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SamplerTools
User Manual
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Chicken Systems SamplerTools User Manual

SamplerTools™
Version 1.0, Build 28
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SamplerTools™
Table Of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 5
Basic Concepts. ........................................................................................................................... 7
How To Make As Hard Thing Easy ................................................................................................... 8
Lists And Areas
Main Screen ................................................................................................................................ 9
The File List. ................................................................................................................................10
The Database List .........................................................................................................................11
Concepts
Construction. ...............................................................................................................................16
Management. ...............................................................................................................................18
Menus
File. ............................................................................................................................................19
Apps .............................................................................................................................................19
Help .............................................................................................................................................20
Other
Preferences ......................................................................................................................................22
Import .......................................................................................................................................23
Export .......................................................................................................................................24
Data Processing ...............................................................................................................................24
Support
Troubleshooting. .............................................................................................................................26
FAQ ..........................................................................................................................................26
Contacting Technical Support. .............................................................................................................28
Updating. ..................................................................................................................................29
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SamplerTools
™
Introduction
SamplerTools™
Introduction
SamplerTools™ is a bundle of three powerful applications - Translator, Constructor, and Instrument Manager. But it’s not only that - it also includes an Integrated Interface, which contains the basics of all
three applications in one interface. This document aims to describe the use of the Integrated Interface.
The SamplerTools Integrated Interface, Mac and Windows, can be described in two ways: either Three Concepts (Translation, Construction, and Management), or two Main Areas (the Files List or the Database List) with two sub areas (the Contents Area and Construction Zone, dealing mainly with the Construction concept).
You can also launch into any of the three bundled applications whenever you want the extra power each of them brings to the table. The SamplerTools Integrated Interface is not designed to replace any of the applications,
HOWEVER we wouldn’t be surprised that your rst choice in doing basic translations, simple Bank/
Instrument building, or rudimentary Bank/Instrument management would be the Integrated Interface, due to it’s simple approach to each of the three concepts.
That is the goal and stated purpose of SamplerTools™ Integrated Interface.
SamplerTools™ attempts to be simple, and thus does not have any CTL/right-click contextual menus. Those are usually used for extended options and that’s exactly what SamplerTools™ tries to avoid. Just selecting an item in the list gives you the power you need. Adding and deleting to the lists is done by with
the INSERT or DELETE keys on your computer keyboard, or dragging in les from outside the application.
Some notes regarding the documentation:
Since SamplerTools serves MANY different types of les, but yet tries to treat them in a generic manner, in
this document we allude to them as these terms (and they do mean the same thing):
Instruments: Programs, Patches, Presets Groups: Multisamples, Waveforms, KeyMaps; or any Layer/Element/Oscillator that refers to the items
listed beforehand Samples: Well, they are always called Samples
Although the product SamplerTools™ refers to all 3 bundled applications plus the Integrated Interface, in
this document when we use the term SamplerTools™, unless specied otherwise, we are referring to the
Integrated Interface.
In this document, the term “right-click” also refers to “control-click” on a Mac. Only “right-click” will be used. Similarly, “Preferences” is term for different optional parameters that can be set in the program; on the Mac you will see the word “Preferences”, but on Windows you will see “Options”. In this document,
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Introduction
Preferences will be used. Graphics are all Mac, but look very similar to the Windows version.
By default SamplerTools™ shows the textual representation of MIDI note 60 as C3. This is the non-US rep­resentation. However, if you are more used to seeing C4 as middle C (like GigaStudio or other US models
- or even some varied non-US samplers), you can change this in Preferences-General.
If you are a registered owner, you are qualied for free updates for the life of the program. You can down­load these from your program using the Check for Update feature, or from the Chicken Systems Update Area.
SamplerTools™ is consistently supported by Chicken Systems, with updates appearing frequently.
SamplerTools
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SamplerTools
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Basic Concepts
Basic Concepts
SamplerTools aims to offer Translation, Construction, and Management in one single and easy to use package.
The SamplerTools Integrated Interface offers the three strengths of the bundled applications of SamplerTools - Translation, Construction, and Management. It is organized into two lists: the Files List and the Database List. These are toggled by the button control on the upper left.
Files List
This shows the contents of a particular folder on your computer. You can
translate any or all les on the list,
edit (that is, construct) them, and/or manage them.
Database List
This shows the contents of any “PlayList” (a pre-made, pre-created
group of les) that you make. Just
like the Files List, you can translate, construct, and/or manage them
All translation and construction operations work off of selecting one or more list items, called an Entry. To translate, click the Translate button on the top of the interface. The other two areas, the Contents Area and the Construction Zone, mainly deal with the Construction concept. To construct (edit an existing Bank or Instrument), make sure the View Contents checkbox is checked, showing the Contents Area, and to
enter the full-edged editing area, click the Construct button to enter the Construction Zone.
Each Entry is in one of 3 states an within SamplerTools:
Exists: The Entry actually is dened and EXISTS within an actual le on your computer, whether this is
a single le (like a EXS24 .EXS or a Kontakt .NKI), or an Instrument within a Bank le (like a Preset
within a SoundFont). It is not touched or edited in any way.
Edited: The Entry has same basis within a computer le, but has been edited in some way - some
objects (Groups, Instruments, Samples) have been added, deleted, or parameters changed.
Virtual: The Entry was created within SamplerTools and has yet to be saved as an actual le on your
computer. Of course, the sample les exist somewhere - they have to - but the actual Instrument or Bank denition le has not been written as a le. (An Edited object is different because it started with an actual le and was edited in SamplerTools after your session started.)
To save an edited or created Bank or Instrument, select the Entry and click the Save As... button (same as the Translate button but it is renamed).
For more information on the Translation concept, go the Translation area in this document. For more information on the Construction concept, go the Construction area in this document. For more information on the Management concept, go the Management area in this document.
For more information on the Files List, go the Files List area in this document. For more information on the Database List, go the Database List area in this document. For more information on the Contents Area, go the Contents Area area in this document. For more information on the Construction Zone, go the Construction Zone area in this document.
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How To Make A Hard Thing Easy
SamplerTools
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How To Make A Hard Thing Easy
SamplerTools™ is a powerful program. However, this power can make a simple operation, such as translating
a sound, a difcult process. Shoot, you just want to take these Kontakt les and translate them into EXS24
format! But now you have to read about DeEmphasis Filters, and Naming Conventions, and all these things that you don’t want to worry about. Yuuch.
Dealing with musical instrument les is a complicated process by nature. Many times an internal parameter
decision can go a number of ways. How do we enable total control for the user, while hiding as much of the process as well?
Please also remember that SamplerTools is engineered to be simpler than any of the bundled applciations Nevertheless, here’s a couple things that we feel you should remember, in order to make SamplerTools an Easy Thing:
Read the Manual - Refer to the Help le
We spent an inordinate time making a full length manual for the reason that it helps make a Hard Thing Easy. Use it! It’ll help.
We love hearing from our customers, and please do contact us ONCE YOU HAVE tried the resources you already have. This manual is the BEST WAY we know how to communicate the concepts of this program. If you call us, please ask a question based on something you don’t understand within the manual. Otherwise, we’ll just read the manual to you.
The Defaults Are Good for 99% of cases
Check out the Preferences and Format Preferences dialogs. There are TONS of optional features in SamplerTools™. If you are confused by them, do the simple thing - ignore them. There generally isn’t any options in there that are completely mandatory necessary to switch or set to enable things to go well. In 99% of the cases you should be able to stick in a CD, drag it over, go and eat a sandwich, and come back with a bunch of translations. But if you need them, the options are there.
Call, E-mail, or Chat if you have questions or problems
When something goes wrong - and with a Hard Thing that is inevitable - that can make that Hard Thing Hard. So, we make ourselves completely available. You can call us with toll-free technical support. Or e-mail us - we’ll respond within 24 hours guaranteed. Even Chat is available from our web site. We think we have the best support in the business - in order to make a hard thing easy.
Send Files if there is a problem
Nothing is better for diagnostics than the actual source le the user is operating on. In Translator™, you can send us any source le you are looking at. Use our Bug Reports web page
at www.chickensys.com/samplertools/bugreports, or see the Sending Files section for more information. We commonly address all issues within 24 hours.
See - it’s an Easy Thing!
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SamplerTools
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Main Screen
Main Screen
The SamplerTools™ interace contains primarily a main List right in the middle of the interface; it is by far the largest item on the dialog. Above it are two rows:
Main Toolbar
You can switch between the Files List and the Database List, start a transaltion with the Translate button, view the Contents with the View Contents check box, or enter the Construction Zone with the Contents button.
List Toolbar
You can lter the main list contents
with the Search box, select the translation format the Destination
Format popupmenu, naviagate your le
system with the current folder popup and the Up and New buttons (when Files List is selected).
Main List
The main list holds the contents of the Files List or the Database List. Whichever entry you select, that is the jumping off point for translation or construction.
Contents View
These appear on the right when the View Contents checkbox is checked and ONE entry is selected (the do not show when you ahve multiple entries selected). If the Entry is a Bank-Type, three lists show
- Instruments, Groups, and Samples. If the Entry is a Instrument-Type, two lists show - Groups and Samples.
Status Bar
Thsi shows the the properties of the Sample selected in the Samples list, or when a translation is occurring, what is the status of that translation.
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The File List
SamplerTools
The File List
The File List shows the contents of the folder selected above it. You can change which folder you are viewing by operating the PopupMenu on top, or dropping a folder on the PopupMenu.KeyMap Editor
The les listed are naturally ltered by the les
SamplerTools supports - meaning you don’t see (for
example) Word les or Excel spreadsheets. You can further lter the contents by typing in text in the
Filter textbox. Leaving the Filter textbox blank shows
all acceptable les.
Folders are also listed, and you can drill into a folder by double-clicking on it.
Status
Each Entry is in one of 3 states an within SamplerTools, as indicated on the main Llst. These are very important to understand if you are editing your entries.
Exists: The Entry actually is dened and EXISTS within an actual le on your computer, whether this
is a single le (like a EXS24 .EXS or a Kontakt .NKI), or an Instrument within a Bank le (like a
Preset within a SoundFont). It is not touched or edited in any way.
Edited: The Entry has same basis within a computer le, but has been edited in some way - some
objects (Groups, Instruments, Samples) have been added, deleted, or parameters changed.
Virtual: The Entry was created within SamplerTools and has yet to be saved as an actual le on your
computer. Of course, the sample les exist somewhere - they have to - but the actual Instrument or Bank denition le has not been written as a le. (An Edited object is different because it started with an actual le and was edited in SamplerTools after your session started.)
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Translating a File
There are several methods: selecting one or more les and click the Translate button above, or double­click on a single le. You can translate a folder by selecting it and clicking the Translate button. The
Destination File Type is the one listed in the PopupMenu to the left of the Current Folder PopupMenu. For more information on translating, see the Translating concept page in this document.
Deleting Entries from a PlayList
Select the Entries in the main list and hit the Delete button on the computer keyboard.
Viewing the Contents of an Entry
Select the desired Entry while the View Contents checkbox is checked. If it is an Instrument-type, the
Groups and Samples lists will be lled on the right. If it is a Bank-type, the Instruments, Groups, and Samples lists will be lled.
Adding or Deleting the Contents of an Entry (Righthand Lists)
Select the desired Entry and view your Contents on the right. By selecting each individual list, you can use INSERT and DELETE on your computer keyboard to add and delete Instruments (Bank-only), Groups, or Samples to your Entry.
Editing the Contents of an Entry (Construction Zone)
Select the desired Entry and click the Constructor button to open the Construction Zone area. You will see all your Groups and Samples and will be able to do complete editing of the contents of the Entry.
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