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DIGITAL SAMPLERS

WHAT IS A SAMPLER?
A sampler is a musical instrument that stores recording sounds digitally in RAM. These are usually played
back on a keyboard using midi.
Sounds are played at different pitches by speeding up or slowing down the digital recording. However this
unfortunately changes the length and timbre and is more noticeable when transposed more than a couple of
tones. Multisampling is used to overcome this.

Velocity layering is where different samples are assigned to different velocity ranges e.g. brighter timber for
high velocities.
Samples can be found on CD ROM sample libraries and increasingly on the internet. Samples usually have
the same controls as a synthesiser for example filters (DCF), envelope/ADSR, LFO/modulation.

SAMPLES LOOPED
Samplers are often looped to create a longer more sustained sound. This must be done with
care because if its not done right at the loop point then it will create a glitch/click.
Crossfade looping or choosing zero-crossing loop points overcome this. Samples also can be
reversed.
Loop

NYQUIST'S CRITERIA
This states that the Sample Rate should be double the highest Frequency Response,
Low Sample rates give lower quality of sound because high frequencies are not captured. A
typical sample rate that captures the human hearing range is 44.1Hz

Harry Nyquist

BIT DEPTH/RESOLUTION AND SAMPLE RATE


The lower bit depths reduce signal to noise ration and also gives a crunchy quality to the
sound. This is often sought after un lo-fi recording. A common bit depth for samplers is 16-bit.
Red Book Standard is the standard for Audio CDs and has bit depth of 16-bit and sample rate
of 44.1kHz. It was named after one of the Rainbow Books, a series of books (bound in
different colours) that contain the technical specifications for all CD.
Sample Rate is the number of samples per unit of time (usually seconds) taken from a
continuous signal to make a discrete signal

EARLY SAMPLERS
Some early samplers include the Synclavier (left) and the Fairlight CMI (Right)

HISTORY OF SAMPLERS
In 1980s computers systems didnt have much RAM which limited the Sample Rate, To compensate bit depths and
sample rates were lowered..
As RAM increased in the late 1980s sampling synthesisers appeared. These synthesisers gave a more realistic
sound than older ones.
In the 1980s and 1990s sampling moved onto Computers as plug-ins etc. because computers had enough
processing power and enough RAM. Digital audio is now stored on hard drives so sample time is virtually limitless.
Advantages:
1. Better sound Quality because of more layers
2. Velocity Sensitive samples
3. Large screen/GUI which makes it more easier to edit samples
In the late 1990s/200s because processing power had improved, time stretching became a common feature. This
is when the length of the sample can be changed without changing the pitch or visa versa.
In 2000s phrase samplers sampled entire phrases of a performance allowing performers to build up looped textures
of themselves playing multiple parts.

VELOCITY DEVELOPMENTS
When Samplers were first made because they had a limited storage space they only have
one velocity meaning no matter how hard or soft you hit the notes you could never get a
different velocity.
As bit rate increased the Velocity was able to get a bit more sensitive and they made it so that
the softer you hit it the sound would go down.
Then the bit rate increased more and the velocity got a bit more sensitive and now used a
LPF cut off so the harder you pressed the notes the more the LPF cut off.
Final the bit rate increased more so that they could record different volumes of each notes so
you could press key at different velocities and get a more realistic velocity sound.

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