Basic Structure Looping Help.

[jimmyz]

Hi guys,

I am about to start sampling some keys and woodwind instruments for a small sample library for myself. Using Structure to store, cut and some basic editing on the samples.

My big problem is knowing how much audio to take before i start looping the samples to save space and if i was holding a note for a long period of time...

does anyone have any experience with looping and looping lengths?

On consistant sounds (such as some wood samples), i am uncertain how much audio to capture as i've no idea how much audio i will be looping... 3s, 10s, longer?

I'm grateful for any help with this from people with more experience than me!

Thanks

j

[burningbusch]

I question the need for looping in the first place. Looping is a requirement with hardware sample playback instruments because ROM is very limited. You don't have those limits with a software-based sampler.

I recently "resampled" some of the saxophones from YellowTools Candy. These are some of the most detailed sax samples you're going to find. They are not looped. Each note is sampled for a duration of five to maybe nine seconds and that's it. When the player runs out of breath, the recording stops. Why would you need an sample of a wind instrument to sound longer than what is reasonable for the original instrument? I understand some people do have a need and if you were releasing a library for sale you'd probably want prefectly looped instruments.

Looping is difficult and very time consuming. Some samples can sound pretty good the first time you pick a loop point. The next one you can spend hours and never seem to find anything that works well. I assume you have the full version of Structure. Take a look at the EWQLSO orchestral winds that came with it. Most are 5 - 6 seconds and then employ a long cycle loop.

Busch.

[jimmyz]

thanks.

one of the instruments is bagpipes, not entirely woodwind, but i'm sure you know what i mean when you can then see the need for looping!

i'm hoping that20-30s per note will be enough. longer than that and i'm thinking loops will have to come into play.

j