About Soundfont Files. What are they Really?!

[brandystarbrite]

Hi guys. I'm back!
First off, I want to know, what exactly is a Soundfont or SF and how does it compare to other audio files.
What programs can I use to make Sound Font files? "Windows 7 64 bit, I'm on."
I have some Akai Orchestral Sound Font Thingys, that's why I'm asking.

[zonkmachine]

Start with the wikipedia soundfont entry.

[brandystarbrite]

Thanks owallgren. I knew most of those things already. He! He! But I should have been more specific.
What I should have asked was,..........................

1) As Lmms musicians, and in your experiences, How do you guys think Sound Font files compare to other audio files? " Note on the net, alot of persons have different opinions on this topic."
Some persons have said they see no differences between SF an other audio file form types.
Others say high quality WAV files are better. etc "Strange, WAV file comments seem to be popular in my investigations." Hmmmmm..............."
And others say, you can achieve the same high quality, or better with other Audio file formats,...... over Sound Fonts.
Some aspiring musicians say,................................. Sound Fonts are the "best!" GO YAH!! For real?!
Some say,. what's the point. Aren't they all the same? "Which I personally doubt."

What do you guys think?

2) In your point of views,....What is the best, or near best, "free" programs do you guys suggest, I can use to make Sound Font files? "Windows 7 64 bit, I'm on."

[Sti-Jay]

I would explain soundfonts as files made of many different samples of different instruments. And these samples are automatically tweaked to loop (when playing long notes) and apply vibrato effects (on the end mostly).

I have also read that soundfont files have lousy quality (and of experience I might agree on that soon), but so can any other audio file have too...
Soundfont files are based on real samples, so I guess it depends on the samples one started with and which quality these samples had. I know that Soundfont 2.0 and 2.1 have limitations in how high bit rate they can produce (16 bit or 24 bit), but high quality wav files can be 16 bit / 24 bit.

To make Soundfont files I find "Synthfont" fairly easy. "Viena SF2 editor" is another. Both free.

Here is a link to what I think is some high quality sf2 files. http://www.synthfont.com/soundfonts.html
Two programs you definitely need is sfArk and sfPack, because normally the soundfonts you downloaded are compressed, and these two programs uncompress those two different file types which you might meet.

PS: One of them is really hard to get, so if you don´t find a download, tell me!

[brandystarbrite]

Thanks alot for the reply sti2nd. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. "The internet service at home is going Bonkers again."
I checked out the site you put in the link you gave me. Great site. I got sfArk and sfPack. I haven't downloaded Synthfont or Vienna yet. Thanks to "Mr. Bad Internet service."
But I'll do it as soon as it starts working properly again.
I had a feeling SF was alot of hype. But they're still useful though. I saw someone say, high quality wavs are better. But it's really up to users choice as I believe. And yeah I read and heard that SF have lousy quality as well. But I would probably say, it all depends on the person making them. Or if the audio format used, can handle high quality.
"Probably Sound Fonts suck." He! He!
That site has alot of SF. Thanks for your help and input. And thanks for answering my question honestly. Your post was very interesting and informative. I learned alot from it.
If you know anywhere I can get "Free East Indian instrument, sound Fonts, WAV's etc." I'll be happy.
"I'm Indian that's why." Well ...........actually.............Half Indian. Wah!!

Anyways, Thanks sti2nd.

[Sti-Jay]

I consider this page to have the most/best sf2 files for free. http://soundfonts.homemusician.net/

If you don´t find Indian soundfonts I would definitely use something from dsk music, however that is vsti´s (virtual instruments, you use VeSTige to run them).
http://www.dskmusic.com/dsk-world-stringz/
http://www.dskmusic.com/dsk-indian-dreamz/
http://www.dskmusic.com/dsk-asian-dreamz/

[brandystarbrite]

Thanks again sti2nd. I already have those 3 DSK Vsti's. The Indian Dreamz has about 6 or 7, out of the many indian instruments out there. Excluding the Tassa drums etc. Thats why I'm looking so hard for them. Thanks for linking me to the Home Musician site. But I couldn't find the Indian Instruments SF in the Ethnics section. Must have missed it, or probably, they removed it.

But despite that, It was worth checking it out.