Map Audio PAM is a new 8-track sampler plugin for macOS and Windows with a modular workflow in mind, including deep audio and modulation routings.
Samplers are indispensable in today’s music production. Some love them in hardware, while others prefer to use them in software. DAWs usually have a basic built-in sampler. Third-party developers often offer plugins with specific functions, such as deeper layering, scripting, and more.
Map Audio has released a new sampler plugin, PAM, that focuses primarily on combining sampling with modulation and sequencing.
Map Audio PAM
PAM is described as a highly functional 8-voice modular sampler plugin with flexible pattern building and modulation throughout the entire system.
The core of Map Audio PAM consists of eight cells, aka voices, each featuring a sampler, effects, and a dedicated sequencer. The sampler gives you classic controls, including playback mode, sample start and end points, volume, pan, pitch, stretch, and more.
There is also a handy fade-in/fade-out functionality, retrigger, delay, arpeggiate mode, and more. The sampler is also capable of slicing your sample into segments with automatic transient detection, providing richer, more versatile results.
Along the sampler, the cell views also house the sample browser, the sequencer’s pattern editor, and the effects chain. It’s nice that the browser is integrated directly into the cell interface rather than a separate one. This results in a very smooth workflow.
Per-voice, you have a multi-FX chain, including EQ, bit crusher, delay, flanger, filter, FDN, gate, compressor, and more. The sequencer per voice gives you control over the note, pitch, stretch, and slice. Yes, you can also sequence your slices created with the sampler’s slicing functionality
Additionally, you can activate a piano roll for the polyphonic mode of the sampler. Draw and resize notes across the full pitch range with the scale filter and velocity lane.
The CtrlAll interface provides a simplified overview and control over the active patch with global macro controls and an A/B crossfader. Link parameters across all cells while accounting for per-cell exclusions.
Modulation
A highlight of the Map Audio PAM is its built-in modulation. This isn’t limited to a selection of parameters; it’s integrated throughout.
Any engine parameter can have its own sequencer as a modulator, or be controlled by one of six LFOs. They have multiple shapes, depth, bipolar control, and tempo sync, so everything stays in time.
As a bonus, a cell’s audio output can modulate the parameters of another cell, using the built-in envelope followers with adjustable attack and release. You can even sidechain from any cell output.
If that’s not enough, well, PAM has more on the modulation table. You can add controlled randomization to any knob with a fully adjustable range and probability. This lets you add an organic flow to your parameters, resulting in parameter variations.
Deeper goes the main randomization engine that lets you generate random signals and setups for specific parts of PAM, including the LFOs, envelope followers, sampler, and more. That’s a pretty impressive set of tools that brings evolving motion or absolute chaos to your sampling grooves.
Sequencing & Composing
All eight cells converge into the built-in mixer, which offers independent volume, pan, mute, and solo controls. As seen, each cell has its own sequencer with four lanes, primarily to add movement to the overall samples.
However, all eight cells are unified by two other main elements. First, the tracker, which allows you to program tracker-style patterns with notes, velocity, probability, and retrigger in a vertical timeline.
The second is a DAW-like looper that can record up to eight tracks simultaneously with overdub, external input, and drag-and-drop functionality. Specific areas can also be easily selected, as shown in the image.
Neat is the ability to create up to eight variations that you can switch seamlessly with bar-sync.
Map Audio PAM First Impression
Map Audio PAM is available now for $150 or $12,50/mo (12 months rent-to-own). Prices are subject to taxes where applicable. A 7-day free trial is available. It runs as a standalone app and VST3, AU, and CLAP plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
More information here: Map Audio
Interesting concept with the modular workflow. How does it compare to other multi-track samplers out there?
I just bought it. It´s a brilliant piece of software, it borrows concepts from loopers, trackers, machines like the octatrack… It´s a playground for mangling samples and some kind of groovebox too. This should explode and gain a good user base.