Don't quite understand how to work with a sampler

[Zach01]

I'm kind of a dabbler, but would like to attempt some kind of serious project one day, be it one song or a few or more. I've messed around with various demos of programs and ultimately decided I liked Orion Platinum the best. So any answers should keep in regard I am using the latest version of that program with my sampler VST - which is Vsampler 3.

I guess I am just looking for general information on how to properly arrange and compose your notes, so they repeat properly, play the proper length etc.. Not just for VSampler either, but samplers in general. I know some come with their own pattern editors and all that but I just want to figure out how to get something to properly loop for the time being.

Let's say I have a sample and it goes for about 5 seconds, but after it "loops" in the pattern editor, it breaks the rythym for some reason when the sample starts over, etc.. Extending on that if I wanted to work with something in particular like a section of a sample, I'd like some general advice on cleaning that up, looping it properly, etc..

If anyone has some links to some good posts or guides, I'd appreciate it.. I will of course, be trying to use the search feature in the mean time (never good at those).

Thanks