I agree, it would be great way to add more life and character to basic waveforms.
A similar suggestion was discussed a while back:
https://forum.renoise.com/t/modulate-sample-start/40039
But one thing that I see as a challenge is that, Renoise being a tracker, we can actually control the sample offset using the Sxx command.
Something like a random offset would have to co-exist with this command - not replace it - or it wouldn’t be as interesting to use, IMO.
So how about a granular playback mode for samples? It would work completely independent of sample/effect commands, be a property of the sample itself.
If such a mode existed, we could control the starting point, perhaps as a percentage of the total size. Any Sxx command would then be added on top (depending on whether the sound is looped, it could wrap around the edges etc…I guess the actual implementation details wouldn’t be simple at all)
Yes, setting sample start (and end) should indeed be independent of the Sxx command, since the latter cannot be modulated (which I think would be the main motivation for adding sample start and end). As I explained in the other thread you mentioned, modulating sample start is essential for creating convincing sounding sampled instruments, without relying on massive multi-sampling. In fact, hardware sampler from 20 years ago already had this basic feature, which is why even back in the days, with all the sample memory limitations, it was possible to have great sounding sampled instruments.
But reading you (being part of the Renoise team) coming up with a mere suggestion while Redux is supposed to be almost done, really reinforces some of my worries regarding the Redux release…