Logic Pro for Mac 12.3
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Logic Pro Sampler overview

Sampler is a software sampler. It plays back audio files, called samples, that you load into it. These samples are combined into tuned, organized collections called sampler instruments. A sampler instrument is the file type that is loaded into Sampler with the plug-in Settings pop-up menu. When you choose a sampler instrument from the Settings pop-up menu, the associated audio files are automatically located on the hard disk (or disks) and are loaded into your computer’s RAM. You play and record the loaded sampler instrument in the same way as any software instrument.

Because sampler instruments are based on audio recordings, they are ideally suited to emulating real instruments such as guitars, pianos, and drums. Sampler provides an extensive library of sampler instruments that includes these and many other sounds. See Sampler instruments overview.

You can also use Sampler to edit and create sampler instruments. You can assign samples to specific key and velocity ranges in existing or new sampler instruments and can process them with filters and modulators. Because Sampler is a flexible synthesizer in its own right you can create expressive sounds by using any sample as a basic synthesizer waveform. If you’re new to the concepts and use of synthesizers and samplers, see Synthesizer basics overview.

You can use Sampler as a mono, stereo, or surround instrument, and can route loaded samples to multiple audio outputs. This lets you independently process individual drum sounds in a drum kit, for example. If you want to play and edit a single sample instrument, Quick Sampler is recommended.

Figure. Sampler interface showing Synth, Mod Matrix, Modulators, and Mapping panes.

The Sampler interface is contained in a single scrolling window, with shortcut buttons shown in the Navigation bar at the top. You can show or hide sections (panes) of the interface and can use the Navigation bar buttons to resize and quickly navigate between panes.

Use the Sampler Navigation bar shortcut buttons

In Logic Pro, you can use the Navigation bar shortcut buttons to hide or show panes within the Sampler interface, to quickly navigate between visible panes, and to resize panes within the visible area. The navigation bar also contains an Action pop-up menu that provides a number of commands related to synthesizer parameter and mapping data handling. See Navigation bar Action pop-up menu.

Figure. Sampler Navigation bar, showing shortcut buttons.

Navigation bar parameters

  • Navigation buttons: Use to view, and scroll to panes. Double-click to switch pane zoom levels. Click the LED to hide panes. Drag samples here to add them. You can do the following:

    • Click a navigation button to scroll the main UI to the corresponding pane.

    • Click the yellow LED inside a navigation button to hide the corresponding pane.

    • Click the navigation button of a hidden pane to show the pane and automatically scroll to it.

    • Double-click a navigation button to expand the corresponding pane vertically. The pane expands to the maximum useful pane height, in proportion to the height of other open panes and the overall height of the plug-in window.

    • Double-click the navigation button of a vertically expanded pane to reduce the pane to its default height or to a height that you have set.

      Tip: You can resize panes vertically by moving the pointer over the boundary between panes until it becomes a handle, then dragging the handle.

    • Option-click a navigation button to expand the corresponding pane vertically and hide all other panes.

  • Action pop-up menu: Choose commands related to synthesizer parameter and mapping data handling.

    Note: You can directly drag one or more samples onto the Navigation bar to create new groups and zones. See Create zones in Logic Pro Sampler.

Scroll, zoom, and resize in Sampler

In Logic Pro, the overall Sampler window and panes within it can be resized. You can scroll panes vertically, and horizontally in some cases, and can zoom the Mapping and Zone panes. Combine these features and those of the Navigation bar to quickly move in, and adjust, the Sampler interface.

Important: Use of gestures, such as swiping or pinching require these features to be enabled in the Mouse or Trackpad panes of your System Preferences.

Do any of the following to scroll:

  • Drag vertically on the scrollbar at the right edge of the Sampler window to move between panes.

    Each pane provides one or more transparent scrollbars that you can drag to move vertically or horizontally within the pane.

    Note: Scrollbars are shown only when the pane or Sampler window content exceeds the display area size.

  • Use a two-finger vertical swipe to scroll with the trackpad, or a single-finger vertical swipe with a Magic Mouse to vertically scroll a pane (except the Zone pane) or to scroll the Sampler window.

  • In the Mapping or Zone panes, use a two-finger horizontal swipe with the trackpad, or a single-finger horizontal swipe with a Magic Mouse to horizontally scroll.

Do any of the following to zoom:

  • In the Mapping or Zone panes, use a pinch gesture to zoom.

  • In the Mapping pane, use the zoom slider.

  • In the Zone pane, use a two-finger vertical swipe to zoom with the trackpad, or a single-finger vertical swipe with a Magic Mouse to zoom the waveform.

  • In the Zone pane, use the zoom buttons.

    Tip: You can double-click any pane button in the Navigation bar to quickly toggle between a maximized view and the current view of that pane.

Do any of the following to resize:

  • Drag vertically on the top or bottom edge of the Sampler window to change the window height.

  • Drag horizontally on the left or right edge of the Sampler window to change the window width.

  • Drag diagonally on any corner of the Sampler window to change both the window height and width.

    A resize handle is shown when you move the pointer over any edge or corner of the Sampler window.

  • Double-click the name at the top of any pane to change its height.

  • Drag vertically on the top or bottom edge of a pane to change the pane height.

    A resize handle is shown when you move the pointer over the boundary between panes. The adjacent pane is also resized.

    Tip: You can double-click any pane button in the Navigation bar to quickly toggle between a maximized view and the current view of that pane.

Load an instrument from the Settings pop-up menu

  1. In the Logic Pro Sampler plug-in header, click the Settings pop-up menu.

  2. Browse to the instrument family, Factory, or other folder, then choose the sampler instrument you want to play or edit.

Load an instrument from the Library

  1. In Logic Pro, open the Library. Default key command: Y

  2. Browse to the folder, then choose the sampler instrument you want to play or edit. For example, browse to Orchestral > Strings > Pop Strings.

Load the next or previous instrument in your sampler instrument library

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

  • In the plug-in header, click the next or previous icons.

  • Use the Next Instrument or Previous Instrument key command.

    If Sampler is the key focus window, you can also use the following key commands:

    • Next Plug-In Setting or Instrument

    • Next Channel Strip or Plug-In Setting or Instrument

    • Previous Plug-In Setting or Instrument

    • Previous Channel Strip or Plug-In Setting or Instrument

Tip: You can also browse through your sampler instruments by using your MIDI keyboard. You can assign a MIDI event, such as a MIDI note, control change, or program change to select the previous or next sampler instrument in the Sampler Preferences.

See Sampler preferences.

Open Quick Sampler settings with Sampler

In Logic Pro X, do one of the following:

  • Choose the Quick Sampler setting name from the Sampler Setting menu. Use the Load menu item to browse to the default location: ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Plug-In Settings/Quick Sampler.

    The Quick Sampler sound is loaded as a group containing one or more zones and you can edit, process, and handle the content as you would with any group or zone.

  • Choose Sampler from the Instrument pop-up menu on an instrument channel strip that contains a Quick Sampler instance.

    Quick Sampler is replaced with Sampler on the channel strip and the sound is automatically loaded as a group containing one or more zones.

    Important: You can not open a Sampler setting with Quick Sampler.

Save a sampler instrument

In Logic Pro, you can access all basic sampler instrument file operations using the commands in the plug-in header Setting menu.

  • Save: Saves the currently loaded sampler instrument. When you create a new instrument and save it for the first time, you are asked to provide a name. If you have edited an existing sampler instrument and use this command, the existing filename is used and the original instrument is overwritten. You can also use the Save Instrument key command.

  • Save As: Saves the currently loaded sampler instrument, but you are prompted to provide a different filename. Use this command when you want to save a copy or multiple versions of an edited sampler instrument, rather than overwriting the original version. This, and the Save A Copy As, command may be useful when you want to save a Sampler Setting (including audio data) that is unique to a specific project. Storing this in a location outside of the factory library or user folders may also be practical for sharing a copy of your Sampler Setting (with or without audio data) with a colleague or friend.

    In the Finder window, you can:

    • Browse to any folder location or create a new folder.

    • Click the Save with audio data checkbox to duplicate the samples and place them in a folder named after the Sampler Setting file.

      If the save location is the User Library (the default), the ‘.exs’ files are placed in a folder called Sampler Instruments. The audio files are placed in a subfolder named after the Setting. This subfolder is placed in a Samples folder. The original audio files are not touched or moved.

  • Save A Copy As: Saves a copy of the currently loaded sampler instrument. You are prompted to provide a different filename. Use this command when you want to save a copy or multiple versions of an edited sampler instrument, rather than overwriting the original version.

    In the Finder window, you can:

    • Browse to any folder location or create a new folder.

    • Click the Save A Copy with audio data checkbox to duplicate the samples and place them in a folder named after the Sampler Setting file.

      If the save location is the User Library (the default), the ‘.exs’ files are placed in a folder called Sampler Instruments. The audio files are placed in a subfolder named after the Setting. This subfolder is placed in a Samples folder.The original audio files are not touched or moved.

  • Save As Default: Saves the currently loaded sampler instrument as the Default instrument. This instrument serves as a template for future sampler instruments and is used when you create a new instrument. It is also used when you choose the Initialize Synth Parameters command from the Navigation bar Action pop-up menu.

Save a Sampler patch in the Library

You can save patches, comprised of a sampler instrument and associated plug-in settings, in the Library.

  1. In Logic Pro, click the Save button at the bottom of the Library pane. If the Library is not visible, click the Library button on the Logic Pro menu bar or use the default keyboard shortcut: Y.

    In the Finder window:

  2. Browse to the file location you want to use. The default folder location is User Patches. If required, create a new folder.

  3. Type the patch name, then press the Save button.

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