Cakewalk VSampler 3 User's Manual

VSampler 3 Tour

Feature Overview

Revision: 23.12.2003

All product names mentioned in this document remain the property and/or trademark of their re-

spective owners. Mentioning product names of 3rd parties is for information purposes only.

Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, DirectX, DirectSound, WDM © Microsoft Corporation

Cubase, Cubase SX, Steinberg, VST, ASIO, HALion, LM4 © Steinberg Media Technologies AG

Cakewalk, Sonar, DXi © Twelve Tone Systems, Inc.

Emagic, Logic © Emagic Soft- und Hardware GmbH

ACID, Soundforge © Sonic Foundry, Inc.

Reason, ReBirth, ReWire © Propellerhead Software AB

Ogg, Vorbis © Xiph.Org

FLAC © GPL/LGPL

Table of contents

1 Intro.......................................................................................................... 4

2 VSTi, DXi, Rewire, MIDI ....................................................................... 6

2.1 Plugin (VSTi, DXi)..........................................................................6

2.2 Standalone (MIDI, Rewire, DirectSound, ASIO)............................ 6

2.3 Optimized for MS Windows............................................................7

3 Import ......................................................................................................8

3.1 WAV, LM4, Battery, SF2, HALion, Gig, Kontakt, AKAI, E-MU.. 8

3.2 Autoload-Preview............................................................................9

3.3 Soundbank-Manager........................................................................ 9

3.4 AKAI and E-MU CDs 1:1 on harddisk ...........................................9

4 Export..................................................................................................... 10

4.1 SF2: for SB Live! and Audigy....................................................... 10

4.2 VC3: up to 20:1 compressd for Internet exchange ........................10

5 Sampler .................................................................................................. 11

5.1 High Performance Audio Engine...................................................11

5.2 from “true to nature” to experimental............................................ 11

5.3 Sample-Editor................................................................................12

5.4 Auto-Looper .................................................................................. 12

5.5 Beat-Slicer .....................................................................................13

6 Synthesizer............................................................................................. 14

7 Effects.....................................................................................................17

8 Modulation............................................................................................. 19

9 Remote control and automation...........................................................21

10 User Interface - The Chameleon.......................................................... 22

10.1 Different Views ............................................................................. 22

10.2 Variable designs using Skins......................................................... 24

10.3 User interfaces should be transparent............................................ 25

10.4 The rack-devices............................................................................ 25

10.5 Smart helpers................................................................................. 27

1 Intro

It is aim of this tour to introduce the possibilities of VSampler 3 to you in a summary.

This is the print-version of the VSampler 3 online tour of www.vsampler.com which additionally contains animated illustrations, demonstrating e.g. the possible drag’n’drop actions.

Small View of VSampler 3

VSampler transforms your PC into a 255-voice software sampler, turning any recorded noise into a musical instrument. VSampler provides all of the classical sampler features in excellent sound quality, and also offers you a multitude of new opportunities. In cooperation with the users of its award-winning predecessor (see www.maz-sound.com/?show=product&id=5 sampler has been created, which beneath a truly transparent surface combines extensive editing abilities with simplest handling. Drag&drop and context menus allow quick access to all functions and provide for a smooth workflow.

VSampler can operate either as a plugin (VSTi or DXi) in your sequencer, or it can run as standalone version, connecting via Rewire or MIDI. The included “virtual MIDI-cable” also connects VSampler with classical MIDI sequencers.

VSampler loads instruments in the industry standard sampler formats SF2™, Gigasampler™, HALion™, Kontakt™, AKAI™ (S1000/3000 CDs and

) an intelligent software-

S5000/6000 AKP files) and E-MU™ III / IV CD, as well as drumkits (LM4™, Battery™ KIT) and samples (WAV, AIF).

The following new functions are available in VSampler 3.1 (and up):

• plays instruments of any size without being limited to RAM-size

• import formats Kontakt, Battery and E-MU III / IV CD

• group-effects and individual outputs for samples of e.g. a drumkit

Those functions are not available in OEM-versions of VSampler 3.0, which are licensed and

distributed by 3rd parties as part of their own products. At the moment this applies to

„VSampler 3.0 DXi“ of the Cakewalk product „Sonar 3 Producer“.

The upgrade to the full version is available at www.maz-sound.com

for 39 € (around $47).

The unique instrument preview allows you to test different sounds with a single mouse-click on-the-fly during playback. Owners of an SB Live!™ or Audigy™ soundcard will be pleased that VSampler is able to save files in SF2 format as an option.

VSampler's various tempo-synchronizable envelope types and LFO's, and its velocity sensitive filters ranging from subtle to aggressive are all inducive to sound editing. Instruments can be further refined using either the included effects (Reverb, Delay, Phaser, Distortion, EQ …) or any VST-plugin. The animation of all effect-, envelope- and filterparameters in a mutual modulation matrix, creates instruments with extraordinary dynamics and impressive, realistic playability. The included presets for effects, envelopes and modulation will get you off to a good start.

Whether quick playback module for everyday use or creative tool with synthesizer qualities - VSampler fuses both in a versatile instrument.

2 VSTi, DXi, Rewire, MIDI

2.1 Plugin (VSTi, DXi)

Used as a plugin, VSampler is seamlessly integrated in your sequencer with sample-accurate timing. All settings are saved together with the song and are restored on load - total recall! If 16 simultaneously playable instruments, 255 stereo voices and 16 individual outputs (number and mono-/stereo adjustable) are not enough, just start another VSampler plugin - at no extra cost :)

VSampler VSTi with Steinberg Cubase VSampler DXi with Cakewalk Sonar

2.2 Standalone (MIDI, Rewire, DirectSound, ASIO)

The standalone version of VSampler can be played live via MIDI keyboard, independent of a sequencer. Thanks to the included “virtual MIDI cable” VSampler can be easily connected to any MIDI-sequencer. Audio signals are routed via 16 individual outputs to DirectSound or ASIO soundcards. Each instrument can be assigned to separate output devices which in turn are managed within the integrated 16-channel-mixer, multi-effects and record option inclusive. Via Rewire, VSampler can be hooked up with sample accurate audio/MIDI synchronization to the mixer of sequencers like e.g. Propellerhead's Reason.

2.3 Optimized for MS Windows

VSampler has been developed exclusively for the Windows platform. The program code is not limited by forced compatibility with other operating systems. VSampler supports the Windows versions 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP.

3 Import

3.1 WAV, LM4, Battery, SF2, HALion, Gig, Kontakt,

AKAI, E-MU

VSampler owners have the broad range of existing sound libraries at their disposal right away. Additionally to it's own format, VSampler loads instruments in the industry standard sampler formats SF2™, Gigasampler™, HALion™, Kontakt™, AKAI™ (S1000/3000 CDs and S5000/6000 AKP files) and EMU™ III / IV CD, as well as drumkits (LM4™, Battery™ KIT) and samples (WAV, AIF).

The following new functions are available in VSampler 3.1 (and up):

• plays instruments of any size without being limited to RAM-size

• import formats Kontakt, Battery and E-MU III / IV CD

• group-effects and individual outputs for samples of e.g. a drumkit

Those functions are not available in OEM-versions of VSampler 3.0, which are licensed and

distributed by 3rd parties as part of their own products. At the moment this applies to

„VSampler 3.0 DXi“ of the Cakewalk product „Sonar 3 Producer“.

The upgrade to the full version is available at www.maz-sound.com

for 39 € (around $47).

Import-Rack with One-Click-Autoload

3.2 Autoload-Preview

VSampler's unique instrument preview with its autoload function takes the difficulty out of searching for the right sound; you can test different sounds with a single mouse-click on-the-fly during playback. Before importing the instrument, you can hear how it will actually sound in the song. If you like it, just double-click to import it, or continue testing other instruments by stepping to the next one by cursor keys or mouse - there's no easier and quicker way. Very practical for everyday use is the Import Rack, which recalls the last used location for each file type separately.

3.3 Soundbank-Manager

VSampler's integrated Soundbank-Manager with search function and category filter offers unique comfort for the administration of extensive sound libraries. Each instrument of the soundbank-manager can be loaded to a MIDI-channel with a single mouse-click.

3.4 AKAI and E-MU CDs 1:1 on harddisk

VSampler offers users of AKAI™ and E-MU™ CD's 100%-future compatibility by building a 1:1 copy of the CD as disc image file at your local harddisk or network. No more time consuming conversion into one or even multiple sampler-specific formats. The CD fully retains its best feature - the compatibility with all existing samplers disc image and handles them the same way as any other soundbank format. Without having to change CD's, you can scroll through your AKAI™ or EMU™ CD-collection in the soundbank-manager, enjoying the VSamplertypical comfort of the autoload-feature, testing different sounds with a single mouse-click on-the-fly during playback.

. VSampler loads the instruments directly from the

by the help of e.g. Daemon Tools (freeware, see http://www.daemon-

tools.org) other softwaresamplers are able to access such a "virtual CD" as well

+ 20 hidden pages