Sampler
aerial's built-in sampler turns any one-shot sample into a playable instrument. Once a sample is loaded, it is mapped chromatically across the keyboard so you can play melodies, chords, and basslines from a single sound.
Chromatic Mapping
When a sample is loaded, aerial maps it chromatically across the full keyboard range from C0 to C7. The original pitch of the sample is detected automatically and placed at the correct MIDI note. Notes above and below are pitch-shifted in real time to maintain musical intervals. This means any sample instantly becomes a playable instrument spanning multiple octaves.
Pitch Detection
aerial analyzes each sample to detect its fundamental pitch. The detected pitch determines where the sample sits on the keyboard at its natural, unshifted tone. If pitch detection is uncertain (for example, with noisy or atonal samples), the sample is mapped to C3 by default. You can override the detected pitch using the Fine Tune control if the automatic detection doesn't match your expectations.
32-Voice Polyphony
aerial supports up to 32 simultaneous voices, allowing you to play full chords and layer sustained notes. When the 32-voice limit is reached, the oldest voice is stolen to make room for the new note. In practice, 32 voices is more than enough for most musical contexts. Combined with the ADSR envelope and loop controls, you can build rich, evolving textures from a single sample.
Audition vs Playback
aerial has two distinct ways to hear a sample:
- Audition (Grid Screen) — Clicking a dot on the scatter plot plays the sample at its original pitch and speed. This is a quick preview to help you browse and compare samples without loading them into the sampler.
- Playback (Playback Screen) — Once a sample is loaded, MIDI input from your keyboard or DAW triggers chromatic playback. The sample is pitch-shifted to match the note you play, and the full set of playback controls (ADSR, loop, filters, etc.) are applied.
Loading Samples
- From the scatter plot — Double-click a dot to load that sample into the sampler. aerial switches to the Playback Screen automatically.