What are the technical specs for your sampled instruments?
As musicians and producers ourselves, we develop products that we'll use in our own projects. The FM and Analog Collections came from the desire to have an Ableton-specific vintage studio on our laptops. To do that, we needed to balance high-quality sampling techniques with file sizes small enough to conserve valuable hard drive space.
Here are the product specs:
Every synth in the collection was recorded at 44.1kHz/24-bit resolution into Asahi Kasei DACs. Because we've multi-sampled each instrument, there's little need for higher sampling rates, as the samples aren't transposed to extreme ranges.
All synthesizers are sampled using minor-third keymapping, so that no sample is ever transposed more than a semitone in either direction. This minimizes aliasing artifacts while retaining authenticity.
In the case of velocity-sensitive synths like the Yamaha DX7 and TX-81Z, many of the instruments - like electric piano and bass were sampled at multiple velocities to capture their full dynamics.
Some instruments were processed lightly through a Universal Audio 610 preamp for additional warmth whenever appropriate. Other sounds were recorded clean. We used our experience (and ears) to decide which approach sounded best for any given sound.
The samples are all mono (not stereo) because all of the synths we recorded have a single mono output. Stereo files would require twice the memory, while serving no real purpose.
All sample recordings (except percussion, plucks, and sounds with quick decays) are a minimum of 10 seconds – with extremely long loops that capture an entire phase cycle of oscillators beating and/or waveform modulation. This is absolutely critical for ensuring that subtle oscillator drift and other crucial analog characteristics are preserved. Sometimes, developers rely on algorithms to determine loop points, often with mixed results. At SympleSound, all editing is done by hand to deliver a more genuine experience.
Prior to recording, oscillators were thermally stable and tuned globally, but voltage inconsistencies were preserved to maintain authenticity. As a result, some analog instruments may be a few cents sharp or flat at their extreme ranges, just like the originals.
All instruments cover a five-octave range, so that they can be used in a wider variety of contexts. For example, the bass instruments can be used as leads or plucks in the top octaves, while lead instruments often make great bass sounds when played in the lowest octaves.
The Libraries are delivered as Ableton Live projects.
Why’s that?
As we started development on these products, we realized that Live includes many useful features that are often overlooked. For example, by adding MIDI loops to each library, we showcase the instruments in context so you hear what the designer intended when the sound was created. In doing this, we quickly realized that it was possible to embed the parameter values as clip automation. This way, when you hear a sound you like in a loop, just hit save and it's added to your library.
In addition, these MIDI loops can be used with any plug-in. So if you like the loop, but want to try it with a different synth on your computer, go for it.
Since the libraries are based on Live projects, the manual and tutorials are coded directly into each one. When you first open any Symplesound library, all of its features are immediately explained in detail – with relevant screenshots and integrated links about the history and character of each synth.
Are the MIDI loops royalty-free?
Can I use them in my tracks?
All of our loops – including the free audio loops we give away on our site – are original and 100% royalty-free for our customers. And with the MIDI clips, you can easily transpose or edit the notes to make them your own if you prefer.
Can I use your MIDI loops with other synths and plug-ins?
Yep. Just apply a different plug-in to the track. Still royalty-free.
What versions of Live are compatible with your products?
Because we use Live 9.5's new analog filter models, the collections are only compatible with version 9.5 or newer. If you try loading them into an older version of Live, the files won't open.
Are your products compatible with both Windows and Mac?
Since our products are based on Ableton Live projects, they will work with version 9.5 (or higher) on any operating system that's compatible with Ableton Live itself.
Do you plan to support earlier versions of Live – or alternate sampler formats?
At this time, we have no plans for either (but anything's possible...)
What’s the difference between the standard and Lite versions of The Analog Collection?
The Standard version includes full 32-voice polyphony for all instruments. It also utilizes Ableton Live 9.5’s new modeled analog filters, which can be slightly CPU-intensive when loaded on older systems.
The Lite versions use the original Ableton filter algorithms with a maximum of 8-voice polyphony, so they work on many older computers. To make the original filters even more flexible, we included filter morphing in the Lite presets, so each product version has its own unique and useful attributes.
Additionally, the reverbs for the Lite version are all set to "Eco" mode.
How do I contact Technical Support?
Right here.
Do you have any plans to sample other synths?
Absolutely! You can even make product suggestions when you sign up for our mailing list ;)
I want to buy your products, but am concerned about using my credit card with your site. Is it safe?
All Symplesound website purchases are handled by Stripe, so at no time do we have access to your payment information, other than name and email address. Stripe is one of the most secure and legitimate transaction services in the industry (it's the payment source for Lyft, Shopify and Kickstarter, among others), so we're confident in their security. All of the specifics can be found onStripe's website.
What payment forms do you accept?
Stripe accepts both Apple Pay and most major credit cards, depending on the country.
U.S. customers can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club.
Australian, Canadian, European, Hong Kongese, Japanese, and Singaporean customers can use Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
At this time, we do not accept PayPal.
Is there a way to get notifications about new products?
Yes. If you want to be first in line when we release a new product or free download, sign up for our mailing list.
If I sign up for your mailing list for news, will you spam me or give my information to other marketers and websites?
We're devoted to our own privacy, so we're also extremely sensitive to yours. At no point will we share your information with third parties. Also, our mailings are brief and to the point and you'll receive them no more than once per month – at most.
What are your privacy policies?
Detailed information on our commitment to your privacy can be found here.
What's the story behind Symplesound?
Check out our About page for the specifics.