Kent and Co.,

The other thread on this topic got me really interested in this idea of building your own instrument.

But, there are questions my sampling friends have not been able to provide me a simple answer for.

I think I gather that if you want to REALLY create your own instrument, you have to:

1.) Record samples--like, rain drop,rain dribble, rain splatter, etc and name those and drop them in a single file folder

2.) Name them Raindrop.wav., Rainsplatter.wav etc.

3. Create an SFZ file using notepad to "code" files as c4-Raindrop, d4, rainsplatter, e4, raindribble etc

4. Save the SFZ file in the same folder as the samples with a name like Raindrops Instrument

Then, open your sampler, load the Raindrops Instrument and when you hit c4, d4, e4 etc it will play those sounds.

I don't see any other way around that, ie, there is not a "sampler that will do it for you."

Am I right???

First link is to Plogue's free sampler that allows you to build your own orchestra should you choose(Same people that build Aria player, even runs Garritan Samples)

second link goes to other tools,

third link is coding instructions.

I don't mind learning how to program this, I just wanted to find out from you if I am right first before I start trying to do it.

People have told me "there has to be an easier way" but I don't think there is.

Thanks Kent & Co.


SFZ Player and Programmer
http://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/

Other Tools
http://www.keyboardmag.com/miscellaneous/1265/create-your-own-virtual-instruments-with-sfz-files/31010

Basic Instructions
http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/customising-sonars-sfz-files

Hi David,

Though that would likely work, I've never used an SFZ file myself. Every sampler I've ever used allows you to browse for samples directly from the sampler's interface. I have 20+ GB of drum samples in WAV format arranged in subfolders in my Samples folder, I just load them into the sampler from their existing locations without copying them into a new folder or preparing anything beforehand.

Since I make a new drum kit for every tune (either from pre-existing samples or by sampling my drum machine), moving my samples into the same folder and making an SFZ file before-hand would be too time-consuming, and wouldn't allow me to easily switch kicks, snares, etc as I work on the song.

Just my 2 cents of course.

Thanks
Kent
PG Music

Hmmm...Kent, I think in Session Drummer it may be as simple as this...

duh..

Solved

Yep, I figured it'd be that simple.

Native Instruments' Battery is another one I used to use quite a bit for drums, but I usually use the Drum Rack in Ableton Live these days.

Cheers
Kent

Oh good idea Kent! I have that too, come to think of it!!