Help Creating Traditional Japanese Instruments

[Sly_Coop91]

Hi, everyone. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me in creating a pair of traditional Japanese instruments in LMMS. The instruments as a start are the Koto and the Shamisen, but I might want to make alongside everyone willing to help others in the future. The reason I want to create realistic, or at least close to realistic, versions of these two instruments is to help in production of video-game music I want to make for personal projects of mine.

I know there are VSTs I could buy instead of making them from scratch, such as the ShamiKoto VST. The problem is I cannot afford to buy them at the moment, so I thought replicating them using LMMS' Instrument plugins and effects would be more affordable to do. I also plan to share this on other LMMS-related forums so that others can make them as well without needing to pay a cost with everyone's names credited.

To anyone willing to help, I appreciate it very much. I do plan to do research as well on recreating them alongside everyone else helping. Feel free to send any inputs on creating realistic, or at least semi-realistic, versions of the Koto and Shamisen. Also tell me what name you would like to be credited under when I post the effects, plugins, and their settings anywhere else.

(And to any mods seeing this, I was told by an administrator I could post here for this kind of question. Feel free to move this to another thread if it is not right.)

[musikbear]

The instruments as a start are the Koto and the Shamisen, but I might want to make alongside everyone willing to help others in the future.

In SF2 GeneralUser there are some Japanese instruments, among others a Koto.
But the best thing to do is to link us to examples to that specific video or soundclip, and add exact timestamps, for where the wanted sound starts, and less important -ends
Like @2:32 -> 2:55.
On youTube You can btw click stop the video, right-click and choose to save the link at the specific time!
Then we can advise you how to synthesize that sound

[Sly_Coop91]

The instruments as a start are the Koto and the Shamisen, but I might want to make alongside everyone willing to help others in the future.

In SF2 GeneralUser there are some Japanese instruments, among others a Koto.
But the best thing to do is to link us to examples to that specific video or soundclip, and add exact timestamps, for where the wanted sound starts, and less important -ends
Like @2:32 -> 2:55.
On youTube You can btw click stop the video, right-click and choose to save the link at the specific time!
Then we can advise you how to synthesize that sound

Two things: First, where do I specifically find SF2 GeneralUser? All I can find in LMMS is the SF2 Player. Secondly, I am finding trouble in finding a video where I can find each note for the shamisen. What am I supposed to do if I cannot find it for every note of the shamisen?

[musikbear]

where do I specifically find SF2 GeneralUser?

No, in SF2 resources on our page, eg here: https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/resources/soundfonts
One of those is
http://www.schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php

I am finding trouble in finding a video where I can find each note for the shamisen

No that is not what i mean. Post a link to what YOU think is a good representation of the sound you like, then we can advise you how to create a preset that sounds like the one you want.

[Sly_Coop91]

where do I specifically find SF2 GeneralUser?

No, in SF2 resources on our page, eg here: https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/resources/soundfonts
One of those is
http://www.schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php

I am finding trouble in finding a video where I can find each note for the shamisen

No that is not what i mean. Post a link to what YOU think is a good representation of the sound you like, then we can advise you how to create a preset that sounds like the one you want.

Ah, okay. Thanks for explaining. There are three types of tunings I wanna go for the Shamisen: Hanchoushi, Niagari, and Sansagari. These are them:

Hanchoushi (C-F-C) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ql6Hngg1zc (notes at 0:05-0:09, 0:10-0:14, and 0:15-0:19).

Niagari (C-G-C) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjQI2GMVKls (notes at 0:04-0:07, 0:08-0:10, and 0:11-0:13).

Sansagari (C-F-Bb) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5SX8G6Wd4k (notes at 0:06-0:09, 0:11-0:14, and 0:15-0:18)

[musikbear]

Ah, okay. Thanks for explaining. There are three types of tunings I wanna go for the Shamisen:

Ahh it is that instrument. I have seen reels where someone very skilled play Enter Sandman and ACDC among others :p -But i also recognizes this instrument from many Akira Kurosava movies. I hear some 7' vibe in the notes, and i also think a bit of Plate. I think it should be possible to make a string-preset in Vibed.
Very fast attack
No Hold
Medium Decay
Try that first.
Did you get GeneralUser, and installed as default SF2 ?

[Sly_Coop91]

Ah, okay. Thanks for explaining. There are three types of tunings I wanna go for the Shamisen:

Ahh it is that instrument. I have seen reels where someone very skilled play Enter Sandman and ACDC among others :p -But i also recognizes this instrument from many Akira Kurosava movies. I hear some 7' vibe in the notes, and i also think a bit of Plate. I think it should be possible to make a string-preset in Vibed.
Very fast attack
No Hold
Medium Decay
Try that first.
Did you get GeneralUser, and installed as default SF2 ?

First, I have thought of using Vibed for the Shamisen but unsure about what numbers to set them as. I am just unsure what numbers to set them at exactly. Do you have an idea?

Secondly, I have downloaded GeneralUser and got it to work by opening up it up in File. I am just unsure how I would make it the default or if I really want to have it as the default when I bring up SF2 Player. How would I go about setting it up as default if I decide to do that?

[musikbear]

unsure about what numbers to set them as. I am just unsure what numbers to set them at exactly. Do you have an idea?

ya, as i said
Very fast attack
No Hold
Medium Decay
Try that first.
I really would like you to try and experiment with the settings before i just give you a preset. You will use this a lot, and getting know the sound and how the setting in the envelope changes, is very important.
This playlist is about how to build presets

I am just unsure how I would make it the default or if I really want to have it as the default when I bring up SF2 Player.

You should have GeneralUser as default SF. GeneralUser gives you all the std sound that is part of your sound-card, it is the MIDI-standard for sound-cards, so GeneralUser is absolutely the one to use as default-soundfont. It even has a Shamisen and Koto build in!
To do that, go into Edit|Settings as here

Third from bottom, You have the option for Default-soundfont, just use the smart-search and point to the location of your GeneralUser.

[Sly_Coop91]

unsure about what numbers to set them as. I am just unsure what numbers to set them at exactly. Do you have an idea?

ya, as i said
Very fast attack
No Hold
Medium Decay
Try that first.
I really would like you to try and experiment with the settings before i just give you a preset. You will use this a lot, and getting know the sound and how the setting in the envelope changes, is very important.
This playlist is about how to build presets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRzIcJ3 ... o6&pp=gAQB

I am just unsure how I would make it the default or if I really want to have it as the default when I bring up SF2 Player.

You should have GeneralUser as default SF. GeneralUser gives you all the std sound that is part of your sound-card, it is the MIDI-standard for sound-cards, so GeneralUser is absolutely the one to use as default-soundfont. It even has a Shamisen and Koto build in!
To do that, go into Edit|Settings as here

Third from bottom, You have the option for Default-soundfont, just use the smart-search and point to the location of your GeneralUser.

Alright, I'll try to do it on my own as you've said. I've also just finished watching the video - really informative of what it showed. I just have two questions before I start working on it on my own: What do each of the abbreviations stand for when I open up the Vibeb instrument? I don't wanna accidentally mess with the wrong settings for it and mess up the instrument I am trying to recreate with your help. Secondly, in the "Envelope, filter & LFO" section, which row would I mainly be altering, or would it be both?

[musikbear]

unsure about what numbers to set them as. I am just unsure what numbers to set them at exactly. Do you have an idea?

ya, as i said
Very fast attack
No Hold
Medium Decay
Try that first.
I really would like you to try and experiment with the settings before i just give you a preset. You will use this a lot, and getting know the sound and how the setting in the envelope changes, is very important.
This playlist is about how to build presets

I am just unsure how I would make it the default or if I really want to have it as the default when I bring up SF2 Player.

You should have GeneralUser as default SF. GeneralUser gives you all the std sound that is part of your sound-card, it is the MIDI-standard for sound-cards, so GeneralUser is absolutely the one to use as default-soundfont. It even has a Shamisen and Koto build in!
To do that, go into Edit|Settings as here

Third from bottom, You have the option for Default-soundfont, just use the smart-search and point to the location of your GeneralUser.

Alright, I'll try to do it on my own as you've said. I've also just finished watching the video - really informative of what it showed. I just have two questions before I start working on it on my own: What do each of the abbreviations stand for when I open up the Vibeb instrument? I don't wanna accidentally mess with the wrong settings for it and mess up the instrument I am trying to recreate with your help. Secondly, in the "Envelope, filter & LFO" section, which row would I mainly be altering, or would it be both?

Its not because i wont help you, but if you give this a try on your own, you will learn about making presets, and that is much better that having a preset made for you.
The controllers on Vibed are described ... ehrm... No they are not..
I thought they were but https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/instruments/vibed is a dismo disappointment -Sorry about that!
So i will make a video explaining Vibed. I will see if i can find time tomorrow, and i will post here when its done. How did you like the Shamisen in GeneralUser?