Just a Sample review
A capable free sampler for Reaper users who prefer plugins over standalone software.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Just a Sample is a free, open-source audio sampler plugin for musicians and producers who want sample playback without a complex interface. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux in VST3 and AU formats. The product is particularly suited to Reaper users, while its plugin-only design also fits workflows built around an existing audio host rather than a separate sampler application.
The Free plan includes the complete published feature set: sample-accurate waveform bounds editing, independent pitch and time manipulation, cross-fade looping, direct sample recording, and plugin-state sample storage. It also provides a routable effects chain with distortion, chorus, reverb, and EQ, plus waveform mode for periodic sample playback. Pitch detection, A440 auto-tuning, MIDI controls, and 256-voice polyphony give the plugin useful depth for both melodic sampling and sound-design work without introducing a paid tier.
Integration is strongest for users working with Reaper or MTS-ESP. Reaper-specific integration and MTS-ESP microtuning support distinguish Just a Sample from a basic playback-only plugin, while support for VST3 and AU makes it available across the listed desktop operating systems. The trade-off is a narrow delivery model: there is no standalone application, and MP3 is the documented sample format. Choose Just a Sample if you want an open-source sampler inside a compatible host, especially Reaper, with editing, looping, recording, effects, and tuning in one free plugin. Choose another sampler if standalone operation or broader documented format coverage is central to your workflow.
Just a Sample pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Sample editing, looping, recording, tuning, and effects in one plugin
- 256-voice polyphony with Reaper and MTS-ESP integration
- Where it doesn't
- Plugin-only with no standalone application
- Documented sample-format support is limited to MP3
- Its strongest integration is specific to Reaper and MTS-ESP
Just a Sample fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update