DecentSampler is a free sampler (a plug-in instrument that plays recorded sounds from a keyboard). It can load many kinds of sound libraries, such as piano, strings, drums and sound effects, and play them. You can also make libraries yourself, so it is a candidate both for people who want to collect free instruments and for those who want to try building their own. This page covers how to get it, its features and what to watch for.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-in is free, and its features and supported formats, were checked on the maker’s official pages around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get DecentSampler
- Open the DecentSampler official page (free).
- From the “Available Downloads” list, choose the one that matches your operating system and download it. The official latest version is listed as 1.38.0.
- For Windows there are two kinds, with an installer and without. For Mac, the downloads are split into one for macOS 10.15 or later and one for macOS 10.11 to 10.14.
- After installing, rescan for plug-ins in your DAW (recording and production software).
- Load DecentSampler in your DAW, choose a sound library from “LOAD” and play it.
The official site has separate how-to pages for Windows, Mac and iOS. Whether an account is needed to download was not shown on the official pages.
What is DecentSampler?
The official site describes DecentSampler as “a free sample player that can play sample libraries in the DecentSampler format (files with the extensions dspreset and dslibrary)”. In other words, it has no sounds of its own: it is software you use by loading libraries in a supported format.
The official site offers several free instruments, and the related products section lists free violin and xylophone instruments. Paid instruments are sold too, so one way in is to start with the free ones. The official site also points to Patreon for people who want to support development.
Main features of DecentSampler
- A free sample player (per the manufacturer): The price is shown as “FREE” on the official product page.
- A wide range of formats (per the manufacturer): On Windows it is VST, VST3, AAX and standalone; on Mac (Intel and Apple Silicon) VST, VST3, AU, AAX and standalone; on Linux VST, VST3 and standalone. On iOS, AUv3 and standalone are listed.
- You can build your own instruments (per the manufacturer): The official site has a “How to Make Your Own Instruments” page. In version 1.37.0 the preset editor was rebuilt, and it is explained that things such as velocity ranges (how hard the key is played) and round robin (a mechanism that plays a slightly different sample each time the same note is played) can now be set without writing XML.
- Loops that follow the tempo (per the manufacturer): Version 1.37.0 is described as letting you slice drum loops and play them in time with your DAW’s tempo.
- A choice of window sizes (per the manufacturer): Version 1.38.0 lets you choose 100%, 125%, 150% or 200% for the window, and also set a default size.
- Better behaviour on Linux (per the manufacturer): The update notes for 1.38.0 say the Linux static build needs fewer libraries and that a crash when opening multiple instances was fixed.
Who DecentSampler is for
- People who want to play sampled instruments such as piano and strings for free
- People who want to gather instruments in one player instead of opening each in a separate piece of software
- People who want to turn sounds they recorded into a sampler and make an original instrument
- People looking for a sampler that works not only on Windows and Mac but also on Linux and iOS
- People who like instruments with a simple, light interface
Because the player itself holds no sounds, you have to find and install libraries. How it feels to use will depend on the libraries you add.
Tips for using DecentSampler
- Start by installing one free library and change how hard you play (velocity) to hear how the sound changes. Many sampled instruments switch between sounds recorded at different strengths, so the difference may be easy to hear.
- Some libraries have knobs on the screen that let you move things like the brightness of the sound or the release (the tail after you let go of the key). If you like a setting, save it in your DAW project and you can recall it later.
- When you try making an instrument, read the official “How to Make Your Own Instruments” page and start with short single-note samples. That may help you grasp how it works.
- When you use several parts, splitting tracks in your DAW and loading one instance per track is the easy-to-follow approach. The official site also has a page explaining how to route to multiple outputs in Ableton Live.
Things to know before you download
- Supported operating systems: The official site lists Windows 10 or later (32-bit and 64-bit), Mac (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux (x64 and ARM64) and iOS.
- Formats: Check which formats your DAW supports and choose accordingly. On Windows, the version with an installer also sets up things like the plug-in folder for you, so if you are unsure, trying it first is the easier route.
- Terms for libraries: Each sound library has its own licence (what you are allowed to do with it). When you add a library, check its download page. The official site also has a page on licensing.
- Always get the files from the official website.
FAQ
Q. Is it really free?
The price is shown as “FREE” on the official product page. What costs money is some of the sound libraries sold on the same official site. The official pages did not show any pointer to a paid version of the player itself.
Q. Can it load other companies’ sample libraries?
The official site explains that it is for libraries in the DecentSampler format (dspreset and dslibrary). Whether libraries from other samplers, such as Kontakt, can be opened in DecentSampler as they are was not shown on the official pages.
DecentSampler is available from the DecentSampler official page (free).
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