EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

Hi all,

I am new to sampling and EXS24, and have some basic questions:

1) Setting up multi samples
2) Looping a sample
3) Different "ring out" times for samples in a multi sample instrument

plus some general thoughts (ignore if you're busy):

4) Some general thoughts about C64 etc

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ad 1) Setting up multi samples
=======================
I have downloaded 4 samples from Hello Synthesizers:

OBXA_Bass1_E1
OBXA_Bass1_E2
OBXA_Bass1_A2
OBXA_Bass1_A3

Now I am trying to make an instrument out of them by using "Load 
Multiple Samples", and then after selecting the 4 samples above, 
using the option "Auto map".

This places the ranges like this:

E1 sample, key note E1, zone range C-2 to A#1
E2 sample, key note E2, zone range B1 to F#2
A2 sample, key note A2, zone range G2 to D#3
A3 sample, key note A3, zone range E3 to G8

But it doesn't sound properly, i.e. there is a "bug" at F#2 to G2 (at 
the place where two zones "meet".) Otherwise it sounds fine.

To solve this I looked through the archives searching for info about 
multi samples and found this message:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exs-users/message/3067

After following the instructions, the ranges are:

E1 sample, key note E1, zone range C-2 to D2
E2 sample, key note E2, zone range D#2 to G2
A2 sample, key note A2, zone range G#2 to G3
A3 sample, key note A3, zone range G#3 to G8

However this just moved the "bug" so it occurs at G2 to G#2 instead!

Can anyone see what is wrong?

(I tried various other multi samples from the same site and none of 
them were added properly with Auto map. I haven't bothered trying the 
instructions from the old message as there must be some basic thing I 
am doing wrong.)

ad 2) Looping a sample
=================
Is there an easier way of doing this than fiddle-with-the-end-loop-
frame-of-each-sample-until-it-sounds-okay?

ad 3) Different "ring out" times for samples in a multi sample 
instrument
====================================================
Unless looped, an instrument made of multiple samples may have 
different "ring out" times depending on where on the keyboard you 
play it (because some samples in a multi sample have different 
lengths.) I am not sure how big a problem this will be actually, but 
it just strikes me that the instrument may sound silly if you play it 
un-looped and someone notices the different ring out-times! Does this 
matter and if so, is there an easy way of adjusting all samples so 
they have the same length?

ad 4) Some general thoughts about C64 etc
================================
Back around 1987 I was making music on the Commodore 64, and later 
also on the Amiga. It is completely amazing to compare music making 
today with how it happened in those days - as far as I remember, I 
actually sat and typed $FE and so on for values in the C64 editor. 
And it was a really big thing when the music guru Rob Hubbard used a 
sample for the very first time in a piece of music (a sample of a 
guitar, I think it was.) Today, 15 years later, we are spoiled with 
relatively low cost super-quality editors and library programs, and 
harddisk recording on your home computer as well as software samplers 
like the EXS24. Plus the Internet makes it easy to share experiences 
with other users - remember the times when you had to write a letter, 
put it in an envelope and walk to the post office in order to send 
something to someone in another country?

Anyway, I bought the LA Gold/EXS package around last Christmas but 
never really fiddled with the sampler before now. I knew there was a 
lot of freeware samples out there but figured these were poor quality 
and that you had to buy sample cds to get decent sounds. However 
after looking around it seems there is a zillion sounds out there 
just waiting to be downloaded and used free of charge, and once you 
have them you can combine and twist them a zillion ways with the EXS 
parameters and Logic's effects. What a wonderful development!

Best regards,
Henrik Jensen
www.mp3.com/triton_technology
(HDR in 16 bit only, someone please give me that LA Platinum upgrade 
for Christmas!)