LinuxSampler
LinuxSampler is a work in progress. The goal is to produce a free, open source pure software audio sampler with professional grade features, comparable to both hardware and commercial Windows/Mac software samplers and to introduce new features not yet available by any other sampler in the world.
Concept
LinuxSampler was designed as a sampler backend, decoupled from any user interface. It provides a native C++ API as well as a network interface using an ASCII based protocol called LSCP for controlling the sampler and managing sampler sessions. But don't be afraid, with QSampler (based on the cross-platform C++ GUI library Qt) and JSampler (Java based, thus platform independent) we already have two convenient frontends for LinuxSampler and due to the decoupled design you can even control the sampler with the GUI frontend(s) from another computer, probably even running another OS like Windows or OS X. Beside our own custom network control layer we planned to add existing ones as well (e.g. OSC). With the planned SMP and cluster support LinuxSampler might become a very interesting tool for high-end studios and concerts in future.
Goals
It is planned to support all common sampler formats in LinuxSampler, but at the moment we chose to concentrate on the Gigasampler format, because we think it's currently the best sampler format in regards of quality and power, especially for the synthesis of natural instruments like pianos, brass and bowed instruments. But we already made good advance in implementing this format, so we are optimistic to start with adding other formats soon. Beside that we also planned to design our own, sophisticated sampler format to introduce a more powerful and more flexible sampler format compared to any sampler format currently available in the world. Be encouraged to share your ideas about such a new format with us!