# Samplers and banks

> Play sampled instruments, build drum kits and understand the banks used by Maru Sampler.

Canonical: https://maruaudio.com/help/samplers-overview
Documentation index: https://maruaudio.com/help/llms.txt

A sampler turns recordings into a playable instrument. Use a keyboard to play sampled piano notes, or pads to trigger a kit of drum hits. [Maru Sampler](https://maruaudio.com/help/maru-sampler.md) is Maru's official player for these instruments and kits.

A **bank** brings the recordings together with the information needed to play them: which notes or pads trigger them, their tuning and other sound settings. Create banks directly in [Studio](https://maruaudio.com/studio), then play, export or share them.

## Samples, banks and presets

Choose what to keep or send:

- A **sample** is a recording, useful when you only need the audio.
- A **mapping** decides which recording plays for each note, pad or playing strength.
- A **bank** keeps recordings and their playing configuration together, so someone can play the instrument.
- A **preset** recalls settings for that instrument; it does not replace the bank's recordings.

A bank can offer a keyboard instrument or a drum layout. Several layouts may reuse the same recordings. You do not need to turn each layout into a separate plugin.

## Play an existing instrument

Browse [sampler instruments](https://maruaudio.com/sounds/instruments) or [drum kits](https://maruaudio.com/sounds/kits), choose an instrument and try its presets in the browser. Use the on-screen keys or pads, a computer keyboard, or a MIDI keyboard in a supported browser. [Playback and MIDI](https://maruaudio.com/help/playback-and-midi.md) covers setup and common checks.

## Build from your own sounds

Use [Create a sampler bank](https://maruaudio.com/help/create-a-sampler-bank.md) to move from recordings to a playable layout. [Generative features](https://maruaudio.com/help/generative-features.md) can provide new source material where your account has access.

## Take a bank elsewhere

Studio exports a bank as a single `.mas` file or a ZIP, including its recordings, mappings, presets and artwork. Reopen it in Studio to keep editing, or load it in a compatible Maru Sampler player.

The native Sampler app plays banks on its own; the Sampler plug-in brings them into a DAW. Public native downloads are upcoming. See [Maru Sampler](https://maruaudio.com/help/maru-sampler.md#native-app-and-daw-plug-in) for the current download path and the difference between the player and a bank file.

## Make a product from a bank

A prepared bank can become a signature instrument or a collection for other musicians. [Selling on Maru](https://maruaudio.com/help/selling-on-maru.md) explains commercial early access.

If players should make new sounds inside the instrument, plan [generation in your product](https://maruaudio.com/help/generation-in-your-products.md) separately from the bank's normal playback. The [beatbox example](https://maruaudio.com/help/generative-beatbox.md) shows the relationship.