Preset Maker Help & Technical Support

This video shows where Preset Maker is on Windows.

Typically this occurs when a user puts files in Preset Maker that are not properly named. I try my best to explain how it works on the Preset Maker page, in the manual and in my videos. Nevertheless it is still possible a user can miss this information and not understand.

Please download the test folder I made. This will let you test to see if Preset Maker is working properly. Download the Test Folder here.

If you believe your files are named properly but your presets are still not being created correctly, do not hesitate to send me the details of your situation using the form at the bottom of this page, or by using the Feedback button on the Preset Maker main window. Make it clear what audio files you are trying to process and how they are named.

If you misunderstood how Preset Maker worked and would like a refund, feel free to reach out. In the meantime start by trying my test folder, as it is the easiest way to test the app.

The following info is also in a text file inside the Test Folder:

Drop in the “Test Instruments” folder to test Preset Maker. If your own folders are not working, compare their filenames to this folder’s files.

See the example files in this test folder. Notice how the filenames contain the following information:

Instrument Name Note+Octave
Example filename: Soft Piano B#2.wav

Files can be in subfolders and it will not be a problem. Filenames can alternatively contain a MIDI note number instead of a note number.

See the manual for detailed information. If you still think the folders should be processed properly, please send me a message using the form below. I can only fix the issues I know about.

This is due to the way the MPC itself is laid out.

Many MIDI keyboards are short and start their keys in the middle of the keyboard (C2 or C3). To suit most keyboards, Preset Maker starts placing samples in this middle area of the keyboard.

However, MPC hardware pads begin at the lowest point of the keyboard (C0).

For MPC one-shot presets, the “Start MPC One-Shot Presets at C0” option (on by default) places the samples at the bottom of the keyboard, where the MPC pad notes begin. Turn it off in the One-Shot Presets preferences if you want them in the middle instead.

This alert means that the files are not organized in a way that the app can accept.

1. Check that the folder contains audio samples.

2. If processing multi-sample files, check the Quick Guide (in app) or the manual for the filename requirements.

3. If processing one-shot files, check the Quick Guide (in app) or the manual for info on how One-Shot Keywords work.

4. For one-shot files, a keyword must be set in the preferences.

5. For one-shot files, the files must be in a sub-folder (inside the main sample pack folder) that matches that keyword. They can’t be loose in the main folder of the sample pack; one-shot files must be categorized into folders that can be scanned for Keywords.

6. Turn off the note filter for that keyword if necessary.

7. Try copying the folder to your desktop and processing the desktop version. This test is helpful because certain locations on the computer (OneDrive, Google Drive etc) are sometimes “virtual” locations. The folders you process need to be actual files on your computer, and not locked or have limited permissions you cannot access fully.

8. Download the test folder I made. Try processing the folder from the same location as the folder you had issues with, and if that doesn’t work, try processing it from your Desktop. I know this folder works, so this helps narrow down the issue.

If you still have issues with your folder, or the Test Folder, please contact me using the form below. Please attach the log file if you can (Menu > Help > Show Log File) and describe the files you are processing and what you expect the outcome to be. The more I understand what you are working with, the easier it is to troubleshoot and help you.

If you haven’t already, watch the video on the Preset Maker webpage for an overview of how it works.

The “Loose” preset group collects melodic samples (files with a note in the filename) that are not recognized as either part of a multi-sample instrument or as part of a “Keyword” folder.

(Reminder: you can edit the Keywords in the preferences. As described in the Manual, the app will scan titles of folders and if the folder title contains a Keyword, it can create a preset of the one-shot samples inside, so a “Guitar” folder can become a “Guitar” one-shots preset.)

Currently, negative octaves are not supported. If your samples include “C-1” for instance, those files will end up in the “Loose” group and the lowest sample used will be “C0” or “A0” etc.

Sample filenames with any gap between the note and octave (“C 3” instead of “C3”) will also be placed in the Loose group, unless you rename them so that the octave is directly after the note. Most multi-samples already follow this convention, but occasionally files will need to be renamed for optimal processing.

TL;DR: if samples are ending up in the Loose preset in a way you do not like, multi-samples need to be renamed to fit the labeling convention, and one-shots need to be in a folder that contains a “Keyword” in the app Preferences.

No. All wav files are direct copies of the sounds you provide from your own sample packs or Maschine libraries.

Official Maschine Expansions and the Factory Library are able to be processed automatically. Third party expansions are treated like any other sample pack; please see the manual for details on how sample packs are processed.

Please visit the Registration Help page and then use the contact form below if you are still having issues.

This is usually caused by an incomplete download. Download the Mac dmg file again from your Lemon Squeezy order email or Orders page, then install it (replace the app in the Applications folder).

You may have set up a custom User Library location in Ableton. Preset Maker uses Ableton’s default User Library location by default. You can link your custom User Library location in the Preset Maker preferences. Once you have saved your preferences, re-process the libraries.

This happens when using Live 9. Preset Maker works with Live 10, 11 and 12.

Additionally, if your samples contain special characters such as “&” and “$” in the filenames, these can break the preset. If your samples contain them, please delete these special characters from your files before processing in Preset Maker.

If you have a custom User Library location you will need to set the location in the Preset Maker preferences. See more info on the Ableton User Library.

Find out your Ableton User Library location inside of the Ableton preferences in the Library tab under “Location of User Library.” Then in the Preset Maker preferences, click the “Custom” button under “Ableton User Library” and choose that same directory you saw in your Ableton preferences. The folder you select will be called “User Library.” Save the Preset Maker preferences and try processing the library again.

Note: Microsoft OneDrive seems to have permissions issues. You may need to move your User Library outside of OneDrive in order for Preset Maker to work.

There are a couple of possible issues that can cause this. Avast (and possibly other anti-virus software) has prevented the computer from copying files for some users. Try turning off Avast and trying again, or giving Preset Maker an exception so that it is not interfered with.

Another possibility is if you are using a cloud server such as OneDrive or Box. Try making your presets in your local computer folders instead and see if that solves it.

Otherwise send me a message in the form if neither of these help.

This alert is shown when Preset Maker is unable to find audio files inside of your Sample Pack folder. However, many keywords filter out non-melodic files by default (filenames that do not contain a musical note), which may cause the alert. You will need to turn off the filter and try again. This option is in the Preferences. More information on this can be found in the manual.

Many MIDI keyboards are short and start their keys in the middle of the keyboard (C2 or C3). To suit most keyboards, Preset Maker starts placing samples in this middle area of the keyboard.

However, MPC hardware pads begin at the lowest point of the keyboard (C0).

For MPC one-shot presets, the “Start MPC One-Shot Presets at C0” option (on by default) places the samples at the bottom of the keyboard, where the MPC pad notes begin. Turn it off in the One-Shot Presets preferences if you want them in the middle instead.

You may need to look at your sample packs and see how the folders are commonly organized. You can edit the keywords you see in the folder names to align more with your style of sample packs. If you often have folders called “Chords”, for example, you can make a “Chords” category with a keyword “chords”. See the manual for more details.

I’ll be adding more default keywords in future updates.

As advertised, Preset Maker can process most Maschine Expansion folders. These will be in your main Native Instruments content folder. For Mac users the default Maschine Library install locations are in the Users/Shared directory. PC installation locations may vary.

To find your Maschine Expansion folders: in the Maschine app Preferences, go to the Library tab. Click on the small Directory icon next to the Maschine 2 Factory Library path. This will show the directory of the Factory Library. The Expansions are installed in the same location as the Factory Library.

The Maschine Expansion folders are named after the Expansions themselves, for example “Street Swarm”. On Mac, the Expansion folders typically end in “Library”, for example “Maschine 2 Library” or “Street Swarm Library.” On PC, the word “Library” may not always be present in the folder name. Another quick way of finding your Expansion folders is searching your computer directories for the name of the Expansion.

Third party Maschine libraries are not supported. Native Instruments plugins that are not Maschine Expansions are not supported. The Preset Maker page explains which files are supported, and the manual has more detail.

More info on finding your Maschine Library locations can be found here.

If you are trying to process other Native Instruments folders outside the scope of Maschine Expansions or the Maschine Factory Library, they will not be accepted, and Preset Maker isn’t made for those libraries.

This is an old bug that has since been fixed. Please update the app here.

If your presets worked before, but errors started after copying them to an SD card, the card is the most likely cause. Common signs:

“Failed to load” on your MPC when selecting presets that used to work.
Windows says a file or folder “is corrupted and unreadable”, or won’t let you delete it.
macOS says “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer”, or a copy stops with error code -36.
Your computer asks to format the card as soon as you insert it.

Presets are ordinary audio and preset files, and a file can’t make a folder unreadable. That kind of damage happens to the card itself, usually because it was removed before the computer finished copying, or because the card is failing. Cheap or counterfeit cards are a common cause.

To fix it, copy anything you want to keep off the card. Then use a new SD card from a known brand, bought from a reputable store, and format it on your computer as exFAT, which is what Akai recommends for MPC. Copy your presets over again, and always eject the card in Windows or macOS before you remove it.

Keep your Preset Maker presets in their own folder on the card, not inside an expansion folder you exported from the MPC software. That way your expansions stay exactly as they were.

Files starting with “._” that won’t load are something else: hidden files macOS adds when copying to an SD card. They’re safe to delete.

If a new card doesn’t fix it, message me with the exact error and which presets it happens on.

There is indeed! Click here to see the in-depth manual.

The download links for the latest version are in your Lemon Squeezy order email. Search your email for “preset maker” to find it. You can also get them any time on your Lemon Squeezy Orders page.

Bought Preset Maker on Gumroad before the store moved to Lemon Squeezy? See Gumroad License Help.

Visit this page for more info on getting the latest installer files.

The Sampler device is required. As of version 11, it became part of the Suite and not a stock device in lower versions. If you need a refund, message me in the form below, but note that this will disable your license of Preset Maker.

For Mac users the default Maschine Library install locations are in the Users/Shared directory.

In the Maschine app Preferences, go to the Library tab. Click on the small Directory icon next to the Maschine 2 Factory Library path. This will show the directory of the Factory Library. The Expansions are installed in the same location.

The folders you want to import into Preset Maker end in “Library.” For example, “Maschine 2 Library” or “True School Library.” Third party Maschine libraries are not supported, but you can process their .wav files like any other sample pack (see the manual for more info).

More info on finding your Maschine Library locations can be found here.

Make sure to point Preset Maker to your User Library in the Preferences before processing libraries.

iTunes lets you transfer files directly to an iOS app on your device. See here for more info.

You can also transfer them using the Files app or a cloud service such as Dropbox. Check the instructions of the specific iOS app you are using.

You can process just about any Sample Pack!

Keywords are used to categorize one-shot samples into presets. For example, a folder called “Guitars” will be made into a “Guitar” preset that contains these one-shot samples. You can edit the Keywords in the preferences at any time.

Any multi-sample files found inside the sample pack will be processed automatically, so long as they are named properly.

Please see the manual on how to use Keywords and Multi-samples.

No. It will duplicate many of the files, but the app does not duplicate the loop files, which are typically the largest files.

For instance a Maschine Expansion that is processed and created will be a fraction of the size of the original Maschine Expansion folder.

No. Only multi-sample instruments that are inside the expansion folder as .wav files will be turned into instrument presets. Please see the manual to learn which instruments will be created.