Gridshift 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:
- Fast 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.
The payoff: while playback is running, you can step through samples with the arrow keys and hear each candidate in place on the current track, with zero drop-outs and no change to your clip layout.
Indexed Folders
Manage the library under Gridshift → Settings → Samples.
| Action | Description |
|---|
| Add Folder… | Pick one or more folders. Subfolders are scanned recursively. |
| Rescan | Force a full rescan for a specific folder. |
| − (minus) | Remove a folder from the library. Files on disk are not touched. |
| Format | Extensions |
|---|
| WAV | .wav |
| AIFF | .aif, .aiff |
| MP3 | .mp3 |
| M4A | .m4a |
| CAF | .caf |
| FLAC | .flac |
| OGG | .ogg |
Content-Hash Identification
Every file is identified by a content hash, not by its path. That means:
| Event | Result |
|---|
| File moved or renamed | Automatically relinked on the next scan — project references keep working |
| File deleted | The library entry is marked stale; projects warn about missing media |
| File contents changed | Treated as a new sample |
| Duplicate file in a second folder | Recognized as the same sample (only one library entry) |
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.
Cross-Device Sync
With iCloud enabled, the annotations you make on samples sync across your Macs:
- Ratings, colours, 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.
Sample Search via Command Palette
Open the picker with ⌥S while a sample track is selected.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|
| Open sample picker | ⌥S |
| Step through results | ↑ / ↓ |
| Commit selection | Return |
| Cancel and revert | Escape |
| Signal | Effect |
|---|
| Exact / prefix / substring | Direct filename matches rank highest |
| Fuzzy subsequence | khs still finds kick-hard-snap |
| Folder-name boost | Matches against ancestor folder names, decaying with depth |
| Recency | Samples you’ve used recently rank higher (7-day half-life) |
| Favorites | Starred samples appear in their own section at the top |
Filter Tokens
Combine a query with : tokens to narrow the list:
| Token | Filters to |
|---|
:short | Samples ≤ 2 seconds |
:long | Samples ≥ 10 seconds |
:mono | Single-channel files |
:stereo | Two-channel files |
:drums, :kick, :snare, :hat, :clap, :perc | Auto-classified drum categories |
:vox, :vocal | Vocal categories |
:bass, :synth, :pad, :fx | Other tonal categories |
.../Kicks/808/deep.wav picks up drums and kick automatically.
Tokens stack. kick :short :mono returns only short, mono kicks.
Smart Search
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.
Enabling Smart Search
Smart Search is opt-in. Toggle it under Settings → Samples → Smart Search:
- Switch on “Smart sample search”.
- Gridshift downloads the model on first enable (around 170 MB).
- A one-time indexing pass runs over your library in the background; Settings shows the progress.
All processing runs on-device — no audio leaves your Mac.
How You Use It
Smart Search activates automatically once enabled. The sample picker picks the right mode based on what you do:
| Mode | Trigger | Behavior |
|---|
| Similarity browse | Open the picker with an empty query, on a track that already has a sample | The library is sorted by acoustic similarity to the current sample — the top entry is the closest sonic match |
| Name search | Type letters | Falls back to classic filename scoring |
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.
Turning 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.
Swapping Samples During Playback
The picker is designed for live, performative sample replacement. Clips keep their positions; only the underlying audio changes.
Workflow
- Select a sample track in the sidebar.
- Press
⌥S to open the picker.
- 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.
- Press
Return to commit the current candidate.
- Press
Escape to cancel and restore the original sample.
Stepping through candidates is designed to feel instant — you can cycle dozens of samples per second without playback stuttering. Gridshift only creates a fresh waveform when you commit with Return; preview steps reuse the existing track in place.
Edge Cases
| Case | Behavior |
|---|
| New sample is shorter than a clip’s internal offset | The clip plays past the sample’s end. Gridshift still allows the swap so you can judge the result. |
| No sample track selected | The picker shows an explanation (“Sample Track Required”) instead of an empty list. |
| Library is still empty | The picker shows “No Samples Indexed Yet” and points you at the Settings page to add a folder. |
Changing a Sample Without Preview
When you already know which file you want, two non-performative paths are also available:
| Method | Description |
|---|
| Inspector | Click the sample name in the track inspector to open a Finder dialog. |
| Drag & Drop | Drop an audio file from the Browser or Finder onto an existing sample track. |
