Definition

A one-shot is a sample that plays once from start to finish each time it is triggered; a loop is a sample that repeats continuously. The distinction sets how a pad behaves.

Example

A kick drum is a one-shot: tap the pad and it plays the whole hit, then stops. A four-bar drum break set to loop keeps cycling for as long as it is active. The same audio file can often be used either way depending on the pad's playback mode.

Why it matters

Choosing the right mode is fundamental to building beats. One-shots give you precise, rhythmic control because each press is a single event you place exactly. Loops give you instant groove and atmosphere. Mixing them up, looping a kick or one-shotting a groove bed, quickly makes a beat unworkable.

How to play or configure

For drum hits, set the pad to one-shot so the full sample plays regardless of how briefly you tap. For sustained material, choose loop or gated mode and make sure the loop points are trimmed to the tempo so the cycle is seamless. Most samplers expose this as a per-pad playback-mode menu.

Further reading

Pad Layouts discusses placing one-shots and loops on a grid.