Where to put samples

128BPM

Hi Forum

I have just upgraded my old iPad mini to a M4 iPad Pro 500mb I found on sale.

Now I’m in the process of setting everything up to run as smooth as possible. I have tons of samples I want to transfer to the iPad: Drum libraries and lots of my own content (recordings of guitars, horns, strings, vocals,stems etc).

These samples is intended to be used in as many apps as possible - those that can refer/ point to a folder somewhere outside of the app.

I have not been following the recent sample management advice in iOS 26 so I need an advice:

Where do I store my sample pools on the iPad? Any tips?

Thanks

wim

Simple. Your best choice IMO is a folder at the root of either On My iPad or iCloud Drive. Which to choose depends most on whether you want to have the files available from other devices as well, and whether you have the needed iCloud storage space or are willing to pay monthly for enough.

Since iPadOS 18 we now have the ability to mark iCloud files and folders as "Keep Downloaded" so that they're always available locally. That's highly recommended so you don't get stuck without files or have to wait for them to download if they get removed from the local cache.

If you don't want to take the iCloud storage or don't need to share samples between devices often, your samples folder can be under On My iPad, but keep in mind that the folder will probably be backed up to iCloud anyway if you're using the automatic iCloud device backup.

I have a highly original name for the top level folder of my samples collection. I call it "Samples". Somewhat difficult to remember, but I have it written down on a sticky note on the back of my iPad, so I'm safe.

Tip: favorite the folder to save you a click or two getting there.

AudioShare is no longer needed as a file repository. It only gets in the way.

128BPM

@wim said:
Simple. Your best choice IMO is a folder at the root of either On My iPad or iCloud Drive. Which to choose depends most on whether you want to have the files available from other devices as well, and whether you have the needed iCloud storage space or are willing to pay monthly for enough.

Since iPadOS 18 we now have the ability to mark iCloud files and folders as "Keep Downloaded" so that they're always available locally. That's highly recommended so you don't get stuck without files or have to wait for them to download if they get removed from the local cache.

If you don't want to take the iCloud storage or don't need to share samples between devices often, your samples folder can be under On My iPad, but keep in mind that the folder will probably be backed up to iCloud anyway if you're using the automatic iCloud device backup.

I have a highly original name for the top level folder of my samples collection. I call it "Samples". Somewhat difficult to remember, but I have it written down on a sticky note on the back of my iPad, so I'm safe.

Tip: favorite the folder to save you a click or two getting there.

AudioShare is no longer needed as a file repository. It only gets in the way.

Perfect - exactly the advice I needed.
I didn’t know about the “keep downloaded” option in iCloud. That is a game changer.

I’ve got 50 GB cloud, and don’t use it as backup/photos etc, so this might be the best option to place my curated samples.
I can use them on my iPhone as well. Great!

What about the individual apps: I recall discussions about how some of them still copies the samples into their own folder. Or have this also changed?

Gavinski

Another Q: did iOS 26 remove the ability of the Files app to preview audio files? Is Sample Crate now the only hassle-free solution to preview audio files in quick succession?

wim

@128BPM said:
What about the individual apps: I recall discussions about how some of them still copies the samples into their own folder. Or have this also changed?

It varies from app to app. There are still many apps that import files into their own sandboxed file system.

It's not something you need to worry about as much as it may seem though. The way the Apple file system works, making a copy of a file almost always doesn't end up actually consuming any additional physical storage. A little more information here: https://abwiki.loopypro.com/doku.php?id=file_storage

128BPM

@wim said:

@128BPM said:
What about the individual apps: I recall discussions about how some of them still copies the samples into their own folder. Or have this also changed?

It varies from app to app. There are still many apps that import files into their own sandboxed file system.

It's not something you need to worry about as much as it may seem though. The way the Apple file system works, making a copy of a file almost always doesn't end up actually consuming any additional physical storage. A little more information here: https://abwiki.loopypro.com/doku.php?id=file_storage

Great read, thanks.

gregsmith

I’ve only just noticed the ‘keep downloaded’ option. This is an absolute revelation.

egobeats

I use my iCloud but noticed that when browsing files it absolutely shyts itself for upwards of a minute before allowing me to access anything. Super frustrating. Upgrading iOS versions never helped- not sure why it has such a problem reading/accessing the iCloud Drive but it does (on multiple devices)

Also, after a decade plus of recording and using samples in various apps- I noticed a buttload of duplicates which also is frustrating. Stillwaiting for a "duplicate files finder" app that works on all file types, not just images/video.

I use sample crate to preview my audio files, seems to work well and you can do some neat exports.

anickt

I keep all samples on iCloud Drive. I have fast internet and never have any problems using the Files app and Quick Look to organize and preview files. A real duplicate files finder/manager would be nice. I have 2 TB iCloud storage with thousands of samples and I’m only using a fraction of it. It’s been well worth the $10 a month it costs.

egobeats

@anickt which model and iOS version are you running?

gregsmith

The only problem I’ve had is with Sitala. It’s a rare app that lets you download icloud files from inside the app if they’re not on your device yet, but it often crashes when doing so from my experience. This will hopefully stop that.

anickt

@egobeats said:
@anickt which model and iOS version are you running?

iPad A16 iPadOS 26.1.2
I always use the most current software on iOS and on my Mac. Have for years with no issues.

Samu

@Gavinski said:
Another Q: did iOS 26 remove the ability of the Files app to preview audio files? Is Sample Crate now the only hassle-free solution to preview audio files in quick succession?

Not really, once QuickLook is open you can swipe left/right (previous/next file) or pick a file from the menu widget at the top of the screen.

If files don't open with Quick Look by default when you tap them long-tap on the file select, open with and scroll all the way and select preview with Quick Look.

royor

@Samu said:
If files don't open with Quick Look by default when you tap them long-tap on the file select, open with and scroll all the way and select preview with Quick Look.

Thanks for that.. finally fixed my issue..
For some unknown reason, my audio files were opening with apesoft's Mood.. anytime I'd accidentally tap on an audio file, it would get imported into Mood's user samples.. ?? Never ever used that action before.. Apple's logic baffles me..

I kept looking for preview with Quick Look option until I realized I was usually browsing my AudioShare files in the Files app.. that option doesn't exist for those audio files.. only Quick Look..

Gavinski

Yeah mine was also trying to use Mood @royor, bizarre. Recently was trying to use another app I’ve hardly ever used on this device, VLC Player. Thnx @Samu!

Samu

I have noticed a bug in QuickLook, if the *.wav filename contains some scandinavian letters (å,ä,ö etc.) Quick Look fails to recognize it as an audio file and can't preview it. This is _not_ related to iPadOS26 as it was like that in 17 and 18 as well...

Luc_A

I have a 'Samples' folder on my Ipad, but using Groove Rider 2 more and more, i have moved it inside the GR2 folder structure, so i can browse and preview the samples using the GR2 browser.
When i use Korg Gadget i preview the samples with Sample Crate on Slide mode, and copy the files in a folder called 'UsedSamples/TrackName' inside Korg Gadget folder structure.
I do this because if you accidentaly move a sample from original location, Korg Gadget lose the connection and it's almost impossible to find what file were used.