> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.samplevault.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Filters

> Narrow your results from the search bar, the filter sidebar, or saved presets

## Overview

Two surfaces drive what you see in the [Library](/core-features/sample-browser) results: the **search bar** at the top of the results pane (your master control) and the **filter sidebar** on the left (for browsing values you don't already know by name).

Both stay in sync. Picking a tag in the sidebar inserts a `%tag` chip in the search bar; typing `@Cmin` updates the Key dropdown.

For filtering by sonic characteristics like tonality, brightness, or stereo width, use the [Sound Profile](/core-features/sound-profile) tab inside the sidebar — or type characteristic tokens directly (`atk:30-80`, `bright:0-50`).

## Search bar (master control)

Every filter can be expressed as a typed token. See [Search Syntax](/core-features/search-syntax) for the full grammar — short prefixes like `%tag`, `$genre`, `&creator`, `+pack`, `*` (favorites), and long forms like `category:`, `collection:`, `sort:`, plus all 16 sound profile characteristics.

Selected filters render as colored chips inside the input. **Click any chip to remove it.** The **×** button on the right clears every filter at once.

The smart suggestion dropdown helps you discover values without typing the syntax: type two characters of a name and pick from the grouped list of matching tags / genres / creators / packs / collections. The same dropdown also surfaces field shortcuts (`creator:`, `pack:`, etc.) so you can learn the syntax by using it.

## Filter sidebar

The collapsible sidebar on the left holds value pickers for browsing. Use it when you don't already know which tag, creator, or pack you want — the sidebar lists every value with sample counts.

Sections, top to bottom:

* **Category** — filter by directory or virtual directory, with drill-in chips
* **BPM range** — minimum and maximum tempo
* **Key & Scale** — musical key (C, D#, F, etc.) and scale (major, minor, modal)
* **Collections** — jump to a saved collection, or create a new one (AI Collections available on paid plans)
* **Sample Pack** and **Creator** — filter by detected pack or artist
* **Type** — loops, one-shots, or all
* **Sort** — newest, oldest, relevance, name A→Z, BPM ascending/descending
* **Genres** — AI-detected or manually assigned
* **Tags** — your custom tags plus auto-generated ones

Genres and tags are organized into families rather than one flat list, so the picker stays short even on a large library. Pick a family to match every value under it at once, or open it to choose a single genre or tag. Sample Vault keeps these families tidy on its own as your library grows — see [Sample Enrichment](/core-features/sample-enrichment) for what that involves.

Filters can also **exclude**: alongside picking a tag, genre, or category to keep, you can filter one *out*, dropping every sample that carries it. Exclusions show as their own `not:` chips and clear the same way as any other filter. [Deep Search](/core-features/search-modes) uses them too — ask for "no vocals" and the exclusion lands as a visible chip you can remove.

The sidebar is hideable: click the **panel** icon in the toolbar to collapse it for full-width browsing. The search bar remains visible regardless of sidebar state, so you never lose your filtering surface.

<Tip>
  **Rename or delete library-wide**: right-click any tag or genre chip — in the sidebar or in the Sample Info pane — and choose **Rename** or **Delete**. Rename updates the value on every sample that has it; Delete strips it from every sample after a confirmation.
</Tip>

## Filter presets

The **Presets** button (bookmark icon) in the toolbar lets you save and reload filter combinations.

* **Save current filters** — name and store the active state
* Pick a saved preset from the dropdown to restore it
* Click the **×** next to a preset name to delete it

Presets capture every active filter — tokens in the search bar, sidebar selections, sort order, and sound profile slider positions.