MainStage Quick Sampler waveform display

You can see the current audio file in the waveform display and directly edit a number of sample playback parameters. If you are using a trackpad, you can zoom in or out with pinch gestures, or scroll using two-finger swipes or by dragging the scroll bar. If you are using a Magic Mouse, use a single-finger horizontal swipe to scroll, and a single-finger vertical swipe to zoom.

As you move the pointer across the waveform display, it changes in appearance and function. For example, the pointer will change to indicate that you can move a slice marker or fade marker. In addition, parameters and values related to the current pointer tool function are shown below the waveform display. Click or drag markers and handles in the waveform display to change values.

Tip: You can double-click on any marker handle to permanently display parameter values below the waveform display. Click the “X” icon at the left of the parameter display bar to revert to the default behavior and parameter view.

Note: Some editing features are available only in certain modes.

Figure. Quick Sampler mode buttons, waveform display, and playback parameters.

Waveform display parameters

Sample name field and pop-up menu: Load, choose, or rename an audio file or perform file handling tasks.
- Show in Finder: Opens the Finder at the file folder location.
- Rename Current File: Opens a file renaming dialog. Type the new filename and click OK or press Return.
- Remove Current File: Removes the selected audio file, indicated with a checkmark beside the filename.
- Clear History: Clears all but the most recently used file.
- Load Audio File: Adds an audio file from any folder you select. You can also drag audio files directly into the waveform display area.
Snap pop-up menu: Choose a value. Edits to crossfade, sample, slice, or loop start and end markers in the waveform display automatically snap to the nearest possible value.
Zoom vertical button: Switch between the maximum vertical zoom view and the default waveform display view.
Zoom horizontal button: Switch between the last manually set zoom level, if applicable, and an optimized zoom level that shows the area between the sample start and end markers. When no manual zoom level is set, the entire audio file is shown.
Tip: You can use your trackpad to zoom in or out on the waveform display with pinch gestures, or scroll using two-finger swipes or by dragging the scroll bar. You can use a Magic Mouse to perform the following gestures: use a one-finger horizontal swipe to scroll, or a one-finger vertical swipe to zoom.
Action pop-up menu: Choose a sample handling, processing, or display function for the active mode.
Note: Control-click the waveform display to access shortcut menu items that apply to the active mode.

Use Quick Sampler start, end, loop, fade, crossfade, and slice markers

In MainStage, you can use markers to alter audio playback. You can define the possible positions for markers using the Snap menu.

Note: Different marker types are shown in each mode.

Figure. Quick Sampler waveform display, showing several marker handle types.

Start and end markers: Drag the blue start or end marker to set the sample start and end point. Playback occurs between these markers. Hold Option, then drag either the start or end marker to move the entire audio section between these markers.
Note: The Option drag feature works only when the start and end markers are not set to encompass the entire audio file.
Loop start and end markers: Drag the yellow loop start or end marker to set loop boundaries. Playback cycles between these markers when you hold a note. Drag the yellow shaded area between the loop start and end markers to move the entire loop. Alternatively, hold Option, then drag either the loop start or end marker to move the entire loop.
Crossfade marker: Drag the gray crossfade marker to set the length of the crossfade at the beginning and end of loop boundaries, smoothing out audible glitches as the loop cycles across the loop end and start points.
Fade in/fade out markers: Drag the gray fade in or fade out marker to adjust the length of the fade at the beginning and end of the audio file segment between the start and end markers. Hold Option, then drag either fade marker to move both fade markers.
Slice marker: Shown in Slice mode. Drag any yellow slice marker to set its position. Click between slice markers to create a new slice marker.

Quickly zoom a portion of the waveform display

The zoom buttons and pinch gestures can be used to zoom the waveform display, but you can also do the following to quickly zoom a portion of the waveform:

Hold Control and Option, then drag in the waveform display.
The selected area is zoomed to fill the entire waveform display.

Use the Quick Sampler Action or shortcut menu

In MainStage, you can use the Action or shortcut menu to choose a number of sample-handling commands that differ in Classic, One Shot, and Slice modes. Control-click in the waveform display to access available options from the shortcut menu.

Note: Not all listed commands are available in the shortcut menu. Some commands are available only in certain modes.

Add Slice Marker: Creates a new slice marker at the current playhead position in the waveform display.
Auto-Loop: Analyzes the audio content and automatically sets a loop. You can use the command multiple times to try different automatic loops.
Auto-Loop within Loop Area: Analyzes the audio content and automatically sets a loop within the area defined by the loop start and end markers. You can use the command multiple times to try shorter automatic loops.
Copy MIDI Pattern: Analyzes and copies slice markers to the Clipboard. You can paste the Clipboard contents to a MIDI or instrument track as a new MIDI region. This feature is ideal for creating perfectly synchronized instrument parts and for drum replacement, Foley, and other uses.
Create Drum Machine Designer Track: Creates a new Drum Machine Designer track that contains the current Quick Sampler content.
Crop Loop: Crops (cuts) the portion(s) of the sample outside the loop start and end markers.
Crop Sample: Crops (cuts) the portion(s) of the sample outside the start and end markers.
Delete Slice Marker: Deletes the highlighted slice marker. Move the pointer over a slice marker to highlight it. You can also double-click a slice marker to remove it.
Derive Tempo from Loop Length: Calculates a tempo for the audio file based on the loop length. If the Follow Tempo button doesn’t yield the desired results, use this option to recalculate a loop tempo aligned to the beat.
Display Seconds/Sample/Beats Units: Shows time, sample, or bar/beat values in the waveform display.
Display Stereo Channels/Mono Sum: Shows a stereo or summed mono waveform view in the waveform display.
Equal Power Crossfade: Sets the crossfade gain value behavior.
Initialize Synth Parameters: Recalls a neutral setting for all parameters in the Pitch, Filter, Amp, Mod Matrix, and LFO panes. This provides a “clean slate” when you are adjusting the parameters of your instrument.
Linear Crossfade: Sets the crossfade gain value behavior.
Optimize Loop Start: Use to automatically adjust the loop start point to create a smooth loop cycle.
Optimize Loop Crossfade/End: Use to automatically set crossfade values at the point in the loop cycle where the loop end and loop start markers cross over. Loop length is not affected.
Optimize Sample Gain: Analyzes the audio content and sets automatic gain values.
Re-Analyze Transients and Tempo: Re-analyzes the current audio for transient and tempo changes, following edits you have made.
Reimport Optimized: Reimports the current audio with optimized tuning, loudness, and length characteristics of the source file. Quick Sampler automatically adds loop and crossfade markers to the waveform display for appropriate material and crops (cuts) silence at the beginning or end of the source audio, shortening the imported content.
Reimport Original: Reimports the current audio with the tuning, loudness, looping, and length characteristics of the source file.
Retune: Analyzes the audio content and sets the root key and tuning value automatically.
Write Sample Loop to Audio File: Saves the loop data to the file header of the audio file. To save the new audio file with a different name, click the Name field and choose the Rename Current Audio command.

Use slice markers to create new instruments and regions

Figure. Quick Sampler Slice mode waveform display, showing start and end markers, slice markers, and related parameters.

In the Slice mode waveform display, drag the slice handles to adjust existing transient and start and end markers. You can also choose a number of commands from the Action and shortcut menus. Control-click to access available options from the shortcut menu.

In MainStage, do any of the following:

Click to the right of the start marker in the lower part of the waveform display, then: Drag to a software instrument, Drummer, Drum Machine Designer, or MIDI track.
A curved arrow is shown to indicate the region can be dragged to a track. A new MIDI region which contains note-on events that correspond to each slice between the start and markers is created on the target track. You can edit these as you can any other MIDI region.
Choose Create Slice Marker from the Action or shortcut menu to insert a slice marker at the pointer position, if required.
Choose Delete Slice Marker from the Action or shortcut menu to delete the highlighted slice marker. Move the pointer over a slice marker to highlight it.
Choose the Copy MIDI Pattern command from the Action pop-up menu to analyze and copy all slice markers between the start and end markers to the Clipboard.
You can paste the Clipboard contents to a MIDI or instrument track as a new MIDI region. This feature is ideal for creating perfectly synchronized instrument parts and for drum replacement, Foley, and other uses.

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MainStage User Guide