Timeline Sample Menu

Clicking in a sample on the Timeline with the right mouse button brings up the Sample Actions menu. This gives options for actions you can perform on samples in the Timeline. These actions will not affect your sample files on disk. Most can be undone by hitting the U key.

The options are:
Cut
Copy
Move
Remove
Repeat
Replace with Clipboard
Reset Offset
Attach to Previous Sample
Regionize
Save to Disk

Cut removes the sample from the track, and puts it in the clipboard. If you hit the Ranges button, you can click anywhere on a track and then on the Paste button or V key to place a copy there.

Copy puts a copy of the sample in the clipboard. If you hit the Ranges button, you can click anywhere on a track and then on the Paste button to place a copy there. If the sample has been trimmed, only the visible part is copied. To copy the whole sample, use the option in the Sample List window.

Move allows you to set the exact timing of the start of a sample. You can type in a time and the sample will move to that start point, if there is no conflict with another sample. This operation will not make one sample overlay another as Paste does. If there is a conflict, move the sample to another track and try again.

Remove removes the sample from the track. It does not affect the file on disk.

Repeat. This puts multiple copies of a sample on the track. This is useful for repeating loop samples, and it can be used to build up a rhythm from individual percussion samples.

First, type in the number of new copies you want. For instance, if you want a loop to repeat 8 times altogether, add 7 repeats to the original.

Now set the time interval. This can either be the length of the silence space between the repeats, or the interval between the starting times of the samples. Uncheck the button to set the starting times. The time can be entered in any unit - hit the down arrow to get a units menu. The example shown has a loop with no interval between repeats, and a single note sample starting at two beat intervals. Note the grid, set to beats.

Clicking "Add Repeats" will add the requested number to the track, provided no other sample is blocking the way. If this is likely to happen, move the offending sample to another track first.

Interesting effects can result from putting repeats on various tracks with different time intervals.

Replace with Clipboard. If a sample or range has previously been cut or copied, it will be in the clipboard. This option will remove the current sample and put whatever is in the clipboard in its place. Note that you cannot paste a mono sample to a stereo track or vice versa.

Reset Offset. This moves the sample to the beginning of the track, if there is space for it there. In the case of a sample which you recorded to the Timeline, it moves it to its original position as recorded.

Attach to Previous Sample. This moves the sample so that its starting point is in contact with the end of the previous sample on the track.

Regionize. This splits a sample into sections. Its main use is for dividing up a recording from a vinyl LP or a tape into its tracks. You may find other uses.

Set the option at the bottom to "Add Markers" for testing. Use "Delete Locators" in the Markers menu to clear any that are already present.

The Threshold setting determines what is considered to be silence. If your vinyl has a noisy surface, set this to a higher number. If you set it too high, it will pick up quiet passages in the music. This can be avoided to some extent by setting the "Minimum duration for silence". The gap between tracks will usually be several seconds, longer than pauses within tracks. However, if there are clicks between tracks, you will have to set a shorter time as the click breaks the silence.

Click the Detect button and a locator should appear on the timeline at each gap in the sample. Check to make sure that none of the locators are in the fadeout at the end of a track. If so, clear the locators, set a lower Threshold, and try again. When you are happy with the positions, you can change to the "Split sample" option. This acts in the same way as the Split button at the top of the Timeline - it divides the sample into regions which you can move around independently in AE, but does not affect the sample file on disk.

If a region turns out to be not quite correct, you can use the trim function (Move and Trim button on Timeline) to make it longer or shorter, if necessary moving it to another track.

Save to Disk. This saves a sample file in AIFF format, with any current trimming settings. What you get in the file is the part of the original that is visible in the Timeline. If no trimming or cutting has been done it will be identical to the original.

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Clicking in a sample on the Timeline with the right mouse button brings up the Sample Actions menu. This gives options for actions you can perform on samples in the Timeline. These actions will not affect your sample files on disk. Most can be undone by hitting the U key. The options are: Cut Copy Move Remove Repeat Replace with Clipboard Reset Offset Attach to Previous Sample Regionize Save to Disk
Cut removes the sample from the track, and puts it in the clipboard. If you hit the Ranges button, you can click anywhere on a track and then on the Paste button or V key to place a copy there.
Copy puts a copy of the sample in the clipboard. If you hit the Ranges button, you can click anywhere on a track and then on the Paste button to place a copy there. If the sample has been trimmed, only the visible part is copied. To copy the whole sample, use the option in the Sample List window.
Move allows you to set the exact timing of the start of a sample. You can type in a time and the sample will move to that start point, if there is no conflict with another sample. This operation will not make one sample overlay another as Paste does. If there is a conflict, move the sample to another track and try again.
Remove removes the sample from the track. It does not affect the file on disk.
Repeat. This puts multiple copies of a sample on the track. This is useful for repeating loop samples, and it can be used to build up a rhythm from individual percussion samples. First, type in the number of new copies you want. For instance, if you want a loop to repeat 8 times altogether, add 7 repeats to the original. Now set the time interval. This can either be the length of the silence space between the repeats, or the interval between the starting times of the samples. Uncheck the button to set the starting times. The time can be entered in any unit - hit the down arrow to get a units menu. The example shown has a loop with no interval between repeats, and a single note sample starting at two beat intervals. Note the grid, set to beats. Clicking "Add Repeats" will add the requested number to the track, provided no other sample is blocking the way. If this is likely to happen, move the offending sample to another track first. Interesting effects can result from putting repeats on various tracks with different time intervals.
Replace with Clipboard. If a sample or range has previously been cut or copied, it will be in the clipboard. This option will remove the current sample and put whatever is in the clipboard in its place. Note that you cannot paste a mono sample to a stereo track or vice versa.
Reset Offset. This moves the sample to the beginning of the track, if there is space for it there. In the case of a sample which you recorded to the Timeline, it moves it to its original position as recorded.
Attach to Previous Sample. This moves the sample so that its starting point is in contact with the end of the previous sample on the track.
Regionize. This splits a sample into sections. Its main use is for dividing up a recording from a vinyl LP or a tape into its tracks. You may find other uses. Set the option at the bottom to "Add Markers" for testing. Use "Delete Locators" in the Markers menu to clear any that are already present. The Threshold setting determines what is considered to be silence. If your vinyl has a noisy surface, set this to a higher number. If you set it too high, it will pick up quiet passages in the music. This can be avoided to some extent by setting the "Minimum duration for silence". The gap between tracks will usually be several seconds, longer than pauses within tracks. However, if there are clicks between tracks, you will have to set a shorter time as the click breaks the silence. Click the Detect button and a locator should appear on the timeline at each gap in the sample. Check to make sure that none of the locators are in the fadeout at the end of a track. If so, clear the locators, set a lower Threshold, and try again. When you are happy with the positions, you can change to the "Split sample" option. This acts in the same way as the Split button at the top of the Timeline - it divides the sample into regions which you can move around independently in AE, but does not affect the sample file on disk. If a region turns out to be not quite correct, you can use the trim function (Move and Trim button on Timeline) to make it longer or shorter, if necessary moving it to another track.
Save to Disk. This saves a sample file in AIFF format, with any current trimming settings. What you get in the file is the part of the original that is visible in the Timeline. If no trimming or cutting has been done it will be identical to the original.