Ableton Sampler: How To Use In Under 15 Minutes

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Ableton's Sampler is a great, underrated tool that you can use to make some pretty cool sounds. Check it.
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0:00 Intro
1:09 Starting Out
2:02 Sample Section
6:59 Pitch/Osc Section
7:47 Filter/Global Section
10:42 Modulation Section
13:10 MIDI Section
13:53 Zone Section

[@rayanvd751989]

I'm glad you made this vid brother. I have been working on Ableton for so long but never took the time to understand the power under the sampler's hood. Appreciate it man!

[@jakebrown3035]

me too! very overdue little hidden gem hey

[@KithaironSound]

Great stuff bro. I love these type of A to Z tutorials. Keep it up!

[@jakebrown3035]

this is a game changer!! really good demo man explained it all perfectly cheers!

[@chemuki71]

Wonderful your videos,and thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

[@WaltThizzney415]

Well said, I needed to learn the functions of the sampler, you helped!

[@lordlucan7348]

Great Vid mate, many thanks and keep em coming

[@gillesgagnon]

Thanks for this video. Was looking for info on how to hot swap a sample... found it right here. Cheers!

[@toadinthehold]

Hey, awesome video, really helpful so thank you! I just wondered if there's any way to make the sustained loop or start of the note match your kick so it starts again on each kick. If you could let me know if this is possible that would be amazing, thanks again :)

[@0x80O0oOverfl0w]

Super helpful and very underrated video. I'm relatively new to Ableton and it's definitely overwhelming starting out. I feel like a lot of "intro" videos start out in the middle of a conversation, and I'm always left wondering well how did you open that, and where do you find that etc.... So it was nice to see a thorough yet concise video on working with Sampler.

[@delcambrem]

Thanks, this is helpful!

[@gabriel_moulin]

Amazing tutorial!

[@djmacdoctor]

hi there, great video! I just have another odd question. Let's say I have a .wav piano sample/loop of a standard 8-bars, that also comes with the .mid file. How's it possible for me to use the entire loop sample with the midi file, so that I could use it for a new project, as I may wanna change the key but keeping the sounds coming from the sample loop? I tried using sampler, dropped the entire sample loop in there, it's about 9 secs long, but when I play the midi file, it keeps running only first few notes of the sample, and not the entire. I was hoping the midi will play accordingly to the sample loop from beginning to end. Any help please?

[@khz5324]

awesome. straight to the point

[@sharkyhtowers]

Excellent tutorial.

[@gdal8539]

Thanks - very clearly explained

[@202roller]

guys this is so simple but i cant find an explanation. How do i hear the sample within the sampler without inserting notes on a midi??

[@EDMProd]

Best thing to do is 1. arm the track by clicking on the note button next to the solo button and 2. enable your computer MIDI keyboard in the top right by clicking on the piano icon. Then press on the A key and it will play a C note.

[@teriko2590]

literally only reason i came here WTF

[@sgw8707]

Hahahahah thank you for this comment I thought I was going crazy

[@202roller]

@@sgw8707 lmao glad i could help :D

[@bryanasare1632]

which one is the solo button. I'm a real beginner

[@maddes6123]

you are amazing man :) Until now, i didn't even know how to deal with the sampler feature *shame* :D but yeah everybody needs to start somewhere. Its like you've told from your perspective: Right after watching your tutorial I have entered the door to a new level of creativity :D thank you so much :) best regards from Germany :)

[@Kategan]

Very useful, thanks for this!

[@davisbindejazz]

Hi! While I'm recording I'm changing sample's filters (good old trick with cutting highs and then adding them back after few bars) but those changes doesn't record. How to do this with sampler (if it's possible with it) ?

[@soulg4997]

Thanks excellent tutorial

[@Kidnistrah_S0NICALCH3M1ST]

So if I already sliced to midi a bunch of transients from a audio file, open them in a custom Sampler based Drum Rack (Sampler on each pad), what would be the best or fastest way to copy Sampler parameters (detune, shaper, filter settings, LFO settings etc) to a specific range of Sampler pads without changing the slice content? Meaning use similar settings in other specific Sampler instances containing their respective slices without using Copy Value to Siblings, cuz correct me if I’m wrong, that command copies the one settings to all the others Samplers. What if I want to only copy to a couple specific slice pads? Thank guys 🙏

[@MacheteMB1775]

very new to this a great help

[@rashadsultan]

very helpful overview, thanks! i followed along by adding a vocal sample to slice up and wanted to have different keys on my akai mini trigger different parts of the same sample. for example the vocalist sings "why hello there". how can i assign different keys to each word which i've cropped? i kept getting stuck at the part where you introduced zones (which seems like the place to do this). i keep having the sample's pitch changed no matter how i drag the bar which assigns it to specific keys...

[@EDMProd]

You would have to assign each chop manually by setting the same sample to different keys (in the zone section, copy and paste the sample and change the key range) and change the start point to each different word. It's fairly complicated, but possible. An easier way would be to use Simpler rather than Sampler and use the 'Slice' mode, change the 'Slice By' to manual and double click in your slice points manually. Each slice automatically gets assigned to a new key.

[@thegingercurlshow9371]

Thank you so mcuh!!!

[@crishimdnb]

hey there, If I load a sample wav in the Sampler, how I can I mantain its original HIgh Quality Sound and Volume? Because in my case when I load to Sampler a sample I made from my Moog Synthetizer, it reduces its Volume and power... Please help and thanks!

[@shreepadgandhi6739]

Thanks. That sounds interesting. A quick query. I have Ableton Intro 10. The UI of sampler is different than what you showed above. Which version are you using to show this? There are few functions common with us but not all obviously. Trying to match your lesson with my license of ableton...Thanks again.

[@mrMankx]

Dude! Great!

[@King-zn8wp]

How do I switch notes in sampler mid sample without it restarting the entire sample because I switched notes? Would like to be able to play it continuously. Thanks!

[@jae-eunsuh3918]

Thank you for the video! btw it seems like extra video link is no longer working :( I typed my name and email but keeps showing me that an error occurred...

[@monksee]

Thank you for this. :) You explained everything very clearly. I'm just getting to know how to use this particular sampler. I was wondering can you help? I'm trying out the Zone part. I have individual samples of a guitar stab sound from notes F#2-A#3. I have lined up each individual sample with the corresponding note on the keyboard in the Zone. Put when I play a melody e.g with a midi file the pitches of the notes are wrong. Should I set a root note in the sampler or something? thank you :)

[@monksee]

Hello. I figured it out. Had to set the Root note of each individual sample in the Zone. :)

[@Raz0rtooth]

really nice one boi

[@matiasfuentealba898]

does it warp the rest of the generated notes or they jus become quicker/longer?

[@nickdoutney823]

so to slice up samples in sampler, like you do in a simpler option, you have to cut up your sample and then distribute it among the keys? theres no easier way?

[@EDMProd]

There are ways to automate it, but they don't give exact results. You can drag in a bunch of samples to the Zone and right click 'Distribute Ranges Equally'.

[@unused0011]

Hi mate, how did you preview what is inside the sampler @03:36

[@iamryanjsmith]

I have Ableton Live 9. Should it be in here as a stock plugin? I can't find it!!!

[@abovegk]

So I’ve noticed when you use sampler the higher notes you play the fast the sample gets played through and vice versa for the lower you play the slower the sample plays. How do I fix that

[@puysac1993]

why when i drag and drops souns into sampler, the sound do not same like in prewiew

[@loksmyldmusic3151]

I have one simply question that I can't find answer. Is it possible to keep the same lenght of the audio for all notes? Like don't speed up or slow down the sample in function of the note?

[@EDMProd]

You can with Simpler but not with Sampler (strange, but true). In Simpler, click the 'warp' function to keep it in time.

[@joaoereno4676]

How can i play diferent notes on the keyboard without changing the audio speed??

[@scotthunter1678]

So great

[@Blue-jo5tl]

Great video. Lost of helpful stuff. Thank you. Here's something not covered here. When I drag a sample in it is playing at different tempos/rates per key and not the tempo of the project / or audio clip I drug in. I have no idea why or how to fix it. :) I'm sure I'll find someone who does soon. But if any of you know, please post the answer for the next person. Tyvm.

[@MrTomDangerous]

You would need to use Simpler and warp the sample. In Sampler, the samples are played faster as you go up the keys, just like the strings and notes of a piano getting shorter.

[@hughhosking8903]

Hi, great video, I know it might seem like a stupid question, but no matter what I do I can't seem to hear or playback the sample that I have loaded. I even tried inputting a midi clip first and still no sound or playback of the sample. Any help would be appreciated!!

[@user-ty1tr6rq6z]

I also cannot figure out how to play the sample.

[@HAZARDOUS88]

Many thanks!!

[@EDMProd]

[@cipsleten505583789]

PLEASE TELL ME IF THERES A WAY TO WARP A SAMPLE WITHIN THE SAMPLER

[@toomassannik2703]

When i want to load the sampler, i only have simpler option...What's the problem? I have Live Lite 11.

[@joeseabreeze]

Does this sampler have a "Shift" feature like FL Studio, where you can actually delay the note up to 1/16? How can you do that with this?

[@EDMProd]

You can't do it with sampler I think, but you can do it with a Delay, set the wet to 100% and feedback to 0, and set the delay time to a quarter note.

[@nelsoncolereis4058]

Or just use the track delay. Great for adding some swing!

[@laralopezparra]

Loved the tutorial, I am looking forward to finally being able to use the sampler, but I have a tiny problem: once I have dragged the audio into the sampler, how can I hear it? I must have done something wrong, ´cause I can´t hear any sound either from the sampler nor from the keyboard. Is there any kind and altruistic soul willing to help this old lady across the road to the sampler side of life? Thanks!

[@julesgraebling1679]

same issue here, I can't seem to play the sample by simply hitting play :(

[@EDMProd]

Let us know if there are any tips we missed! Check out the extra tutorial here 👉 www.edmprod.com/ableton-sampler-video/

[@nullmymusicproductiontrans1197]

Obviously

[@noriorck4017]

Is there any way to change the way you launch/start sounds like trigger gate or else options in sampler, I have been looking for something to trigger the audio selection but I don't seem to find info about it .

[@lilpeter59]

what is the name of that microphones ?

[@EarleMonroe]

The extra video at the edmprod.com site is not working. I could access your other content by entering my info, but the www.edmprod.com/ableton-sampler-video/ link doesn't do anything.

[@leonardkian4305]

instaBlaster...

[@OnToffee]

Hello. Question - why isn't my sample playing. It works on the side bar, but when I put it in sampler there is no play back. I've tried all the usual tricks like making sure the track is armed and put in auto. I've tried renaming the sample. It is in range, E3 note sung and E3 matched. Help!

[@DJAltimo]

You have to have something MIDI to trigger the note :)

[@jjjuhg]

ableton live and pro tools are difficult. I can change a wav file as you did in this video, ok...but what is the reason in a song ? I don't see how this makes a better song

[@olekolecki6313]

It is a big pity that for zones it is not possible to set the filter for each sample separately.

[@djfedoz6000]

where i can find length ?

[@GK-vv9bn]

You basically read the help menu for each key! I wish you had explained how to use sampler with a real example on youtube!

[@JoeeKickass99]

can i enlarge the sampler

[@Georg89]

Thanks for the great explanation. Is this sampler also available on the Intro Version?

[@EDMProd]

Unfortunately not

[@50zezima]

It's not I found that out the hard way. Intro is apparently USELESS.

[@K-LizaOfficial]

I know this comment is really late but for some reason my sampler doen't make any sound when I add audio/sample in.Does anyone know how I can fix this?

[@GreatestSportsHighLights]

I wish this came with standard version!

[@nelsoncolereis4058]

You can buy devices separately too! I have Standard and bought Analog and Sampler. No need to buy Suite. :)

[@rain_sq]

Where do I find the sampler? I cant find it in the audio effects.. i have the standard version..

[@Yungwerra]

sampler is an instrument, not an audio effect

[@YnteryPictures]

Sick

[@memorycloud4173]

Hi! I'd like to stretch and move points within a sample the same way I do with an audio clip but do all this within Sampler. Is this possible?

[@EDMProd]

Hey there, you could always manipulate the sample in audio FIRST then consolodate (CMD+J) then drag it into the sampler afterwards?

[@memorycloud4173]

@@EDMProd yeah was just wondering if it was possible to do within Sampler as a means of eliminating an extra (albeit tiny) step in the process

[@ung_vino2762]

I know this sounds extremely dumb, but I can't solve it. How do I hear the sample when I inserted it in the Sampler? Everytime I play it, it plays the whole arrangement view.

[@EDMProd]

You have to trigger it with MIDI notes :)

[@romadrums]

How to make one shot and then how to make mono or legato (portamento) ? In my case I'm trying to make 808 with glide. Thank you.

[@gandharvsharma11]

Did u find it ??? I m also looking for the same

[@romadrums]

@@gandharvsharma11 unfortunately NO...

[@nichonrath4956]

go to modulation in the sampler and assign the PITCH (M) to A. Turn A to 100 and then mess around with the adsr and this will make your attack decay sustain release (adsr) controll the pitch of your 808 over time when you play it. hope this makes sense

[@nichonrath4956]

(in the bottom left corner of the sampler when you are on the modulation window there is A and B)

[@BunnyMast]

I've recorded 3 octaves of one sample from my groove box in to ableton and sorted them in sampler so I can play them from my midi keyboard. Everything is working great, I press C1 on my midi and the C1 sample plays. My only problem is I cant play multiple keys at a time. I'd like to be able to build chords with this instrument I've just made using sampler, but I'm stuck. Any idea on how to play multiple keys at once? When I select a new key it's just cuts of the last one. I'm not looking to glide between keys, I just want to play multiples at once. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[@JahBillah]

Eh make duplicate channels, select on each one notes you want to play, and arm them all? But that's not really solution cause you can capture audio now and you want MIDI instrument?

[@BunnyMast]

@@JahBillah i figured it out, it was very silly lol I had to switch the number of voices from "1" to anything greater than "1". With voices at "1" you can only play 1 key at a time. "2" you can play 2... etc. I set it to 16. doubt ill need to play 16 at a time, but hey now I can build chords lol.

[@JahBillah]

@@BunnyMast yes boss I knew it was something simple as that just couldn't figure it out on top of my head. Enjoy your sounds!

[@BunnyMast]

@@JahBillah appreciate you for looking out

[@JahBillah]

@@BunnyMast bless and keep going forward!

[@applaying2604]

What key do you press to play the sound from the sampler? help, please haha

[@user-ty1tr6rq6z]

i'm also lost. did you figure it out?

[@SmokedOutHaze1]

So, as you play up and down the keyboard, your sustain loop increases and decreases. So if I play a low note, the loop plays slower and if I play a high note, the loop plays faster. How do you make it so that the loop time stays the same regardless of what note you play on the keyboard? Is that possible?

[@ramirolozada7587]

hey did you ever figure this out?

[@thismessismine]

I think Ableton's Warp feature might let you do this, it allows you to timestretch without changing pitch and to do other related functions so I think it could accomplish what you're describing. I'm also still learning a lot myself, but worth a shot!

[@thismessismine]

oh and Warp is within the Simpler feature

[@MarioEtzlerChristianson]

your download link for www.edmprod.com does not work ... I give my name and email and nothing happens it is a loop where I have to do the same constantly without having the chance to download ... thanks for fixing it

[@EarleMonroe]

Same here. I liked this video, but the link for the extra video you promote above doesn't work.

[@tugaykaya7738]

Good thing this plugin comes in by default

[@PciZStratoX]

the link for extra video is dead, when i put the informations and click it just don't download :/

[@EDMProd]

Apologies, if you try again it should work now :)

[@PciZStratoX]

@@EDMProd still not working... sorry :(

[@crieverytim]

my modulation section didnt do anything...

[@beatzclinic2043]

Where’s the mono poly setting in sampler?

[@quasarthelasermen]

How can I get a cheesy synth sound from my keyboard to be its own instrument in ableton so that I can then write parts with it without needing the physical keyboard?

[@EDMProd]

Google 'how to make a multisample instrument in Ableton' - there's a good guide on their website.

[@ryriffs]

Where do I find the sampler in ableton 10?

[@jeppehyldgaard4459]

bro im so lost as well. cant find it

[@EDMProd]

Apologies should have mentioned in the video - Suite only.

[@enrico0094]

@@EDMProd Or , as Nelson Cole Reis says, you can buy it as a stand-alone for Ableton 10 Standard: USD 99 GBP 69 when I last checked.

[@alecsedate4379]

SO idk what went wrong but I literally only have a simpler and IDK WHERE TO FIND THE SAMPLER

[@Allan-et5ig]

Mate - before I watch full video - and I will tell me this. I sampled an ancient Trip Hop Piano playing single chords. PERFECT. I then tried to sample a bass - worked but sounded terrible - even though the piano's over tones are far more complicated and it's not a mono instrument?? WTF!! Finally I tried sampling an incredible 60's guitar and sampler plays its entire range of notes. I'm a good musician, I don't want the guitar to play the chords someone else wrote in my songs. How do I sample it so that I can 'play' this incredible old electric and play chords, notes, stabs, etc?

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@durianpower5172]

V-Moda !!!

[@lmc2410]

you said it’s “pretty straightforward” so many times w/o explaining things, it’s supposed to be a tutorial 😂

[@maxwell9714]

wHAT DO I PRESS TO PLAY THE SAMPLE?????

[@xinefthar7923]

"f" took me a while

[@xinefthar7923]

And actually, 2 mins after that... you can press any midi note and it will play the sample and I think it will change the pitch to that note using the root note as reference for original pitch.

[@jonass6702]

"Next we got the Filter Section" - "F"

[@antoninzygma8309]

9:56 lesson for next time to use a limiter on master channel LMAO

[@googlekopfkind]

1:03 he said to learn the synth..

[@papioshposh487]

ok

[@luciferianjesuslover9453]

How the FUCK do i play the sample and not the fucking arrangement view?

[@someon3605]

All those options and it doesn't have warping modes smh.

[@EDMProd]

true lol

[@theboofin]

Of course you can tune in Simpler...

[@thomasmilet2879]

Thanx for the video but you couldn,t have picked a worse sample to illustrate your words... !? Reverted or not sounds the same, can't hear a difference in the loop points. Just use a human voice sample of someone singing or speaking instead of that lond pad note. If I may suggest

[@50zezima]

Why tf is it $99 for a sampler? I'm so fucking confused. Bruh I just want to make music like wtf why is ableton so greedy?

[@joshglass4735]

I literally bought Sampler strictly for the looping function so I could hold notes indefinitely to essentially mimic real instruments, only to find out there are no warping options. That is the dumbest thing ever -_-

[@EDMProd]

Sounds like Simpler is what you need for this! Simpler has warping functions and sampler does not, weird huh - but you can also loop in simpler so sounds like that would be the way to go in this case. Thanks for watching :)

[@joshglass4735]

@@EDMProd so, the function that I was really looking forward to was to be able to loop that sample so that when it loops, it moves backwards. This would allow you to hold notes indefinitely and essentially create an instrument out of it, something that sampler does indeed have, only without the warping function. When simpler loops it starts from the beginning of the sample again, which really doesn’t sound great :/ thanks for the response, I appreciate it!

[@JuHim92]

guide starts at 1:10