abacab

garyed
I think i understand now but I didn't realize it was that involved with soft synths. I'm more used to using external synths so I'll just have to get used to this type of setup. I do remember it took me a while to work with gigastudio years ago but I never did much with it.   

Yup, years ago I worked with Roland, Korg, and Alesis external hardware synths.  The multi-timbral mode was usually accessed as a multi, performance, or combi mode, which allowed a MIDI channel to be assigned to each of the 8 or 16 programs in the multi-timbral mode.  This allowed assignment of full programs to each slot, not just oscillators.
 
There are modern soft synth samplers available that can do the virtual equivalent of this, but most of them are not cheap!
 
If you are looking for an inexpensive, quality, 4-part soft synth rompler solution to get started with, I can recommend this for $1.
https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/virtual-instruments/air-xpand2

Can I use any vst samples with it or do I have to use theirs?

garyed

abacab
 
If you are looking for an inexpensive, quality, 4-part soft synth rompler solution to get started with, I can recommend this for $1.
https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/virtual-instruments/air-xpand2

Can I use any vst samples with it or do I have to use theirs?

Not sure exactly what you mean by "vst samples", but assuming you mean some form of wav samples, the answer is no.
 
A rompler is a term applied to a hardware synth that plays back the samples stored in ROM (read only memory).
 
A virtual soft synth rompler, such as AIR Xpand!2, has the same limitations. It only plays back the factory content.
 
Some samplers make it easy for 3rd party sound designers to create sound libraries, such as Native Instruments Kontakt.  This is probably the most popular and widely supported multitimbral sampler.  You can import your own samples as well.  https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/loading-samples-into-kontakt-5.310788/
 
The Cakewalk Dimension Pro sampler uses the sfz file format to define multisamples using wav or flac samples.  http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/cakewalk-dimension-pro 
 
A freeware sample player using the sfz format that you can also use with those samples is Plogue Sforzando.  It can only play one instrument at a time (one element), but will play the Dimension samples.  It's like Dropzone on steroids!  https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/
 
A nice freeware multitimbral sampler that you can record or load your own waves into is TX16Wx. This will record or import wav files, and uses a graphic UI to program the presets, key ranges, velocity layers, etc.  Built in wave and loop editor.
http://www.tx16wx.com/
 
The bottom line is that most samplers will import wav files, but their preset libraries can be proprietary and difficult to exchange or translate.

Thanks for the info,
That's exactly what I meant & you answered mt question. 

garyed
Thanks for the info,
That's exactly what I meant & you answered mt question. 

Great, glad to hear you got it sorted out!
 
I would add that if you can afford it, you probably wouldn't regret getting Kontakt for $399.
 
But for a bit less money, (and no 3rd party sample libraries) you could consider the AIR Structure 2 sampler.  I picked up the bundle described below on sale, with no regrets!  All quality stuff, that was until recently a part of the Avid Pro Tools exclusive instrument bundle.
 
If you add it to your cart, it is on sale here for $125.99, but if you buy AIR Xpand!2 for $1, you can get the Structure 2 sampler included with a whole big bundle of other instruments for an upgrade price of only $74.95 
https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/air-instrument-expansion-pack-3-complete-upgrade
 
Structure 2 is a multi-timbral sampler plugin with a huge sample library. Over 37 gigabytes of samples are on board and a large variety of instruments are included: piano, drums, strings, guitar, bass, and much more.
 
It can use up to 32 auxiliary outputs, has its own sample editor, and can handle up to 24-bit/192 kHz audio. Some of Structure 2’s built-in effects include reverbs, delays, EQ, distortions, and various types of modulation.
http://soundbytesmag.net/structure2byairmusic/
 
 

Or wait until the summer sale to by Kontakt for $200.  Or next Christmas.