Samplers

A sampler is an electronic music instrument closely related to a synthesizer. Instead of generating sounds from scratch, however, a sampler starts with multiple recordings (or “samples”) of different sounds, and then plays each back based on how the instrument is configured. more...

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Because these samples are usually stored in RAM, the information can be quickly accessed.

Unlike traditional digital audio playback, each sample is associated with a set of synthesis parameters, and can thus be modified in many different ways.

Most samplers have polyphonic capabilities: they are able to play more than one note at the same time. Many are also multitimbral: they can play back different sounds at the same time.

Sampler Structure

Interface

Usually a sampler is controlled from an attached music keyboard, or from an external MIDI source. Each note value input into the sampler then accesses a particular sample. Often, multiple samples are arranged across the musical range, and assigned to a group of notes. If keyboard tracking is enabled, then the sample is shifted in pitch by an appropriate amount. Each group of notes to which a single sample has been assigned is often called a keyzone, and the resultant set of zones is called a keymap. When a note value is input to the sampler, it looks at the value, and plays back the sample associated with that note.

For example, in Fig 1, a keymap has been created with four different samples. Each sample should be associated with a particular center pitch. The first sample (violin G2), is distributed across three different notes: g2, g#2, and a2. If a G2 note is received, then the sampler will play back the Violin G2 sample at its original pitch. If a G#2 is input, then the sampler will play the Violin G2 sample, except it will shift it up by a chromatic semitone. Likewise, an A2 will play back the Violin G2 sample a whole-tone higher. However, when the next note (Bb2) is input, the sampler will then select the Violin B2 sample, and play it a semitone lower than that sample's center pitch of B2.

In general, samplers can play back any kind of recorded audio, and most samplers offer editing facilities which allow the user to modify and process the audio, and to apply a wide range of effects, making the sampler a powerful and versatile musical tool.

Hierarchy

A sampler is organized into a hierarchy of progressively more complicated data structures.

At the bottom lie the samples. Samples are individual recordings of any imaginable sound. Each will have been recorded at a particular sample rate and resolution. It is convenient, if the sample is pitched, that a reference center pitch is included. This pitch indicates the actual frequency of the recorded note. Samples may also have loop points, that indicate where a repeated section of the sample starts and ends. This allows a relatively short sample to play endlessly. In some cases, a loop crossfade is also indicated, which allows for more seamless transitions at the loop point by fading the end of the loop out while simultaneously fading the beginning of the loop in.

Read more at Wikipedia.org