# Tutorial 3: Playing Built-In Samples

FoxDot can also be used to sequence and manipulate audio samples.
To do this all you need to do is use the special play SynthDef.
The first argument of the play SynthDef should be a string of characters
instead of a list of numbers as you would do for any other SynthDef.
Each character represents a different audio file, which is stored in a buffer in SuperCollider.

To view which character relates to which audio file, execute

``` python
print(Samples)
```

You can play audio samples in the `FoxDot/snd/` sub-directories by using the
`play` Synth and using a string of characters instead of list of notes.

``` python
bd >> play("x")
```

A character refers to a sound and whitespace is used for silence, so
you can spread sounds out in time:

``` python
bd >> play("x  x  x  ")

hh >> play(" -")
```

You can lace patterns using round brackets
Whick plays like: `"x o  xo "`

``` python
d1 >> play("(x )( x)o ")
```

The following is the same as `"-------="`

``` python
hh >> play("---(-=)")
```

Putting characters in square brackets will play them all in the space of one beat
And will be played like one character, not simultaneous, but in quick succession

``` python
d1 >> play("x-o[-o]")

d1 >> play("x-o[---]")

d1 >> play("x-o[-----]")

d1 >> play("x-o[--------------]")
```

and can be put in round brackets as if they were one character themselves.

``` python
d1 >> play("x[--]o(=[-o])")
```

You can combine the brackets however you like: the following patterns are identical

``` python
d1 >> play("x-o(-[-o])")

d1 >> play("x-o[-(o )]")
```

Curly braces select a sample sound at random if you want more variety

``` python
d1 >> play("x-o{-=[--][-o]}")
```

Angle brackets combine patterns to be play simultaneously

``` python
d1 >> play("<X   ><-   ><#   ><V   >")

d1 >> play("<X   >< -  ><  # ><   V>")
```

Each character is mapped to a folder of sound files and you can select different
samples by using the "sample" keyword argument

``` python
d1 >> play("(x[--])xu[--]")

d1 >> play("(x[--])xu[--]", sample=1)

d1 >> play("(x[--])xu[--]", sample=2)
```

Change the sample for each beat

``` python
d1 >> play("(x[--])xu[--]", sample=[1,2,3])
```

You can layer two patterns together - note the `P`, look at tutorial 4 for more information.

``` python
d1 >> play(P["x-o-"] & P[" **"])
```

And change effects applied to all the layered patterns at the same time

``` python
d1 >> play(P["x-o-"] & P[" **"], room=0.5)
```

Example from the player tutorial, but with samples instead
Conditionals...

``` python
d1 >> play("x[--]xu[--]x", sample=(d1.degree=="x"))
```

Or change it to sample bank 2 by multiplying

``` python
d1 >> play("x[--]xu[--]x", sample=(d1.degree=="x")*2)
```

Chain multiple conditionals

``` python
d1 >> play("x[--]xu[--]x", sample=(d1.degree=="x")*2 + (d1.degree=="-")*5)
```

Which is the same as

``` python
d1 >> play("x[--]xu[--]x", sample=d1.degree.map({"x":2, "-":5}))
```