> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sampler.meiji.industries/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Per-Channel Playback Settings

> Choose whether duplicate local sample assignments stay linked or become independent.

# Per-channel playback settings

By default, playback settings like loop mode, trim points, chop markers, chop gate, and Scene Ends behavior belong to the source file. When you assign the same local sample to another channel, Meiji Sampler lets you keep those settings linked or copy them into an independent channel.

## When to use it

* Keep two channels perfectly in sync while editing trim or loop behavior once
* Split the same source into a linked "master" channel and copied variations
* Set different chop markers or trim points on copied channels without touching the linked version
* Choose whether Scene Ends and chop-gate changes stay shared or become independent

## How it works

Playback resolves from two layers:

1. **File defaults** stored in the sample type manager, keyed by source path
2. **Copied channel settings** stored on a pad only when that channel is in copied mode

Linked channels use only file defaults. Copied channels materialize a full set of playback settings from the source channel at the moment you choose `Copy`.

### What lives at each layer

| Setting                         | File default | Copied channel setting |
| ------------------------------- | ------------ | ---------------------- |
| Sample type (kick, snare, etc.) | yes          | no                     |
| Loop mode                       | yes          | yes                    |
| Scene Ends                      | yes          | yes                    |
| Trim points (start/end)         | yes          | yes                    |
| Chop markers                    | yes          | yes                    |
| Chop gate                       | yes          | yes                    |

Offset is different from the file playback settings above. It is channel state, so each channel keeps its own `+0ms` to `+100ms` playback delay even when two channels use linked file defaults.

### Where edits go

| Context                                                | Edits                   |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| Browser preview                                        | file defaults           |
| Details panel preview                                  | file defaults           |
| Trim view on a linked channel (`t`)                    | file defaults           |
| Trim view on a copied channel (`t`)                    | copied channel settings |
| Chop mode on a linked channel (`c`)                    | file defaults           |
| Chop mode on a copied channel (`c`)                    | copied channel settings |
| Channel detail Loop and Scene Ends on a linked channel | file defaults           |
| Channel detail Loop and Scene Ends on a copied channel | copied channel settings |
| Channel detail Offset                                  | channel state           |
| `+`/`-` on Sample Type in channel detail               | file defaults (shared)  |

## Link or copy on assignment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Assign a local sample that is already loaded">
    From browser, flatten, or stars quick assign, choose a local sample that is already on another channel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Link or Copy">
    `Link` keeps the new channel on shared file defaults. `Copy` snapshots the named source channel's current playback settings into the target channel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit with the chosen relationship">
    Linked channels move together. Copied channels drift independently as soon as you edit them.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Editing a linked channel

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open channel detail or trim view">
    Focus a linked channel and press `Enter` for channel detail or `t` for trim view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit shared playback settings">
    In channel detail, Loop and Scene Ends write to file defaults. In trim view, trim points, loop mode, chop markers, and chop gate also write to file defaults.
  </Step>

  <Step title="All linked channels update together">
    Any other linked channel using the same file will immediately reflect those changes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Editing a copied channel

Copied channels open the same views, but playback edits stay local to that channel:

* Trim view writes trim points, chop markers, loop mode, and chop gate to the copied channel state
* Channel detail Loop and Scene Ends write to the copied channel state
* Channel detail Offset stays local to the channel
* Sample Type remains file-scoped even on a copied channel

## Relationship rules

* **Assigning a different file** to a channel resets that channel to linked behavior for the new sample.
* **Reassigning the same file** to the same channel is a no-op.
* **Swapping two pads** (`w`) swaps copied playback state along with the assignments.
* **Resetting a channel** (`Del`) removes the assignment and any copied playback state.
* **Changing file defaults later** updates linked channels, but does not overwrite copied channels.

## Tips

* Start with `Link` when you want one source to stay coherent across channels.
* Use `Copy` only when you want playback settings to diverge.
* Use channel Offset when you want timing to diverge without copying the file playback settings.
* Browser and details preview always use file defaults, so previewing a file will never show copied-channel playback differences.

## Related pages

* [Assign](/learn/assign)
* [Chopping And Slicing](/guides/chopping-and-slicing)
* [Keyboard Shortcuts](/reference/keyboard-shortcuts)
* [Audio And Playback Troubleshooting](/troubleshooting/audio-and-playback)