Ableton’s multisampling instrument
Sampler is Ableton’s deepest sample instrument. Where Simpler plays one sample, Sampler can hold hundreds, spread across the keyboard and across velocity layers. That lets it recreate a real instrument convincingly, from a piano that changes tone with how hard you play to a set of strings recorded note by note. The Zone Editor sets which sample plays for which key, velocity or selector position, with smooth crossfades between them. Under the hood is a full synthesiser: a modulation oscillator for FM and AM, a filter, several envelopes and LFOs, and detailed MIDI and MPE routing. That makes Sampler as much a sound design tool as a playback engine. It’s especially good for turning your own acoustic recordings into playable instruments. It can also import multisample formats from other samplers. Sampler is included in Live Suite and isn’t included in Intro or Standard.
Features
Multisampling with unlimited samples across key, velocity and sample-select zones
Zone Editor with crossfades between zones for smooth transitions
Sustain and release loops with crossfading for natural-sounding sustained notes
Modulation oscillator for FM and AM sound design
Pitch envelope for drops, zaps and swells
Filter with multiple modes and analogue-modelled circuit types
Several envelopes and LFOs routable to most parameters
MIDI and MPE modulation from velocity, key, aftertouch, mod wheel, slide and pressure
Import of third-party multisample formats
Glide, spread and voice controls in the global section
Great for
Realistic acoustic instruments
Your own multisampled recordings
Velocity-layered pianos and keys
Complex sampled textures
Expressive MPE playing
Related articles
Simpler · Drum Sampler · Impulse · Wavetable · Operator · Auto Filter