SampleBot

SampleBot is a macOS utility designed to automate the process of sampling hardware synthesizers. It sends MIDI Note On/Off messages to your external gear and simultaneously records the audio output, creating perfectly named and organized sample files.

Features

• Automated Sampling: Automatically triggers notes across a specified range and records the audio.
• Velocity Layers: Supports sampling at multiple velocity levels (Soft: 64, Medium: 100, Hard: 127).
• Flexible Configuration: Set start/end notes, step size (stride), and note durations.
• Audio Processing:
  • Normalization: Automatically normalizes recording levels.
  • Trimming: Option to trim silence/latency from the start of the sample.
  • Stereo/Mono: Choose between stereo or mono recording.
• Organization: Custom filename prefixes for easy sample management.
• MPC Keygroup Export: Generates a ready-to-load .xpm program file for Akai MPCs.
• DAW Connectivity: Dedicated "DAW" MIDI mode for internal routing.

Usage

Prerequisites

Important

Audio Device Selection: SampleBot uses the system default audio input. Please ensure your audio interface is selected as the Input device in System Settings -> Sound before launching the app.

Steps

1. Select Output Folder: Click "Select Folder" to choose where your .wav files will be saved.
2. MIDI Settings:
   • Choose your hardware synthesizer from the "Destination" dropdown.
   • Select "DAW" to route notes to the virtual "SampleBot MIDI" source (for sampling VSTs/DAWs).
   • Click "Refresh Destinations" if your device isn't listed.
3. Audio Settings:
   • Select the Input Channel corresponding to your synth's connection on your audio interface.
   • Toggle "Stereo Recording" if your synth is connected in stereo.
4. Configuration:
   • Range: Set the Start Note and End Note (MIDI note numbers).
   • Step: Set how many semitones to skip (e.g., 1 for every note, 12 for octaves).
   • Velocity: Select which velocity layers to capture.
   • Timing: Adjust "Note Duration" (how long the key is held) and "Tail Duration" (how long to record release tails).
   • Normalization: If enabled, use the slider to set the Peak Level (e.g., -3.0 dB) to prevent clipping.
5. MPC Keygroup (Optional):
   • Create MPC Keygroup: Generates an .xpm file for instant use on MPCs.
   • Playback: Configure One Shot, Loop, and Release time (for note-off fade outs).
6. Start Sampling: Click the "Start Sampling" button. The app will iterate through your settings, recording each note automatically.

Technical Details

• Built with: SwiftUI, AVFoundation, CoreMIDI.
• Format: Records 32-bit Float WAV files (de-interleaved), suitable for high-quality audio production.

Installation

1. Download the latest release zip file.
2. Unzip the file.
3. Drag SampleBot.app to your Applications folder.
4. Double-click to launch.

(Since the app is signed and notarized, it should open without security warnings.)