Do You Know A Sampler From A ROMpler? Here's The Difference.

You might be familiar with the concept of computerised instruments, but how much do you know about the different kinds of "artificial" instruments and where they came from? In this short video from the course AudioPedia 110: Synths, Samplers and Virtual Instruments, Joe Albano explains the differences between samplers and ROMplers, both in software and hardware format. 

Simply put, samplers - be they software or hardware - usually have their own sound sets and also allow users to record their own samples, whereas ROMplers have a "burned-in" sound set and no facility to record your own sounds - even if you can modify the built-in ones to an extent. To find out much more about how instruments work, the rest of this comprehensive course covers a wide range of terminology, concepts and technologies around hardware and software instruments - so be sure to check it out!

AudioPedia 110: Synths, Samplers and Virtual Instruments

Our AudioPedia series is a comprehensive video dictionary of audio terminology. Created by audio expert Joe Albano, this encyclopedia of technical terms is the ultimate audio reference tool. Here are the topics covered and defined in the tenth installment of this authoritative series:

Synths | Samplers | VIs:
-Virtual Instrument | VI
-Synthesis | Synthesizer | Synth
-Sampler | ROMpler
-Sample Library
-Multi-Timbral | Multitimbral
-Polyphonic | Monophonic | Legato

Sampling - Layout | Features:
-Root Key (Sampler Inst)
-Transposition (Sampler Inst)
-Multi-Sampling | Multisampling
-Key Zone | Key Map | Keymap
-Velocity Zones | Velocity Layers
-Keyswitching | Articulations
-Looping (Sampler Inst)
-Sample Rate | Bit Depth (Sampler Inst)
-Time-Shifting (Sampler Inst)

Analog Synthesizers:
-Analog Synthesis | Synthesizer
-Subtractive (vs Additive) Synthesis
-Moog | Modular | Minimoog
-ARP | 2600 | 2500
-Sequential Circuits | Prophet
-Oberheim | SEM | OBX
-Buchla
-Eurorack
-East Coast | West Coast Synthesis
-Virtual Synthesizer

Digital Synthesis:
-FM Synthesis | DX7
-FM Carrier | Modulator | Operator
-Wavetable Synthesis
-Additive Synthesis (Digital)

Modeling | Modeled Instruments:
-Modeling | Physical Modeling
-Modeling Exciter|Disturber|Resonator

Analog Synthesis - Parameters:
-Parameter (Synth|Sampler)
-Modular Synthesizer
-Patch Cable | Patching | Patch
-Voltage Control
-Oscillator | VCO
-Oscillator - Waveshapes
-White Noise | Pink Noise
-Pulse Width | Pulse Width Modulation
-Sample & Hold
-Filter | VCF
-Filter - LP, HP, BP, Notch
-Filter - Cutoff | Resonance
-Filter - Slope | Pole
-Amplifier | VCA
-Envelope Generator | ADSR
-Trigger | Gate
-Portamento | Glide
-Modulation
-LFO | Low-Frequency Oscillator
-Freq|Amp Mod | Vibrato|Tremolo
-Ring Modulation

So join audio expert and trainer Joe Albano and get a deep understanding of audio terminology with the AudioPedia series!