Auto-Sampler

PRO

Automatically record hardware synths or VSTs via MIDI

Overview

This was the feature I most wanted. Sampling a synth manually is tedious: play a note, record it, trim it, play the next note, repeat 8 times. The Auto-Sampler does all of that automatically.

Point it at a hardware synth or VST, tell it what notes to sample and it sends MIDI, records audio and trims everything for you. A complete multisample in minutes instead of hours. It relies on audio and MIDI routing on your computer, so it’s a desktop feature and isn’t on the mobile app.

Setup requirements

Before using the Auto-Sampler, you need to set up two connections:

1. audio loopback (required)

Audio loopback lets you capture audio output from your DAW or software synth as an input source.

macOS: BlackHole

• Download and install BlackHole (free virtual audio driver)
• Open Audio MIDI Setup (in /Applications/Utilities)
• Click the + button and create a “Multi-Output Device”
• Check both your speakers/headphones AND BlackHole in the Multi-Output Device
• Set your Mac’s sound output to the Multi-Output Device (so you can hear audio while recording)
• In Auto-Sampler, select “BlackHole” as Audio Input

Windows: VB-Cable

• Download and install VB-Cable
• Set VB-Cable as your system audio output
• In Auto-Sampler, select “VB-Cable” as Audio Input

2. virtual MIDI (required)

Virtual MIDI routes MIDI messages from EP-PatchStudio to your DAW or VST.

macOS: IAC Driver (Built-in)

• Open Audio MIDI Setup
• Go to Window → Show MIDI Studio
• Double-click “IAC Driver”
• Check “Device is online”
• A bus named “IAC Bus 1” should appear
• In your DAW, create a MIDI track and set input to “IAC Bus 1”
• In Auto-Sampler, select “IAC Bus 1” as MIDI Output

Windows: loopMIDI

• Download and install loopMIDI
• Create a virtual MIDI port
• In your DAW, set MIDI input to the loopMIDI port
• In Auto-Sampler, select the loopMIDI port as MIDI Output

Verifying your setup

The Auto-Sampler displays status indicators at the top:

Audio Loopback Detected

BlackHole or VB-Cable is properly configured and available as an input device.

MIDI Devices Available

Virtual MIDI ports are detected and ready to send MIDI messages.

If indicators show red, click the “Setup Guide” accordion at the top for detailed platform-specific instructions.

Auto-Sampling process

Step-by-step sampling guide:

1. Configure Note Range & Timing

   • Lowest Note: Starting note of your range (e.g., C3)
   • Highest Note: Ending note of your range (e.g., C5)
   • Number of Samples: How many notes to sample (2-8)
   • Note Duration: How long each note plays (in seconds)
   • Gap Between Notes: Silence between samples (in seconds)

2. Select Devices & MIDI

   • Audio Input Device: Select BlackHole or VB-Cable
   • MIDI Output Device: Select IAC Bus or loopMIDI port
   • MIDI Channel: Usually channel 1 (match your DAW/synth)
   • Velocity: MIDI note velocity (0-127)

3. Configure Audio Processing

   • Auto-trim: Removes silence from start/end
   • Normalise: Maximises volume without clipping
   • Fade in/out: Smooths transitions
   • Envelope shaping: Attack and release adjustments

4. Test Your Setup

   Click “Test Setup” to send a single MIDI note and verify both MIDI and audio are working correctly. You should hear the note and see audio levels.

5. Start Sampling

   Click “Start Auto-Sampling” and the app will automatically:

   • Calculate evenly-spaced notes across your range
   • Send MIDI notes one at a time
   • Record the audio output
   • Process each sample (trim, normalise, fade)
   • Display progress in real-time

6. Export to Sample Editor

   When sampling completes, click “Send to Sample Editor” to load all samples into the Multisample editor where you can fine-tune parameters and save to your EP-40.

Sampling hardware synths

To sample a hardware synthesizer:

1. Connect your hardware synth’s audio output to your computer’s audio interface
2. Connect MIDI out from your computer to the synth’s MIDI in
3. In Auto-Sampler, select your audio interface as the Audio Input Device
4. Select your MIDI interface as the MIDI Output Device
5. Set the MIDI channel to match your synth’s receive channel
6. Configure note range and timing
7. Start auto-sampling

Sampling VSTs & software synths

To sample a VST instrument in your DAW:

1. Open your DAW and load the VST you want to sample
2. Create a MIDI track with the VST as the instrument
3. Set the MIDI track’s input to your virtual MIDI port (IAC Bus or loopMIDI)
4. Arm the track for recording (if required by your DAW)
5. Set your DAW’s audio output to BlackHole or VB-Cable
6. In Auto-Sampler, select BlackHole/VB-Cable as Audio Input
7. Select the virtual MIDI port as MIDI Output
8. Start auto-sampling

DAW Configuration

Some DAWs require “MIDI Thru” or “Input Echo” to be enabled for the MIDI track to respond to external MIDI. Check your DAW’s documentation.

Tips & best practices

• Use longer note durations for pads: Sustained sounds need time to develop their full character
• Short notes for percussive sounds: 0.5-1 second is usually enough for plucks and leads
• Add gaps between notes: Prevents notes from bleeding into each other, especially with reverb
• Test first: Always use “Test Setup” to verify everything is working before starting a full sampling run
• Monitor levels: Watch the input meter to ensure audio isn’t clipping
• Disable DAW effects: Turn off master bus effects like limiters and reverb for clean samples
• Sample evenly: Spread samples across 2-3 octaves for best pitch-tracking results
• Use normalise: Ensures all samples have consistent volume

Troubleshooting

No audio being recorded

• Verify audio loopback is set as system output
• Check input levels in Auto-Sampler
• Ensure your DAW/synth is actually playing sound

MIDI notes not triggering synth

• Verify virtual MIDI port is connected in your DAW
• Check MIDI channel matches
• Enable “MIDI Thru” or “Input Echo” on the track
• Arm the track for recording if required

Samples have clicks or pops

• Enable fade in/out processing
• Increase gap between notes
• Use auto-trim to remove silence

Samples are too quiet

• Enable normalise processing
• Increase output volume on your synth/DAW
• Check that no limiters are reducing gain

Ready to auto-sample your synths?

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