Switches, no Notes

[fabb]

"When it comes to samplers and drum machines, there is no tonal semantics attached to the MIDI note numbers at all; they're just (velocity-sensitive) switches."

[ovenwerks]

A velocity sensitive switch would better be called a "pad", in the controller world, the word "switch" has come to mean something that can be turned off or on and then retain that state with no user input. A "button" has come to mean a momentary switch that releases when the user removes input. Both switches and buttons are expected to be bool. I know I am being picky but I think attaching specific meaning to object names helps communicating better. A note is a pad that has frequency and duration info. A pad is something that is hit and so only has a start time.... except it should also allow for a quench or damp signal. Each pad is effectively it's own synth with all controls (damping, tuning, level, pan, etc.) unique to that pad.