Yes. It does all that, and a LOT more. For instance, it can play different sounds that are on different layers depending on how hard you hit the keys. I know, that probably sounds like a "gee whiz" feature, but think about it: If you have 3 samples of the sample snare on three different layers, you can tune one sample "low", one normal, and one "High", and as you tap out your sequence, it can feel/sound as if you are striking an actual drum (I am a drummer by trade).
Like I have said in a previous post, I am too lazy to post all the buttons and menus to do all this stuff.
Don't just adjust the volume of the same sample for your different layers. That's lame. Sample each layer for the volume. Barely tap the snare for your soft end, then increase the force you hit the snare with for each subsequent layer. If you just use 1 sample and adjust the volume level for each layer, you'll most likely be disappointed with your results. The ASR is quite a powerful machine. Take advantage of it's features! If you're going to layer some pressure sensitivity samples, make a new sample for each layer.
yeah, you can. It's not too easy, though. Go to Edit > Inst > Times and max out all the values (to 99).
Each time you strike a key, it starts the sample over. However, once you start the sample, it wont stop until it's done. SO, if you hit another key (like a step down) the sample will play through and the new key stroke will start.
One other trick I try is to loop it, and adjust the Times value so that it loops the sample for a certain amount of time, then it fades out (or stops abruptly) depending on the Times values.
It's a lot of trial and error, though. BEWARE, if you loop a sample that you want to play all the way through, once you hit another key OF THAT SAME SAMPLE, both of them will play at the same time. The way I got around that was to assign the sample to one key, then leave the key next to it empty. That way, if I get tired of it looping, I hit the empty key and it stops the sample.