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Create zones in Logic Pro Sampler

A zone is a location into which a single audio file—or sample, if you prefer this term—can be loaded. The sample loaded into the zone is memory resident—it uses the RAM of your computer. You can define as many zones as needed.

A zone offers parameters that control sample playback. You can set the key range—the range of notes that the sample spans—and the root key—the note at which the sample sounds at its original pitch for each zone. In addition, you can adjust sample start, end, and loop points, volume, and several other parameters for the zone.

Sampler provides several methods you can use to create and add zones. You can quickly add a single zone to Sampler by dragging an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop to the Mapping or Zone panes or the instrument track header. You can create multiple zones by dragging multiple audio files, regions, or loops into the Sampler Mapping pane. You can also manually create a zone and can add an audio file by using menu options. You can also choose whether the new zone maps samples chromatically or based on analysis of the material.

Create groups and zones by dragging audio files onto the Navigation bar

  • In Logic Pro Sampler, you can drag audio files to the Navigation bar. The Navigation bar provides Chromatic and Optimized import options. Each of these divides into two dropzones when you drag audio onto it.

    Figure. Mapping pane showing audio files being dragged toward the Navigation bar, with Chromatic and Optimized dropzones shown.

  • Chromatic: Audio files are mapped, as zones, chromatically across the keyboard range, starting from C2. Each zone is mapped to a single key on the keyboard. The original file length, tuning, and volume are used. Looping data is read from the file header, if present.

    • Zone per File: Creates a group containing one zone for each file dropped on the dropzone.

    • Split at Silence: Creates a new group for each file dropped on the dropzone. Each file is split at extended periods of silence, with a zone created in the associated group for each of these segments.

      Depending on the audio material and existing zones, the zone per file import of several audio files may result in the following:

      Figure. Mapping pane keyboard view showing the zones in one of several groups, created with a chromatic zone per file drag and drop operation.

  • Optimized: Automatically determines the root note of the zones and maps them across the keyboard. If multiple zones have the same root note, velocity layers based on the perceived loudness of the samples are created. Loop point data in the file header is used, if present. If the file header does not contain looping data a search is performed to find the best loop points, and the crossfade length and type are automatically set. The file is also analyzed to find the perceived loudness, and the volume is raised or lowered to achieve a perceived loudness of -12 LUFs. Start and end markers are also automatically set to crop silence that precedes or follows the analyzed audio.

    • Zone per File: Creates a group containing one zone for each file dropped on the dropzone.

    • Zone per Note: Creates a new group for each file dropped on the dropzone. A new zone is created for each pitched note that is of sufficient duration and harmonicity to be detected in the audio file.

      Depending on the audio material and existing zones, analysis of a single file by note may result in the following:

      Figure. Mapping pane keyboard view showing a group, created with an optimized zone per note drag and drop operation with a single audio file.

      Depending on the audio material and existing zones, analysis of multiple files by note may result in the following:

      Figure. Mapping pane keyboard view showing multiple groups, created with an optimized zone per note drag and drop operation. The selected group shows several audio files.

Create an empty zone with a menu command, and assign a sample to it

  1. In the Logic Pro Sampler Mapping pane, choose Zone > New Zone (or use the New Zone key command).

    A new group is shown in the Mapping pane and a zone is automatically added to the group.

    Figure. Sampler Mapping pane zone view, showing a new, empty zone.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • In the Zone pane, drag an audio file into the waveform display area.

      Figure. Empty Sampler Zone pane.

    • In the Mapping pane zone view, click the empty Name field for the zone in the Audio File column, then choose Load Audio File from the pop-up menu.

    • In the Mapping pane zone view, drag an audio file from the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser into the empty Name field of the zone in the Audio File column.

    • In the Mapping pane keyboard view, hold Command-Shift, then drag to create a new, empty zone. You can add a sample to the zone using any of the methods discussed.

    • In the Mapping pane keyboard view, drag an audio file from the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser directly onto the zone.

      Figure. Sampler Mapping pane keyboard view, showing an audio file being dragged onto an empty zone.

  3. If you chose the Load Audio File option in step 2, locate the audio file you want and select it in the File Selector window.

    Figure. Sampler File Selector, showing a selected audio file, options checkboxes, and the Play button.

    • If you select the “Hide used audio files” checkbox, files used in the currently loaded sampler instrument are dimmed.

    • If you select the “Preview audio file in Sampler Instrument” checkbox, the sample files in the currently selected zone are temporarily replaced. The zone is not directly triggered by selecting this option, but it can be triggered by playing MIDI notes while the File Selector window is open—and different files are chosen. The selected sample can be heard as part of the zone, inclusive of all synthesizer processing (filters, modulation, and so on).

    • Click the Options button at the lower left of the File Selector window to view or hide the checkboxes and Play button.

  4. To preview looped playback of the currently selected audio file, click the Play button at the lower right of the File Selector window.

    • You can step through files by using the Down Arrow key, or by clicking them, to audition each file in turn.

    • Click the Stop button to stop playback.

      The Play button label changes to Stop during playback.

  5. When you find an audio file you want to use, click the Open button to add it to the zone.

    When the audio file is loaded, the sample name is displayed in the Name field for the zone in the Audio File column.

Create a zone by dragging an audio file into the zone pane

  1. In Logic Pro Sampler, click the Zone button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Zone pane that is ready for you to add audio material.

  2. From the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser, drag an audio file into the Zone pane.

    The root key for the zone is the key at which the sample is played at its recorded pitch.

    Figure. Empty Sampler Zone pane.

Create a zone by dragging an audio file to a key in the Mapping pane keyboard view

  1. In Logic Pro Sampler, click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane that is ready for you to add audio material. Click the keyboard view button if keyboard view is not already shown.

  2. From the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser, drag an audio file directly onto a key on the keyboard in the Mapping pane.

    The root key is shown in gold on the keyboard. The start key, end key, and root key are all set to the note that the file is dragged to.

    Note: You can drag multiple audio files to a key in the Mapping pane keyboard view. This automatically creates a stack of layered zones, split by velocities.

    Figure. Sampler Mapping pane keyboard view, showing audio files being dragged onto a single key.

Create a zone by dragging an audio file to a range of keys in the Mapping pane keyboard view

  1. In Logic Pro Sampler, click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane that is ready for you to add audio material. Click the keyboard view button if keyboard view is not already shown.

  2. From the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser, drag an audio file into the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard in the Mapping pane.

    Figure. Sampler Mapping pane keyboard view, showing an audio file being dragged onto a range of keys.

    The drop location changes the import behavior:

    • When you drop an audio file on the keyboard, it is mapped to that key.

    • When you drop an audio file onto the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard, it is mapped to a range of keys. As you drag toward the top of the Key Mapping Editor, the key range expands.

      The root key is shown in gold, and the key range (containing the start key and end key) is shown across the keyboard.

Add multiple audio files to the Mapping pane keyboard view

In Logic Pro Sampler, you can add audio files to the Mapping pane in several ways and in different views.

  1. Click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane that is ready for you to add audio material. Click the keyboard view button if keyboard view is not already shown.

  2. From the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser, drag one or more audio files into the Mapping pane, either directly on the keyboard or the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.

    Figure. Sampler Mapping pane keyboard view, showing multiple audio files being dragged onto a range of keys.

    The drop location changes the import behavior:

    • When you drop an audio file on the keyboard, it is mapped to that key. When you drop multiple audio files on the keyboard, each is mapped to its own key.

      The root key is shown in gold on the keyboard. Multiple gold keys are shown when you drag more than one audio file.

    • When you drop an audio file into the Key Mapping Editor above the keyboard, it is mapped to a range of keys. As you drag toward the top of the Key Mapping Editor, the key range expands.

      The root key is shown in gold, and the key range is shown across the keyboard. Multiple gold keys and key ranges are shown when you drag more than one audio file.

Add multiple audio files to the Mapping pane zone view and create a new group

In Logic Pro Sampler, you can add audio files to the Mapping pane in several ways and in different views.

  1. Click the Mapping button in the Navigation bar to view an empty Mapping pane that is ready for you to add audio material. Click the zone view button if zone view is not already shown.

    Figure. Empty Sampler Mapping pane, showing Drag audio files here message in zone view.

  2. From the Finder, Loop Browser, or File Browser, drag one or more audio files into the Mapping pane zone view. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.

    A group is automatically created and the audio file is added to the group. When you drop multiple audio files, all are added to the group.

    Figure. Sampler Mapping pane zone view, showing a group that contains multiple audio files, or zones.

Add a zone by dragging an audio file, region, or loop to a software instrument track

  1. In Logic Pro, drag a single audio file, region, or Apple Loop to a software instrument track header with a Sampler instrument plug-in inserted.

  2. When the Add new zone dialog appears, drag the item to one of the following:

    • Sampler (Chromatic Map) maps samples to successive chromatic notes.

    • Sampler (Optimized Map) maps samples according to analysis of the material.

Add multiple zones by dragging multiple files, regions, or loops to a software instrument track

  1. In Logic Pro, drag multiple audio files, regions, or Apple Loops to a software instrument track header with a Sampler instrument plug-in inserted. Shift-click or Command-click to select multiple files.

  2. When the Add new zones dialog appears, drag the items to one of the following:

    • Sampler (Chromatic Map) maps samples to successive chromatic notes.

    • Sampler (Optimized Map) maps samples according to analysis of the material.

Convert audio regions to sampler instruments and tracks

In Logic Pro, you can convert audio regions to sampler instruments with the Convert Regions to New Sampler Track function (default key command: Control-E). All selected regions are sequentially mapped—in accordance with their timeline positions—to the specified key range, starting with the lowest note.

A new track is also created, with automatically created trigger notes for the converted audio regions. These trigger notes match the time positions of the source audio regions. You can reposition or edit the trigger notes in the Piano Roll Editor. You can also change zone parameters in the Sampler Instrument Editor. See Logic Pro Sampler Mapping and Zone pane overview.

  1. In the Main window, select the audio regions you want to convert.

  2. Control-click any selected region, then choose Convert > Convert Regions to New Sampler Track (or use the default key command: Control-E).

  3. In the dialog, choose to Create Zones From either Regions or Transient Markers.

  4. Enter the Instrument Name in the field.

  5. Set the Trigger Note Range in one of the following ways:

    • Play a low key on your MIDI keyboard to set the low note of the trigger range. Play a second key to set the top note of the trigger range.

    • Choose a low and high note from the Trigger Note Range pop-up menus.

  6. Click OK to create a new sampler instrument and track, or click Cancel if you change your mind.

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