[Alsa-user] harddisk sampler

[Hawkeye Parker]

Title: harddisk sampler

hi all,

i'm fairly new to linux/alsa, and i've been just trying to get my bearings amid the staggering amount of software.

i'd like to use linux as a harddisk sampler, and here is the essential functionality i'd like:

-ability to "compose" with samples, in the same way that you'd use a sequencer to work with synthesized sounds.  i.e., be able to arrange samples into tracks or channels, and specify when (rhythm) and at what pitch the samples play.

-some sort of mixer to mix things down so i can record it.

-ablility to add software effects to the above tracks.


essentially, what i'm looking for is some way to reproduce the ~nature~ of Sonic Foundry's Acid for Windows.  i don't really *want* Acid, or even one specific piece of software, but just some way to use samples in a similar sort of way.

one thought i've had is to use fluidsynth/swami to build soundfonts of the samples i want to use, and then drive those samples with MusE.  MusE supports LADSPA, so i would have per/track access to LADSPA plugins on top of the samples.  right??

building the soundfonts will take time, though, and i wonder if there isn't a more direct way to accomplish the same thing.  i've looked at Simsam (sampler) as well, and the occured to me that i could run multiple instances of Simsam through multiple jack-racks, but this is obviously a kludge, and there must be a better way (?)

i'm also considering diving into TerminatorX -- it looks very promising . . .

any suggestions?

thanks in advance,

hawkeye parker