Sampler Vs. Manual Audio Editing?

[Mike145]

Hey, i was just wondering what you guys think the pros and cons of using a sampler vs. manual audio editing is? I have read about lots of artists who like to throw a bunch of their samples into sampler to use them, but what i usually do is just throw all my samples into an audio track and arrange them that way. Right now i really cant see why you would want to use a sampler for this as you would have to put each sample in and distribute them accross the keyboard, etc. etc. So ya if anyone could gimme some tips on how your supposed to use a sampler that would be awesome

[Tarekith]

Just a preference thing I guess. Personally I've always enjoyed working directly with the audio more than moving midi notes around, but that's just me.

[Mike145]

yeah thats how i feel too... it just seems so much easier and faster and like i have more control over the whole thing. but id like to hear how some people use the sampler. I guess if i wanted to take a sample and stretch it accross the keyboard thats what i would use... but i cant really think of any other reasons

[Tarekith]

You should see if Ill Gates has any videos of his set up on his site, he's has a pretty wild way of working using almost entirely Samplers.

[juanlittledevil]

Another pro to using say a sampler device is it's ability to map route something like LFO for example to sample offset. Or velocity to pitch. In essence you can turn your a static sound into a very "Playable" and expressive instrument, whether they are vocal samples, drum loops, or whatever.

[salatspinatra]

I understood the question to ask "what's the difference between editing in the Sampler waveform vs a dedicated 2-track editor?" Can you export the wave to different codecs in Sampler? I'm thinking 'no', however a basic save feature might be all people need. Can you get close enough to sample level to use a pencil tool and cut out clicks? Most likely, no. It would be an interesting selling point for Ableton to consider reworking Sampler to suit this purpose rather than to open an audio file in an associated editor. More for someone else to chime in-I'm still in Simpler.

[juanlittledevil]

I understood the question to ask "what's the difference between editing in the Sampler waveform vs a dedicated 2-track editor?" Can you export the wave to different codecs in Sampler? I'm thinking 'no', however a basic save feature might be all people need. Can you get close enough to sample level to use a pencil tool and cut out clicks? Most likely, no. It would be an interesting selling point for Ableton to consider reworking Sampler to suit this purpose rather than to open an audio file in an associated editor. More for someone else to chime in-I'm still in Simpler.

Though you can manipulate audio in terms of cutting, manipulating, transposing, and applying effects, I wouldn't say that Ableton is a "Sample Editor"... Neither is sampler. Sampler/Simpler is a sample playback instrument. If you want to traditional editing tools like a pencil, encoding tools, etc. You need to use an external sample program like Bias Peak. I know it's sad.. I really wish Ableton would allow for re-darwing of waves, so you COULD fix those nasty pop, etc. However there are other ways you can accomplish this.

As to Sampler Vs. Simpler. I have to say Sampler is the shizzle! People are doing some really neat things with it. Some of the Key highlights of sampler to me are:

1. ability to route MIDI controls like, key, velocity, aftertouch, mod wheel, pitch bend, etc
2. multiple LFOs
3. rage of sample placement along keyboard (sample zones)
4. variable filter type (this is by far one of my favorite features)
5. Aux envelope section which you can route.

I've found myself needed an external sample editor less these days, since I've re-trained myself in how I manipulate audio. For actual editing of waves I find myself using the session/arrangement views and working directly on the clips. I use the consolidate function quite a bit to burn in my changes to a new file when I'm happy with the results I move the clips back to session view, or drop them in a sampler/simpler if that's what the piece of audio calls for and do further editing there.


If I'm doing sound restoration or something like that, then what i do is use an external program instead. iZotope makes some great restoration software called RX we use that at work. Also the Waves plugins are awesome, I use those at work with Logic Sutdio. Some our production engineers at work use soundtrack pro for editing audio. I personally don't like it, mostly because I have not spent the time to learn it. I do however use it for 1 thing: removing hiss and pops. (no pencil tool tho, instead it uses algorithms to determine where the pops are).

[wascal]

Im still on live 7 and usually use sampler rather then editing the waveform because you can quantize your sampler notes to global swing but its a total PITA to slice waveforms in the same fashion

[marra]

You should soon be able to do manual audio editing in Sampler. When sampling old records you'll often need to use more than just one sample, which won't loop together nicely because of different lengths unless you arrange them in a Drum Rack or similar.