SampleStack Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with SampleStack in 5 minutes.

What is SampleStack?

SampleStack helps you manage audio samples for hardware samplers like Morphagene, Digitakt, Octatrack, and more. It validates your samples against hardware requirements, converts incompatible files, and organizes everything for easy SD card export.

Step 1: Add Your Sample Library

Your sample library is your central collection of all samples. SampleStack will help you copy and convert samples from here to your hardware-specific collections.

  1. Launch SampleStack
  2. Click File → Add Sample Library (or use the + button in the sidebar)
  3. Select a folder containing your audio samples
  4. SampleStack will scan the folder and display your samples
Tip: The first library you add automatically becomes your "Sample Library" (shown with a waveform icon).

Step 2: Create a Hardware Collection

Collections are organized for specific hardware. SampleStack knows the requirements for each device.

  1. Click File → New Collection
  2. Select your hardware from the dropdown (Multigrain, Morphagene, Digitakt, etc.)
  3. Choose how many folders to create (projects, banks, stations)
  4. Pick a location on your SD card or local drive
  5. Click Create

SampleStack creates the correct folder structure automatically.

Step 3: Find Samples with the Filter Bar

Use the filter bar above the sample list to quickly find what you need:

  • Search: Type to filter by filename (results appear instantly)
  • Status: Filter by Valid, Needs Conversion, or Invalid
  • Tags: Filter by one or more tags (multi-select)
  • Ratings: Filter by star rating (multi-select)
  • Pitch: Filter by detected musical pitch
Tips:
  • Folders containing matching samples auto-expand when you search
  • Click the folder icon to toggle between hierarchy view and flat list
  • Click Clear to reset all filters

Step 4: Copy Samples to Your Collection

  1. In the sidebar, click your Sample Library
  2. Browse or search for samples you want to use
  3. Select samples (Cmd+click for multiple, Shift+click for range)
  4. Either:
    • Drag samples onto your collection in the sidebar, or
    • Click the Copy to Library toolbar button
  5. Choose options:
    • Convert incompatible samples: Automatically adjusts sample rate, bit depth, channels
    • Truncate long samples: Trims samples that exceed hardware limits
  6. Click Copy

Step 5: Preview and Edit Samples

Quick Preview

  • Double-click any sample to play it from the beginning
  • Spacebar plays/pauses the selected sample
  • Double-click folders to expand/collapse them

Expanded Player

  1. Click the expand button (arrow icon) in the floating player
  2. View the full stereo waveform with zoom controls
  3. Add cue points by Option+clicking on the waveform
  4. Use the Edit menu (scissors icon) for advanced editing: Split, crop, or cut audio regions. Auto-detect transients for cue points.
  5. Use the Fade menu to apply fades to selected regions

Non-Destructive Editing

All audio edits (crop, cut, split, fade) work on a temporary copy:

  • Preview changes immediately in the waveform and player
  • Click Save to write changes to the original file
  • Click Discard to revert to the original

Understanding Validation Colors

  • Green badge: Sample is compatible with your hardware
  • Orange badge: Sample needs conversion (wrong format, but fixable)
  • Red badge: Sample has issues (wrong filename, unsupported format)

Step 6: Export to SD Card

Once your collection is organized:

  1. Eject any mounted SD cards
  2. Insert your hardware's SD card
  3. If you created your collection directly on the SD card, you're done!
  4. Otherwise, copy the collection folder to your SD card

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Play/Pause Spacebar
Play from beginning Double-click sample
Navigate samples Arrow keys
Expand/Collapse folder Right/Left arrows or Double-click
Rename Return or Right-click → Rename
Zoom waveform in =
Zoom waveform out -
Add cue point Option+click on waveform
Undo Cmd+Z
Redo Cmd+Shift+Z

Tips

  • Filter with multiple criteria: Combine search, tags, ratings, and pitch filters to narrow down results
  • Organize with tags: Right-click samples to add tags, then use the Tags filter or sidebar browser
  • Rate your favorites: Use the star rating in the inspector to mark your best samples
  • Ignore system files: Right-click and choose "Ignore" to hide metadata files like .DS_Store
  • Customize colors: Right-click a collection and choose "Set Color" to personalize your sidebar
  • Track sample usage: The Usage tab in the inspector shows where samples have been copied
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