The MPC workflow,
for your keyboard.
Intentional constraints. Serious sampling. Build beats without losing focus to the mouse.
Meiji Sampler is software that behaves like an instrument: Browse, Assign, Loop, Scene, and Mix with ten pads, ten loops, ten scenes, deep character processing, stem separation, full MIDI mapping, and project tempo control.
Or install via terminal:
Software, deliberately constrained.
The goal is not nostalgia for its own sake. The goal is protecting focus, preserving the feel of hardware workflows, and using software where it genuinely helps.
Everything important is a keypress. Less menu drift, less visual noise, more time actually building the beat.
Browse any folder, work offline, and keep edits in metadata so your source files stay untouched.
SP1200 color, ASR-10 Boost, rebuilt S950-style filters, and practical channel shaping are part of the instrument.
Stem separation and classification are there when they help. The workflow still centers the musician, not the novelty.
What feels stronger now
Recent improvements make the instrument more complete: better character, better control, and less friction around projects, tempo, and MIDI.
Character And Groove
10-pad instrument
Keys 1-9 and 0. True polyphony, fast assignment, and keyboard muscle memory from the first session.
10-slot looper
The workflow stays hardware-simple: Arm → Record → Play, with overdub, undo, and scene-based arrangement on top.
SP1200 character
Multiple SP1200 output models give you raw crunch, darker fixed filtering, or more air-preserving tone shaping.
S950-style filters
Rebuilt Butterworth HPF and LPF with the sharp knee, flatter passband, and steep rolloff the original sound deserves.
ASR-10 Boost
Three levels of density, limiting, and analog-style output shaping when a channel needs more weight and presence.
Linked pads and choke groups
Layer sounds cleanly or force mutual exclusivity where only one hit should survive, without duplicating recorded events.
Control And Flexibility
Stem separation
Isolate vocals, drums, bass, or other material when you want separation without leaving the workflow.
Full MIDI mapping
Map pads, loops, scenes, transport, mixer actions, chop slices, and PerformFX from one dedicated MIDI surface.
Project tempo control
Tap tempo, nudge BPM, or set an exact value once the groove exists. Change tempo without repitching the song.
Real project management
Settings is now a first-class top-level tab for project save and open, audio setup, addons, and global control.
Higher-quality time-stretch
Signalsmith Stretch preserves formants better and caches results automatically, so stretched material sounds stronger.
Search, stars, and usable sounds
Start quickly with factory packs, then dig deep through your own library without turning browsing into the session.
From blank idea to arrangement
The fastest way to understand Meiji Sampler is to watch the whole path happen in real time: browse, preview, assign, record, arrange, and shape the sound without disappearing into a timeline.
This is not really about speedrun bragging rights. It is about how quickly the workflow gets out of the way once your hands know where everything lives. Browse, Assign, Loop, Scene, and Mix in one continuous pass.
See the workflow surfaces
Each view has one job. The point is not feature sprawl. The point is reducing friction at every step.
Browse
Search and preview quickly so the browser helps you find sound instead of slowing the session down.
Chop
Trim and slice non-destructively when one source needs to become something playable.
Loop
Capture the groove in real time, layer it, and keep moving while the pocket is still alive.
Scene
Use scene changes to turn loops into sections that land on musical boundaries.
Mix
Shape tone, width, reverb, filters, and character without leaving the instrument mindset.
Sidechain
Create space and motion when the groove needs air, glue, or obvious pumping.
FAQ
The important questions, updated for the current product.
What is Meiji Sampler?
A keyboard-first sampler and groovebox built around a focused workflow: browse sounds, assign pads, record loops, arrange scenes, and mix without disappearing into a timeline.
Who is it for?
Beatmakers and producers who want hardware-style commitment with software flexibility. If you care more about staying in the pocket than managing windows, it is for you.
Is it free?
Yes. Meiji Sampler is free during early access and will always be free to use. Paid tiers may add extras later, but the core instrument is meant to stay generous and fully usable.
Why a terminal UI?
Speed: keyboard shortcuts and fuzzy search get you to sound fast.
Focus: less menu drift, less screen clutter, more time actually building the beat.
Feel: the workflow mirrors hardware states like Arm → Record → Play, so the software behaves more like an instrument than an editor.
Is it hard to learn?
There is a learning curve because it is opinionated. The docs and onboarding path are built around first sound, first beat, then the core workflow, so you do not have to reverse-engineer the app from scratch.
What platforms does it run on?
macOS, Windows, and Linux. macOS is the most polished day to day, but all three are official targets.
How do I install it?
Use the installer from this page, or install from the terminal on macOS and Linux with the one-line command shown above. The download modal walks you through platform-specific steps.
What audio formats are supported?
WAV, AIFF, and AIFF‑C.
Does it work with my sample library?
Yes. Point it at any folder and use flat mode + fuzzy search to dig deep across directories. We also provide inspiring factory packs to get you started.
Does it require an internet connection?
The core sampler runs entirely on your machine. Some features like updates and login need internet, but your samples stay local and you can make music offline.
Does it send my audio anywhere?
No. All audio stays on your machine. Nothing is uploaded.
Can I chop and slice samples?
Yes. Chop view lets you trim and slice samples non-destructively, then map those slices onto playable pads.
Some keyboard shortcuts don't work on my non-US keyboard?
Meiji Sampler works best in terminals that support the kitty keyboard protocol, including the built-in macOS app, iTerm2, Kitty, Alacritty, WezTerm, and Ghostty. These terminals report physical key positions, so shortcuts like SHIFT+number work on any keyboard layout (QWERTZ, AZERTY, and others). If a shortcut misbehaves, try switching to one of these terminals.
Can I record audio directly?
Yes. Record from your audio input straight into pads.
Can I export my beats?
Yes. Bounce loops and scenes to WAV, and export with the visualizer when you want a video render instead of audio alone.
What are Scenes?
Scenes are arrangements of loop states. They let you turn recorded loops into sections and move between them on musical boundaries.
Does it have built-in effects?
Yes. Reverb, pitch shifting, width, ducking, rebuilt S950-style HPF and LPF, SP1200 Filter modes, ASR-10 Boost, and more are built into the instrument.
Can I use it for live performance?
Yes. Real-time pad triggering, scene launching, and mixer control make it ready for the stage.
Does it work as a VST/AU plugin?
No. Meiji Sampler is a standalone terminal application. Plugin support is not possible at the moment.
Can I use it alongside Ableton / Logic / FL Studio?
Meiji Sampler is a standalone workflow, but you can route its audio into your DAW via a loopback driver like BlackHole or Soundflower.
Does it have MIDI support?
Yes. The MIDI tab supports monitoring and mapping for pads, loops, scenes, transport, mixer actions, chop slices, and PerformFX.
Is there Splice integration?
Yes. You can sync your Splice library for easy browsing right inside Meiji Sampler. A deeper integration is on the way.
Does it use AI?
Yes. Stem separation and classification are there when they help. They support the workflow, and we do not train AI on your work.
Why do I need to log in?
Your account helps with downloads, updates, and future community features while we keep improving the product.
Is it open source?
No. Meiji Sampler is closed source.
How do I get help or report bugs?
Email us. Details are in the footer below. More support channels are coming soon.