SAMPLES TAB
The samples tab is used to load and change the sounds in the song file and the way in which they are played back. It is also possible to make some minor edits to the wave itself and to pitch shift or timestretch it. The samples tab is divided into several areas:
- {Samples toolbar}
- {Volume, pan and frequency}
- {Name}
- {Loop }
- {Sustain loop }
- {Vibrato}
- {Pitch shifting / Time Stretching}
- {Waveform display}
Samples toolbar
This toolbar gives quick access to various commands that are used in the samples tab. The icons on this toolbar are (from left to right):
New Sample
Allocates a new sample slot. The sample's number will be one more than the last added sample's number. Initially, no sound is loaded.
Import Sample
This allows you to select an audio file to load into the current slot.
TODO: Add a list of acceptable file types etc.
Save Sample
This allows you to save the current sample to disk as a wave file. The wave file's samplerate will be set to its current {Frequency}.
Sample number
Displays the current sample's number, and allows you to navigate between samples in the song.
Zoom
This sets the zoom factor on the waveform display area. Auto is selected by default.
Wave Information
This displays the bit rate, whether the sample is stereo or mono, and the length (in "samples", which confusingly are a complete different thing).
Play Sample
This plays the currently displayed sample. The sample will be played back at the rate specified in the {frequency} area.
Normalise
This changes the data in the sample by a multiplying ratio to make the loudest peaks present go to maximum volume.
Amplify
This opens the amplify menu. This allows you to increase the volume of the currently displayed sample by an arbitrary factor between 10% and 800%. Note: amplifying with percentages above 100 can cause the signal to clip and distort. This may be used on the whole wave or on a selected part of the wave.
Upsample
Upsampling doubles the samplerate of the currently displayed sample. Since the playback rate is not changed, the sample will actually playback at half the speed, as there are now twice as many "samples" (again, the same term for a different thing) to be played. Upsampling is useful for quickly changing the pitch of the sample beyond that available through changing the playback rate (the value in the {freq} box). This may be used on the whole wave or on a selected part of the wave.
Downsample
Downsampling halves the samplerate of the currently displayed sample. Since the playback rate is not changed, the sample will actually playback at twice the speed since there are now half as many "samples" to be played. Downsampling will affect the quality of the sound but the sample will take up less space. Downsampling is useful for quickly changing the pitch of the sample beyond that available through changing the playback rate (the value in the {freq} box). This may be used on the whole wave or on a selected part of the wave.
Reverse
This reverses all or a selected part of the displayed sample waveform.
Silence
This silences all or a selected part of the displayed sample waveform.
Name
This area provides a space for entering a name for the current sample and for viewing the file name of the sample.
Name
This box is where a name for the current sample may be entered. (*Small bug here*) Despite being able to enter 34 characters only 26 are remembered when saving. The name field is 'untitled' by default. Dragging and dropping a sample automatically fills the name to be the same as the filename.
File
This box displays the file name of the current sample.
Volume, pan and frequency
Here, you can change the sample's volume, panning, and playback rate.
Default Volume
The default volume is the volume at which the sample will normally play. This may be overriden in the actual song. So if, for example, you set a sample's default volume to be "32", you could force it to play at a volume of "64" in the pattern view.
Global volume
The global volume defines the sample's overall volume. That is, the sample's volume is multiplied by the ratio of this value to the maximum sample volume. Thus, (The sample's volume) = (It's initial volume) * (This ratio)
Set Pan
This defines the panning of the sample. A value of "0" means that the sound will be played through the left channel only; a value of "128" means that the sound will be played through the right channel only. "64", the default, is a perfectly balanced sound.
Freq. (Hz)
This sets the playback rate of the current sample. Note that it does not affect the sample rate.
Transpose
TODO: Write this text!
Loop
This area allows you to create a loop within the current sample. Using this, you can extend short samples, or use extremely short samples to create tones (for example, looping a single sine-wave cycle).
Type
This sets the type of loop used. The types availabe are:
- Off (default) - The sample does not loop.
- On - The sample loops from A to B. That is, when it reaches B, it jumps back to A.
- Bidi (bi-directional) - The samples goes from A to B to A again. That is, when it reaches B, it plays backwards until it reaches A, when it starts playing forwards again.
Start
This sets the start position of a loop in terms of the number of samples from beginning. Note: it is usually better to start a loop on a zero-crossing point to avoid clicks.
End
This sets the finish position of a loop in terms of the number of samples from the beginning. Note: it is usually better to end a loop on a zero-crossing point to avoid clicks.
Sustain loop
This area allows for the setting of a sustain loop within the current sample. This means that the loop defined here will be played when a note is being sustained. Note sustains are defined using the {volume envelope} of an instrument in the {instrument tab}. This is useful for extending a short sample by looping the middle section on a sustain but then having the end of the sample play as a natural ending.
Type
This sets the type of loop used. The types availabe are:
- Off (default) - The sample does not loop.
- On - The sample loops from A to B. That is, when it reaches B, it jumps back to A.
- Bidi (bi-directional) - The samples goes from A to B to A again. That is, when it reaches B, it plays backwards until it reaches A, when it starts playing forwards again.
Start
This sets the start position of a sustain loop in terms of the number of samples from beginning. Note: it is usually better to start a loop on a zero-crossing point to avoid clicks.
End
This sets the finish position of a sustain loop in terms of the number of samples from the beginning. Note: it is usually better to end a loop on a zero-crossing point to avoid clicks.
Vibrato
"Vibrato" is the variation of pitch around a given pitch. The values set in this section will affect the whole sample for its entire duration. A depth of "0" indicates that no vibrato will be applied to the sample.
Auto-Vibrato
This sets the waveform shape that is used for varying the sample's pitch. The available options are:
- Sine (default) - This smoothly varies the pitch.
- Square - This makes the pitch jump between two values.
- Ramp Up - This linearly increases the pitch, then drops it suddenly down again.
- Ramp Down - This linearly decreases the pitch. then pushes it suddenly up again.
- Random - This randomly selects a type every cycle.
Depth
This defines the depth of the vibrato. The greater the depth, the greater the variation in pitch. A value of "0" indicates that no vibrato will be applied.
Sweep
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Rate
This defines the rate of the vibrato, that is, how quickly the changes in pitch occur.
Pitch shifting / Time Stretching
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Pitch
It is possible to change the pitch of the sample without changing its length. This can produce some… interesting results.
Time stretching
Using time stretching, you can do the opposite: you can change the length of a sample without changing its pitch. This can also produce some… interesting results.
Quality
TODO: Write this text!
FFT
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Preview mode
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Pitch Shift / Time Stretch button
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Waveform display
The waveform display shows a graphical representation of the current sample. It is possible to select a smaller area of this by clicking and dragging. Right-clicking with a selection made brings up a menu with:
- Zoom - Zooms to the nearest level that maximises the view of the current selection.
- Set as loop - Sets the sample loop's start and end points to those of the current selection.
- Set as sustain loop - Sets the sustain loop's start and end points to those of the current selection.
- Trim - Removes the part of the wave that is not selected.
- Cut - Cuts the selection to the clipboard.
- Copy - Copies the selection to the clipboard.
- Paste - Pastes audio data from the clipboard (if present) into the current sample. Note - it does not just paste in the selected area, it replaces the whole sample with the clipboards contents.
- Set Loop Start to: - This sets the start of the loop to be the number shown. This is not available if there is no end point defined or if clicking at a point after the end point.
- Set loop End to: - This sets the end point of the loop to be the number shown. This is not available if clicking at a point before the loop start point. The value shown is the number of samples from the beginning of the sample.
- Set Sustain Start to: - This sets the start of the sustain loop to be the number shown. This is not available if there is no end point defined or if clicking at a point after the end point. The value shown is the number of samples from the beginning of the sample.
- Set Sustain End to: - This sets the end point of the sustain loop to be the number shown. This is not available if clicking at a point before the loop start point. The value shown is the number of samples from the beginning of the sample.
- Convert to 8-bit - This converts the whole sample to 8-bit. This reduces the quality but also the size; it is useful for lo-fi sounds and for saving space. Some formats only allow 8-bit samples.
- Trim - Does nothing.
- Cut - Removes the current sample and copies the data to the clipboard. (displays confirmation).
- Copy - Copies the entire sample to the clipboard.
- Paste - Replaces the entire sample with the contents of the clipboard (if it is audio data).
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