S9 Sampler compared with other sampler plug-ins

S9 Sampler is a sampler plug-in for Mac (AU, VST3) and Windows (VST3) built for chopping: auto-chop by drums, vocals or transients, editing every chop on its own, branching chops into variations, local stem separation for whole samples or single chops, and drum kits from songs. Here is how it lines up against Serato Sample, Kontakt 8, Ableton Simpler and TAL-Sampler, using each vendor’s own pages (checked 19 October 2026).

Updated 20 October 2026 · S9 Audio

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Cells repeat what each company publishes on its own product pages. “Not stated” means that page does not mention the feature.

Sampler plug-ins compared from vendors’ public pages (19 October 2026)
FeatureS9 SamplerSerato SampleKontakt 8Ableton SimplerTAL-Sampler
What it isSampler plug-in for chopping, stems, drum kits and playable instrumentsSampler plug-in from SeratoSampler and instrument platform from Native InstrumentsSampler instrument built into Ableton LiveSampler synthesizer from TAL Software
Plug-in formatsAU and VST3 (Mac), VST3 (Windows). No AAX yetVST, AU and AAXStandalone, VST3 and AAX; AU on macOSPart of Ableton LiveVST, VST3, AU, AAX and CLAP
SystemsmacOS 13.3 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel); Windows 10 or later, 64-bitmacOS and WindowsmacOS 14, 15 and 26; Windows 10 or 11, 64-bitWherever Ableton Live runsWindows 10 or later; macOS 10.11 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel); Linux 64-bit
Price (USD)$149 launch price (standard price $199), lifetime version 1 licence or $19 per month$129 one-time (perpetual), or Producer Suite $9.99/month with Serato Sample, Hex FX, Studio and all sound packs$299. The free Kontakt Player runs NI Kontakt instruments. Included in Komplete 26 Standard and aboveIncluded with Live 12 Intro, Standard and SuiteShown at checkout on tal-software.com
Free trial7 days, all features, no card30 days, full version, no cardNot stated on the product pageThrough the Ableton Live trialDemo available; adds a rising noise sound once per minute
Chopping and slicingAuto Chop by drum hits, vocal phrases or transients; beat grid; equal slices; manual cutsFind Samples places cue points; up to 32 cue points and pads; Set Slicer for beat or bar intervalsNot stated on the product pageSlicing mode: slice by transient (up to 64 slices by sensitivity), beat, region or manuallyNot stated on the product page
Editing single chopsPitch, reverse, envelope, filter, Half-Time and effects on each chop; edit several togetherIndependent pad pitch, speed, level, filter, attack, release and reverseNot stated on the product pageSlices play chromatically; Slice to Drum Rack puts each slice on its own pad for separate processingNot stated on the product page
Variations of a chopBranching: variations of any chop, each with its own pitch, direction and processingNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product page
Stem separationBuilt in, runs locally: vocals, drums, bass and instruments; Fast, Balanced or Best QualityBuilt in, real time: acapella, melody, bassline and drumsNot stated on the product pageLive 12.3 adds stem separation in Live Suite (not in Intro or Standard)Not stated on the product page
Stems from single chopsYes: select chops and choose Separate Chop Stems; replace, insert after or appendNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product page
Drum kit from a songYes: Extract Drums from a song, pick the hits and build a playable kitNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product pageSlice to Drum Rack builds a rack from the current slicesNot stated on the product page
Time-stretch and tempoMatch Tempo (DAW or manual BPM), Bar Lock to bars, Warp inside a chop, Half-TimeTime-stretch per pad; key shift in semitones or detuneNot stated on the product pageWarping with Live’s warp modesVintage real-time time stretcher; grain engine
Pattern rearrangingRemix: up to 64 blocks, eight blendable styles, locked blocksNot stated on the product pagePhrases, Chords, Patterns, Arpeggiator and Scale Lock among nine listed toolsNot stated on the product pageNot stated on the product page
Built-in creative effectsTen Magic effects plus filter, EQ, modulation, space and compressionNot stated on the product pageConflux sound-design instrument with PPG wavetablesUses Live’s own effectsReverb, EQ, delay, filters, three AHDSR envelopes, three LFOs, 15-slot mod matrix and six DAC modes
Included soundsWorks with your own sounds; browser filters by folder, key, BPM and lengthAll sound packs are included with Producer SuiteFactory library of over 900 instruments and 12 Leap ExpansionsLive’s included sounds, by editionOver 100 downloadable presets; SFZ and SF2 import

What only shows up in the S9 Sampler column

On the pages compared here, three S9 Sampler tools have no counterpart in the other columns: Branching (variations of a chop that keep their own pitch, direction and processing), stem separation from single chops, and Extract Drums, which pulls the drums out of a full song so you can pick hits for a kit. Combine them with per-chop editing, Remix and ten Magic effects and the whole beat starts inside one plug-in.

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