Sample Editor

Overview

This is where multisamples come together. The EP-40 supports 5 different playback modes and up to 8 zones per multisample. The official tool doesn’t let you create these at all.

Drag in your samples, map them across the keyboard, tweak the envelope and other parameters, then send it to your device. That’s it.

Since v0.31, Kit mode is available in the editor with full feature parity: a hardware-style pad grid with drag-to-assign and LED indicators. Auto zone mapping and scale-aware distribute are included in the free tier.

Which devices?

The editor works with every EP device, but not every mode does. Multisamples (Multi and Kit modes) and Loop mode are EP-40 only, since only the EP-40 uses Teenage Engineering’s TNGE multisample format. For the EP-133 and EP-1320, use the editor to trim, process and tune single samples, then send them across. The zones, envelope and 8-sample limit covered below are all EP-40 territory.

Editor modes

Choose from 5 different playback modes depending on your needs:

Single

One-shot playback of a single sample. Perfect for drum hits, sound effects and samples that play once without looping.

Use for: Kicks, snares, percussion, FX

Loop

Continuous looping playback of a single sample. Ideal for sustained sounds and textures.

Use for: Pads, drones, atmospheric textures

EP-40 only: loops use the EP-40 format and won’t carry over to the EP-133 or EP-1320.

Pitched

Single sample mapped across the keyboard with pitch shifting. Create melodic instruments from a single recording.

Use for: Bass lines, lead melodies, simple instruments

Multi (multisample)

Multiple samples (2-8) mapped to keyboard zones for melodic instruments. Each zone can have its own root note and key range.

Use for: Realistic instruments, chromatic synths, complex melodic patches

EP-40 only: multisamples use the EP-40 format.

Kit

Multiple samples (2-8) mapped to individual keys for drum kits. Each pad triggers a different sample. Kit mode includes a hardware-style pad grid with orange LED indicators for loaded pads and drag-to-assign functionality.

Use for: Drum kits, percussion sets, sound collections

EP-40 only: Kit mode builds a multisample, so it’s EP-40 format.

Tip: Use Z/X keyboard shortcuts to navigate octaves in Kit mode

Loading samples

Adding audio files to your multisample:

1. Click the “Add Samples” button in the top right
2. Select one or more audio files from your computer (WAV, AIFF or MP3)
3. You can also import OP-1 drum kit files (.aif/.aiff), which load all 24 samples at once, and existing TNGE multisample files
4. Samples will appear in the drop zone area
5. Drag and drop samples to reorder them if needed

Sample Limits

Maximum 8 samples per multisample, with a total duration limit of 20 seconds across all samples. The app will warn you if you exceed these limits.

Keyboard & zone mapping

The virtual keyboard shows how your samples are mapped across the EP-40’s pads:

• C3=60 / C4=60 toggle: Switch between octave numbering conventions
• Zone indicators: Visual markers show the range of each sample zone
• Root note: Indicates the original pitch of each sample
• Click to play: Click any key to preview the sound

Zone mapping tools

Tools for quickly mapping samples across the keyboard in Multi and Kit modes:

Auto zone mapping

Automatically assigns root notes and zone boundaries for your samples. Available to all users (previously Pro-only).

Scale-Aware distribute

Evenly distributes zone boundaries across the keyboard, respecting the selected musical scale. Supports all 10 EP device scales including Major, Minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian, Pentatonic and 12-tone Chromatic.

Searchable note selector

Type-ahead filtering in the note dropdown lets you quickly find and assign root notes. Press Enter to select the first matching result.

Play mode selector

Set the play mode for each sample to control how it behaves on the device:

• Oneshot: Sample plays once from start to end when triggered
• Key: Sample plays while the pad is held, stops on release
• Legato: Like Key mode, but overlapping notes share the same voice

The play mode is saved with your sample and transferred to the device.

Sound parameters

Control sound shaping for your entire multisample or individual zones:

Amplitude controls

• Volume: Overall loudness
• Pan: Stereo positioning (left/center/right)
• Velocity: Response to pad hit intensity

Envelope

The EP-40’s envelope is attack and release only (there’s no decay or sustain), and it’s global to the whole multisample rather than per zone.

• Attack: Fade-in time
• Release: Fade-out time when released

Pitch & tuning

• Pitch: Coarse tuning in semitones
• Fine tune: Precise tuning in cents
• Root note: Base pitch for each zone

Advanced audio editing

Click on any loaded sample to access advanced editing tools:

Waveform Editor

• Visual waveform display
• Trim sample start and end points
• Set loop points with automatic detection
• Zoom and navigate the waveform

Processing tools

• Normalise: Maximise volume without clipping
• Fade in/out: Smooth transitions
• Reverse: Play sample backwards
• Time stretch: Change duration without affecting pitch
• Pitch shift: Change pitch without affecting tempo

Dynamics & EQ

• Compressor: Control dynamic range
• Gate: Remove low-level noise
• Limiter: Prevent clipping
• EQ: Shape frequency content

Auto tools

• Transient detection: Automatically detect note starts
• Auto-chop: Slice samples at transients

Importing OP-1 drum kits

EP-PatchStudio can import drum kits from the Teenage Engineering OP-1:

1. Select “Kit” mode in the Editor Mode selector
2. Click “Add Samples”
3. Select an OP-1 .aif drum kit file
4. The kit will be automatically split into individual samples
5. Adjust parameters and save to your EP-40

Saving & exporting

Saving your multisample:

1. Click the “Save to Device” button (requires connected EP-40)
2. Choose a project slot (1-8) on your device
3. The multisample will be transferred to your EP-40 Riddim
4. You can now access it from the device

Upload to slot

If you loaded a sample from your device, the “Upload to Slot” button lets you send it back to the original slot after editing, no need to browse for the right location.

Exporting for backup

You can also save a multisample as a WAV file to back up or share your work. The EP-40 uses the TNGE format, which is a WAV with the keyboard mapping baked in, so you can load it straight back into EP-PatchStudio later.

Tips & best practices

• Normalise samples first: Ensures consistent volume across zones
• Use loop mode for pads: Creates sustained sounds from short samples
• Set appropriate root notes: Ensures accurate pitch tracking in Multi mode
• Watch the total duration: Stay under 20 seconds to fit all samples
• Use envelope for shaping: Attack and release can dramatically change the character

Ready to create multisamples in minutes?

Drag, drop, send. Free trial available with full features.

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