need info on samples/ samplers and how they work

[antofants]

Though I've been recording for a while and have composed a number of songs, I've never much played with samples/ samplers. The things I hear about them (like the orchestral libraries out there on the market) sound like they would make a great tool for the compositions I do. But I'm not totally certain of what they're capable of (are they like sound moduals that can produce different pitches for a given sample or patch) and how they work. I've was looking at Motu's Mach Five but a guy at GC said that since I'm working with Digital Performer Mach Five would be redundant. Could someone point me in the right direction to find info on what samplers are capable of and get an idea on how they work. (or should I have posted this in a different location?)
Thanks for any help - David

[Phyl]

I've been using Giga Studio with the Garritan Symphonic Strings library and will soon have the Sonic Implants Silk Road library.

Sample libraries are made (typically) by recording people playing an actual instrument. You then load the library on your computer and your sampler plays the samples back using input from your keyboard or a midi track.

The better libraries have a lot or articulations for each instrument, that is, they have the artists play the instruments at various volumes, using various bowing, plucking techniques, etc. The better libraries also have the artists play each note in the instruments range, while the cheaper libraries only sample a few notes and then use software wizardry to replicate the rest of the scale.

With due dilligence, anyone can use these libraries to create music that is hard to distiguish from someone playing the actual instrument. If you go to the various manufactures sites and listen to their samples, I think you will be amazed at what is possible.

Start out with the NorthernSounds website. There are plenty of samples and forums to discuss libraries and technique. Also check out the gigastudio pages at tascam.com.

One warning, samplers are CPU intensive, I run GigaStudio on a separate PC.

[pennylink]

Lots of info and reviews here http://www.kvr-vst.com/get.php

Do a search for samplers and you'll find both commercial and free ones. Not a bad idea to check out the free ones first, since there's nothing to loose but the download time...

[dwillis45]

Antofants: Have you checked out the BBS at Unicornation.com. It's all MOTU all the time, including an entire section on Mac Five and Digital Performer.

[antofants]

thanks alot for the input ya'll! this'll at least get me headed in the right direction.

[antofants]

Sorry for the double post but I just remembered one more question. Samples from libraries are more than just sound waves, right? They're proprietary? which means I can't just grab a library collection and load some waves (samples) into Digital Performer? Am I correct in this assumption that most samples only work with specific samplers. And since I'm in a mac environment for recording but have a PC at home, would I be able to work the sampler on a different platform (I know it's a long shot)?