Eidetic Sample Tools helps hardware-based electronic musicians organise large sample libraries, curate trusted collections by ear, and prepare samples for performance hardware.
It is a personal-first command-line toolkit: built for one working studio today, but designed so the useful parts can become portable over time.
The repository contains two working Python packages:
- Library tools index, review, organise, de-duplicate, analyse and curate a sample library.
- Sample export validates and converts approved samples for Octatrack MKII, Digitakt MKI and TR-8S.
The tools support a simple operating model: keep source packs intact, organise a broad catalogue, promote a small collection by ear, then build device-specific copies from that trusted collection.
The library is more valuable than the software. The tools therefore favour preview, evidence and recovery:
- Review and analysis commands do not change source audio.
- Commands that can move files default to a preview and require
--apply. - Move operations write manifests and undo records.
- Content hashes keep review history attached to the audio when paths change.
- Automated labels remain suggestions. Listening is the final approval step.
- Export writes converted copies; it does not convert source files in place.
Read the full safety model before applying a move or syncing a card.
| Maturity | Capability |
|---|---|
| Stable | Review and index a library; plan reversible sorting, intake and exact de-duplication; convert approved samples for supported hardware. |
| Beta | Portable studio and device profiles; content-hash inventory; catalogue migration; human-gated curation; profile-aware crate export. These are implemented but the current live migration and foundation ear review are not complete. |
| Experimental | Acoustic features, drum-role suggestions, benchmark tooling and conservative near-duplicate research. These produce evidence for review, not autonomous decisions. |
| Planned | MIDI generation, Ableton project inspection, bounce analysis and stem separation. Specifications are kept in Git beside the working code. |
The maturity labels describe this project, not a public support guarantee. See the roadmap for their exact meaning.
| Device | Export format | Transfer route |
|---|---|---|
| Octatrack MKII | 16-bit WAV, 44.1 kHz, source channel layout preserved | CompactFlash card |
| Digitakt MKI | 16-bit WAV, 48 kHz, mono | Elektron Transfer |
| TR-8S | 16-bit WAV, 48 kHz, mono by default | SD card |
Profiles live in profiles/devices/. The current studio
profile is profiles/studios/eidetic-studio.toml.
After installing the library tools, point the review command at a sample directory:
sample-review --root /path/to/SAMPLES --no-probe --summaryReplace /path/to/SAMPLES with your library. This reads filenames and prints a
summary. It does not move, rename, convert or delete audio.
Follow the getting started guide for prerequisites, installation and a first TSV index.
- Getting started — install and run a safe review.
- Workflows — inspect, organise, curate and export.
- Safety model — understand previews, apply steps and recovery.
- Library command reference — every library command.
- Sample export reference — conversion and device transfer.
- Roadmap — personal priorities and the path towards a product.
Research stays in plain sight:
STATUS.mdrecords the current operational position.decisions/records approaches that were adopted, rejected or downgraded.docs/superpowers/specs/contains design and audit documents.docs/superpowers/plans/contains implementation plans.
Failed experiments remain useful evidence. In particular, the current drum-role classifier is review-only after its first ear calibration failed.
The working CLIs and portable profile foundation are implemented. The live SSD catalogue migration and the first complete ear-approved hardware collection have not yet been applied. See the dated project status for the next safe actions.
No software licence has been selected. The source is visible for personal development and review; visibility alone does not grant permission to copy, modify or redistribute it.