2 Tutorial Videos show the first steps and the new features of Samplitude. You can run them just here from the start dialog.
Information about new functions of Samplitude can be found in the help file in the "New Features" topic and in the file readme.rtf in the installation directory.
Help regarding program activation and other problems plus additional hints are available at www.samplitude.com and in the support forum available from there.
You can buy a hardware dongle as alternative way of program activation for portable usage. More at www.samplitude.com ...
To use VST plugins please select first the proper path in the sytem options dialog. VST instruments can be selected as MIDI devices in the track information and VST FX in the plugin dialog.
Samplitude provides several presets for certain applications which adapt toolbars and menus. You can easily create your own presets.
The samplitude design can be changed using different skins, e.g. for strong contrast VIP and mixer dosplay or a smaller room saving transport window. Skins can be changed in menu "Options > System > Skins".
Samplitude offers a comfortable way to burn complete arrangements including all related files (WAVs, HDPs...) to CDR. (menu file > burn backup CD-ROM). Large files are automatically splitted to fit on multiple CDRs. A restore tool manages the comfortable restoration of the files from CD-ROMs.
Complete tracks can be re-arranged when holding the Shift key and drag the track number button to a new position.
Non modal object editor: Samplitudes unique object editor can now always stay open. All possible adjustments can be applied to one or multiple selected objects.
The new "Advanced Dynamics" effect produces smooth, analog sounding compression as well as master limiter/maximizer settings.
The new fully parametric 4 band EQ replaces the old 3 band EQ. The new EQ contains also highpass and lowpass filters. It is special optimized for use with Intel Penitum 3 and 4 processors.
Recording audio can be done non modal. This means while recording other editing tasks can be done, even editing the audio object which is still recording.
Audio recording can be controlled by timer - simply type in start time and length, then the record process is running fully automatic. Great for archiving purposes etc...
Mixer busses can be shown in the arranger as tracks - this allows the easy creation of automation curves, track bouncing of busses etc...
The effect order in the mixer can be changed, this lets you position e.g. the dynamics pre or post EQ or fader.
Non destructive WAV editing is working also for compressed audio formats, e.g. WAVs with Codec and MP3 files.
Ranges of a WAV file can be dragged with the mouse and dropped into an empty space outside the WAV window. This creates a new WAV window ready for further editing.
New Keyboard Shortcuts for editing range borders: alt + "(" / alt + "(" moves range start, alt + "-" /alt + "+" moves range end.
New Range History: You can recall up to five ranges by pressing shift + backspace. The last five ranges are also listed as "Backup 1..5 " in the range manager.
Select a range between two markers by double clicking between them!
New feature: Mousewheel support for mixer and crossfade editor controls, select control and use wheel for editing the value. The step width of mixer track volume, master volume and surround volume was enhanced by factor 10.
Update to Edl file format 1.3 - now supporting Resampling,Track Mute+Solo
Object Editor: The object end position is also displayed, buttons 'jump to next/previous object' (not available for multiple selected objects)
New function: 'Set range over all selected objects' (Menu Range / Edit Range)
New functions: 'Set range border to next marker' and 'Set range border to next object border' (Menu Range / Edit Range).
New function: Delete VIP and all used audio material from hard disc (menu File > Delete multitrack project)
Export-Audio - new Option: Store each CD track into separate WAV file
New feature: Take names (object names) can be set while recording
New feature: Grid offset can be set independently from snap setup.
New feature: Time display can be edited with double click
New feature: Draw Wave in StereoView enabled
New file dialog for opening audio files - multi selection, preview...
New feature: Objects with Plug Ins may have a reverb time of up to 2 seconds (object must not have a fade out)
New feature: Grouping of objects after recording multiple tracks can be switched off in project info dialog
New feature: AutoScroll while Playback can be also activated for zoom levels below 1 second in the Playback dialog
New feature: Multiple selection of record buttons in VIP tracks with Shift key
New feature: Marker-Manager sets cursor position only after selecting a new marker
New feature: SMPTE-controls with Undo function and recall option for the last 10 entries (right mouse click on number area)
New input dialog for storing Vip zoom state to 'S1'...'S4'-toolbar buttons
New feature: Support for backspace-key in SMPTE edit controls
New MP3- and MPG-Export routines: automatic conversion when export is called from float files and sample rates > 48 kHz
New draw mode: Autocolor by Group (useful for multi track cutting)
CD-Burning & Track-Bouncing: For calculating maximum project length only active tracks are used (no more Muted tracks)
New menu function 'Mute Objects' (Shortcut: Ctrl+M); switches Mute Left and Mute Right in object editor together
New feature: Toolbar settings are stored in own INI file ('Sam2496_TB.ini'). Only this file should be deleted when updating the program.
New feature: Directory selection dialog can now create new directories
New feature: A single locked object in a group or for 'Link one/all tracks' locks all others
New mode: 'Lock all Audio' also inhibits position-changes (including Cut, Insert,...)
DirectX Plug-Ins from all leading manufacturers can not only be used as offline effects (Menu 'Effects'), but also as real-time effects for the Mixer Channels, Master, AUX Sections of the Mixer.
The integrated CD creation function of Samplitude allows you to burn audio CDs of your multi-track VIPs directly from within the program, including real-time effects and non-destructively!
The internal 32-bit precision setting File->Preferences->Internal Precision)also benefits 16-bit projects. It prevents internal distortion in the real-time Mixer.
The Master Normalize function in the Mixer allows you to set the main output signal of a multi-track VIP to 0dB. This includes any real-time effects and is ideal as the last step before a CD is burned or track bouncing is preformed!
The keyboard shortcut 'm' opens and closes the real-time Mixer window.
The keyboard shortcut '0' in the numeric keypad stops the playback at the current Play Cursor position without moving it to the original playback start position. In addition, you may use the mouse while holding the '0' key to scrub through your project!
The real-time Mixer offers a 3-band parametric EQ, compressor, limiter, gate, distortion, and echo/delay for every track or channel.
A right click on the effect control knobs opens the corresponding effect dialog in the Mixer window. This can also be performed during playback of the VIP.
To use external AUX Sends in the Mixer window, activate the Properties dialog with the '?' button in the AUX section and select a second Wave device. Next, activate the desired AUX channel!
The 'Return' key tiles all open windows on the screen.
Ranges can be selected track related in virtual projects. Use the generic shortcuts for cut, copy, delete, and insert to manipulate the range.
When the Crossfade button in activated in the toolbar, all cuts performed in the VIPs will create soft crossfades between the cuts. The length and the curve form can be edited with the Crossfade Editor and 'Get/Set Global'.
When the Play Cursor is located on a selected object, the shortcut 't' will separate the object at the cursor position. When a range is selected, two cuts will be performed at the beginning and end of the range.
The shortcut key 'a' selects 'All'. This means that a range is selected, which includes the complete length of the project.
The Record window can be displayed with the shortcut 'r'. The shortcut 'a' starts the recording. The key 's' stops the recording.
To set a range from one marker to the next: Click on the first marker (handle above track pane), hold the Shift key and click on the second marker.
Holding the Shift key and moving the mouse, a range can easily be moved.
To flip a range to the left or right, hold the keys Shift + Control and press one of the cursor keys. Use this method to test loops.
Use the Tab key to switch VIPs between two display modes for objects. Shift + Tab lets you choose between the modes and make preference settings. The setting 'Background' turns the background color for an object off or on.
Use the Ctrl + left mouse button to copy objects in VIPs.
The function 'Lock Object' locks the selected objects to prevent moving or other attributes. This is especially useful for multi-track productions where multiple objects need to maintain their relative position across multiple tracks.
To determine the tempo of a selected range in BPM, follow these steps: Open the Snap Definition dialog with the key combination Shift + 'r'. In the section 'Free Bar Snap' specify how many beats the selected range contains, for example '4'. Next, click on 'Get Range'. The exact tempo is displayed in the box BPM.
Use the horizontal cursor keys to scroll quickly through a project. Combined with Ctrl, the same keys will zoom in and out of a project window.
The vertical cursor keys will scroll through VIPs with a large number of tracks. Holding the Ctrl key while using the same cursor keys will vertically zoom in and out of the VIP.
The current scroll and zoom levels can be stored when holding the Shift key pressed and clicking on the buttons 'S' and 'Z' in the lower left-hand corner of the VIP.
Object volume and volume automation curves can be set to higher values than 0 dB. (To properly display the higher settings use the Ctrl + vertical cursor keys to zoom into the track display!)
Selected objects can be normalized virtually (non-destructively) to 100% by pressing the shortcut 'n'.
Most of the functions in the menu 'Effects' (from Normalize to Stereo Enhancer) can also be used with objects that are currently selected. In fact, this is the suggested use for effects not used in the Mixer window.
The Declipping function is an algorithm that can be used to remove minor distortions and clipping.
The function FFT Filter/Spectrum Analysis is available to filter audio with the characteristics of a different audio signal! Perfect to adjust room characteristics.
The Room Simulator allows you to make use of an unlimited pool of impulse responses to recreate the reverb effect of your favorite natural room reverb or an electronic studio reverb!
Use the right mouse button functionality on various components of the VIP window. Context sensitive menus are displayed with the most logical functions and commands regarding the current window component. For example, right click on objects, Record button, Mute button, or the scrollbars.
The Delete key can be used to delete markers when the Play Cursor is located directly on a marker. This also works with any selected object. When a range is selected, it is also deleted.
Holding the Shift key and clicking on two objects will also select all other objects that are located between the two objects.
The menu option Object->Edit Objects / Crossfades is available to edit a number of object attributes such as object borders and object crossfades. All of these functions have keyboard shortcut assignments and can be quickly recalled.
Drag and drop WAV, HDP, and RAP files directly from the Windows Explorer into virtual projects. The Windows Explorer can be opened from within Samplitude with Tools->Explore the HD Wave Project Folder.
The menu functions Edit->Edit Tracks can be used to rearrange the tracks in a VIP, insert new tracks, or delete tracks.
The volume and panorama curves can be linked to their objects by activating the 'Link Curves to Objects' button in the Mouse Mode Toolbar. This allows you to move the curve events with objects.
Use a double click of the left mouse button on the middle of a Mixer control knob to return it to its default state. Another double click resets the knob to the previous setting.
Clicking on the left and right outer limits of a Mixer control knob will increase or decrease the knob setting in small steps.
The Mixer window allows you to Solo multiple tracks. Use the Shift + Left Click to return Solo activation to only one channel.
Use the Master Normalize function in the Mixer Master section to quickly set the output gain to 0dB. When the Limiter in the Master section is active, the output signal is also monitored for any possible clipping.
The Mixer function 'Mix to File' (lower right) writes the master output signal of the Mixer to a WAV file (HD Wave Project). Caution! Every time the playback is started, the previous contents of the WAV file will be overwritten. Save the resulting HD Wave project to a new file if you want to preserve the mix.
In Windows NT the playback performance of the hard drive subsystem is often especially good when the audio files are played back for the first time. If you run into a problem playing back a VIP with many tracks, simply save the VIP, close it (Shortcut: 'h'), and open the VIP once more!
It is often helpful to start two instances of Samplitude. For example, one instance of the program can be used to record a long audio file or write to a CD, while the other is used to work on other material.
By default, Samplitude uses an internal precision setting of 32-bit Float. If a maximum number of tracks are needed, you may want to reduce the precision to 16-bit to slightly cut down the CPU load. (File->Preferences->Internal Precision)
