Soundfonts - How to use?

[flora-nova]

Maybe this is a stupid question but im a total noob to lmms and don't know a ton about computers so I'm wondering if someone can help me figure this out? I have some .mid samples I want to use but when I try, a message box pops up saying

"You do not have set up a default soundfont in the settings dialog (Edit->Settings). Therefore no sound will be played back after importing this MIDI file. You should download a General MIDI soundfont, specify it in settings dialog and try again."

What's up with this and how do I fix it?

[MorganEAshton]

When you play a .mid file, the program you're playing it with uses a set of instruments known as a GM bank (General MIDI bank). Most sound player programs such as iTunes have their own GM banks that load automatically. (You may notice that your file sounds different in different sound players. This is because they use different GM banks.) LMMS, because you can use so many different kinds of instruments, doesn't have a default GM bank pre-loaded into it. The easiest way to resolve this issue is to find a GM bank soundfont online (There are a few good freebies at soundfonts.darkesword.com, soundfonts.gonet.biz, dev.nando.audio/pages/soundfonts.html, and synthfont.com/soundfonts.html). Save it to a folder where you can find it later.

Click on the button with the pink sf2 on it next to your midi track. A popup will come up. Click the pink folder icon by "file" and find your soundfont file. It should automatically load the instrument the original file was played in. If not, or if you want to change it, click on the wrench button by "patch". That'll bring up a list of all the available instruments in your soundfont. Pick one, and away you go! Each GM bank has its own set of sounds, and will have instruments that are good and others that aren't as strong. For instance, the TG Grand Piano in TGSF21x is excellent, as is the oboe from Fluid. Play around with them and don't be afraid to mix and match.

(If you want to set a favorite Soundfont as the default so you don't get that annoying popup, go to Edit -> Settings -> Directories (the big folder icon) -> Scroll down to "Default soundfont file" and click the folder icon there. Load in your soundfont, and it'll bring that one up whenever you import a new .mid)

[flora-nova]

Thanks so much!!! That helped a lot

[MorganEAshton]

Glad I could help!

[musikbear]

Thanks so much!!! That helped a lot

Yes, excellent info, i just want to add one thing. After you have imported all the tracks of the midi-file, you can actually replace any or all of the SF2-players, with any instrument you like! If you are really happy with one preset in f.i. zynAddSubFX just do this:
* Click on the SF2 you want to replace, that should open de UI of that SF
* From sidebar, open myInstruments
* Find the preset you would like to use in your folders
* Right-click that preset
* From context-menu, choose Send-to-active-instrument
Lmms will replace the SF2 player, and insert your instrument-of-choice
Even VSTs can be substituted for a SF2
All notes are ofcause preserved!