SONiVOX

Sampla User Guide

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 1

License and Copyrights

Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc.
Internationally Secure
All rights reserved
SONiVOX
561 Windsor Street, Suite A402
Somerville, MA 02143
617-718-0202
www.sonivoxmi.com
This SONiVOX product and all its individual components referred to from this point on
as (Sampla) are protected under United States and International copyright laws, with
all rights reserved. Sampla is provided as a license to you, the customer. Ownership of
Sampla is maintained solely by Sonic Network, Inc.
All terms of the Sampla license are documented in detail in the Sampla End-User License
Agreement on the installer that came with this manual. If you have any questions
regarding this license please contact Sonic Network at [email protected].
Trademarks
SONiVOX is a registered trademark of Sonic Network Inc. Other names used in this
publication may be trademarks and are acknowledged.
Publication
This publication, including all photographs and illustrations, is protected under
international copyright laws, with all rights reserved. Nothing herein can be copied or
duplicated without express written permission from Sonic Network, Inc. The
information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Sonic Network makes
no direct or implied warranties or representations with respect to the contents hereof.
Sonic Network reserves the right to revise this publication and make changes as
necessary from time to time without any obligation of Sonic Network to notify any
persons of such changes.

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CREDITS

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

INSTALLING SAMPLA FOR MAC

INSTALLING SAMPLA FOR PC

AUTHORIZING SAMPLA

10

INTERNET ACTIVATION METHOD

10

MANUAL ACTIVATION METHOD

11

LAUNCHING SAMPLA FOR THE FIRST TIME

13

STANDALONE MODE

13

AUDIO MIDI CONFIGURATION

14

STANDALONE MODE OPERATION

13

USING SAMPLA AS A PLUGIN

15

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE & CONTROLS

17

CONTROL OF YOUR SAMPLA SOUNDS

INSTRUMENTS
OVERVIEW
PAD CONTROL
LOADING, CLEARING AND SAVING LAYOUTS
LOADING SAMPLES
SAMPLA FUNCTION MODES
PADS MODE
KEYS MODE
MAP MODE
SAMPLA EDIT MODES
SAMPLE MODE
KNOB FUNCTIONS
LOOP & PLAY BUTTONS
WORKING WITH THE WAVEFORM DISPLAY
THE ZOOM BUTTON
SLICE MODE
KNOB FUNCTIONS
AUTOMAPPING REGIONS
MAPPING REGIONS INDIVIDUALLY

18
18
19
20
20
20
21
22
22
23
25
25
25
26
26
27
28
28
30
30

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THE PLAY BUTTON

KEYMAP MODE
WHAT IS A KEYMAP?
LOADING SAMPLES
EXTENDING SAMPLE RANGES
KNOB FUNCTIONS
RECORDING WITH SAMPLA
SETTING UP YOUR AUDIO DEVICE
SAVING YOUR SAMPLES
THE RECORD THRESHOLD
CONTINUOUS RECORDING
THE PATTERN CREATOR
PATTERN DIRECTION
THE NOTE COUNTER
THE SETTINGS DIALOG
CHANGING YOUR CONTENT DIRECTORY PATH
CHANGING YOUR RECORDED CONTENT DIRECTORY PATH
MAINAINING SAMPLE PATH INTEGRITY
MISSING SAMPLES

31
31
32
32
32
33
34
34
34
35
35
37
38
38
39
39
40
40
40

MASTER PARAMETERS
VOLUME AND PAN CONTROL
TRANSPOSE AND PITCH CONTROL
MODULATION AND PITCH WHEELS
FILTER, ENVELOPE AND EFFECTS
ASSIGNING A FILTER
ENVELOPE CONTROL
4-BAND EQUALIZER
CHORUS AND DELAY EFFECTS
CHORUS PARAMETERS
DELAY PARAMETERS
AUTOMATING SAMPLA'S PARAMETERS
AUTOMATION IN YOUR DAW OR HOST APPLICATION
AUTOMATION USING A HARDWARE CONTROLLER

41
41
42
42
42
42
43
44
45
46
47
47
48
49

TROUBLESHOOTING

50

SAMPLA & OPERATION ISSUES

50

SAMPLA STANDALONE MODE

MY SOUNDCARD / MIDI DEVICE IS NOT RECOGNIZED.
SAMPLA'S SOUND IS DISTORTED, AND OR PLAYBACK DROPS OUT.
WHEN I TRIGGER A NOTE WITH MY MIDI CONTROLLER THERE IS A NOTICEABLE DELAY IN HEARING SOUND.
SAMPLA IN HOST APPLICATIONS
MY PLUG-IN DOES NOT SHOW UP.
SAMPLA AS A PLUG-IN MAKES NO SOUND.

51
51
51
51
52
52
53

CONTACTING SONIVOX

54

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 4

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Sampla. This guide is intended to serve as a users manual
and reference resource that will guide you through the installation process and detail
the many features of this virtual instrument. Please note that the information contained
within is subject to change at anytime. Please visit www.sonivoxmi.com for updates.
Sampla by SONiVOX may be used either as a standalone application or as a plug-in
within a host application or digital audio workstation (DAW). In this document we will
describe the installation and registration processes and then go into detail about how to
use Sampla in a variety of situations.
After installing Sampla, you will need to authorize it for use on your computer. We will
discuss the authorization process below.

Credits
Executive Producers
Software Engineers
Soundware Engineers
Build & Test Engineer
Additional Testing & Support
User Interface Graphic Design
Additional Graphic Design

Al Joelson, Jennifer Hruska

Bobby Zlatkov, John McCarty, Brian Hruska
Jason Jordan, Andrew Hlynsky
Peter Drawbridge
Zach Nicholls
Toni Simonen (http://www.tsvdesign.net)
Wayne Kleppe

System Requirements
PC System Requirements
Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7
Pentium IV 2.0 GHz Processor or AMD 1500 XP
MME Compatible Audio Hardware ASIO Compatible Audio Hardware Recommended
Minimum 512mb RAM 2GB Recommended
A VST or RTAS compatible host application (not required for Stand-Alone Mode)

Macintosh System Requirements

OS X Version 10.4.1 or higher,
Intel Based Processor
Minimum 512mb RAM 2GB Recommended
A VST, AU or RTAS compatible host application (not required for Stand-Alone Mode)

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 5

Installing SAMPLA for MAC

Begin by double clicking on the installation file.
You will be welcomed to begin the installation.
To proceed with installing select Continue or to
cancel click Go Back.

Next you will be asked to review the End User

License Agreement. Once you have read this
agreement click Continue. You now will be
asked whether you agree or you disagree to the
agreement (Pictured Right). If you accept the
agreement click Agree. If you do not accept
the agreement installation will be canceled.

Next you will be prompted to choose either

Easy Install or Custom Install (Pictured Left)
choosing Easy Install will install all the
possible plug-in formats and components,
while Custom Install will allow you to choose
what plug-in formats you wish to install, (we
recommend Easy Install). If you have chosen
Easy Install click the Install button to
proceed. If you have chosen, Custom Install
you will be allowed to choose which plug-in
formats you wish to install. Check the boxes of the formats you wish to install and then
click the Install button to continue.

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Installing SAMPLA for Mac (continued)

At this point you will be asked where you want to
install the sample content of Sampla (left). Click
Open to search and select a location. If possible,
for optimal performance we recommend installing
sample content on a different drive than your system
drive. Please note that if you change the location of
your sample content later you will need to re-locate the
samples folder in Samplas Settings dialog box. After
you have chosen the sample install path please
click Open.

At this time the installer will install all files

needed for SAMPLA operation. This may take a
few minutes. After the installer has completed
this task PLEASE RESTART YOUR
COMPUTER.

Installing SAMPLA for PC

The process of installing SAMPLA on a PC
is easy. Begin by double clicking on the
installation file on the Sampla Installation
DVD. For PC users this file is called
Sampla Installer_PC.exe. A welcome
screen will appear where you can begin the
installation. To proceed with installing
select next or to cancel click Cancel.

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Installing SAMPLA for PC (continued)

Next you will be asked to review the End User
License Agreement. Once you have read the
agreement you will be asked whether you
accept the agreement terms or not. If you
accept the agreement terms, click to signify you
do, and then click Next. If you do not accept
the agreement terms, the installation will be
canceled and you can contact us for a refund.

At this point you will be asked where you

want to install the sample content of
Sampla. You may install into the default
directory, as specified by the installer, or
click Browse to search and select a
location elsewhere. You will need
approximately 4 gigabytes of free space for
Samplas content. For optimal performance we
recommend installing sample content on a
different drive than your system drive. Please
note that if you decide later to change the
location of your sample content, you will need to open the Settings dialog and point the Sample
Content Directory to your Samples folder.
After you have chosen the sample install path please click Next.

Next you will be asked where you have your

VSTs installed on your system. We recommend
you locate the folder where you have other
VSTis installed, however, you may choose to
install Sampla in the default location also. (Users
not planning on using VST mode should select the
default path.) After you have chosen the VST
install path please proceed by clicking Next.

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Installing SAMPLA for PC (continued)

Now you can choose to install some or all of the
possible SAMPLA plug-in formats. If you wish
to install all of the formats, select Complete
Installation and click Next. If you wish to
install only some of the plug-ins, select
Custom Installation from the dropdown
menu and check the components you wish to
install and then click Next.

The installer will install all files needed for

SAMPLA operation. This may take several
minutes depending on the speed of your
computer. Do not interrupt the installation
process. After the installer has finished, the
wizard will display an Installation Successful
message to let you know that installation has
successfully completed.

Once installation is complete, reboot your machine before loading Sampla up for the
first time.

Please note that Sampla uses PACE copy protection. As such it will install the PACE InterLok
driver on your system if you do not already have it. As most audio software uses PACE copy
protection, it is likely you already have this installed.

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 9

Authorizing SAMPLA
The Sampla activation/authorization process is identical for Mac and PC. There are two
different methods for authorizing SAMPLA, the Internet Activation Method or the Manual
Activation Method. If the machine youre installing Sampla on has Internet access, it is
much simpler and faster to authorize Sampla for use using the Internet Activation
Method. If you do not have Internet access or you do not have Internet access on your
Sampla machine, you may use the Manual Activation Method. Both scenarios are
described in detail below.

Internet Activation Method

After installing Sampla, launch the
application in Standalone Mode or from
within a host application. Youll see the
screen pictured to the right.
Sampla will run for 5 days in Trial Mode
after which it wont run without
authorization so, if you have time now, hit
the Authorize button and lets get started.

When the next screen appears,

select Internet activation.

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Authorizing SAMPLA (continued):

At this point you will be connected to
the SONiVOX authorization website.
If you are not connected in a few
minutes, please check to make sure
your Internet connection is good and
that you can reach other websites.

On the website youll be prompted to fill in your License number. Youll find this
license number on a card inside your Sampla box. You must also fill in your email
address and any other required fields. All information sent to SONiVOX is encrypted
and held securely and we do not sell or release this information to third parties. If at
any point you need to reauthorize your Sampla product, you must contact us directly as
only one authorization is allowed per customer, per computer.

Manual Activation Method

If your music computer is NOT connected to the Internet follow these instructions for
Manual Activation. This procedure will allow you to request a license from our server
and receive a license response back from us that can then be transferred to the machine
onto which SAMPLA is installed.

Manual activation is a simple process

consisting of 2 simple steps:
Step 1 is sending SONiVOX your
license request file. Step 2 is
receiving a license response file back
from SONiVOX. What youll need is
another computer with internet
access from which you can send and
receive email messages.
Start by selecting Manual activation
from the authorization wizard.

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 11

Authorizing SAMPLA (continued):

On the next screen, select Save

License Request. This will allow you
to save a License Request File
(Sampla.ilr) to your hard drive. Copy
and move this file to a machine that is
connected to the Internet.

Next, email this file as an attachment to

[email protected]. In the subject field of the
email you must enter your serial number exactly as it
appears on your authorization card that came in
your Sampla box (be sure to include the spaces so
that the serial number looks like this: xxxx xxxx xxxx
xxxx xxxx). Within a few minutes you will receive a
license response file (Sampla.ilf) back from the
SONiVOX server.

Transfer this file to the machine onto

which Sampla is installed and press the
Read License button. Then, browse to
the location where you saved the license
file and hit Open to complete the
product authorization. When you are
finished click Next.

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Authorizing SAMPLA (continued):

When you have completed the
authorization process, you will see a
confirmation screen. Click the
Finish button to complete product
authorization.

Launching Sampla for the First Time

The first time you launch Sampla, whether its within a host or in Standalone Mode, the
Empty Default.svx file will automatically load up with it. As its name suggests, this file
is empty and contains no samples as it is meant as a template for you to begin with. To
load factory instruments, just click on the folder icon and select Load File. Any time you
select New File, the empty template will load back up.

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 13

Standalone Mode

Operating Sampla in Standalone Mode is as easy as launching the Sampla application

and configuring it to work with your audio soundcard and external midi device. First,
youll need to open Sampla up so that you can access the I/O Settings dialog.
Navigate to where you have installed your SAMPLA product (MAC users look in your
Applications folder, PC users use the shortcut on your desktop that was created
during installation) and fire Sampla up. Now, lets get your devices configured.

Audio MIDI Configuration

Launching the Device Settings Dialog Box: Under the Sampla menu- I/O Settings,
click on Device Settings (right), to open
the settings dialog box. This will allow
you to select your Audio Device for
Samplas audio input & output

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 14

Audio MIDI Configuration (continued)

Selecting Your Driver Type &
Setting Up Your Audio Routing:
With the Device Settings dialog box
open, use the pull-down menus to
select your driver type and Audio
Device for input & output. For PC
users we recommend using your
soundcards ASIO driver if it has
one. Once youve selected your
preferred audio device, use the
Input and Output menus to select
your respective audio channels.
Note- Sampla 1.0 only supports
stereo input at this time. This does not mean that you cannot record a mono source,
only that it will appear as one half of a stereo file.
Setting the Sample Rate: Use the pull-down menu to select the sample rate; rates from
44,100 to 96k are supported. When used as a plug-in, the sample rate will be determined
by your hosts settings
Setting the Audio Buffer Size: When setting your buffer size, remember that a lower
buffer setting will result in a lower latency and better real-time performance but will
require more CPU usage. 512 is a good place to start. Slower computers may need a
larger buffer size and faster computers may handle a smaller buffer size. If you hear
crackling in your audio, generally this means you need to increase your buffer size.
When Sampla is being used as a plug-in, the host application will determine the buffer
size.
.
Setting the MIDI Input Port: Under Samplas Menu I/O Settings Midi Ports, select
the MIDI device you wish to use. If you connect your Midi device after launching
Sampla, Sampla may or may not recognize it. If it doesnt show up in the list, close
Sampla and re-open it while the Midi device is still connected; this should cause it to be
recognized.

*For more information on how to use Sampla as a recording device, please consult the section
entitled Recording with Sampla.

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Standalone Mode Operation

After youve finished configuring your audio & midi devies, all you need to do is make
sure your MIDI control device(s) is powered on to start using Sampla in Standalone
mode.

The first time you launch Sampla, whether its within a host or in Standalone Mode,
the Empty Default.svx file will automatically load up with it. As its name suggests,
this file is empty and contains no samples as it is meant as a template for you to begin
with. To load factory instruments, just click on the folder icon and select Load File.
Any time you select New File, the empty template will load back up.
Loading an Instrument: Click on the folder icon
button in the upper right-hand corner of the
Sampla interface and then select Load File. This
will bring up the Sampla browser window which
will automatically point to the Sampla content directory. Once you have an instrument
loaded, you can use the scroll buttons to quickly audition other instruments in the
same folder.
Creating an Instrument: Click on the folder
icon and select New File. This will load
the Empty Default.svx file which is the empty
template for loading samples and creating your own
instruments. Remember that the Empty Default file is always empty; you wont hear
anything until you load some samples.

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Using SAMPLA as a Plugin

SAMPLA functions as a standard instrument plug-in inside your host Digital Audio
Workstation (DAW) like Logic, Live, Cubase, etc. For information regarding using plugins with your DAW, please refer to your chosen DAWs users guide. Once youve got
Sampla locked and loaded, read on. Youre almost there.

Graphical User Interface & Controls

Below is an overview of Samplas Graphical User Interface

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 17

Control of Your Sampla Sounds

Control over Samplas sounds is handled via Samplas Instruments and Pad
Layouts. Check out the next two sections to fully understand these two things. The
diagrams and pop outs will give you a quick overview. Detailed explanations are
included as well.
Instruments
Sampla has over 200 Instruments. An Instrument is simply a multi-sample; a collection
of samples programmed into a Sampla instrument. Each instance of Sampla can have
one Instrument loaded at a time. If you want to use more than one Instrument in a song,
simply open another instance of Sampla on another track in your sequencer.

To load a Sampla instrument, click on the browser button at the top right of the Sampla
interface. A browser window will appear where a series of folders organized by
Instrument type appear. Inside these folders are .svx files. These are your Sampla
Instruments. Select one and hit Open.
To quickly scroll through instruments, select the up or down buttons. The next or
previous Sampla instruments will load.
After loading, Sampla is ready for playback. If youre using a MIDI keyboard or pad
controller you can simply start playing. You can also click on the keyboard notes at the
bottom of the Sampla screen, or the pads themselves in the middle of the screen.

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PAD Control; the Pad Grid, Pad Layouts, and Saving Learned Pad
Assignments
Overview
Samplas 16 PAD layout grid is one of the centerpieces of the Sampla virtual
instrument. It is command central for where youll program your beats. For this reason
it is important for you to understand a few simple concepts about its functionality. To
do so, read on.

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Pad Layouts
Sampla has 16 pads arranged in a grid. We call this the Pad Layout. Each pad can be
programmed individually by selecting the pad you want to program before assigning
notes, triggers, or retrigger functionality. Or you can simply select from the many preprogrammed pad layouts (we call these Sampla Layas) weve programmed for you.

Pad Layouts are different from Instruments in that they only contain the MIDI notes
assigned to each pad. Because of
this, you can use the same Pad
Layout for any of the over 200
Sampla Instruments.

Learn Layouts
Also assigned to each of the 16
pads is a MIDI note number that
will trigger that pad. Using the
LEARN button you can select
which MIDI note (or which pad on
your external pad controller) will
be assigned to each Sampla pad. These settings are saved in your MIDI Learn Preset.
Like Pad Layouts, you can use the same Learn Preset for any of the over 200 Sampla
Instruments or any instruments you create yourself.

Loading, Clearing and Saving Layouts

When you first launch Sampla a
default Pad Layout and Learn
Layout will be loaded so you
can immediately use the pad
grid to play Instruments.
To load a new Pad Layout, click
the Load Layout button
(bottom right of the LCD). This will open a browser window where you can select any
of SONiVOXs pre-programmed Pad Layouts or any you have saved yourself. To load a
SONiVOX Pad Layout, browse to the Layas folder, open it, and select any of the layout
files in that folder.
To save a Pad Layout, simply select Save Layout (above). A browser window will
appear where you can name your layout and save it.

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To clear a Pad Layout on any of the 16 Sampla pads, right-click on that pad and select
Clear Map. Loading, saving and clearing Learn Layouts works exactly the same.
The diagram below will show you what your options are any time you right-click on a
pad in the Pad Grid.

Loading Samples
Sampla lets you load samples in 2 different ways- via the Pads and the Keys (you must
be in KMap mode to load samples into keys. To load a sample into a pad, just right click
on any pad and click Load Sample. This will bring up the browser where you can
navigate to a sample on your computer.
To load a sample into a key, put Sampla into KMap mode and right click on any key on
Samplas UI keyboard. Select Load Sample, and then browse to and open the sample you
wish to load.

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Sampla Function Modes

There are four modes in Sampla that specifically relate to the functional way in which
the instrument works and interfaces with your Midi hardware. We call these Function
Modes to differentiate them from the three Sampla Edit Modes (Sample, Slice &
Keymap) which deal more specifically with the editing of samples and keymaps.
Of these four Function modes, two are play modes and two are used to program
Samplas pads the way you like them. Use Keys mode when you want to play
Samplas Instruments from your keyboard or MPC style controller. Use Map mode
when you want to program certain notes/sounds to the pads. Use Learn mode when
you want to program what key or pad from your external controller will trigger a pad.
Folllowing is a detailed how-to for each of these modes.

Pads Mode
The get into Pads Mode, simply
select the Pads button until you
see it light up. Pads Mode directs
incoming MIDI notes to Samplas
pad grid. Use this mode after
youve programmed Samplas
pads the way you want them and
are ready to play Samplas pads
from your MPC controller or
keyboard controller.

Keys Mode
To put Sampla into Keys Mode,
simply select the Keys button
until you see it light up. Keys
Mode lets you play Sampla
Instruments from your external
MIDI controller independent of the Pad Grid. You can also click on Samplas virtual
keyboard to hear instruments quickly. In Keys Mode, notes played from your controller
get sent directly to Samplas internal synthesizer and bypass any triggers you may have
set up in the pad layout. You can still trigger Samplas pads using the mouse however.

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Map Mode
Map Mode allows you to map MIDI notes to an individual pad. Each pad can hold up
to 16 MIDI notes, so you can assign multiple kick drums or chord stacks to your liking.
To do this, simply select the Map button so its LED lights up. Then select the Pad you
want to map notes to. Next either select the notes on the keyboard at the bottom of the
screen or use your MIDI keyboard to select the notes you want that pad to play. Notice
that when you play a note from your keyboard, the virtual keyboard in Sampla will
indicate which note has been played. If you dont like any notes youve played or
selected, simply click them on the virtual keyboard and they will be unassigned. Thats
a lot of words but its really only four steps. Check it out.

You can save the Pad Control assignments as Pad Layouts and use them with any
Learn Layout or Instrument. See above for details.

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Learn Mode
In Learn Mode, you allow a pad to learn which MIDI key from your keyboard
controller or MIDI pad from your pad controller will trigger a particular pad. For
example, say you have an MPC and you want the first pad to trigger the notes youve
assigned to Sampla Pad 1. You would put Sampla into Learn Mode by selecting the
Learn button, then hit the Sampla pad you want to assign a trigger to, then hit the pad
on your MPC that you want to use as a trigger. Simple as that. After youve assigned
triggers to pads, put Sampla into Pads Mode by selecting the Pads button. Now when
you play from your keyboard or pad controller, you are playing Samplas pads.
You can save the Learn assignments as Learn Layouts and use them with any Pad
Layout or Instrument. See above for details.

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Sampla Edit Modes (Sample, Slice & KMap)

Sample Mode
Sample Mode allows you to edit sample start & end points, adjust root key information,
pan, pitch & volume parameters. To edit a sample, just click on the Pad that contains
the sample you want to edit; this will automatically bring the sample up in the
waveform display.

Sample Mode Knob Functions:

Start: This knob lets you adjust the samples start point. You can also edit this
parameter by grabbing the start point marker with your mouse and dragging it
left or right. The sample start point sets the point in the sample at which playback
begins.

End: The End knob allows you to edit the samples end point. Just like the Start
parameter, this can also be edited by mousing over the End point marker and
dragging it left or right as space allows. The sample end point sets the point
beyond which sample playback stops.

RootKey: The root key knob allows you to subtly or drastically effect a samples
pitch and timbre depending on how much you adjust this setting. Moving the
knob clock-wise will have the effect of lowering the pitch. Moving the knob
counter clock-wise will have the effect of raising the pitch. In both cases, youll
find that pitch shifting is just a small part of what this little knob can do.
Pan: For mono samples, the pan knob allows you to adjust where the sample
appears in the stereo field. Whatever value you set here will also be displayed in
Samplas KMap Mode view.

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Pitch: Use this knob to shift the samples pitch by +/- 12 semitones. Since the Pitch
function is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here will also be
displayed in Sample & KMap Modes as well.

Volume: Use this knob to adjust the samples playback volume. Since the sample
Volume parameter is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here
will also be displayed in Sample & KMap Modes.

The Loop & Play Buttons

Play: Hit the Play button to play the sample back in its current state. This button
is a momentary (and not a toggle) button; as soon as you release it, playback will
stop. This can come in handy when editing as you wont have to listen to the entire
sample play back each time you want to preview your edits.

Loop: Engaging the Loop button allows you to loop playback of the current
sample. This is not a momentary switch; once engaged the sample will loop as
long for as long as it remains triggered. The sample start and end points do double duty
as loop start and end points. Adjusting these points will alter the loop accordingly.

Working With the Waveform Display

As we mentioned above, you can use the knobs
to adjust sample start and end points but its
quicker to just grab the markers with your mouse
and move them that way.

Notice in the examples here that the color

of the waveform display is darker in areas
outside of the region start & end points.

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This is to remind you that these

areas are no longer active during
sample playback.

You can click anywhere inside the

waveform display and drag the
waveform to the left or right.
Use the zoom control to zoom in
and out. Clicking any of the arrows
repeatedly will let you zoom in by
increments. Clicking and holding
will zoom continuously.

The Zoom Button has four functions: the left & right arrows will allow you to zoom in
and zoom out while the up/down arrows give you the ability to increase or decrease
the vertical height of the displayed waveform.

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 27

Slice Mode
Slice mode is where youll take a sample when you want to cut it up into more than 1 region.
Each region you create in Slice mode can then be mapped to a Pad and triggered
independently. Slice mode is different from sample mode in that it gives you some specific
functions not available anywhere else in the Sampla interface.

Slice Mode Knob Functions:

NumRgn (Number of Regions): This knob lets you select how many different regions
you want the currently displayed sample to be divided up into. The maximum is 16
regions. For each new region you create, a region Start & End marker will be drawn in
the waveform display.

SelRgn (Select Region): Use this knob to select the region you want to edit. A quicker
way to do this is to just move your mouse over a region and double-click it; this will
highlight it visually.

RgnStart (Region Start Point): This knob allows you to edit the selected regions start
point. As with SelRgn, a quicker way to do this is to grab the region start point with
your mouse and drag it.

RgnEnd (Region End Point): Allows you to adjust a regions end point marker. You
can also do this by grabbing the marker with your mouse and dragging it. Since a
regions start point marker is always overlapped by the previous regions end point
marker, determining which markers belong to which regions can be a little confusing
at first. Just remember that moving the previous regions end marker will allow the
next regions start marker to be displayed. For more information about this, check out the
section below called Working With Region Start & End Markers.

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Pitch: Use this knob to shift the samples pitch by +/- 12 semitones. Since the Pitch
function is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here will also be
displayed in Sample & KMap Modes as well.

Volume: Use this knob to adjust the samples playback volume. Since the sample
Volume parameter is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here will
also be displayed in Sample & KMap Modes.

Working With Region Start & End Markers

As we mentioned above, the first time you create some regions in Slice Mode, you might be
confused when you try to figure out where one region begins and the other one ends; this is
because region Start & End markers overlap.
The rule to remember is that end markers always overlap start markers. To see a regions start
marker, just move the preceding regions end marker to the left; this will uncover the start
point of the following region.

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Mapping Regions to Pads: AutoMap

The A.Map button in the Slice Mode window
allows you to automatically map all the
regions/slices currently displayed to the Pad
Grid.
If there are 7 regions currently displayed, theyll be mapped to Pads 1-7. Region 1 will
go to Pad1, Region 2 to Pad 2 and so on. Any samples already loaded into any of these
Pads will be replaced by the samples being Automapped.

Mapping Regions Individually

If you dont want to map all the regions at the
same time, thats no problem. Just highlight an
individual region and right-click on it.
This will bring up a Pad menu that allows you
to pick the Pad you would like to assign this
region to.
As with the AutoMap function, if the Pad you
select already has a sample in it, itll be
replaced by the region you just designated for
assignment.

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The Play Button

Just as it does in Sample Mode, hitting the Play button lets you
hear the current sample in its current state. If you have more
than 1 region, the Play button will play whichever region is highlighted.

Keymap Mode

Keymap Mode allows you to edit sample parameters as they appear on Samplas UI
keyboard and create instruments that suit your own tastes and/or specific workflow
needs. You might find KMap mode useful for a variety of reasons; creating your own
melodic instruments, stretching a sample or samples to cover a wider playable range, or
organizing samples so that they can be triggered in a method thats more suited to the
way you work. Well look at how you can utilize Keymap Mode below:
First- What is a keymap? Simply put, a keymap is a collection of samples mapped to a
graphical keyboard interface. Every key on the keyboard interface has a specific pitch
and corresponding MIDI note number that allows it to sync up with a MIDI controller.
Striking the C3 key on your MIDI keyboard controller, for instance, tells the Sampla
interface play whatever sample is loaded into the C3 key. Your MIDI controller
doesnt care what sample is loaded into the C3 key, though, its only job is to send the
MIDI note-on message. The Keymap, then, is simply a means of organizing your
samples in a way that you find intuitive to work with.

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Working With Samples in Keymap Mode

As mentioned previously, you can load a sample into
any key simply by right-clicking a key and selecting
Load Sample. This will bring up the standard browser
window and allow you to point to the sample you want
to load.
Once loaded, your sample will have a key range of 1
semitone; it can be played only by triggering the key into which you loaded it. To
increase this Key Range and make the sample playable by more than one key, click and
drag the left or right edge of the sample. This will stretch the sample to cover a wider
playable range. Keep in mind that, as you stretch a sample, the pitch of the sample will
change in relation to the pitch it exhibits at its original key. As a sample is stretched
upwards, its pitch will rise. As it is stretched downwards, its pitch will fall.

Remember, when working in KeyMap mode, that its very easy to create unintended
overlap if you plan on triggering an instrument via both the pads and the keys.
Since each Sampla Pad has its own default
note assignment (left), if you map or stretch
samples that overlap the keyboard range of
C3-D#4 you could end up inadvertently
clearing these samples out if you load a
sample into any of the pads since this is the
keyboard range that Samplas pads use.

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Keymap Mode Knob Functions:

LowKey: The lowest key in a samples key range. You can also edit this
parameter graphically by dragging the left edge of the sample in the Sampla UI
keyboard

Hi Key: The highest key in a samples key range. As with LowKey, this can also
be edited graphically by dragging the right edge of the sample in the Sampla UI
keyboard.

RootKey: The root key knob allows you to subtly or drastically effect a samples
pitch and timbre depending on how much you adjust this setting. Moving the
knob clock-wise will have the effect of lowering the pitch. Moving the knob
counter clock-wise will have the effect of raising the pitch. In both cases, youll
find that pitch shifting is just a small part of what this little knob can do.

Pan: For mono samples, the pan knob allows you to adjust where the sample
appears in the stereo field. Whatever value you set here will also be displayed in
Samplas KMap Mode view.

Pitch: Use this knob to shift the samples pitch by +/- 12 semitones. Since the
Pitch function is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here will
also be displayed in Sample & KMap Modes as well.

Volume: Use this knob to adjust the samples playback volume. Since the sample
Volume parameter is shared by all 3 Sampla Modes, whatever value you set here
will also be displayed in Sample & KMap Modes.

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Recording with Sampla

To record your own sample data into Sampla, first launch
Sampla in Standalone Mode (recording is not supported in
host applications) and open up Samplas Device Settings
dialog to configure your audio device for recording and
playback.

Choose your preferred input & output

channels from the pull-down menus in
the settings dialog. PC users can choose
between ASIO & MME drivers (ASIO
recommended).
Once your audio device is configured,
launch Sampla in Standalone Mode.

Click the Record button to

launch the Sample save
dialog window; this will ask
you to name your sample and
pick a location to save it to
before recording begins.
By default, this location will
be the Sampla User
Recorded Samples folder
that appears in your Sampla
content directory. If you
prefer another location, just
browse to it and hit Save.

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Once youve named your sample and picked a place to save it to, the record button will
turn red and Samplas level meters will become active in response to the incoming audio
signal. To arm Sampla for recording, now press the Play button.
The Threshold slider sets the dB threshold above which Sampla will engage the recording
transport; recording will begin when the audio signal exceeds this threshold level. When
recording is in progress, both the Record and Play buttons will be lit. To stop recording,
just hit the Play button again.

The Threshold Slider

The record threshold slider allows you to adjust the sensitivity of Samplas record
function. The slider can be adjusted from -90 to -6 dB which gives you plenty of leeway
by which to avoid recording dead air in situations where it isnt preferable.

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Continuous Recording
If you prefer to record multiple takes in one continuous session without naming each
take individually, just leave the red record button lit and turn the play button on and off
for each successive take. Recording in this method will still create a unique sample for
each take but will automatically append a number to the name of each new sample.
As an example, lets say your initial sample name (the name you gave the sample when
you first pressed the record button and were prompted to name and save it) is 808
Snare.wav. If you leave the record button on and record additional samples, each
additional sample will have a number appended to the end of it like so: 808 Snare1.wav, 808 Snare-2.wav, etc.

Loading Your Recorded Samples

Once youre done recording, all your recorded samples are available to load and edit; just
right click on a pad or key , say Load Sample and browse to your Recorded Sample
directory to load.

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The Pattern Creator

Samplas Pattern Creator allows you to create sample playback patterns on a per-pad
basis by cycling through all the samples mapped to a single pad. Using the Retrigger
function, Pattern Direction menu and the Note Counter lets you mix things up and create
unique musical phrases for every pad on the Pad Grid. With 16 pads, its possible to have
up to 16 unique patterns in each instance of Sampla.

How to Create Patterns

Creating patterns is as simple as mapping notes to a pad and turning on the Retrig and
Patrn buttons. Heres how to do it:

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Pattern Direction and the Note Counter

Use the Pattern Direction pull-down menu to change the direction the pattern moves in.
The number counter to the right of this will determine how many times Sampla plays
each note before moving on to the next one in the pattern.
For example, with 3 notes mapped to a pad and the direction set to Up-Down with a
note count of 1, the pattern would move like this:
1-2-3-2-1
Changing the note counter to 2 would make the pattern play like this:
1-1-2-2-3-3-2-2-1-1

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The Settings Dialog

The Settings dialog box allows you to change your Sampla locations for factory content
and content you record yourself.
Sampla Content Directory
After installing Sampla, this field automatically points to the Samples folder inside
your Sampla content directory. This is the folder the Sampla engine needs to see in
order for factory content
to play back correctly.
Theres no need to change
this directory path unless
you physically move your
Sampla content to a new
location.
If you move your Sampla
content directory to a new
location:
Click on the Change
button in the Sampla
Content Directory field
and browse to the new location. Find the Samples folder, highlight it and say Choose.
This will re-point the Sampla engine to the new location of your Sampla factory
samples.
Remember, if you need to move your Sampla factory content to a new location, to keep
your content directory intact so that the instrument folders always sit at the same level
as your Samples folder. The directory structure should always look like this:
Sampla
Sampla Construction Kits
Sampla Drums
Sampla Instruments
Sampla Orchestral
Sampla Synths
Sampla User Drum Samples
Sampla User Recorded Samples
Sampla User Synth Samples
Samples
Sonic Emulations Loops

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Recorded Content Directory

The Recorded Content Directory is the default folder for storing samples you record
yourself. This is the folder that opens up automatically when you hit the Record
button and Sampla asks you to name the new sample you are about to record. After
installation, this will default to the Sampla User Recorded Samples folder in your
factory content directory. This is provided more as a means for keeping your recorded
content organized than anything else; the Sampla engine does not require this field to
be set to a particular folder as the Sampla Content Directory does. If you wish to
change this location, just hit the Change button and point to a new folder.
Creating Your Own Instruments and Maintaining Sample Path Integrity
Saving and reloading
instruments youve
created is easy to
do. One thing that
makes it even
easier is to keep
your samples in
the same location
they were in when
you first created
the instrument.
Sample path
integrity refers to
the practice of keeping your samples organized so that the Sampla engine knows where
to find them.
If you create an instrument and save it, Sampla will remember the location of your
instruments samples and will look for them there the next time you load the
instrument. If any of the samples have moved, Sampla will ask you where it can find
them.

When Sampla sees that samples are missing from your instrument, it will pop up a
Missing Sample Files dialog box to notify you and ask you if you want to locate them.
You can hit Cancel in which case the instrument will load without the missing
samples, or Ok to locate the missing samples manually.
If you select Ok, Sampla will open up a browser window and ask you to locate the
missing samples. At the top of the browser window, youll see the name of the first
sample in the list preceded by the folder the sample was in at the time you saved it.

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Use the browser to find the location of the missing sample and click the open button. If
the remaining missing samples are in the same folder, Sampla will load them
automatically. If not, Sampla will pop up another missing sample message to notify you
that samples are still missing from the instrument to be loaded along with the next
sample that it cant find. Continue the process of locating samples until all samples are
located. When the instrument loads, be sure to save it if you want Sampla to save these
new samples paths with the instrument.

Master Parameters
Samplas master parameters include the master volume control, master pan control,
master transposition, master tune, ModWheel and PitchWheel. Read each section below
for the details.
Volume and Pan Control
The master volume and pan controls set your overall volume and pan for the currently
loaded Sampla Instrument. For the most part youll keep your master volume at full for
the best signal to noise ratio. Exceptions to this might include where youve added

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chorus, delay, and EQ effects that clip the overall volume. Then youll want to turn it
down a bit. Use your ears and keep your eye on the LED meters at the top left of the
Sampla interface.
The master pan control can be used to pan a Sampla Instrument left or right. Both the
volume and pan controls can be controlled with automation from your DAW or
assigned to an external controller. (see Automation section)

Transpose and Pitch Control

On the bottom right of the Sampla interface youll see two knobs corresponding to Pitch
and Transpose. Transpose will transpose Samplas Instrument in semitone (half step or
50 cent) increments. The range is +/- 12 semitones. The Tune control allows for fine
tune control of the pitch in 1 cent increments. The range here is +/- 50 cents. These
parameters can also be automated in your DAW and controlled by external controllers.

Pitch & Modulation Wheels

Samplas pitch and modulation wheels are at the bottom left of the Sampla interface.
The ModWheel corresponds to the standard MIDI continuous controller 1 (CC1)
message. When you mouse the ModWheel up or down you will hear modulation of the
loaded Instrument, There are many interesting sounds here so the ModWheel is worth
exploring. The Pitch Wheel corresponds to the standard MIDI RNP0 message. It
controls the pitch of the Instrument in real-time. Both the ModWheel and Pitch Wheel
can be automated by your DAW and assigned to an external controller.

Filter, Envelope and Effects

Samplas envelopes and effects give you extra control over how your Instruments
sound and play in your mix. Read each section below for the details.

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Assigning a Filter
Samplas filter section lets you choose from 10 different filter types for use with your Sampla
instruments. To load a filter, just pick one from the drop-down menu. You can adjust your
frequency cutoff and Q settings with the Freq and Q knobs in the Filter view.

Envelope Control
Sampla has two 4-stage envelopes for modulating Samplas amplitude and filter. The
four stages are Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. Additionally, Velocity to Amplitude
and Velocity to Filter knobs allow you to determine touch sensitivity as it relates to
amplitude and filter settings. Moving the Attack knob modulates how fast or slow the
sample starts (amp env) or the filter opens (ftl env) after you play a note. Decay
determines how long the sample should decay to the sustain level (volume for amp env
or filter frequency for flt
env). Release specifies
how fast the sample
should decay (amp env)
or open the filter (flt env)
once a note has been
released (when you lift
your finger off the key or
pad).

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The sliders of the envelope can also be automated in your DAW (Logic, Cubase, Digital
Performer, etc.). They will show up as Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release in
your DAWs Sampla automation list. Check your DAWs manual if youre unsure how
to do this as it is different for each DAW.
If you have a hardware controller that sends MIDI continuous controller messages
(MIDI CCs) you can assign those to control the envelope parameters in real-time. This
works exactly like assigning
a trigger to a Sampla Pad.
First put Sampla into Learn
Mode by clicking on the
Learn button. Next move
the Sampla slider or knob
that you want to assign the
controller to. Finally, move
the controller you are
assigning to the slider. (or
send a MIDI CC command
from your sequencer into
Sampla) To remove a CC
assignment on a slider
simply right click on the
slider (or CTRL click on the Mac) and select Remove Learn. Thats it. Once youre
done, be sure to take Sampla out of Learn Mode (or it will keep learning) and put it into
either Keys Mode or Pads Mode for playing.
4-Band Equalizer
The SONiVOX 4-band graphic EQ gives you immediate control over how your Sampla
Instruments will sit in your mix. The EQ filter frequencies have been preset individually
for the Sampla instruments so be sure to try the EQ with each new Instrument. Each
band has 18dB of cut or gain.
Your EQ settings will be saved with each Sampla Instrument. If you edit the settings of
a default Sampla Instrument, be sure to save it. We suggest using a new name so you
keep your factory default Instruments intact.

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The sliders of the equalizer can also be automated in your DAW (Logic, Cubase, Digital
Performer, etc.). They will show up as Low, Mid, High, and Treble in your
DAWs Sampla automation list. Check your DAWs manual if youre unsure how to do
this as it is different for each DAW.
If you have a hardware controller that sends MIDI continuous controller messages
(MIDI CCs) you can assign those to control the envelope parameters in real-time. This
works exactly like assigning a trigger to a Sampla Pad. First put Sampla into Learn
Mode by clicking on the Learn button. Next move the Sampla slider that you want to
assign the controller to. Finally, move the controller you are assigning to the slider. (or
send a MIDI CC command from your sequencer into Sampla) To remove a CC
assignment on a slider simply right click on the slider (or CTRL click on the Mac) and
select Remove Learn. Thats it. Once youre done, be sure to take Sampla out of Learn
Mode (or it will keep learning) and put it into either Keys Mode or Pads Mode for
playing.
Chorus and Delay Effects
Sampla has two effects in addition to the 4-band graphic equalizer, the Chorus effect
and the Delay effect. Its always best to use your own ears, but in general the chorus can
be nice to thicken synth or keyboard patches, and the delay is nice for special delay
effects. The delay can also make a nice reverb in some cases. Many of the Sampla
Instruments use the delay this way. Feel free to copy these settings to other Instruments if
you like it. Your Chorus and Delay settings will be saved with each Sampla Instrument. If
you edit the settings of a default Sampla Instrument, be sure to save it. We suggest using
a new name so you keep your factory default Instruments intact.

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Chorus Parameters
When you select the Chorus (CHR) button, the Chorus parameters will be displayed.
These include:
Depth: this controls the depth of the chorus LFO. Values range from 0% (no
LFO modulation) to 100% (full modulation).

Delay: this controls the delay time of the chorus. Values range from 0ms (no
delay) to 50ms.

Rate: this controls the rate of the chorus LFO. Values range from 0hz to 10hz.

Mix: this controls the wet/dry mix of the chorus effect. Values range from 0%
(no chorus signal) to 100% (chorus signal only).

Feedback: this controls how much of the chorus effect is fed back into the
chorus delay line. Values range from 0% to 100%.

On/Off: this sets the chorus effect to ON or OFF. Setting the chorus to OFF
bypasses the effect entirely and will save CPU cycles.

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Delay Parameters
When you select the Delay (DLY) button, the Delay parameters will be displayed. These
include:
Pan: this controls the pan position of the stereo delay. Values range from -100
(full Left) to +100 (full Right)

Delay L: this controls the delay time of the left channel delay. Values range
from 0ms (no delay) to 3000ms.

Delay R: this controls the delay time of the right channel delay. Values range
from 0ms (no delay) to 3000ms.

Mix: this controls the wet/dry mix of the delay effect. Values range from 0%
(no delay effect) to 100% (delay signal only).

Feedback: this controls how much of the delay effect is fed back into the delay
line. Values range from 0% to 100%.

Automating Samplas Parameters

Almost all of Samplas parameters can be automated inside your DAW (Logic, Cubase,
Digital Performer, etc.). If you havent used automation in your tracks before you
should consult the users manual of your DAW to see how to do it since its different for
every DAW. But well still give you some tips in this section.
In addition to automating Samplas parameters with your DAW you can also play the
parameters with a hardware controller. For example, if you have a controller with some
sliders or knobs that send MIDI continuous controllers (MIDI CCs) you can assign any
of those to a slider or knob in Samplas interface and manually control them using your

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controller. Its common to use this in conjunction with automation in your DAW to get
the right feel or to edit things after youve played them in.
Automation in your DAW or Host Application
Following is a list of Samplas automation parameters. These will appear in the list of
automation parameters inside your digital audio workstation or host application. The
example here uses Logic Pro.

Simply
select the
parameter
you wish to
automate
from the list
of Samplas
automation
parameters
then either
draw the
automation
in with your
mouse or
use a
hardware
controller to
play it in.
When you
initiate
playback,
you will see
Samplas
parameters change in the GUI in real-time.
All of the parameters are self explanatory except perhaps Pad Rez, which is the
Retrigger Rate on an individual Sampla Pad.

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Automation Using a Hardware Controller

Often in conjunction with automating Samplas parameters in your DAW, youll want
to play the controls in using the sliders, knobs, wheels or touchpads from an external
MIDI controller. Doing this is quite simple. In fact its the same method of Learning a
trigger to a Sampla Pad.
First put Sampla into Learn Mode by selecting the Learn button. Next, move the
slider or knob you wish to control from your external controller. Next, move the
external controller that you wish to assign to the Sampla parameter. Finally put Sampla
back into a play mode such as Keys Mode or Pads Mode, otherwise it will keep
learning. Thats it. Now when you move your external controller you should see the
Sampla parameter that youve assigned it to move in real-time. If you hit Record in your
DAW, you can now record the movements of the Sampla parameter, edit the recording,
and play it back.

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Troubleshooting
Usually there is a very logical reason for problems when they occur. Through our
intensive testing and the feedback we have received from our beta team and users like
you, we have compiled a list of some helpful tips in troubleshooting problems you may
run into. In the case that this guide is not helpful in solving your issues, please first
check www.sonivoxmi.com for the latest updates and information regarding this
SAMPLA product. In the case that this is unsuccessful in solving your issue, please
contact our support team at: [email protected]. We will do our best to get
back to you as soon as possible.

Sampla Installation & Operation Issues

(Mac): I get an error message that says The software to be installed requires Mac OS 10.4.1 or
newer, which is not on this computer.
Solution: Your Mac doesnt meet the minimum system requirements. The Sampla
minimum system requirements (as stated on the Sampla box) require that your system
be an Intel Mac running at least OS 10.4.1
(Mac): I get an Error creating folder. Access denied message when I try to install Sampla that
prevents the installation from completing. The installer is telling me that I dont have sufficient
privileges to complete this operation. (See screenshot below)

Solution: This is most likely related to a (pre-existing) corruption issue with your folder
permissions that prevents the Sampla installation from gaining access to required
folders on your system.
First, be sure that you have administrator privileges on the machine in question as you
cannot install Sampla without administrator privileges. To may need to run the
Repair/Verify Disk Permissions utility. Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
Click on Macintosh HD (or whatever the name of your Mac boot drive is) on the left.
Then click Verify Disk Permissions at the bottom. Wait until this completes then click

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Repair Disk Permissions. After completing these steps restart your computer and
launch the Sampla installer again. With disk permissions repaired you should have no
issues completing Sampla installation.

SAMPLA Standalone Mode

My soundcard / MIDI device is not recognized.

First quit all of your open applications

Disconnect and reconnect the audio and or MIDI device. Try another USB / Firewire
port if one is available. Connect the device directly to the computer and not via a USB /
Firewire hub.
Open Audio MIDI Setup (Mac OS X) or the Device Manager in you PCs Control Panel
(PC Users) and see if the device shows up there. Check to see if the device is in an error
state.
Update any soundcard / MIDI drivers from the manufacturers website.
Uninstall and reinstall your soundcard / MIDI drivers.
Check and see if the device is working with other audio or MIDI applications you may
have. If so and is just not working with SAMPLA please contact SONiVOX at
[email protected]
I dont hear any sound.
Typically there are two causes for this problem. It is either MIDI or soundcard/routing
related.

Make sure that Samplas MIDI input is set to receive from your MIDI device properly.
This may be done by going to the I/O Settings tab in the Sampla menu and making
sure your MIDI device is selected in the MIDI Ports list and has a check mark next to
it.
Make sure Samplas Audio Output is set to your Audio Output Device. This may be
done by going to the I/O Settings tab in the Sampla menu and making sure that the
Audio Device that you want to use is selected. You can tell that it is selected if it has a
check mark next to it
Make sure Samplas Audio Output Channel is set correctly. This may be done by going
to the I/O Settings tab in the Sampla menu and making sure that the Audio Channel
that you want to use is selected. You can tell that it is selected if it has a check mark next
to it.
SAMPLAs sound is distorted, and or playback drops out.

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 Your latency settings may be too low. Low soundcard buffers (low latency settings)
strain your CPU more, so it may be helpful to increase the buffer size. This is found in
the I/O Settings Menu under Device Settings; or in a host/sequencer/DAW, the
soundcard setup.
Your CPU may be overloading. If you are running a lot of Samplas built-in effects and
running multiple SAMPLAs or other processor intensive applications this could be the
case. If this isnt the case, then your computer may have other processes which are
using resources needed for real-time audio processing. PC Users Please check the Task
Manager by pressing (ctrl-alt-delete) simultaneously or MAC users please check your
Activity Monitor this is found in your Applications folder, in Utilities. Quitting
processes using a lot of CPU power will free up recourses for SAMPLA. Please note that
we do not recommend force quitting applications from inside of
the Task Manager. You can also bounce Sampla tracks down to audio tracks, and/or
freeze Sampla tracks to free up CPU cycles. Check with your DAW manual on how to
do these things.
When I trigger a note with my MIDI controller there is a noticeable delay in hearing sound.
The audio buffer is set too high. Go to the I/O Settings tab and select a lower audio
buffer in the Audio Buffer submenu. In a host/sequencer/DAW, this is done in the
soundcard setup.
PC users please note that ASIO drivers are recommended for optimal low-latency
performance. Many soundcards have ASIO drivers. In the case your particular card
does not, you may be able to find a generic ASIO driver for your system online.

SAMPLA in Host Applications

My plug-in does not show up.
Before proceeding, please make sure that you have the latest SAMPLA updates
installed.

Cubase/Nuendo: From the Devices menu, open the plug-in information dialog. Make
sure that the installed plug-in can be seen. Click the checkbox next to the plug-in name
to activate it. Now restart Cubase or Nuendo and the changes should take effect.
Logic: Make sure that the plug-in was installed correctly by checking the local plug-ins
folder (Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components) for installed items. Start
the Logic AU Manager from the Logic Menu/Preferences. Rescan individual plug-ins
or reset and rescan all plug-ins. After scanning, you may need to activate a plug-in by
clicking the checkbox next to it.
Ableton Live: If you are using a custom vst/au folder make sure you install Sampla
into the same folder as the rest of your plug-ins and that in Lives preferences you have
directed Live to search that folder for plug-ins

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Digital Performer: Rescanning all the plug-ins often solves this problem. To force
Digital Performer to rescan all plug-ins, delete the plug-in preference file AudioUnit
info cache from the folder: Macintosh HD/Users/~/Library/Preferences/Digital
Performer
SAMPLA as a plug-in makes no sound.
Try clicking the software's virtual keyboard. If there is sound the problem is MIDI
related and most-likely havent set the midi output from one of your instrument tracks
correctly to Sampla. Also some hosts may require the MIDI track to be record enabled
in order to hear sound (for example Logic).

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 53

Contacting SONiVOX
The folks at SONiVOX are friendly people and want to hear from you! Below you will
find contact information for the various departments at SONiVOX. Sending baked
goods is highly encouraged.
General Mailing:
SONiVOX
561 Windsor Street, Suite A402
Somerville, MA 02143
www.sonivoxmi.com
Sales Inquiries:
[email protected]
Toll Free: 888-577-9629
International sales inquiries: 617-718-0202
Fax: 617-718-0227
Support:
[email protected]
Phone: 617-718-0202
Fax: 617-718-0227

SONIVOX SAMPLA Documentation & Users Guide Copyright 2009 Sonic Network, Inc. Page 54