The most important functional area is the VIP arranger. This is the center for recording, cutting, editing, crossfading, and finally for arranging the final tracks for the final CD.
VIP stands for "virtual project", and as the name suggests, everything here takes place virtually, i.e. non-destructively; all crossfades, normalization, automated volume adjustments, or object effects remain separate from the recorded material.
This working method provides absolute editing freedom. Every step and every setting may be changed in any way at any time or undone, without irreparably damaging the precious original material.

Tracks and objects

Every project consists of up to 999 tracks (Samplitude Pro and Sequoia) or up to 128 tracks (Samplitude). The tracks contain objects. These are references to the actual recordings or imported material, e.g. wave, MP3, or MIDI files.

 

 

Objects may be moved, cut, or otherwise adjusted. All of the editing steps remain strictly virtual and may be changed later in any way. At the same time, objects provide a rich palette of information to the user. Besides the wave form, fades, object volume, and all included effects, plug-ins, and timestretching/pitchshifting manipulations are shown in short form.

 

VIP display
Work area presets ensure clear arrangement of functions on the screen, e.g. for recording or CD mastering. The option is also available to adjust the complete functional palette via the skin, therefore adjusting the size of the controls, etc. for your particular needs.

 

Manager
The project-related manager set for managing files objects, tracks, areas, markers, takes, VST instruments, and routing enables efficient management and archiving, plus management of all other project contents and data directly from a single workspace.

 

 

The manager includes the most frequently required management and control functions within a single window. An integrated file browser with drag & drop functionality also makes finding and previewing audio files easier.
The manager window may be docked to the arranger window so that the arranger window is smaller when the manager is opened, or it may appear as an independent window. The docked condition is practical for systems with a single monitor. For systems with multiple monitors, the manager can stay open in its own monitor without taking too much space from the arranger window.

The extensive options for editing audio are a special strength of the Samplitude family.

Special attention has been paid to development of completely virtualized editing with professional features as well options for non-destructive stereo editing, detailed controllable crossfades, and CD pre-mastering. Especially flexible operation is also a main feature, and all important process steps can be carried out with quick shortcuts. Basically, Samplitude and Sequoia adjust to the user's needs – not the other way around.

 

Non-destructive (virtual) editing
As mentioned previously, nearly all editing is virtual, avoiding the need to change valuable recordings destructively. Even a simple normalization, which often needs to be calculated into the original file, may be carried out in Samplitude and Sequoia via a non-destructive process. The advantage of this is that it effectively saves time - the result can be previewed immediately - and editing is absolutely free. Every step and every setting can be changed later and undone.

Mouse tools
Samplitude and Sequoia include a number of different mouse modes. These are tools for various different tasks, like selecting, editing, marking, cutting, drawing automation, or timestretching/pitchshifting.

 

 

The universal mouse mode is especially interesting, since the mouse function changes when the pointer is in the upper or lower half of the track. While the upper half is used for stretching and moving areas, activity in the lower half controls selection, movement, and duplication of objects.

 

Ranges and markers
Ranges are normally used for specifying sections for important editing operations like cutting, copying, normalizing, and so on. The same applies to Samplitude and Sequoia. In any case, control over range functions is quite sophisticated. There is hardly any manipulation that cannot be executed. Ranges can be stretched sample-exact via drag & drop with the mouse, saved as any number of copies, and the edges moved precisely with the mouse or keyboard.

Marker functions have also been perfected. Besides the direct manipulation via the transport controls, a convenient marker manager is provided to make overviews for CD layouts, CD index options, CD text, and ISRC code even easier to work with.

 

Shortcuts
Samplitude and Sequoia can be controlled almost completely with shortcuts. Especially for professional situations, where every second counts, individually configurable operation is a must for all editing functions.

 

Comping
Comping refers to the combination of multiple takes to create a single, "perfect" take. In the take composer, all of the takes recorded for a passage are displayed in descending order so that they may conveniently compared in the complete arrangement.

 

 

For editing, the take composer includes a specially modified scissors tool. The scissors are used to click at the desired in-point in the corresponding take. The range in the selected take is applied.

Alternatively, an area that is to be used may be stretched with the scissors tool.

As well as the classic track-related editing options, Samplitude also provides object-level editing. This provides new opportunities for mixing and sound design.

 

The audio material may be split into any number of objects and moved on the track freely. Every object can be edited with fades and effects, e.g. equalizer, timestretching, pitchshifting, or VST plug-ins. Even aux sends are possible at object level. This means that the aux send is only active for this object, making complicated automation unnecessary. The object editor offers real-time access to an object's settings.

 

 

All settings at the object level are calculated in real-time during playback; no new files are written to the hard drive. This saves space on the hard drive and allows settings to be changed again at any time.

For example, you may discover that individual words from a vocal track require a pitch adjustment, so you could split each word, even every syllable into a single object.

Each of these individual objects may be corrected with the real-time pitch correction function or edited in terms of volume and panorama or with fades and crossfades. Every object even features a complete range of effects and inserts for DirectX and VST plug-ins.

 

Samplitude and Sequoia offer extensive MIDI functions; a selection of these is explained here. A detailed list is available in our feature comparison table.

MIDI data may be imported, edited with internal editors, and played back. The MIDI editor integrates different sub-editors, views, areas, and aids. These include piano roll, drum editor, score editor, controller editor (e.g. velocity, MIDI volume, etc.), and a list editor.

 

 

The drum editor enables efficient and clearly laid-out processing of percussion instruments. The drum editor may be operated in two different view modes.
 

Matrix mode: Conventional note display with exact indication of note start, note length, and pitch (piano roll)
 

Cell mode: Special display with adjustable note width (pencil width) and definable view quantization grid per instrument

 

 

The MIDI and drum editor's integrated controller editor is able to display and edit up to 4 MIDI controllers, pitchbend, and aftertouch simultaneously, whereby the user may decide which if the four controllers are visible.

The note editor displays the MIDI data of a MIDI object as a note in real time. If the MIDI data is moved or extended, then these changes are reflected immediately by the note's image. If a new note is added in the score editor, then a corresponding MIDI note-on event will be created. Individual notes may be selected by clicking them, whereby the parameters pitch, velocity, and length are easy to change for multiple selected notes. Notes are also easy to move, transpose, copy, insert, or delete with the help of the mouse or tool palette.

 

 

Of course, VST instruments may be embedded and controlled by the described editors – no matter whether it is a synthesizer, a VSTi from MAGIX (e.g. Vita, Beat Box 2, Revolta, etc.) or an external VST plug-ins.

These are integrated seamlessly into the audio engine and offer you familiar effects and routing options as a matter of course. The use of virtual instruments is not limited in any way in Samplitude and Sequoia.

In addition to the virtual-analog synthesizer Revolta 2 and BeatBox 2, Vita completes a full package of sample-based instruments serving as basic tools. Vital Instruments offer various sound sets and playing methods for e-piano, acoustic guitar, bass as well as brass and string instruments.
 

 

 

 

 

Embedding and editing videos is possible at any time. The integrated video engine includes improved caches and display color formats, e.g. for displaying MPEG formats.

 

 

Sequoia offers additional extensive options in this area as well. Videos can also be edited here – including the source/destination cut – and multiple videos can be integrated into the project.

Samplitude and Sequoia also allow projects to be exchanged with Video Pro X via an EDL, e.g. for providing finished videos with audio dubbing, without lengthy export/import times.

The mixers in the Samplitude / Sequoia product family are extremely flexible and calculate any settings made in real time.
This includes track and master effects, panorama and level settings, and device assignments for tracks, busses, or the master section.

 

Features included in the integrated mixer:
- Loading and saving VST presets
- Surround-capable (Samplitude Pro and Sequoia)
- Up to 16 (Samplitude) or 64 (Samplitude Pro and Sequoia) inserts per channel
- Real-time effects in the master section: Advanced Dynamics, Multiband Dynamics, Multiband Stereo Spread, Dehisser, FFT Filter
- Freely configurable effects sequence
- Settings and views of the mixer may be saved as presets
- Offline Mixdown function in all supported formats
- Record Monitoring function with effects
- Pan characteristic, stereo base processing, and phase rotation can be set in each mixer track
- High-resolution analyzer, level displays, and correlation measurement
- Complete latency compensation of all channels, busses, etc.

Economy track

Tracks can be converted into so-called "economy tracks“ at any time. This effect is subsequently left out of input monitoring to reduce system load with large buffer sizes. If a track like this is muted, then it doesn't have any effect on effects calculation.

 

Freeze

To complete complex tracks without any problems, weaker processors (or on the go with a laptop, for example) can utilize "freezing" of aux and submix bus effects with all effects, plug-ins, and automations. This produces a single audio track. So, for example, VST instruments can be frozen so that the arrangement may be edited with a system that doesn't feature a particular plug-in.

Thanks to the unique object editing in Samplitude and Sequoia, you can freeze individual objects while other objects on the same track stay unfrozen. Of course, all tracks, instruments or objects may be "unfrozen" at any time for further editing.

 

Remix Agent

The Remix Agent is a powerful tool which is used to determine the tempi (BPM, beats per minute) and beat time positions of quarter notes in any song. This is useful when a song from an audio CD is imported into Samplitude or Sequoia, and you would like to mix other sounds to it, or conversely, add parts of the song to an existing arrangement. For example, you can also create a tempo map for a song with a variable beat and synchronize it with audio with the help of this MIDI.

 

Hardware controller

In the controller selection list you may place up to four controllers. Via the hardware controller, you can ensure intuitive operation with faders and knobs instead of using the mouse and keyboard. The following are supported, among others:

 

- Frontier Tranzport

- Frontier Alpha Track

- Mackie HUI Control

- Mackie Multitrack

- Presonus Faderport

- JL Cooper

- Tascam US-2400

- Logic Control

Improvements and new device integrations are being constantly added.

 

Automation
In Samplitude und Sequoia you can set precise automations not only for individual tracks (volume, panorama, aux-send, EQ & plug-in control elements).
You can also automate volume, aux-sends and VST plug-ins at the object level and access an unlimited number of automation curves per track.

The special feature of object automation is that the effects and their automations are solidly linked to the object. Therefore, you may move or split the objects as you wish together with their automations, and the data will always stay attached to the object. Because object editing is positioned before track editing in the signal flow, object automation may be creatively altered by adding track automation at the end.

Optional and finer grids help you to use an automation only on selected object sections. Of course, the master track may also be automated (volume, EQ & VST plug-in).

In the effects area, Samplitude and Sequoia offer a true wealth of various premium choices. Thanks to the products' comprehensive effects catalog, you will need few, if any, third-party plug-ins.

In addition to "regular" effects such as chorus, distortion, flanger, phaser, tremolo, wah-wah, vibrato, delay, echo and many more, which are all integrated in the usual top-notch Samplitude/Sequoia quality, the following effects are also available to you:

 

4-band EQ
In addition to the 6-band equalizer "EQ116," an equalizer known from the earlier version is also found here. Its neutral, unhued sound makes it ideal for all application with detailed nuances.
All bands are completely tunable from 10 Hz to 22 kHz and have a variable Q factor; naturally, they may be used for both tracks and objects.

 

 

 

am|munition (only in Samplitude Pro & Sequoia)

am|munition is an extremely versatile dynamics tool for editing of group or sum signals, especially in the area of mastering. It has separate units such as compression, filtering, sidechain, limiter and clipper. All modules and parameters are optimized to perform the fundamental functions without any compromises: Effective enrichment of program material without causing bothersome artifacts, a high reachable volume and an 'analog' behavior with an individual sound signature.

 

 

 

am|track (only in Samplitude Pro & Sequoia)
The famous combination of an analog compressor and tape simulation serves primarily to edit individual channel or sub-group signals.
am-track has two completely different compressors with individual controls and sound profiles.
There is the VCA mode, with a typically neutral sound of modern VCA compressors with a control circuit and forward control in the detector selection, and the Vintage mode, which uses an FET (field-effect transistor), keeping true to a nostalgic switch design which strongly compresses an average signal level.
Using the tape selection, you can emulate tape recordings which softly catch remaining transients and send them "through the tape."
 

 

 

am|pulse (only in Samplitude Pro & Sequoia)
Percussion and dynamic signals, or their rising and falling phases, may be precisely edited with this tool. It is ideal for attack editing, drums, sustain or for stringed instruments.

In addition, other polishing or distortion mechanisms are also used. am-pulse is especially convincing by its harmonic controls based on virtual hardware.

 

 

am|phibia (only in Samplitude Pro & Sequoia)
The tube amplifier/channel slot which connects the compressor functions with a pre- and post-filter. This makes am-phibia a good choice as a vocals or tube amplifier.

 

Brilliance enhancer
The brilliance enhancer compensates for losses of high frequencies that occur during MP3 compression or in old tape recordings.

 

 

Compressor
An "Advanced Dynamics" compressor, which offers a continuous soft-knee knob.

 

 

Corvex
Corvex adds acoustic depth to instruments and makes their sound fuller. This component of the Vintage Effects Suite offers chorus, delay and flanger effects in top quality.

 

 

Declicker / Decrackler (Cleaning & Restauration Suite)
The De-clicker removes crackling and clicking noises, which are typical of scratched records.

 

 

Declipper (Cleaning & Restauration Suite)
The De-clipper removes overmodulation.

 

De-Esser (only in Samplitude Pro & Sequoia)
Quickly and easily remove bothersome "S" sounds from your vocal recordings with the help of this technology wonder. The plug-in detects the number of input signals and finds every unpleasant "S" sound.

 

 

Dehisser (Cleaning & Restauration Suite)
Non-destructive noise suppression which reduces typical "white noise" from microphones. So that no valuable signal components are be lost, you can always switch to the removed signal and hear exactly what is being removed.

 

 

Denoiser (Cleaning & Restauration Suite)
The De-noiser removes annoying background noise from wave projects/objects.

 

 

Dithering
In Samplitude and Sequoia, dithering is applied to tasks of converting a 32-bit float format into an 8-bit, 16-bit or 24-bit format.
Of course, you can also set dithering depth in bits.

 

Our dithering offers you various applications, e.g.:

* No dithering, internal precision 16-bit (for on-the-fly high-speed burning)

* Force 16-bit precision for export (serves primarily to preview the CD quality)

* No dithering / mathematical rounding (exact signal rounding without dithering)

* Dithering with linear distributed noise (32-bit float after 16-bit through dithering with noise)

* Dithering with triangular distribution of noise (prevalence in the middle range for subtle results)

The dithering module, "POW-r" may also be categorized as follows:

 

POW-r #1 (special dithering curve / reduces quantization noise)

POW-r #2 (Noise Shaping over a wide frequency area, usable dynamics range between 5-10 dB)

POW-r #3 (optimized Noise Shaping, which may expand the dynamic area by 2-4 kHz to reach 20 dB)
 

 

 

Ecox
Above all, this Vintage Effects Suite component serves to create typical band echo sounds.
With the two-band filter you can create low, high or mid-tone repetitions. The signal is not overmodulated – even with an "endless" repetition you will receive a clean sound profile.

 

 

Elastic Audio
Serves to edit tone pitch. Recognizes basic frequencies of monophonic audio material and changes pitch and basic frequency sequence. Ideal for vocals corrections or melody adjustments. Pitchshifting effects are also possible.

 

 

EQ116
This 6-band EQ works either with oversampling or with phase linear algorithms, proving its proficiency in the area of DSP effects.

 

 

essentialFX
A complete suite full of new, alternative basic effects in the areas of dynamics, modulation, and other commonly-used sound editing functions.

The modern design and high-quality algorithms speak for themselves. The effective inclusion in one interface cuts out bothersome switching back and forth and countless different designs in basic effects – tailored for everyday studio tasks.

 

 

Expander
The Expander also belongs to the "Advanced Dynamics" group and is designed according to an analog model.

 

FFT-Filter
Here, you can work on single objects in the frequency area very precisely and without sound hue filtering. Linear-phase filtering with 1024 frequency bands (or over 30,000 bands as an offline effect) make the most extreme settings in minimal frequency areas.

 

 

Filtox
Controls the frequency response of a modulation source. With it, synthesizer sounds and drum loops may be edited and distorted. This way, effects such as the wah effect may be created following an analog model.

 

 

Gate
The Gate effect is also one of the best-loved, high-quality effects built according to the "Advanced Dynamics" analog model; it suppresses low signal transmission sections.

 

Limiter
Our limiter is also among the "Advanced Dynamics" group, and serves to limit certain output signal values.

 

Multiband dynamics
Compressors, limiter, gates and expanders are also available as multiband dynamics. Here, you can specifically avoid unwanted side effects by editing 4 frequency bands simultaneously. Of course, even the multiband effects are sound-neutral and distortion-free.

 

Multiband stereo enhancer
Allows detailed correction and manipulation of the stereo image. Muddy bass or runny highs are a thing of the past thanks to this phase-stable frequency band editing tool.

 

 

Noise Reduction (only offline)
Removes noise, humming or feedback without coloring of the original material. Technically speaking, a "fingerprint" is created, with whose help the noise signal is identified and removed.

 

Room simulator (on- und offline)
Original audio signals are offset here with any echo signal. The result: authentic echo with astoundingly realistic sound characteristics which beat even effect devices.
Surround sound function and high-quality impulse response are also included.

 

 

sMax11
A limiter / maximizer, which is primarily suited as a mastering tool.

 

 

Spectral Cleaning
Remove noise such as sneezing or clapping without influencing the original signal in a perceptible manner. Using a spectrogram, noises are quickly identified according to their color representation and removed - ideal for short, clear noises.

 

 

Timestretching / Pitchshifting
Object-based realtime algorithms for premium timestretching or pitchshifting effects. In order to support your workflow, various algorithms are included, such as the standard algorithms for complete mixdowns, a smoothed algorithm for single signals or "Beat Marker-based Slicing / Stretching" for drums.

The "monophonic voice" is a highlight for single-tone vocals, with which whole natural, authentic-sounding choirs may be created out of a single voice.
The "Universal HQ" algorithm deserves special mention, Especially when it comes to complex audio recordings like orchestral recordings, this algorithm delivers high-quality results.

 

Vandal (Samplitude Pro & Sequoia / "Vandal SE" available with the next patch in Samplitude 11)
Finally, virtual guitar simulation without impulse response! Every single signal step is virtually calculated so that the sound characteristics of each guitar are perfectly transmitted and the program remains light on CPU.

 

 

With the next patch, all customers of "Samplitude 11" will receive "Vandal SE" for free.

 

Variverb Pro
An internal VST effect device. Here, classical and modern echo effects are created – without impulse response, but based on virtual, algorithmic calculations. Even light echoes and modulations may be created authentically.

 

 

Vocoder
As a mixer and an object effect (in busses, too), the Vocoder can be used with integrated, phase-linear realtime FFT filter.

 

 

With Samplitude and Sequoia, high-definition stereo and surround audio DVDs may be burned directly from the arrangement. The list of burned discs includes +R/-R/+RW/-RW. Audio files are burned uncompressed (linear PCM) according to the DVD audio standard.

Audio files can be exported and burned in surround or stereo format according to the DVD audio standard – this makes it possible to burn high-definition stereo and surround audio DVDs directly from the multi-track arrangement. The project does not have to be exported first.
Sequoia can also master the DDP format, which is deemed by many mastering engineers as superior in file integrity.

 

 

 

Import and export as MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC. Broadcast WAV, OGG, AIFF, Wave or Real Audio – up to 348 kHz. In Sequoia, SD2 files may also be imported.

The RIFF64 format is also supported. With RIFF64 it is possible to write Wave files exceeding 2 GB. It is also possible to write all channels of a multi-channel program into a single RIFF64 file. This makes data exchange in surround sound productions easier.

In addition, OMF and AAF exchange formats are optionally supported (Samplitude Pro) or in a standard fashion (Sequoia).