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 supports some of the most famous soundcards including cards from Terratec, Guillemot, Hoontech and Creative as well as any DirectSound compatible card.

• Virtual Sampler offers an easy-to use interface combined with the flexibility of creating Virtual Midi ports with the Virtual Sampler device.

• Virtual Sampler's sample memory is theoretically unlimited. It's flexible interface allows you to create your own soundbanks and to create midi-banks for them.

• Virtual Sampler offers a wide range of realtime controls over the sound.

• Virtual Sampler runs fine with every Midi sequencer.

• Virtual Sample has a very low latency combined with very low processor usage.

• Virtual Sampler allows you to create hardware-independent sampler banks. That means you can exchange your samples with other users all over the world.

• Virtual Sampler imports sample data from the most common used SF2 format as well as from the Terratec .tti format and the Hoontech/Guillemot .94i format. It also exports the SF2 format and the Virtual Sampler bank format.

• Virtual Sampler has a powerful built-in software-FM-Synth that can be used to synthesize new sounds and to use them as ordinary Virtual Sampler samples. The Synthesizer offers 6 operators (oscillators) with 43 different algorithms.

• Virtual Sampler supports DirectX plugins (Virtual Sampler Version 1.5 Beta or higher)

• Virtual Sampler supports Cubase VST plugins (Virtual Sampler Version 1.6 or higher)

• Virtual Sampler supports Environmental Audio on SBLive and related cards

• Virtual Sampler supports import of Akai Sample CD-Roms

• Virtual Sampler has a built-in MIDI sequencer

Virtual Sampler Architecture

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

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

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 ;) )?

• Up to 64 voices simultaneously on 16 Midi channels at a time
  
• Preset and Multi mode (omni/poly)
  
• Up to 65535 splits within a voice
  
• Unlimited stacking of splits within a voice
  
• Sample length only limited by available EWS memory
  
• Fully exploits EWS + MaxiSound  + Hoontech + SB!Live hardware
  
• Latency <10ms through interrupt driven Midi and realtime routines even while running sequencers or other programs
  
• Unlimited sample memory. However, the memory available to the samples that can be played simultaneously is limited by your EWS memory because Virtual Sampler loads the samples into EWS memory for quick access. In such situations you can use program change messages to change the samples for a specified Midi channel
  
• Mixing of loaded .94b or .tts soundbanks with Virtual Sampler voices
  
• reads WAV files of all sample rates, mono and stereo
  
• Envelopes for both sample output and filters (Resolution <10ms)
  
• Realtime effects (Reverb,Chorus,Delay,...) for each voice and even each split within a voice
  
• Filtering of each split within a voice supporting Filter frequency, Filter Quality and Filter envelope
  
• Support for panning of each split within a voice
  
• Support for velocity and aftertouch sensitivity of several voice parameters (sample output, Filter Q, Panning, ...)
  
• Support for realtime pitch shifting and sample detuning
  
• Realtime controls (Modulation wheel, assignable controllers, Pitch) for nearly all effects and settings
  
• Multi mode and user defined multis for quickly changing sounds within your songs
  
• support for looped samples
  
• Resampling option
  
• LFO realtime support

• Built in Software synth with 6 operators (oscillators) and 43 different algorithms

• Support for DirectX effect plugins (Virtual Sampler Version 1.5 Beta or higher)

• Built in MIDI sequencer