Subsample

Subsample turns live input and recordings into a MIDI-playable library, sorting captured sounds by acoustic similarity. It is aimed at technically confident musicians and sound designers who value automatic mapping, live sampling, and precise routing more than a graphical workflow. The broad feature set is compelling for a free standalone sampler, but terminal configuration, changing early-release formats, and licensing constraints make it a specialist choice.

Overview

Subsample separates distinct sound events from incoming audio or recordings, analyses them, and organises them into an instrument. Its automatic mapping assigns MIDI notes by acoustic similarity without labels, training data, or manual tagging, reducing the preparation normally required for varied source material. Round-robin playback is supported for alternating sample variation.

The application is headless: YAML files and a MIDI map define its configuration, and operation happens from a terminal rather than a graphical interface. That suits users comfortable maintaining text configuration and MIDI mappings, but it is a poor match for performers who expect visual editing. The project calls itself an early release, and configuration and MIDI-map formats can change between releases, so setups may require maintenance over time.

Key features

Capture and automatic mapping

Live sampling captures, trims, analyses, and adds distinct sound events to an instrument library in real time. This is useful for turning an evolving recording session into playable material without stopping to tag every hit. Similarity-based mapping handles the note assignment automatically, although users who need a conventional hand-authored key map may find the system less predictable.

Loop construction and processing

For long samples, onset detection can find individual hits and place them on a beat grid at a target BPM. It is a practical shortcut for extracting rhythmic material. Built-in DSP covers filters, dynamics, distortion, radio effects, vocoding, pitch shifting, time stretching, and quantisation, giving the standalone sampler substantial sound-shaping range before external processing.

MIDI, OSC, and routing

Subsample accepts standard and virtual MIDI input and supports Program Change and CC bindings. OSC sender and receiver support extends control to compatible networked setups. Audio handling spans mono through 7.1, with per-instrument output routing and first-order ambisonic capture and playback. That combination is valuable in multichannel or spatial projects, while likely exceeding the needs of a simple stereo sampler.

Formats and deployment

Supported audio includes WAV, BWF, FLAC, AIFF, OGG, and MP3/MPEG. Subsample is standalone-only rather than a plug-in, so it must sit alongside a host or DAW when used in a larger production workflow.

Pricing

Subsample (AGPLv3): free — an open-source sampler with no free trial because the software itself is free. The licence is AGPLv3; modified versions run as network services must make their source available to users. Proprietary or closed-source use requires discussing a commercial licence with the maker. There are no seats, usage quotas, renewal charges, or paid feature tiers stated, but the licence distinction matters to businesses embedding or distributing modified software.

Platforms

Subsample runs on Linux and macOS. On Windows it runs inside WSL2 and is not tested on native Windows, so Windows users should expect a compatibility layer rather than a conventional native application. It supports standalone operation only.

Who it's for

Choose Subsample if you are a musician, sound designer, or technically minded live-audio user building instruments from recordings and want automatic acoustic matching, real-time capture, multichannel routing, and extensive MIDI or OSC control. It is particularly interesting for experimental sampling and spatial setups where terminal automation is acceptable.

Look elsewhere if you need a graphical editor, a plug-in format, a fixed configuration format, or native Windows support. Teams shipping proprietary products should resolve the AGPLv3 obligations or obtain a commercial licence before adopting it.

Pros and cons

• Pros: automatic mapping works without labels, training data, or manual tagging; live capture builds an instrument in real time; onset-to-grid tools accelerate loop creation; broad DSP, MIDI, OSC, and multichannel routing support; accepts common lossless, broadcast, and compressed formats; free and open source.
• Cons: no graphical interface means YAML and terminal work; early-release status can require changes to configuration and MIDI maps; Windows support depends on untested WSL2 rather than native operation; standalone-only deployment excludes plug-in workflows; AGPLv3 can conflict with proprietary or closed-source distribution.

Alternatives

For a broad starting point, browse Sampler Software.

sfizz is a free option across Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, with optional donations and API support; pick it when broad platform access matters more than Subsample's automatic capture and mapping.

Decent Sampler is free on iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows and plays libraries in its .dspreset and .dslibrary formats, making it preferable when you already use that library ecosystem.

Vaporizer 2 is free GPL-3.0 software with standalone and plug-in formats for Linux, macOS, and Windows; choose it when plug-in hosting is essential.

LinuxSampler is a free GNU GPL sampler with API and self-hosted options; it is a better fit for established sampler-server workflows, subject to its commercial-use permission requirement.

TX16Wx Software Sampler offers a free sampler plug-in and a paid unrestricted licence, suiting users who want a conventional plug-in path with an upgrade option.

Just a Sample is a free, open-source MIT-licensed sampler for Windows, macOS, and Linux; choose it for a simpler permissive-licence alternative.

Momentum provides a free app and plug-in for macOS, web, and Windows with slicing and WAV/AIFF support; it suits loop-focused editing rather than terminal-driven automatic mapping.

Source-to-Image is a free open-source toolkit for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Verdict

Subsample is a strong specialist pick for technically confident creators who want automatic sample mapping, real-time capture, and serious multichannel control without paying for the software. Its terminal-only interface, evolving release formats, non-native Windows path, standalone-only design, and AGPLv3 obligations are substantial trade-offs. Choose it for experimental or automated sampling; choose another sampler for a polished graphical workflow or uncomplicated proprietary deployment.