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Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

2006-01-31 by mandcmiller

Hey Folks,
I've been chromatically sampling the raw wavefroms from a bunch of vintage (80's
era) synths. I'm wondering if it is best to normalize each individual sample, or
should I allow the natural taper remain from the low to high notes? I'm sure there are 
arguements for and against, not withstanding the integtrity of the normailzing algorithms, 
but on a technical level, are non-normailzed samples going to be tapered twice - once by the 
synth and then by the EXS?

Thanks,

Matt
http://www.millertone.com

Re: Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

2006-02-05 by Pete Thomas

mandcmiller wrote:
> Hey Folks,
> I've been chromatically sampling the raw wavefroms from a bunch of vintage (80's
> era) synths. I'm wondering if it is best to normalize each individual sample, or
> should I allow the natural taper remain from the low to high notes? I'm sure there are 
> arguements for and against, not withstanding the integtrity of the normailzing algorithms, 
> but on a technical level, are non-normailzed samples going to be tapered twice - once by the 
> synth and then by the EXS?


Interesting question.

Why not do some tests and report back.

ie record the whole range, don't normalise, and check the meters level 
of the EXS output against the meter levels of the synth input for the 
same notes. (Same velocity of course!)

My money would be on it being the same.


-- 
Pete Thomas
www.petethomas.co.uk
- (Almost) Free Logic Tutorials, Icons, Environments and EXS Instruments

Re: Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

2006-02-06 by mandcmiller

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, Pete Thomas <logic@...> wrote:
>
> mandcmiller wrote:
> > Hey Folks,
> > I've been chromatically sampling the raw wavefroms from a bunch of vintage (80's
> > era) synths. I'm wondering if it is best to normalize each individual sample, or
> > should I allow the natural taper remain from the low to high notes? I'm sure there are 
> > arguements for and against, not withstanding the integtrity of the normailzing 
algorithms, 
> > but on a technical level, are non-normailzed samples going to be tapered twice - 
once by the 
> > synth and then by the EXS?
> 
> 
> Interesting question.
> 
> Why not do some tests and report back.
> 
> ie record the whole range, don't normalise, and check the meters level 
> of the EXS output against the meter levels of the synth input for the 
> same notes. (Same velocity of course!)

Sounds like a plan... I'll post the results soon.

Thanks, Matt

Re: Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

2006-02-06 by mandcmiller

--- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, Pete Thomas <logic@...> wrote:
>
> mandcmiller wrote:
> > Hey Folks,
> > I've been chromatically sampling the raw wavefroms from a bunch of vintage (80's
> > era) synths. I'm wondering if it is best to normalize each individual sample, or
> > should I allow the natural taper remain from the low to high notes? I'm sure there are 
> > arguements for and against, not withstanding the integtrity of the normailzing 
algorithms, 
> > but on a technical level, are non-normailzed samples going to be tapered twice - 
once by the 
> > synth and then by the EXS?
> 
> 
> Interesting question.
> 
> Why not do some tests and report back.
> 
> ie record the whole range, don't normalise, and check the meters level 
> of the EXS output against the meter levels of the synth input for the 
> same notes. (Same velocity of course!)

Hey Pete,
The EXS does not re-taper the samples. I tested this using 3 scenarios. For the first test I 
played back the chromatic samples in an audio track as well as from within an EXS 
instrument. Each sample (note) played back at the identical level. For the second test I 
used a C1 sample mapped across the entire keyboard range, and the level of the C1 
sample was the same all the way up the keyboard range. For the 3rd test I just triggering 
the sine wave that is generated from an EXS with no instrument loaded and again the exs 
produced the same level all the way up the range.

So, the subjective question is, should the individual samples be normalized or should the 
integrity of the synth(s) be maintained by allowing the natural taper to remain? My gut tells 
me that leaving the taper is a more musical approach.

-Matt

Re: Chromatic Sampling (To Normalize or Not To Normalize)

2006-02-12 by Pete Thomas

mandcmiller wrote:
> --- In exs-users@yahoogroups.com, Pete Thomas <logic@...> wrote:
>> mandcmiller wrote:
>>> Hey Folks,
>>> I've been chromatically sampling the raw wavefroms from a bunch of vintage (80's
>>> era) synths. I'm wondering if it is best to normalize each individual sample, or
>>> should I allow the natural taper remain from the low to high notes? I'm sure there are 
>>> arguements for and against, not withstanding the integtrity of the normailzing 
> algorithms, 
>>> but on a technical level, are non-normailzed samples going to be tapered twice - 
> once by the 
>>> synth and then by the EXS?
>>
>> Interesting question.
>>
>> Why not do some tests and report back.
>>
>> ie record the whole range, don't normalise, and check the meters level 
>> of the EXS output against the meter levels of the synth input for the 
>> same notes. (Same velocity of course!)
> 
> Hey Pete,
> The EXS does not re-taper the samples. I tested this using 3 scenarios. For the first test I 
> played back the chromatic samples in an audio track as well as from within an EXS 
> instrument. Each sample (note) played back at the identical level. For the second test I 
> used a C1 sample mapped across the entire keyboard range, and the level of the C1 
> sample was the same all the way up the keyboard range. For the 3rd test I just triggering 
> the sine wave that is generated from an EXS with no instrument loaded and again the exs 
> produced the same level all the way up the range.
> 
> So, the subjective question is, should the individual samples be normalized or should the 
> integrity of the synth(s) be maintained by allowing the natural taper to remain? My gut tells 
> me that leaving the taper is a more musical approach.
> 

I'd say go with your gut...

-- 
Pete Thomas
www.petethomas.co.uk
- (Almost) Free Logic Tutorials, Icons, Environments and EXS Instruments

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