Chopping samples, and other things to know about samples

Trim with [START/END], place markers with [SHIFT] + [START/END] by eye, by ear or with AUTO MARK, then ASSIGN TO PAD sends the slices to pads.

Question

How can I chop samples, and what other important things should I know when working with samples? (Asked together with the USB-C recording question.)

Key takeaways

Trim first: START/END, then CTRL 1 moves the start point and CTRL 3 the end point; with RESAMPLE lit, points snap to zero crossings. (START/END)
VALUE on the START/END screen offers TRUNCATE, NORMALIZE and EMPHASIS; they rewrite the sample and cannot be undone. (Processing a sample)
Markers: select the pad, then SHIFT + START/END. Place them by eye (CTRL 1 + MARK), by ear (play pad 1, tap pads 2–16), or with VALUE > AUTO MARK (TIME DIVISION 2–16, LEVEL 1–10, TRANSIENT HARD/MID/SOFT). (MARK)
VALUE > ASSIGN TO PAD sends the slices to pads: turn VALUE for the first pad, MARK confirms the layout, VALUE assigns. Pads that light red will be overwritten. (CHOP)
SHIFT + PITCH/SPEED opens ENVELOPE (ATTACK, HOLD, RELEASE). (ENVELOPE)
SHIFT + pad 8 sets MUTE GROUPs, so slices of one loop don't overlap. (MUTE GROUP)

Details

Marker screen controls (SHIFT + START/END): CTRL 1 moves the cursor, MARK adds a marker there, CTRL 3 selects a marker, CTRL 2 moves it, DEL deletes it. Pads 1–16 preview the audio at each marker. AUTO MARK: TIME DIVISION suits loops trimmed to exact bars, TRANSIENT suits drum breaks.

ASSIGN TO PAD: you can switch bank before pressing MARK, and CTRL 3 toggles GATE for the slices. Empty pads blink yellow, a chosen empty pad lights green, pads that already hold a sample light dark orange and turn red when chosen (they will be overwritten).

Other things worth knowing

Per-pad play modes: GATE (plays only while held), LOOP, REVERSE, and one-shot (hold VALUE and press GATE). Loops usually want LOOP and BPM SYNC on; chops usually want GATE off (Claude's advice).
Group edits: hold REMAIN while changing a parameter on the pitch/speed or envelope screen to change it for the whole bank; hold COPY to change it for the mute group.
A short RELEASE hides clicks at slice ends (Claude's advice).
Groove (PITCH/SPEED then ROLL) adds swing to a loop; it needs a correct sample BPM and 4/4 material.
SYSTEM > "BPM Auto Dtct" ON detects the tempo on import, using "BPM Detect Rng".
Hold REMAIN to see a pad's parameters; SHIFT + pad 6 (INIT PARAM) resets them.
Samples are stored as 16-bit, 48 kHz, up to 16 minutes each.

Still to try / open questions

Compare AUTO MARK TRANSIENT HARD / MID / SOFT on a drum break.