Sixteen parts
A multi holds 16 parts, each an instrument with its own MIDI channel, macros and four FX. Play several instruments from one instance, or layer and split them.
Open Source Sampling Workstation
Shortcircuit XT
Shortcircuit XT is a modern open source software sampler focused on workflow, expressive modulation, and deep sample playback control.
Highlights
Zones, groups and variants
Map samples across key and velocity, gather zones into groups with their own play mode and trigger conditions, and give a zone up to 16 variants for round robins.
Processors per voice
Every zone has four processor slots that run on each voice, and every group has four more on its mix: filters, distortion, EQ, delays, resonators and synth generators.
Modulation
Each voice runs its own envelopes, LFOs, step sequencers, phasors, randoms and envelope followers through a modulation matrix, alongside 16 macros per part.
Opens your libraries
Import SF2, SFZ, EXS, GIG, Akai AKP and .multisample instruments, and load WAV, FLAC, AIFF, MP3 and Opus samples.
Mixer, MPE and tuning
A 21 bus mixer with aux sends and 20 extra stereo outputs, MPE and CLAP note expressions, and microtuning through MTS-ESP or Scala files.
Manual
The Shortcircuit XT manual covers installing, how a multi is built from parts, groups and zones, each screen of the interface, the mixer and routing, importing other formats, MPE, microtuning and the keyboard shortcuts.
Open ManualChangelog
Latest nightly build updates for Shortcircuit XT. Last build: Nov 11, 2026.
Latest commit: d023100Full release notes
The anti-aliased zero order hold SRC mode is called Vintage (#2805)
Paul · d023100 · Nov 11, 2026
The MAPPING and SAMPLE side boxes are one processor box wide (#2799)
Paul · 7afec4e · Nov 11, 2026
Put the Linux user folder in the right place when Documents is off (#2798)
Paul · 3197df4 · Nov 11, 2026
Deleting zones or groups leaves nothing selected (#2796)
Paul · 333b822 · Nov 10, 2026
Restoring a DAW session no longer blocks the host or saves a half-loaded engine (#2795)
Paul · 5c1491f · Nov 9, 2026
FAQ
Is Shortcircuit XT free?
Yes. It is free and open source. The source is MIT licensed, and released binaries are distributed under the AGPL v3 or later.
Is it finished?
No. Shortcircuit XT is in beta, and the download on this page is a nightly build of the current code. Use a limiter while experimenting.
Which systems and plugin formats are supported?
Windows, macOS 10.15 or later, and Linux. Shortcircuit XT runs as a CLAP or VST3 plugin, as an Audio Unit on macOS, and as a standalone application.
Can it load my sample libraries?
It imports SF2, SFZ, EXS, GIG, Akai AKP and .multisample instruments, and loads WAV, FLAC, AIFF, MP3 and Opus samples. Features a format has that Shortcircuit XT cannot represent are skipped.
Where are my patches kept?
In Documents/Surge Synth Team/Shortcircuit XT, which also holds themes and presets. A whole instrument saves as a .scm multi and a single part as a .scp.
Where do I get help or report a bug?
Ask in the #using-shortcircuit channel of theSurge Synth Team Discord, and report bugs on theissue tracker.
About
Shortcircuit XT is a rebuild of Shortcircuit 1 and 2, samplers released by Vember Audio in the mid 2000s. Claes Johanson, who wrote the originals, gave the Shortcircuit 2 source to the Surge Synth Team, and Shortcircuit XT keeps much of that design and DSP while rewriting the rest in modern C++.
It is developed in the open by the Surge Synth Team, onGitHub and in the#sc-development channel of ourDiscord. The open source projects it is built on are listed in themanual's credits.