samplv1

What samplv1 is

samplv1 is a free, open-source polyphonic sampler synthesizer for Linux, with stereo effects. It is available both as a standalone JACK client and as an LV2 instrument plugin. The standalone version accepts MIDI input through JACK MIDI or ALSA MIDI and supports JACK-session and NSM session management. The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or later, and its listed plan is free. The project home page lists version 1.5.0, released September 15, 2026, with a package for factory and community presets and updated theme options. Qt and libsndfile are required to build and run the software. JACK, ALSA, LV2, FFTW3, Rubber Band, and liblo are optional build-time components; NSM support needs liblo. The site provides CMake instructions for building from a source tarball, with /usr/local as the default install prefix. User settings are stored in $HOME/.config/rncbc.org/samplv1.conf. The project describes the software as stable and production-phase while acknowledging that bugs remain.

Who it suits

It suits Linux users looking for a polyphonic sampler synthesizer as a standalone JACK client or LV2 instrument plugin. Building from source requires Qt and libsndfile.

Limits

The plan is free and open source at no cost. Qt and libsndfile are mandatory build and runtime requirements; NSM support requires the optional liblo component.

Getting started

1. Open the samplv1 website.
2. Download the source tarball.
3. Install Qt and libsndfile, which are mandatory requirements.
4. Use the site's CMake instructions to build and install samplv1.
5. Add optional components such as JACK, ALSA, LV2, FFTW3, Rubber Band, or liblo if needed.

Verdict

samplv1 offers Linux users both standalone and LV2 ways to use its sampler synthesizer. Its source build has required dependencies, and the project notes that bugs remain.