Subsample

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

What Subsample is

Subsample is a standalone sampler that turns live input or recordings into playable collections of distinct sounds. It separates sound events, groups them by sound, and assigns them to MIDI notes using acoustic similarity, without requiring labels, training data, or manual tagging. In live use, it captures, trims, analyses, and adds sound events to an instrument library as they happen. For longer samples, onset detection can find individual hits and place them on a beat grid at a chosen BPM. Its sound processors include filters, dynamics, distortion, radio, vocoder, pitch shifting, time stretching, and quantisation. Subsample accepts WAV, BWF, FLAC, AIFF, OGG, and MP3/MPEG audio, and supports MIDI input, OSC communication, and MIDI control bindings. Audio support runs from mono through 7.1, with per-instrument output routing and first-order ambisonic capture and playback. The project is an early release, and its YAML configuration and MIDI map formats may change between releases. It has no graphical interface: configuration uses YAML files and a MIDI map, and the program runs from a terminal. Subsample is free and open source under AGPLv3; proprietary or closed-source use requires discussing a commercial licence with the maker.

Who it suits

Subsample suits musicians and sound designers who want to build MIDI-playable instruments from live sounds or recordings and are comfortable working in a terminal. Its broad audio routing and processing options may also suit setups that need multichannel audio or OSC and MIDI control.

What it does well

Maps sounds to MIDI notes by acoustic similarity without manual tagging.
Captures and adds distinct sound events to a library in real time.
Includes onset detection and beat-grid placement at a target BPM.
Supports mono through 7.1 audio and first-order ambisonics.
Accepts six listed audio formats and supports MIDI and OSC.
Free and open source under AGPLv3.

What to know first

Has no graphical interface; setup uses YAML and a MIDI map.
Windows use is through WSL2 and is not tested natively.
Early-release configuration and MIDI map formats may change.
Proprietary or closed-source use requires a commercial licence.

Limits

The free AGPLv3 plan covers open-source use. Modified versions used as network services must make their source code available to users; proprietary or closed-source use requires a commercial licence.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Subsample (AGPLv3)	Open-source sampler; proprietary or closed-source use requires a commercial licence	Free

As github.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Subsample project website on GitHub.
Use a Linux or macOS environment, or run it on Windows through WSL2.
Configure the sampler with YAML files and a MIDI map.
Run it from a terminal and connect standard or virtual MIDI input as needed.
Add supported audio files or capture live sound events.

Verdict

Choose Subsample if you want a free, open-source sampler that maps recorded or live sounds to MIDI notes and offers detailed sound processing and multichannel routing. Look elsewhere if you need a graphical interface, or if you require proprietary use without arranging a commercial licence.

Questions

How much does Subsample cost?

The listed plan is free. The project invites contact to discuss a commercial licence for proprietary or closed-source use.

Does Subsample have a graphical interface?

No. It is configured with YAML files and a MIDI map and runs from a terminal.

Which platforms does Subsample support?

It runs on Linux and macOS. On Windows it runs inside WSL2 and is not tested on native Windows.

What audio formats can it use?

It accepts WAV, BWF, FLAC, AIFF, OGG, and MP3/MPEG audio.

Is Subsample a plugin?

No. It is standalone-only.

What does the AGPLv3 licence mean for commercial use?

Modified versions used as network services must make their source code available to users. Proprietary or closed-source use requires a commercial licence.

Facts from Subsample's own pages

Audio formats: It accepts WAV, BWF, FLAC, AIFF, OGG, and MP3/MPEG audio. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Audio routing: It supports mono through 7.1 audio and per-instrument output routing. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Automatic mapping: It matches sounds to MIDI notes by acoustic similarity without labels, training data, or manual tagging. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Automatic matching: It matches samples by similarity without labels, training data, or manual tagging. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Commercial licensing: The maker invites contact to discuss a commercial licence for proprietary or closed-source use. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Configuration: It is headless, has no graphical interface, and is configured with YAML files and a MIDI map. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Integrations: It supports standard and virtual MIDI input, OSC sender and receiver, and MIDI control including Program Change and CC bindings. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Interface: It has no graphical interface and is configured with YAML files and run from a terminal. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Licence: Subsample is released under AGPLv3, which requires modified versions run as a network service to make their source available to users. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
License: Subsample is released under AGPLv3, which requires modified versions used as network services to make source code available to users. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Live sampling: It captures, trims, analyses, and adds distinct sound events to an instrument library in real time. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Loop tools: It detects onsets in long samples and can place each hit on a beat grid at a target BPM. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Maker: The project was created by Simon Holliday, described on the project page as a senior technologist and junior musician. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Multichannel audio: It supports mono through 7.1 audio, per-instrument output routing, and first-order ambisonic capture and playback. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Platforms: It runs on Linux and macOS; Windows support is through WSL2 and native Windows is not tested. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Platform support: It runs on Linux and macOS; on Windows it runs inside WSL2 and is not tested on native Windows. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: Subsample cuts separate sounds from live input or recordings, sorts them by sound, and plays them from MIDI. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Release status: The project describes itself as an early release, and its configuration and MIDI map formats can change between releases. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026
Sound processing: Its DSP processors include filters, dynamics, distortion, radio, vocoder, pitch shifting, time stretching, and quantisation. · subsystem.co, 8 Oct 2026

Where Subsample stands on Freedom251

Sampler Software#10 of 26