Computer Keyboard Control

Cutupsampler can be controlled with the computer's keyboard.

Cutupsampler is not a traditional musical instrument and has no real notion of playing musical "notes," so the computer keyboard doesn't emulate a clavier keyboard, with black and white keys. Instead, the keys go in a sequence running from left to right, top to bottom.

To use the computer keyboard instead of a MIDI controller, select the "computer kbd" button in the top part of Cutupsampler's interface. With keyboard control activated, the sound sample is initially divided into 26 cuts. To reduce the number of cuts and assign them to fewer keys, change the "keys" number box. The cuts will still be distributed in sequence, left to right, top to bottom. Keys after the selected number will just repeat the sequence.

Use the "Keyboard" menu to select your locale, if you have a non-US or UK keyboard. (At the moment, there are options for DE and FR, but if you express an interest in seeing more mappings, I can add them.)

When computer keyboard control is active, the "low key" box becomes irrelevant and is disabled.

The disadvantage of controlling Cutupsampler through the computer keyboard is that the keyboard's circuitry is not made for musical applications and is not designed to handle as many multiple simultaneous key presses as a musical controller. You may find that notes "stick" using the computer keyboard, and you will find that you can only play six simultaneous "notes" at once, as opposed to 16 when using MIDI control.

If you find that notes stick when using the computer keyboard, you can use the space bar at any time to stop notes that are still playing.

There is a known problem with keys sticking or not being recognized while the mouse is being used at the same time to click and drag dials on the user interface. This is covered on the Known Issues page.

Caps Lock must be off for keyboard control to work.