Playing Audio Files in the Sample Editor

This section outlines the various playback commands of the Sample Editor. Playback of audio files in the Sample Editor occurs independently of the project playhead position. With this in mind, you should simply use the Transport controls to hear the audio file in the context of your arrangement.

Note: The Mixer’s Prelisten channel strip is used for monitoring in the Sample Editor. You can access the Prelisten channel strip by clicking the All button in the Mixer’s menu bar. The Prelisten channel strip is located to the right of the highest-numbered audio channel strip.

Using Basic Playback Commands in the Sample Editor

There are various ways to control audio playback in the Sample Editor.

To control playback using the Prelisten button

  1. Control-click (or right-click) the Prelisten button, and choose an option from the shortcut menu:

    Figure. Prelisten button in the Sample Editor.
    • Auto-select Channel Strip: The audio channel strip assigned to the selected arrange track is used for playback.
    • Prelisten Channel Strip: The Environment’s Prelisten channel strip is used for playback. You can access the Prelisten channel strip in the Environment’s Mixer layer. It is located to the right of the highest numbered audio channel strip.

  2. Click the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, default assignment:  Space bar) to start playback.

  3. Click the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, default assignment:  Space bar) to stop playback.

To control playback using the ruler

  • Double-click the ruler at the point you want playback to begin. A second double-click stops playback.

To control playback using the waveform overview
Do one of the following:

  • Click-hold at the point you want playback to begin. The pointer turns into a Prelisten icon. Release the mouse button to stop playback.

    Figure. Sample Editor with the Prelisten icon over the waveform overview.

  • Double-click at the point you want playback to begin. A second double-click stops playback.

To scrub audio

  • Click-hold the ruler and move the pointer.

    Figure. Sample Editor with the Prelisten button over the ruler.

The audio playback will follow the speed and direction of your pointer. This helps you to quickly locate a particular position within an audio file.

To continuously repeat the selected area

  1. Enable the Cycle button.

    Figure. Cycle button in the Sample Editor.

  2. Enable the Prelisten button (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, default assignment:  Space bar).

You can change the start and end points of the selected area during looped playback. This makes it easy to edit the start or end points of a drum loop, for example, until it loops perfectly. When you’re satisfied with the loop, you can make the selected area a new region.

Using Playback Key Commands in the Sample Editor

You can use the following key commands to enhance your playback options:

  • Play/Stop All: Plays back the whole audio file, regardless of the selected area.
  • Play/Stop Region: Toggles between playback of the audio file’s region start and end points—regardless of the selected area.
  • “Play/Stop Region to Anchor” and “Play/Stop Region from Anchor”: These key commands allow you to check the region anchor position by listening to the parts just before and after the anchor.
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