F_SMPLZ

F_SMPLZ — Stereo Sampler / Recorder

Overview
F_SMPLZ is a stereo sampling module for Voltage Modular. It can record incoming audio, load and save WAV files, define a playback region, loop that region with crossfade, follow pitch through V/Oct, respond to gate and trigger inputs, and divide the loaded material into editable slices. It also includes an assignable modulation section, direct canvas editing functions, variable slice count, and practical workflow features for trimming and reshaping material without menu diving. The module is built as a hands-on sampler: most functions are available directly from the panel, while the waveform display gives immediate visual feedback for buffer content, playback boundaries, slice layout, playhead position, selection area, and total sample length.

Signal flow
Audio enters through the left and right inputs and can be recorded into the internal stereo buffer. During recording, the incoming signal can be monitored at the outputs and is scaled by the record level setting before being written to the buffer. When recording stops in normal overwrite mode, the newly recorded section can be normalized automatically so that useful recordings land at a strong level without manual gain staging. Loaded or recorded audio is then played back through the output stage. Playback can run as a one-shot, as a loop, or as a gate-controlled loop. During playback the signal can be shaped with saturation, highpass and lowpass filtering, stereo width and balance, optional ADSR envelope control, and a small right-channel time offset for widening or offset-based stereo effects. The final result appears at the left and right outputs. A separate gate output provides a phase-based pulse while playback is active and also produces a short trigger pulse whenever the active slice changes.

Inputs

IN L / IN R
Main stereo audio inputs for recording into the buffer. If only one side is connected, that channel is recorded as supplied. During recording, the Monitor control sets how much of the live input is heard at the outputs.

GATE
Main playback gate input. Depending on the selected playback mode, this can start one-shot playback, control loop playback, and drive the optional amplitude envelope. In Gate Loop mode, a rising gate starts playback and the loop remains active while the gate is held high.

V/OCT
1V/Oct pitch input for transposing playback speed. Positive voltage raises pitch, negative voltage lowers pitch. This affects the read speed of the sample and therefore changes both pitch and playback duration in classic resampling style.

Modulation inputs
The eight inputs above the waveform display form the modulation section. Each input can be assigned to a destination using the label above it. These inputs accept both bipolar modulation such as LFO or CV signals in the range of approximately -5V to +5V and unipolar signals such as envelopes in the range of 0V to +5V. Depending on the selected target, modulation is interpreted in a bipolar or unipolar way so that parameters behave musically and predictably.

Outputs

OUT L / OUT R
Main stereo audio outputs.

GATE
Gate output derived from playback phase. While playback is active, the output produces a phase-related gate tied to the current playback region. In addition, a short pulse is generated whenever the active slice changes. This makes the gate output useful for triggering envelopes, clocks or other modules during slice-based playback.

Modulation section

The row above the waveform display contains eight assignable modulation slots. Each slot has a CV input and a destination selector. Clicking the destination label opens the assignment menu. The modulation slots can target playback, looping, filtering, envelope values, output level, slice selection and transport-style actions.

Available modulation targets
Available assignments include Speed, Play In, Play Out, Crossfade, Slice, Offset, Width, Balance, Saturation, Lowpass, Highpass, Q, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, Level, REC, PLAY, RESET, NextSlice, PrevSlice and RandomSlice.

Parameter modulation behaviour
Targets such as Speed, Play In, Play Out, Offset, Width, Balance, Lowpass, Highpass, Q and Sustain respond in a bipolar way so that both negative and positive modulation can move the value around its panel setting. Targets such as Crossfade, Saturation, Attack, Decay, Release and Level are treated more like depth-upwards controls, so unipolar envelopes are especially useful there. This allows both LFO-style movement and envelope-based shaping without needing separate modulation modes.

REC / PLAY / RESET
When a modulation slot is assigned to REC, PLAY or RESET, a rising edge on that slot acts as a trigger. REC toggles recording on or off. PLAY toggles playback on or off. RESET restarts playback from the current start point or current slice start, depending on the active mode.

NextSlice / PrevSlice
These modulation targets allow external triggers or gates to step through slices sequentially. A rising edge on the assigned modulation input advances to the next slice or moves to the previous slice. This makes it possible to scan through slices rhythmically using clocks, gates, sequencers or trigger patterns.

RandomSlice
Selects a random slice on each trigger edge. This is useful for shuffled drum playback, generative slice patterns, broken-loop variations or glitch-style effects.

Waveform display

The large central display shows the current sample content in the internal buffer. It also shows the active playback region, current slice layout, playback or recording position, crossfade zones, selection areas, and the current total buffer length in seconds. When Slice mode is active, each slice is shown as a separate numbered region and the selected slice is highlighted more strongly. Slice markers can be dragged with the mouse to change boundaries. Clicking near a slice boundary grabs that boundary for editing. Clicking inside a slice selects that slice.

Canvas editing
Outside Slice mode, the waveform display can also be used to edit the global playback region directly. The IN and OUT markers can be dragged with the mouse. Double-clicking the waveform sets the IN point to the clicked position. Shift-double-clicking sets the OUT point. Alt-click clears the whole buffer. Shift-drag creates a selection area in the waveform display, and Alt-Shift click crops the buffer to the current selection, effectively turning the selected part of the sample into a new shorter buffer. This makes F_SMPLZ usable not only as a player, but also as a compact trimming and editing tool.

Transport and file functions

PLAY
Front-panel playback toggle. Starts or stops playback.

REC
Front-panel record toggle. Starts or stops recording into the internal buffer. Recording writes the incoming audio into the buffer using the current record level. In overwrite mode, stopping a recording can automatically normalize the newly recorded section when actual signal is present.

AUTO
Enables auto-record. When active, the module can begin recording automatically when input signal is detected. This is useful for quick capture without manual timing.

MERGE
Changes recording behaviour. When Merge is off, incoming audio overwrites the existing buffer. When Merge is on, incoming audio is added to the current content, allowing simple overdub-style layering. Automatic normalize is intended for normal overwrite recording, not for merge-style overdub behaviour.

LOAD
Loads a WAV file into the buffer. Normal loading keeps the current buffer size unless the file is longer than the current buffer, in which case the buffer is expanded to fit. Shift-clicking Load forces the buffer length to match the sample length, within module limits. This is the most direct way to make the full sample occupy the full buffer.

SAVE
Saves the current stereo buffer as a WAV file.

View controls

ZOOM
Changes the waveform zoom level. Higher values show a smaller portion of the buffer in greater detail.

SCRL
Moves the visible window through the buffer when playback or recording is not currently forcing the display to follow position.

Sample and playback region controls

BUF
Sets the total internal buffer length in seconds. This determines how much audio can be recorded or stored. When the buffer size is increased, existing audio remains in place and the extra space is empty. When the buffer size is reduced, the buffer is shortened and any audio beyond the new end point is discarded.

IN
Sets the global playback start point as a normalized position within the buffer. In non-slice operation, playback begins here.

OUT
Sets the global playback end point as a normalized position within the buffer. In non-slice operation, playback stops or loops here depending on mode.

XFD
Sets loop crossfade time in milliseconds. This smooths loop transitions and reduces clicks at the boundary. The crossfade zone is shown visually on the waveform display.

MODE
Selects one of three playback modes.
Mode 1: One-shot — playback runs from the start point to the end point and then stops.
Mode 2: Loop — playback loops continuously between the selected start and end points.
Mode 3: Gate Loop — playback starts on gate and sustains as a loop while the gate remains high. In this mode the module first moves from the beginning of the sample toward the loop region, then sustains within the selected loop area while the gate is held.

Playback and stereo controls

SPD
Main playback speed control. Positive values play forward, negative values play in reverse.

Rms
Applies a time offset in milliseconds to the right channel. Small values can create stereo widening or Haas-style spread. Larger values create more obvious timing separation.

WID
Controls stereo width.

BAL
Adjusts left-right balance.

PINGP
Enables ping-pong playback in loop operation. Instead of wrapping from end to start, the playhead reverses direction at the region boundaries.

Tone controls

LVL
Main output level.

MON
Sets the monitor amount for live input during recording.

SAT
Applies variable saturation.

LP
Lowpass cutoff frequency.

HP
Highpass cutoff frequency.

Q
Resonance for the filter section.

Envelope controls

A / D / S / R
Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release controls for the optional amplitude envelope.

ENV
Enables or disables the ADSR envelope. When enabled, playback amplitude follows the envelope. With an external gate connected, the gate input drives the envelope. Without an external gate, the envelope follows the internal playback state.

Slice controls

SLC#
Sets the number of slices used to divide the buffer. The value can be set between 2 and 16 slices.

SLICE
Enables slice playback mode. When active, playback operates on the selected slice rather than the global IN and OUT region.

How slices work
The buffer is initially divided into evenly spaced slices according to the SLC# setting. These slice boundaries can then be moved manually on the waveform display. Clicking inside a slice selects it as the active region. Slice selection can also be controlled by modulation assignments such as Slice, NextSlice, PrevSlice and RandomSlice. F_SMPLZ is designed around direct manual slice editing for precise control rather than automatic transient detection.

Recording level and normalization

REC LEVEL
The record level control scales incoming audio before it is written into the buffer. This helps prevent overly hot recordings and gives direct control over recording gain at the source stage.

Auto normalize
When a normal overwrite recording is stopped, the newly recorded part of the buffer can be normalized automatically so that usable recordings land near full scale. Silence and near-silence are ignored so that empty recordings are not boosted into loud noise. In Merge mode, recordings are intended for layering and are therefore not treated the same way.

Typical workflow

Recording a sound
Connect audio to IN L and IN R, set the desired buffer length, adjust REC LEVEL and MON if needed, then press REC. Stop recording with REC again. In normal overwrite mode the newly recorded section can be normalized automatically, which makes quick captures more consistent in level.

Loading a sample
Press LOAD and choose a WAV file. Use normal loading to keep the current buffer size unless the sample is longer, or Shift-click LOAD to force the buffer to match the sample length directly.

Making a clean loop
Choose Loop mode, set IN and OUT around the desired loop area, then increase XFD until the loop transition becomes smooth. PingPong can be used when a bounce-style loop feels better than a wraparound loop.

Using the canvas for fast editing
Drag the IN and OUT markers for direct boundary editing. Double-click to place IN quickly. Shift-double-click to place OUT. Shift-drag a waveform area to define a selection, then Alt-Shift click to crop the buffer to that selected range. Alt-click clears the current buffer.

Using slices with modulation
Enable Slice mode, define useful slice boundaries, then drive Slice, NextSlice, PrevSlice or RandomSlice from sequencers, triggers or modulation sources. This turns a single loaded sample into a playable multi-region instrument or rhythmic phrase source.

Behaviour notes

F_SMPLZ is a true buffer-based stereo sampler. Playback pitch and timing are determined by the read increment, so extreme Speed and V/Oct settings produce classic resampling behaviour rather than independent time-stretching. Very short loop regions, strong crossfade, reverse playback, slice stepping and modulation can therefore move from practical sample playback into more experimental sound design very quickly.

The waveform display always reflects the actual buffer and current editing state. Slice numbering, selected slice highlighting, selection overlays, crossfade display and time readout are all there to reduce guesswork and keep editing immediate.

Summary
F_SMPLZ combines recording, file playback, looping, slicing, trigger-based transport, assignable modulation, canvas editing, pitch control and tone shaping in a single compact stereo sampler. It can serve as a straightforward sample player, a loop manipulator, a slice-based performance tool, a quick trimming editor, or an experimental resampling device.

Waveform Editing Workflow

The waveform display in F_SMPLZ is not only a visual reference but also a direct editing surface. Many operations can be performed directly on the canvas using the mouse and modifier keys, allowing fast trimming, region editing and slice interaction without relying on knobs or menus.

Double-click
Double-clicking anywhere in the waveform sets the IN point to that position. This provides a quick way to place the playback start point visually without adjusting the IN control manually.

Shift + Double-click
Shift-double-clicking sets the OUT point at the clicked position. This allows quick definition of the playback end point directly from the waveform display.

Dragging IN and OUT markers
The vertical markers representing the IN and OUT positions can be dragged with the mouse. This allows precise adjustment of the playback region directly on the waveform.

Shift + Drag
Holding Shift while dragging across the waveform creates a selection region. The selected area is shown as a highlighted rectangle and can be used to define a portion of the sample for editing.

Alt + Shift Click
After defining a selection, Alt-Shift clicking inside the waveform crops the buffer to the selected region. The selected section becomes the new buffer content and the module automatically adjusts the buffer size and slice layout.

Alt Click
Alt-clicking anywhere on the waveform clears the entire buffer and removes the currently loaded or recorded sample.

Slice Editing
When Slice mode is enabled, slice markers become editable on the waveform display. Slice boundaries can be dragged to adjust slice lengths, and clicking inside a slice selects it as the active playback region. In Slice mode the IN and OUT markers are hidden because playback is controlled by the slice boundaries.

These direct canvas editing functions allow F_SMPLZ to work not only as a sampler but also as a fast trimming and loop editing tool.