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.multisample

A modern and open multi-sample file format for data exchange between sample-based instruments, to simplify the workflow for end users and sound designers. The format is limited to basic sample mappings, leaving out all playback and sound-shaping parameters to the preset of the relevant instrument.

Authors: Bitwig & PreSonus Software

Goals

  • As a sample-player user I would like to transfer a single, playable instrument sound that contains multiple single samples across a music keyboard, with multiple velocity layers and possibly multiple samples playing simultaneously. [in scope]

  • As a drum-sample-player user I would like to transfer a single drum or percussion instrument into an existing kit that contains multiple single samples in velocity layers, with multiple alternate samples (round-robin) per dynamic layer. [in scope]

Non-goals

  • As a producer, I would like to transfer a set of corresponding drum or instrument loops with multiple musical variations. [out of scope]

  • As a sample-player user I would like to transfer a complex instrument containing multiple articulations and / or voicing (filters, envelopes, effects). [out of scope]

Container Format

A multisample can be packed into a single file using the ZIP container format. The mapping information is stored in the multisample.xml file in the root folder of the archive.

Filename extension: .multisample

Alternatively, a file system folder can be used, following the same naming convention.

The ZIP file should embed files uncompressed using the STORED method to allow sample-data to be streamed without prior extraction.

Audio Format

Embedded sample files should be RIFF WAVE files in either PCM or IEEE_FLOAT format. A player is expected to play back mono and stereo files with arbitrary sample-rates and bit-depths between 8 and 32.

Multichannel files are allowed, but it is not to be expected that all players support it.

XML Structure

A multisample may contain groups, which organize samples into logical groups. A group does not have any meaning for the sound synthesis, it is used to organize samples in an editor.

A sample references an audio file on disk and adds mapping information. It can either be ungrouped (-1) or be part of a specified group.

<multisample>
   <group name="First"/>
   <group name="Second"/>
   <sample/>
   <sample/>
</multisample>
name String attribute Name of the multisample.
generator String element Software which generated the file
category* String element Category of the multisample (ie Drum / Keyboard / FX)
creator String element User who created the file.
description String element A longer description of the multisample.
keywords

Multisample Definition

Apart from the groups and samples, the multisample element also contain metadata of the sample.

<multisample name="Acoustic Bass">
    <generator>Bitwig Studio</generator>
    <category>Bass</category>
    <creator>Genys</creator>
    <description>A nice acoustics bass recorded at a 9562 m altitude.</description>
    <keywords>
        <keyword>Bass</keyword>
        <keyword>Acoustic</keyword>
        <keyword>Plucked</keyword>
    </keywords>
    <group … />
    <group … />
    <sample> … </sample>
    <sample> … </sample>
</multisample>
Property Unit Description Default
sample
name String Displayed name of the group
color Hex string Like in HTML: d92e24

Sample definition

<sample file="AcBass bowloop E1.wav" gain="0.000" sample-start="0" sample-stop="5669442" round-robin="1">
<key root="40" tune="-50.22" track="1" low="24" high="40" low-fade="10" high-fade="0"/>
<velocity high="127" low="0"/>
	<loop mode="loop" start="256.22" stop="56694.42"/>
</sample>
Property Unit Description Default
sample
file String Relative path to audio file
sample-start Samples Sample start position 0.0
sample-stop Samples Sample end position file length
gain Decibels 0.0
group int Index of group (-1 means ungrouped) -1
parameter-1 float -1 … 1 Exposed as P1 modulation source 0
parameter-2 float -1 … 1 Exposed as P2 modulation source 0
parameter-3 float -1 … 1 Exposed as P3 modulation source 0
reverse bool false
zone-logic String always-play or round-robin
key
root semitone 60 (C3)
track float 0 … 2 1 = 100% 1
tune relative semitone (float) Fine tuning or transposition of the sample. 0.0
low semitone 0
high semitone 127
low-fade semitone 0
high-fade semitone 0
velocity
low velocity 1
high velocity 127
low-fade velocity 0
high-fade velocity 0
select
low select 1
high select 127
low-fade select 0
high-fade select 0
loop
mode String off, loop or ping-pong off
start Samples, float 0.0
stop Samples, float file length
fade 0 .. 1 Multiply with (stop - start) to the get crossfade length 0.0

XML Schema

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<xs:schema version="1.0" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">

   <xs:element name="group" type="group"/>

   <xs:element name="multisample" type="multisample"/>

   <xs:element name="sample" type="sample"/>

   <xs:complexType name="multisample">
      <xs:sequence>
         <xs:element name="generator" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="category" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="creator" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="description" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0"/>
         <xs:element name="keywords" minOccurs="0">
            <xs:complexType>
               <xs:sequence>
                  <xs:element name="keyword" type="xs:string" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
               </xs:sequence>
            </xs:complexType>
         </xs:element>
         <xs:element ref="group" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
         <xs:element ref="sample" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
      </xs:sequence>
      <xs:attribute name="name" type="xs:string" use="required"/>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:complexType name="group">
      <xs:sequence/>
      <xs:attribute name="name" type="xs:string" use="required"/>
      <xs:attribute name="color" type="xs:string"/>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:complexType name="sample">
      <xs:sequence>
         <xs:element name="key" type="key"/>
         <xs:element name="velocity" type="range"/>
         <xs:element name="select" type="range"/>
         <xs:element name="loop" type="loop" minOccurs="0"/>
      </xs:sequence>
      <xs:attribute name="file" type="xs:string" use="required"/>
      <xs:attribute name="sample-start" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="sample-stop" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="gain" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="group" type="xs:int"/>
      <xs:attribute name="parameter-1" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="parameter-2" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="parameter-3" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="reverse" type="xs:boolean"/>
      <xs:attribute name="zone-logic" type="zoneLogic"/>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:complexType name="key">
      <xs:complexContent>
         <xs:extension base="range">
            <xs:sequence/>
            <xs:attribute name="root" type="xs:int"/>
            <xs:attribute name="track" type="xs:double"/>
            <xs:attribute name="tune" type="xs:double"/>
         </xs:extension>
      </xs:complexContent>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:complexType name="range">
      <xs:sequence/>
      <xs:attribute name="low" type="xs:int"/>
      <xs:attribute name="high" type="xs:int"/>
      <xs:attribute name="low-fade" type="xs:int"/>
      <xs:attribute name="high-fade" type="xs:int"/>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:complexType name="loop">
      <xs:sequence/>
      <xs:attribute name="mode" type="loopMode"/>
      <xs:attribute name="start" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="stop" type="xs:double"/>
      <xs:attribute name="fade" type="xs:double"/>
   </xs:complexType>

   <xs:simpleType name="zoneLogic">
      <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
         <xs:enumeration value="always-play"/>
         <xs:enumeration value="round-robin"/>
      </xs:restriction>
   </xs:simpleType>

   <xs:simpleType name="loopMode">
      <xs:restriction base="xs:string">
         <xs:enumeration value="off"/>
         <xs:enumeration value="loop"/>
         <xs:enumeration value="ping-pong"/>
      </xs:restriction>
   </xs:simpleType>
</xs:schema>

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