How to find clean loop points in a sample (without clicks)

Finding a clean loop point means landing the loop's start and end on matching points in the waveform — same amplitude, same direction, ideally at a zero crossing — so the jump from end back to start is inaudible. A click happens when those two points don't match and the speaker is forced to step instantly. The reliable way is to let an algorithm search for a repeating cycle and snap both ends to zero crossings, then crossfade across the seam to hide any residual mismatch. Xampler does all three automatically: five loop detectors, zero-crossing snap, and a crossfade on export — in the browser, with no upload.

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In Xampler — 4 steps

1Load your WAV (one note or a sustained tone) into Xampler.
2Press a LOOP preset — Xampler finds a repeating window and snaps to zero crossings.
3Audition the five detectors; nudge with the ◄ / ► arrows (one cycle each).
4Export — the loop points and crossfade are baked into SFZ, SF2 or Korg KMP/KSF.

Common questions

How do you actually find a good loop point in a sample?

You look for two spots in the waveform that match — same height, same slope (both going up, or both going down) — and preferably both sitting on a zero crossing (where the wave passes through silence). Loop the section between them and the end-to-start jump is seamless. Doing it by eye works but is slow; a loop detector finds the repeating period for you. In Xampler you press one of the five LOOP buttons and it places the points automatically, snapped to zero crossings.

Why does my looped sample click or pop at the loop point?

Because the sample value where the loop ends doesn't match the value where it restarts. The waveform makes an instant vertical jump, and that step is the click you hear. Two fixes: move the loop ends to matching zero crossings (no jump), or crossfade the seam so the end fades into the start instead of cutting. Xampler snaps to zero crossings as you drag the loop sliders and applies a crossfade when you export, so the exported instrument loops clean.

What is a zero crossing and why does it matter for looping?

A zero crossing is the moment the waveform passes through zero — the midpoint, silence. If both the loop's start and end sit exactly on a zero crossing, the speaker is at the same rest position at both ends, so the wrap is silent. Cutting anywhere else leaves the waveform mid-swing, and the jump back to start produces a click. It's the single most important rule for click-free loops.

How do I loop a sustained sound (pad, string, organ) smoothly?

Sustained tones are the easiest to loop because they repeat. Pick a stable section past the attack — where the tone has settled — and loop a whole number of cycles of its pitch. The more cycles you include, the more natural the movement. If there's slow vibrato or movement, a crossfade loop blends the texture so the repeat doesn't sound static. Xampler's detectors target exactly this: they find a clean repeating window in the sustain, and the LOOP presets let you grab shorter or longer windows.

What's the best way to loop a sample without it sounding static or robotic?

Loop a longer window — more cycles — so the ear hears variation instead of a short tone repeating. Then crossfade the loop seam: instead of a hard cut, the end of the loop fades into the start, which smooths any tiny mismatch in the texture and kills the machine-gun repeat. Short, hard-cut loops are what sound robotic; long, crossfaded loops sound alive. Xampler crossfades on export and gives you five detectors that target different loop lengths.

Is there a way to find loop points automatically?

Yes. A loop detector analyzes the waveform, finds where a cycle repeats, and places the start/end for you — far faster than hunting by eye. Xampler runs five different detectors (each tuned for a different kind of material) so you can audition several candidates and keep the one that sounds best, instead of relying on a single guess.

How do I calculate the optimal loop length for a pitched sample?

The cleanest loops are a whole number of cycles of the sample's pitch. One cycle length in samples = sample rate ÷ frequency (e.g. 44100 ÷ 220 Hz ≈ 200 samples per cycle). Loop an exact multiple of that and the waveform phase lines up at the wrap. You don't have to do the math by hand — Xampler detects the pitch and aligns the loop to whole cycles automatically.

My loop sounds fine in the editor but clicks in my sampler. Why?

Usually the export didn't carry the clean loop — either the loop points weren't saved at zero crossings, or no crossfade was baked into the file, so the hardware loops the raw seam. Make sure the exported file has the loop points embedded and crossfaded. Xampler's export is built so the file you download loops exactly like the editor preview — same loop points, crossfade baked in — across SFZ, SF2 and Korg KMP/KSF.

Can I move the loop slightly without losing the clean point?

Yes — the trick is to move it by a whole cycle at a time, so it stays in phase. Nudging by random amounts throws the loop off its zero crossing and reintroduces the click. Xampler's loop preset arrows do exactly this: each press shifts the active loop by one full cycle toward the start or end, so it stays clean while you reposition it.

Do I need to loop at all, or can I just use a long one-shot?

If your sample is long enough to outlast any note you'll play, a one-shot is fine and avoids loop artifacts entirely — common for short or percussive sounds. But for sustained instruments you'll hold longer than the recording, you need a loop so the tone can continue indefinitely. Xampler lets you do either: keep it as a one-shot, or place a sustain loop.