explain "unlooped"

[azwel]

What is an unlooped sample exactly. Surely the samples have to be looped at some point...otherwise the note ends before you may want it to.

[Mr_-G-]

That refers to sounds that decay, like piano/guitar samples. Many instruments have a loop that is what you keep hearing during the decay out, instead of a recording the whole 15 or 20 sec of each note. You save loads of ram with that method at the expense of hearing a simulated decay that might sound artificial or with a periodic pattern.
The Kronos is said to have unlooped samples.

[pablomastodon]

not all samples are melodic instruments. Like that tune where the dude sez "Chaka Khan" about 20 times. Unlooped samples can also be referred to as one-hit samples. No looping needed or wanted.

[azwel]

I see, so some of the chamberlins for example are shortened. They still sound fine to me.