Convert Soundfonts

Is it possible to convert multisampled soundfonts into files the 2kxl can read? can cdxtract do this? if so what settings should i use, and if not any other programs that can?

I'm pretty sure you cannot convert Soundfonts into any more common sample format. I don't think the result would be very good if you could. Soundfonts seem to be very compressed data-wise......it would be like trying to convert a low bandwidth mp3 back to .wav. Most soundfonts I've heard are made from better quality samples that are downloadable from places like:http://www.hollowsun.com/ These are in sets of .wavs which the MPC should be able to read.

Obviously you can just sample the Soundfonts.

there is a program called cdxtract, that will allow you to swap out files of all types. akia, roland, giga, esx24 into whatever type of file you like, the trade off is that you will lose loop points and ish like that.

before i had the mpc, i loaded a bunch of soundfonts into the exs24 sampler in logic. i hate the planet fat and a few other. on doing this logic converted them to wavs and placed them in the sampler instruments folder. were i then proceeded to grab these waves and put them onto the mpc. as you said i did loose the points, but it was a good learnign experience for me having to re-assign them all. and it made me understand multisampling and looping one-shots alot better. so i now have a pgm full off usefull instument/synth and bass sounds. some of the pads sample's sound very very good when auto chrom'd + with a little fx....

featherboy wrote:I'm pretty sure you cannot convert Soundfonts into any more common sample format. I don't think the result would be very good if you could. Soundfonts seem to be very compressed data-wise......it would be like trying to convert a low bandwidth mp3 back to .wav. Most soundfonts I've heard are made from better quality samples that are downloadable from places like:http://www.hollowsun.com/ These are in sets of .wavs which the MPC should be able to read.

Obviously you can just sample the Soundfonts.

Not correct at all. Soundfonts are the best quality samples you can get - pure waveforms. Every sound module on the planet uses soundfonts for its sounds, because unlike audio samples, you can fit 1000s of sounds ito a little 16MB Rom chip. There are many programs that can convert SF2 to WAV, like Awave - this prog will also keep all loop points.

I only recently discovered SoundFonts when I downloaded the new AudioUnit plug-in SoundFont Synth when it was listed on VersionTracker. ( I use Logic on a Mac G4 running OSX ) Basically the SoundFonts I have downloaded so far haven't been brilliant in terms of originality. I've mainly found pretty standard GM-style sounds. Also, with drums I cannot do the mono cut off between open & closed hi-hat samples, but that might just be a limitation on this plug in.

Any tips for sites for good, preferably free ones?

I've got a Mac audio format converter, SoundConverter, but that doesn't seem to have sf2 in its list of formats. It does have sf. I'll give it a try & see what happens. I'll also see what happens dropping them into the EXS24.

So, are the sounds in my E-MU XL-1 module going to be SoundFonts? If so I agree they can be really good, but what exactly are they? Are they like digital models of sounds rather than digital recordings?

featherboy wrote:Any tips for sites for good, preferably free ones?

So, are the sounds in my E-MU XL-1 module going to be SoundFonts? If so I agree they can be really good, but what exactly are they? Are they like digital models of sounds rather than digital recordings?

Yes, in fact Eddie from www.Samplecraze.com created many of the sounds on the XL-1. Soundfonts are made by taking waveforms like sine waves, sawtooths etc and manipulating them to create the desired sound - the end result is normally only few bytes in size. There are only a few people who have the experience and skill to do this, samplecraze is one.

Go to www.samplecraze.com as he now does instant soundfont downloads of the highest quality (e.g. Emu sound module quality) - they're not free, but then if you want quality...

Thanks for that link.......I'll check them out.

I've just noticed on VersionTracker tonight there is already an update of the Mac SoundFont Synth.

any good sf2 sites..