Tag: Koala Sampler

Go to settings, General tab and set “Count in” to 1 Bar.

I cannot zoom in on the sequencer section on Apple Silicon Mac.
Fixed: Found that going to Settings, Turn on Touch Alternatives, and using Option and trackpad allows zoom-in.

Want to be able to mute certain notes on sequencer without deleting it.

Quokka allows you to create sounds by generating waveforms directly, so you don’t need to sample or record audio first. This is much faster and more flexible than the old method with Koala Sampler, where you had to record something (like a voice maybe), then edit, shorten it drastically, and loop the sample to get synth-like sounds. Quokka allows me to skip all of these processes and just create a sound from nowhere.

Sometimes, I run into a frustrating issue with Koala Sampler. That is, when I try to play chords in Keyboard mode, only one note plays at a time, cutting off the previous note. Basically the sample is behaving monophonic, even though I’m in Keyboard mode and not using any choke groups.

After all the troubleshooting, I found out it was a bug. I had to close the sidebar, where I can choose samples, where I highlighted in the red box in the screenshot below.

When I closed out that sidebar, suddenly the app recognized that I was in keyboard mode, and I was able to play it in polyphonic mode.

By the way, this is on Apple Silicon Mac. (using iPad version of the Koala)

The Mixer in Koala Sampler is an in-app purchase that upgrades the app with professional mixing capabilities. It features a 4-channel mixer with mute/solo options, faders, accurate metering, and five effects slots per channel, plus a main bus. Users can access 16+ high-quality audio effects like compressors, filters, and phasers, with more planned. Integrated into the “Perform” section, the Mixer enhances workflow while keeping the music-making process intuitive and efficient.

The Samurai mode in Koala Sampler is a premium upgrade for advanced music production. Key features include:

• Timestretch: Sync samples to tempo with four algorithms—Modern (smooth), Retro (granular), Beats (transient-based), and Cyclic (90s jungle style).
• Piano Roll: Edit sequences on a grid with pitch, velocity, and tools like copy/paste, reverse, stretch, and legato.
• Autochop: Slice beats automatically or manually, including MPC-style lazy chop.
• 3-Band EQ: Fine-tune your mix with tonal sculpting.

Samurai mode unlocks powerful tools to enhance creativity in Koala Sampler.

1. Record or Import a Sample

• Start by recording a sound or importing an audio sample into Koala Sampler. You can use anything from your voice, instruments, or external audio files.

2. Enable Keyboard Mode

• Select the sample you want to use and activate Keyboard Mode. This mode allows you to play the sample across different pitches, just like a musical keyboard.

3. Adjust the Pitch

• In Keyboard Mode, the app automatically maps the sample to different pitches. The default middle pitch is typically C3 (middle C), and you can play higher or lower notes by tapping on the virtual keyboard.

4. Play the Scale

• Use the on-screen keyboard to play melodies or scales. If you have a MIDI keyboard, you can connect it to Koala Sampler for a more tactile playing experience.

With Keyboard Mode, you can create melodies and harmonies from a single sample, making it a powerful tool for music production.

In the realm of music production, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are indispensable tools. They are powerful and feature-rich, offering thousands of sounds and effects, allowing composers to handle composition, arrangement, and the final mix all within a single platform. However, this convenience can sometimes inhibit creativity, especially when selecting sounds. Many producers and musicians tend to lean heavily on presets because they are readily available. While presets are great starting points, relying solely on them can result in a lack of originality in one’s work.

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Koala Sampler is a name already familiar to many music creators. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, this pocket-sized sampler allows you to record anything instantly using your smartphone’s mic. And now, this handy app has received a powerful upgrade—a new Mixer feature.

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