Using your own samples

[edmossward]

TD modules won't allow (and there is no hack...yet?) to load your own samples right on the brain.
Superior Drummer is the same story.

Is there a program or plugin that will let me trigger ANY sound i want using the vpads as a midi controller? I would like to make many custom kits. I understand there would be no supernatural sound modeling or velocity variations but i don't mind. The internet is scarce on this subject.

[allanjohn]

You can load samples into 2box and some high-end dTX modules, while BFD3 has the ability to import samples as well.

[airflamesred]

Essentially you are looking for a sampler, Kontakt, for example will do all you want and way more.

[Alan VEX]

Just buy an external sampler, hook it up via midi. Skip the computer. Done.

[Meshopotamia]

Like the other posters mention, a sampler is probably what you want.

But if you use an Intel Mac and aren't in a hurry (this is not guaranteed completion)...I've been working on a drums-oriented MIDI-engine which fires your own samples. It's still under development main holdup is I'm still working on getting the latency down with my Audio Unit engine.

I have to get the .wavs playing via a buffer instead of disk read (this week's work), then it should be fairly instantaneous. Will have reverb, pan, and volume adjustments for each voice and have a rudimentary velocity layering ability.

[hairmetal-81]

Alan, while I totally agree with you, Lemme s'plain tis....


Assuming 'external' and 'skip computer' in essence means 'HARDWARE sampler', I fear it's not that easy nowadays.
I feel I've researched this thoroughfully to come to the conclusion that they are virtually EXTINCT.


1. I wouldn't want to go back to pre-historic Akai's or Emu's. Stuff like SCSI, long-winding backups, 'Memory Full', and all that stuff is a pain in the neck ...has me sweating bullets.

2. I thought I had a modern equivalent in the form of the Korg MicroSampler, until I found out that it doesn't support multi-samples.

3. I looked at MPC's, until I found out about 'limited' expandability.

4. I looked at the MPX-8, but the memory is limited there too. [Have to go back to the thread again, to give you an exact number]

5. I looked at the Korg Kronos, but that wasn't 'horses for courses' anymore...

6. I had hopes that Clavia releases the 'Nord Wave' in a rack-format... then again, 385 MB aren't the world...

7. Roland's MS-1 was a toy, as was Yamaha's SU-10

8. Yamaha had the SU-700 which looked nice. It's old by todays standards, and sadly Yamaha never came up with a successor product.

9. I'm pretty sure Electons 'Octa-Track' would make a good one, but it's targeted more toward 'track-mangling' than anything else.

10. Once I dabbled with HALion, I realized how much of a breeze it was mapping samples on a decent screen.

11. The TM-2 might be a solution, but you need a few of those.

12. I would see the possibility to run HALion on something like Receptor or the MuseBox.

13. All eyes on Alesis... (SampleRack...)




That all being said, maybe I've completely misunderstood you. In my book there is a huge gap to be filled by a dedicated hardware sampler!

Once 2box came along, it may just filled a gap (...for drummers). Now they had a TMI, a hardware sampler, and software support - all in one unit. OP take note!

[Alan VEX]

You took my response a little too literally. "External" doesn't have to mean "rack mounted".

[JmanWord]

13. All eyes on Alesis... (SampleRack...)

Once 2box came along, it may just filled a gap (...for drummers). Now they had a TMI, a hardware sampler, and software support - all in one unit. OP take note!

That is exactly what 2Box did for me. I was waiting for a plug n play drum module that had deep sampling capability and that is what it is.

While I am not teetering on the edge of my seat about the Alesis SampleRack due to some of the products Alesis have seemingly gotten right and then later dropped the ball before reaching full potential. But something as dependable and useful as an Alesis Trigger iO with module sounds and with the added ability to load and use your own multi velocity layer samples .... yeah, that has my curiosity and interest. What we don't know yet is how many velocity layers will be possible and if they will play as seamlessly as the 2Box for example, but this is definitely one to keep an eye on. If the depth of velocity layers is something like 16 or more this will definitely be one I will be testing, as a replacement for my current Trigger iO and/or possibly the SamplePad Pro in place of my SPD-30. Another thing that is a plus .... my current 2Box dsnds both stock and home made can be split into separate multi layer WAVs, so if the multi layer feature is sufficient, it will be an easy job to build plenty of sounds for the Alesis sampler..... potentially a good partner 2 my current setup.

Just thinking out loud here, sorry to hijack the thread .......

J

[Innovine]

I use an mpc 1000 as sampler frequently. I don't know where you get your idea on expandability from. I can fit a drumkit into 10 seconds of audio (smaller if downsampling) whereas the mpc has 12 mins of memory. Even 30-40 secs is enough to cover long crash tails and big reverbs. The great bits about the mpc is it is a super sequencer, and its also excellent for slicing loops. Since a lot of what I do is slicing loops, layering the sounds into kits, then drumming and sequencing, I think its an awesome little box. Downside includes that its fiddly to use randomized samples and randomization in velocity layers via external midi. Its possible but the mpc needs to be in a certain mode, which can be limiting if your sequencing other tracks. I also use it for storing backing tracks to play along with, triggering internal samples and also sending midi to my td12 There is little to no latency (its lower than the ~5ms I get with superior drummer). Another drawback is that its not possible to take advantage of positional sensing cc msgs, nor the highhat openness. But I've not seen a general purpose sampler which can easily handle this anyway. Strange you didn't mention the roland sp samplers.

[BarT]

Strange you didn't mention the roland sp samplers.

Agreed.

From an Amazon.com customer review for the Roland SP-404SX sampler:

I got this to use with my Roland V-Drum kit so that I can trigger my own sampled sounds as well as the V-Drum sounds and it works great! It was easy to program, and the software that came with it made adding samples a breeze. ... It sucks that it only has 10 banks, because I use it for about 20 different drum kits, but since the Roland V-drum let's me pick any note, I didn't have to program per band, so I still have plenty of empty space to add future kits. Overall a perfect solution for those wanting to add samples to their drums.

Roland SP-404SX Is Awesome!

http://www.amazon.com/review/R27C2B0HGNRQG/ref=cm_cr_dp_title/189-5881408-8075027?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B002QESKHI&nodeID=11091801&store=musical-instruments

Bruce

[hairmetal-81]

The SP404: It's concept as a 'Phrase Sampler' or 'Groove Sampler' is nice. If you need this for single-hits or phrases, it sure will suit you ...or you could have the same functionality built into a multi-pad. It must've fell past wayside when I considered it (I couldn't include possibly everthing).


It has effects, you can tweak 'em, yet for some strange reason you can't save them.
Limited sequencing functions - not that you'd use them much, but at least there's a 'Phrase Loop maker' kind of feature.
No multi velocity layers. i.e. I would have to forget even using anything dynamic, other than simple 'full on' hits.
It doesn't respond to velocity (...I'd venture to say that's an oversight for drumming-applications)
It has no deep-sampling capabilities. Limits its usability-range, though you may have to workaround it via software and computer.


Again, during my researches for a capable, dedicated hardware sampler, it fell short. But if OP just wants to fire off loops as his sole intention, it would work for him very fine, I guess!


HTH

[BINARY]

If you own an iPad there are a few (not enough in my opinion) options for sampler apps. I use the Alesis io Dock to connect a midi cable.

[edmossward]

Essentially you are looking for a sampler, Kontakt, for example will do all you want and way more.

Kontakt looks fan-freakin-tastic..however 400 dollars is steep.

Like the other posters mention, a sampler is probably what you want.

But if you use an Intel Mac and aren't in a hurry (this is not guaranteed completion)...I've been working on a drums-oriented MIDI-engine which fires your own samples. It's still under development main holdup is I'm still working on getting the latency down with my Audio Unit engine.

I have to get the .wavs playing via a buffer instead of disk read (this week's work), then it should be fairly instantaneous. Will have reverb, pan, and volume adjustments for each voice and have a rudimentary velocity layering ability.

well i hope you do complete this project.

Are there any others comparable, maybe, to Kontakt? Superior Drummers cool...but doesn't let you load samples also. I just want to be able to is take a recording of 5 of my own coughs and farts and set them up to have a cough-and-fart kit. haha i want to be able to trigger ANYTHING. whhhhat program does that which won't rob me. ahhhhh. no iPad unfortunately i guess.

[zgeggy2k]

Doesn't Steven Slate let you hook up your own samples?

[Meshopotamia]

Yes it does (SSD4 at least), and it's really easy and cool, plus you can layer them I believe, with other samples. But the caveat for their implementation is no velocity layers? Still, for the price, that's a great selling point, and again, it's really easy to add them.

Yamaha DTX-502 allows for up to 1 MB user samples, 20 (unique) files max totaling up to that 1MB limit. Not great memory wise, but it's something. "Wave voices" have to be 16 bit, and 44.1 rate. Then can assign to pad or kits via Wave Voice option.

[hairmetal-81]

There's a couple, besides Kontakt:


- EMU Emulator X
- Steinberg Halion 5
- MOTU Mach Five
- Avid Structure
- Apple EXS
- Yellow Tools Independence


...and a slew others!


HTH

[BarT]

The SP404:
It doesn't respond to velocity (...I'd venture to say that's an oversight for drumming-applications)

I don't think that's true. Its MIDI Implementation Chart shows that it responds to MIDI Note On Velocity.

(I believe its internal "pads" are not velocity-sensitive though.)

Bruce