4 - Playing with Samples

 

Part 1: Sampling in Classic Mode

• From Browser / Instruments, load Simpler (just the default Simpler, not one of the presets) onto a new MIDI channel
• From Browser / Samples, find 'ARP Poly Lead C4' and drag it into Simpler, into the box which says 'Drop Sample Here'
• This creates a Simpler instrument that you can play across the keyboard, or enter notes in the Piano Roll of a new MIDI Clip

• Click on the Controls tab to see more parameters that you can control
• Switch on the Filter, and you can make the sound more muffled or brighter by changing the Frequency
• Increase the Attack, and the sound will start more slowly
• Increase the Release, and the sound takes longer to die out when you release the key
• Click on Transpose (Transp) and you can change the base pitch of the sample

How much to transpose

How do you know how many steps to move? Use this for reference:

How many steps (semitones) to move up or down

Hands On Task

1. Create a new MIDI Track and load a new Simpler instrument. Then drop in another Sample e.g. Machine Punk or Electro Flow
2. Note: If your sample is in any other key besides C, you have to use the Transpose it to match (Machine Punk and Electro Flow are in F#, which means you have to Transpose them by -6 st)

Part 2: Sampling in Slice mode

Still inside the Pack called 'Chop and Swing', go down into the subfolder Samples / Loops and Chords / Music Loops, and drag one of the loops into Simpler

This creates a Simpler instrument. By default it will be in Classic mode, but if you click on the Slice button, Simpler will slice the loop for you. 

The mode switch is found on the left side of the Sample tab

Classic Playback Mode is the default mode when using Simpler, and is optimized for creating “conventional” melodic and harmonic instruments using pitched samples

Slicing Playback Mode slices the sample so that the individual slices can be played back using your keyboard or pads. This mode is ideal for working with sample loops.

From Browser / Instruments, load Simpler (just the default Simpler, not one of the presets) onto a new MIDI channel

In Slicing Playback Mode, the left and right flags set the available playback region.

The "Slice By" chooser determines the specific way in which slices will be created:

• Transient - Slices are placed on the sample’s transients automatically. The Sensitivity slider determines how sensitive Simpler is to transient levels within the sample, and thus how many slices will be automatically created. Higher numbers result in more slices, up to a maximum of 64 slices.
• Beat - Slices are placed at musical beat divisions. The Division chooser selects the beat division at which Simpler will slice the sample region.
• Region - Slices are placed at equal time divisions. The Regions chooser selects the number of evenly-spaced slices that will be created.
• Manual - Slices are created manually, by double-clicking within the sample region. When Manual is selected, no slices are placed automatically.
• The Trigger/Gate switch changes what happens when you lift your finger. For Trigger, the sample slice continues playing. For Gate, the sample slice stops playing.

Automatically created slices appear as vertical blue lines on the waveform display. Double-clicking a slice deletes it. If you’re not satisfied with Simpler’s automatic slice placement, you can click and drag a slice to move it to a new position. Double-clicking on the waveform between slices will create manual slices, which appear white.