CREATING THE INSTRUMENT 6.1 Video tutorials 6 Importing files into zones Once your recorded audio files have been edited, the next phase is to import the files into a sampler. Mapping is the process of assigning the individual audio samples to specific keys and key ranges. An imported audio file is typically trig- gered by more than one key and in a velocity range. The audio file and all of the related parameters are collectively called a zone (Figure 6.1). Samplers that have zone grouping capabilities allow multiple zones to be edited at the same time, and it makes changing parameters much easier. 6.1.1 Setting the root note After the initial import, the next step is to assign additional information to the zone. You need to know the pitch of the imported sample to set the root key in the sampler. If the imported file is a C3, then you will set the root key to C3 (Figure 6.2). This tells the sampler that the note should not be pitch shifted when a C3 is triggering the sample. If an incorrect root is set, then the sample will play in the wrong key in relation to the other samples. If a C3 sample is set with a root note of D3, then when a D3 triggers the sample, a C3 will be played. Some samplers are able to auto detect the root setting when the sample is imported by reading the file name. If the file name is formatted in a specific way, then this system works. Other samplers are able to analyze the pitch of the audio sample and set the root to correspond to the actual pitch. 142