version 1.5, Virtual Sampler supports DirectX effect plugins in DirectSound mode.

Why use Virtual Sampler

There are a lot of other software-samplers, software-synthesizers or bank-editors. Why use Virtual Sampler anyway ?

Virtual Sampler Architecture

The following picture gives an overview about the Virtual Sampler archtitecture as well as the data flow inside Virtual Sampler.

Architecture.jpg (39310 Byte)

1) MIDI THRU data is only sent when MIDI THRU is activated in the Settings page

2) Reverb and Chorus effects are currently only available for Terratec EWS 64 series, Guillemot MaxiSound series and Hoontech SoundTrack series

3) Hardware buffers are currently only available for Terratec EWS 64 series, Guillemot MaxiSound series and Hoontech SoundTrack series

Virtual Sampler features

sample_small.jpg (9235 bytes)

Virtual Sampler was developed to exploit the capabilities of the EWS 64 + Guilemot MaxiSound + Hoontech SoundTrack. It gives the ability to manage sounds and samples, a DirectX software-only version supports all soundcards that do support DirectX 5.  The program has been designed to quickly manage soundbanks and to make sounds available to external or internal Midi equipment. The newly developed Virtual Sampler Device makes a connection to sequencer programs as easy as can.

The program runs on Windows95 and Windows98. Windows 3.11 or NT are NOT supported because the program uses both 32 bit code for memory management and 16 bit code for the time critical Midi and realtime (envelopes, filter,controllers) stuff. You should have at least a Pentium 90 processor, although especially when you work with Cubase or Cakewalk on the same machine with audio tracks and effect sends, a better processor or a second machine is highly recommended (I've personally tested the program on my Pentium 400 :-) and on my Pentium 133 computers and timing is ok even when you simultaneously record or playback audio tracks with Cubase VST).

What makes it superior to TerraTec's free "Ed!son" (beside the "slightly" faster speed of development ;) )?