What's the best way to sample the sounds on my MIDI keyboard for use in softsynths?

Kontakt makes it pretty easy, if somewhat time-consuming. I've done it for a few of my favorite Yamaha synth patches (sadly, not all of them; sure wish I had that sweet saxophone from my old MO8).
 
The hardest part is figuring out how many samples your synth is using for a given patch, meaning how much they are stretched by and how many velocity layers there are. Sometimes there'll be a single sample stretched across the keyboard (e.g. pads and lead synths), while other times there may be dozens of samples (e.g. a piano patch). But you'll need to know that information if you want to faithfully transfer those patches to a sampler.
 

https://samplerobot.com/pages/samplerobot
 
Bill

SampleRobot can do it automatically, which would save a lot of time. Can Kontakt do that, or would I be doing it all manually?

Trying out the SamplerRobot demo which is seriously crippled. The Channel & Program change parameters don't seem to work, they keep changing on their own each time I open the settings window. My synth uses odd bank & patch settings that may not be compatible. The only sound I can sample is the default piano sound. The manual is sketchy and little help showing "tabs" that don't exist. They offer a Pro & Multi-X version but say very little about how they differ. For a $200-300 program they aren't winning any points with me.

SampleRobot Montage is free until March and also works on the new Yamaha MODX.

Great if you own a Yamaha, which I don't.

I've used SampleRobot since v4 (it's now on v6) and I can highly recommend it.
 
The workflow however, is quirky, but once you've got your head around it you set it up and let it get on with it.
 
It will export to many different formats, and as long as you keep your project files & wav files, you can re-export to whatever you like at a later date.
 
It can take a LONG time to sample a synth - like several hours, to > day depending on the number of keys / velocity layers your sampling.
 
I use an old laptop to do this so my main machines are still usable.
 
I was going to do a tutorial video, but they've changed everything for v6, so I'll have to re-learn it first.

studio 1 v4 has something nice for making samples. you can get it to trigger from volume, like the old akai's etc.
 
I do own kontakt also.
 
I did buy sample thing , not gonna name it.. but it didn't do what I wanted.. was "supposed" to automate the task.
 
I ended up using macro recorder , and having a calculator open... +1 to the number.. copy / paste it into the sequence I used for patch number.
 
 

I had a closer look at SampleRobot 6.
 
The GUI is far less cluttered than it used to be, more logically laid out, but basically it's the same.
 
However.... for some crazy reason, they've removed the "Instrument Copier" function. 
 
Basically what you'd do here, is give it a text file with all your patch names, you'd tell it (for example) to sample patches 1-5, 6, 8, 9-12, 58, 64, and it would create all the projects for you with the patch names relating to those patch numbers.
 
The trick was, to combine all the non-looped patches into one set of projects, and then run the instrument copier again to do the same for all the looped patches. 
 
You'd then select "Record All Projects" and it would automatically send the MIDI program changes, sample all the notes & velocity layers, and sort out any loops for all of your patches.
 
 
Without this function, it means manually creating and naming each project (i.e. 1 project per patch), as well as manually setting the MIDI program changes. You can still "Record All Projects", but creating them in the first place just got a whole lot harder.
 
Needless to say, I'm a bit miffed.
 
I've contacted the developer, but not heard back yet.
 
I'm just glad I've still got v4 and 5 installed.