Add audio to Quick Sampler in MainStage

Quick Sampler provides two direct methods to add an audio file, Apple Loop, or region. Once you’ve added the file, you can choose different modes to change playback behavior, you can directly edit waveform markers, and you can alter the tonal color and performance characteristics with the synthesis and modulation parameters. You also have the option to record audio directly into Quick Sampler.

You can quickly replace the sound for Quick Sampler on a software instrument track by dragging an audio file, audio or software instrument region, or Apple Loop to the track header. When you drag content to one of the Quick Sampler zones to replace the existing sound, you can choose whether Quick Sampler uses the original tuning, loudness, looping, and length of the material, or analyzes the material and optimizes its tuning, searches for loop points, and crops silence.

Important: When you drag a region to the track header area or to another drag zone to create a sample-based software instrument using the region, the region is bounced through the plug-ins on the track. For software instrument tracks, this includes any MIDI plug-ins, the track instrument, and any audio plug-ins. For audio tracks, this includes any audio plug-ins and other processing, such as Flex. The resulting audio file is used in the sample-based instrument. This is different than dragging an audio file to a drag zone, which does not trigger a bounce.

Add an audio file with the Sample name field

In MainStage, click the “Sample name” field at the top center, and choose Load Audio File to open Finder.
In the Finder, browse to the file you want to import, then select one of the following checkboxes.
- Original: Adds the audio file to the waveform display, which uses the tuning, loudness, looping, and length characteristics of the source file.
- Optimized: Analyzes the source file, optimizing its tuning, loudness, and length, then adds the audio file. If the contents are rhythmic and/or cyclical (looped), Quick Sampler automatically adds loop and crossfade markers to the waveform display. Silence at the beginning or end of the source audio is cropped (cut), shortening the imported content.
  Note: These checkboxes are visible only when the Options button at the bottom left of the Finder window is turned on.
Click Open.

Drag and drop content into Quick Sampler

In MainStage, drag a region or an audio file from the Audio File window, Apple Loops window, or Finder into the Quick Sampler waveform display.
Drop the file into either the Original or Optimized portion of the waveform display.
- Original: Adds the audio file to the waveform display, which uses the tuning, loudness, looping, and length characteristics of the source file.
- Optimized: Analyzes the source file, optimizing its tuning, loudness, and length, then adds the audio file. If the contents are rhythmic and/or cyclical (looped), Quick Sampler automatically adds loop and crossfade markers to the waveform display. Silence at the beginning or end of the source audio is cropped (cut), shortening the imported content.
  Note: A resampling process is triggered when you drop a region into Quick Sampler. The region is bounced offline and added to the waveform display.

Save a Quick Sampler instrument

In MainStage, you can access all basic Quick Sampler file operations using the commands in the plug-in header Settings pop-up menu.

Save: Saves the currently loaded 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 instrument and use this command, the existing filename is used and the original instrument is overwritten.
Save As: Saves the currently loaded instrument content, 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 Quick 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 Quick Sampler setting that is unique to a specific project. Storing this in a location outside of user folders may also be practical for sharing a copy of your Quick Sampler setting with a colleague or friend.
Save A Copy As: Saves a copy of the currently loaded Quick Sampler content. You are prompted to provide a different filename. Use this command when you want to save a copy or multiple versions of an edited instrument, rather than overwriting the original version.
Save As Default: Saves the currently loaded Quick Sampler instrument as the default instrument. This instrument serves as a template for future Quick Sampler instruments and is used when you create a new instrument. It is also used when you choose the Recall Default command in the plug-in Settings pop-up menu.

Save a Quick Sampler patch in the Library

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

In MainStage, click the Save button at the bottom of the Library pane. If the Library is not visible, click the Library button on the MainStage menu bar or use the default keyboard shortcut: Y.
In the Finder window:
Browse to the file location you want to use. The default folder location is User Patches. If required, create a new folder.
Type the patch name, then press the Save button.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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