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The Sample Library keeps a central, searchable index of every audio file in the folders you’ve added. The index powers two workflows that share the same keyboard-first entry point:
  • Name search through the Command Palette — find a sample and load it onto a track without leaving the keyboard.
  • Smart Search (optional) — an on-device audio model sorts your library by how close each sample sounds to the one you’re working with, so you can audition alternatives by vibe, not filename.
While playback is running, the arrow keys step through samples and each candidate is heard in place on the current track. Clip offsets, lengths, and positions do not change.

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Indexed folders

Manage the library under Gridshift → Settings → Samples. The index itself lives in ~/Library/Application Support/Gridshift/library.db. Each row shows the folder’s file count — audio and MIDI together — and the time of the last scan.

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Supported formats

Gridshift also indexes .mid and .midi files from the same folders, but they are browsed from their own picker rather than this one — press ⌥P to insert a MIDI pattern, and see Timeline shortcuts.

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Content-hash identification

Every file is identified by a content hash, not by its path. That means: A file-system watcher keeps the index live. New files appear shortly after you drop them into an indexed folder, without a manual rescan. Manual tempo corrections are stored against the content hash too. When you set a source BPM or move the downbeat in the Sample Editor, Gridshift writes the correction to the library; the next project that loads the same audio picks it up automatically, unless that project already has its own value. Resetting both clears the stored correction. Corrections stay on the Mac that made them — they are not part of the iCloud annotation set below.
Because identification is content-based, you can reorganize your sample folders freely. Projects that reference a moved sample pick it up automatically the next time Gridshift sees the file.

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Cross-device sync

With iCloud enabled, the annotations you make on samples sync across your Macs:
  • Ratings, colors, and tags
  • Detected BPM and key
  • Transient markers
Because samples are identified by content, these annotations follow the file rather than its location — rate a sample on one Mac and it’s rated on every other Mac that has the same file indexed, even if you’ve organized your folders differently there. The list of indexed folders is per-Mac, since file paths don’t translate across machines. Add folders once on each Mac you use.

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Sample search via Command Palette

Open the picker with ⌥S — Command Palette → Add or Change Sample… — while a sample or instrument track is selected. Step through results with ↑ / ↓, commit with Return, or cancel and revert with Escape. On an instrument track the pick loads the built-in sampler. The list re-ranks as you type. Ranking combines several signals:

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Filter tokens

Combine a query with : tokens to narrow the list: Categories are inferred heuristically from filename and parent-folder tokens. A file under .../Kicks/808/deep.wav picks up drums and kick automatically.
Tokens stack. kick :short :mono returns only short, mono kicks.
Smart Search extends filename matching with acoustic similarity. Instead of relying on how files are named, Gridshift compares how they actually sound — using an on-device audio model. Smart Search is opt-in. Toggle it under Settings → Samples → Smart Search: Switch on Smart sample search. Gridshift downloads the audio and text models on first enable (around 170 MB combined), then runs a one-time indexing pass over your library in the background — Settings shows the progress for both. All processing runs on-device — no audio leaves your Mac.

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How you use it

Smart Search activates automatically once enabled. The sample picker picks the right mode based on what you do:
For drum replacement: open the picker on a snare track with nothing typed. Gridshift orders your library so the snares closest in character sit at the top — step through with ↑ / ↓ to audition alternatives quickly.

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Turn it off

Switching the toggle off returns the picker to pure name-based search. If you re-enable Smart Search later, it picks up where it left off without re-downloading the model or re-indexing your library.

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Swap samples during playback

The picker is designed for live, performative sample replacement. Clips keep their positions; only the underlying audio changes.
1

Select a sample or instrument track in the Sidebar

2

Press `⌥S` to open the picker

3

Step through results with `↑` / `↓`

Each step:
  • Swaps the sample on the track immediately and audibly during playback.
  • Leaves clip offsets, lengths, and positions untouched.
  • Plays a full-length audition of the highlighted sample — except when playback is already running and the track has audio clips, where the clip-level preview is enough on its own.
4

Press Return to commit the current candidate

5

Press Escape to cancel and restore the original sample

Gridshift only creates a fresh waveform when you commit with Return; preview steps reuse the existing track in place.

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Edge cases

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Change a sample without preview

When you already know which file you want, two non-performative paths are also available: Both create a fresh sound source immediately, with waveform and transients generated up front — no preview / commit loop.

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Shortcuts

The keys that drive the sample picker. The Global Shortcuts reference has the complete grid of track and file operations.
Last modified on August 8, 2026