Simple Shiny Sampler - 3S

Specs

- VST2.0 plug-in sampler for PC
- polyphonic up to 24 voices, CPU dependent
- 4 samples loadable simultaneously, of which each can be assigned to its own note, or all to the same note
- Mono and stereo sample support, 8 to 32 bit, up to 96 kHz, WAV, FLoat-WAV and AIFF
- level, tuning and pan adjustment
- samples can be played over the keyboard to create a "Simple Sample Synth"
- supports "velocity splits" and "velocity crossfades"
- "velocity sensitive" trigger pad
- activity light
- Sample accurate timing, full VST2 integration
- Sample Browse and Preview - right click and choose play
- Drops Loops
- Contains the latest "LinPlug Audio Engine" So you can count on the quality
- Shiny

What Does it Do ?

3S is a Simple VSTi Sample Player designed to be easy to use and low on CPU. It is a handy tool for both amateur and professional musicians. It can do a number of things.

In its simplest form it will drop any .wav file, into your song/track via midi. This is called a One Shot Sampler. Try feeding it any sample you have ...Drums, vocals. basses .. it'll play em all.

3S will allow you to load up to 4 Samples and assign each to the same note (thus layering sounds) or you can assign each sample to different notes. This is the equivalent of four One Shot Samplers in one small interface. (Need more .. Just load another instance of 3S)

3S also has velocity layers. For example: When you load 4 samples and assign them to the same note, like you would with a multisampled drum, you can tell each sample to only sound when its velocity is triggered. This results in a more interesting and realistic sound.

Those of you that use single layer drum samplers, may not have any multisamples, so we have included a few 4 layer Multi Samples from the Manytone Acoustic Drums, so you can see what a multi sampler can do. To try this just set the velocity area of 3 S to: 0 - 65 for the softest sample, 66 - 95 for the second sample, 96 - 120 for the third sample and 121 - 127 for the heaviest sample. (or any other combination you wish, we have found that these velocities work well for most drums)

Furthermore, 3S supports velocity crossfades, which means that you can overlap those velocity zones to make for smoother blending of the different layers. To use this feature just overlap the above numbers in the setup dialogue.

3S can also be used as a Simple Sample Synth. 3S has a parameter in the note assignment part ( 2 ) called "All". When you load your sample, instead of assigning a note like you would in the "One Shot Sampler", assign the "all" command. This will map the Sample to all Keys and allow you to play your Sample with notes and chords. Try it with a Bass or a Synth sound. Try loading 2 or more samples and assigning them to the all parameter. You can create some nifty sounds layering samples like this. We have had a few instances of 3S playing all the tracks in a song. Drums, Bass, Synth and even Dropping Drum Loops.

Which Brings us to the next thing that 3S will do. It will Drop Loops into your song. You must make sure that you match the tempo of the loops you are using, to your song tempo in your host program. So if you have loops that are 140bpm, then make sure the tempo of your sequencer is set to 140bpm. This is a great way of making some quick Drum Tracks. Load up 4 different loops ... assign each its own note (say C1 , D1, E1 and F1, or whatever you want) and then in your midi track just insert the corresponding note when you want to trigger each loop. If you hear the drums Phasing then you are triggering the loop too soon, try moving the note around and you will get the hang of it. If your loops are precise then 3S will drop them perfectly into your song. Play around with the Tempo to get it all matched up properly as some loops may say that they are a certain bpm like 140bpm, but they may actually be a bit off. All the loops that Manytone will have on our web site will be perfect tempo loops and will have accurate bpms. If you need to drop more loops, just load another instance and assign those loops to different notes in the setup dialogue.

Quick Setup

Overall it is pretty easy once you get a feel for it, so we will not go into too much detail here.

If you need help on up setting up and using a VSTi in your audio program, check with your Host Programs Docs or help files on how to do this. Also the best source of info and help is at www.kvr-vst.com

The numbers in the brackets refer to this image of 3S

Once you have 3S setup as a VSTi instrument, (again ... refer to your hosts docs for help on this)

click the File icon ( 4 ) to load a sample. Click X to unload.

The sample name is displayed in the ( 1 ) dialogue.

Assign a note name or the "all" parameter using ( 2 ) click and drag to change.

The velocity is set in ( 3 ). For oneshots just set it to 1 - 127 .. For multisamples just set each sample to its own range.

Click the Trigger button ( 5 ) to trigger / preview the sound. The trigger button is velocity sensitive depending on where you click it.

Enter notes in your midi track or play live if you have a midi keyboard hooked up ...it's that easy.

Adjust volume, Pan and pitch using the knobs ( 6, 7, 8 )

NOTE: You can "Alt" click a control to adjust in small amounts, or "Control" click to reset to default value. (this is handy for resetting pitch and pan to normal)

Refer to the above "What does it do?" for tips on further use.

If you want more power ..check out Linplugs RM3 Drum sampler, it's more than 18 - 3s's samplers in one unit, and has envelopes, distortion and compression onboard. See it at www.linplug.com

Check out the Manytone site for Samples and Loops to use in 3S. Our "Manytone Acoustic Drum Multisamples" are now available and our "Acoustic Styles" Drum Loop CD will be released soon.

Linplug and Manytone hope you enjoy the Simple Shiny Sampler. If you use it in a song, please let us know if you have an url where we can have a listen.

Paul Brown
Manytone Music
www.manytone.com

Copyright © 2001 Manytone Music and Peter Linsener. All rights reserved. All technical specifications and prices of the products specified in this document may be subject to change without notice. The documents and the information of this web site may not be changed, especially copyright notices may not be removed or changed. LinPlug and all LinPlug product names are trademarks of Peter Linsener. Cubase and VST are registered trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.