how to map a sample? rule of thumb?

[tomtom1]

Hi all. I used a classic sampler for the first time. I got the C1, C2, C3 and so on up to C7 from the sampled instrument.
Is it now better to map the the first sample C1, from C1-B1 or is it better to map it from let's say G0-F#1 and the next again from G1-F#2 etc...

Is there are rule of thumb or is it better to do it by taste? ... seems like a stupid question - but maybe someone has an answer

[Ikaz7]

Only one sample per octave? It's better to have a mix: some notes going down and some going up compared to all going up. The reason: mapping upwards basically means pitching the sample up (in most sample engines), which will result in artefacts and shortened sample length. Pitching down will typically also result in artefacts and increased sample length. To minimize these effects I would use a mix of both some notes going up and some going down from the root note of the sample. With only one sample per octave you won't get a hyper realistic sound anyway, more like 1980s early digital sampler sound, but maybe that's what you are after?

[tomtom1]

Only one sample per octave? It's better to have a mix: some notes going down and some going up compared to all going up. The reason: mapping upwards basically means pitching the sample up (in most sample engines), which will result in artefacts and shortened sample length. Pitching down will typically also result in artefacts and increased sample length. To minimize these effects I would use a mix of both some notes going up and some going down from the root note of the sample. With only one sample per octave you won't get a hyper realistic sound anyway, more like 1980s early digital sampler sound, but maybe that's what you are after?

Ah ok thanks - that makes sense - didn't think about that. I used only one sample per octave because i have only one - right in the moment. I would like to use the sample just for some notes - if it should be really realistic, i personally would say it would be best to have 1 sample per 1 note.

[Ikaz7]

Yes, the more samples, the more realistic (as a rule of thumb). Ideally not just a sample for each note, but even multiple velocity layers and round-robins to vary the sample played at each hit and avoid a highly repetitive unrealistic sound. Thinking about this makes me appreciate the work of sample developers even more, imagine the effort of literally recording, processing and mapping hundreds or sometimes thousands of samples to create a realistic representation of an instrument!