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| wiki:instruments [2013/07/25 06:32] – [Overview] grammar the_aviv | wiki:instruments [2014/02/23 13:37] – 'soundfont' is specifically sf2 raboof |
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| ====== Instruments, Samples and Sound Effects ====== | ====== Instruments, Samples, and Sound Effects ====== |
| This is the central page where you can find sampled instruments, recorded snippets, sound effects, and other resources to help render your ideas and MIDI data to real audio output. | This is the central page where you can find sampled instruments, recorded snippets, sound effects, and other resources to help render your ideas and MIDI data to real audio output. |
| | <note>This page and wiki/free_audio_data need to be merged. </note> |
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| ==== Overview ==== | ==== Overview ==== |
| **Sound synthesis** is the artificial generation of sound. It can be done via **spectral** or **physical modelling**. A **synthesizer** is a tool used for sound synthesis. Sound synthesis is not yet well-developed enough to realistically render orchestral pieces. | **Sound synthesis** is the artificial generation of sound. It can be done via **spectral** or **physical modelling**. A **synthesizer** is a tool used for sound synthesis. Sound synthesis is not yet well-developed enough to realistically render orchestral pieces. |
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| **Sampling** is the use of samples to produce audio. **Samples** are soundfiles of individual notes and articulations an acoustic instrument can produce. They serve as sources for **sampled instruments**, files a **sampler** can use as virtual instruments for sound production. Formats for sampled instruments, currently supported by LinuxSampler, include GIG, SF2, and SFZ. An SFZ instrument comes with samples separately (which is not the case with the GIG and SF2 formats). It instructs the sampler on how to utilize the samples. The term **soundfont** (or **SoundFont**) is associated with the SF2 format. Sampling is currently the only way to produce acceptable renditions of orchestral music. | **Sampling** is the use of samples to produce audio. **Samples** are soundfiles of individual notes and articulations an acoustic instrument can produce. They serve as sources for **sampled instruments**, files a **sampler** can use as virtual instruments for sound production. Formats for sampled instruments include GIG, SF2 (also: **soundfonts**), and SFZ. Sampling is currently the only way to produce acceptable renditions of orchestral music. |
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| LinuxSampler is presently the only sampler in Linux. However, Calfbox is another development in the works. See [[apps:categories:softsynths_and_samplers]] for a list of tools. | See also: [[apps:categories:softsynths_and_samplers]]. |
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| A **sequencer** is tool for playing and manipulating note information, most commonly in MIDI form. | A **sequencer** is tool for playing and manipulating note information, most commonly in MIDI form. |
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| ==== Current practice ==== | ==== Current practice ==== |
| As it stands, most Linux users build their own **ad-hoc collections** by scavenging fragments from around the net. | As it stands, most Linux users build their own **ad-hoc collections** by scavenging fragments from around the net. See the section [[wiki:instruments#how_to_create_instruments|How to create instruments]] below. |
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| === Popular sites === | === Popular sites === |
| * [[http://www.sf2midi.com/soundfonts/|Sf2Midi.com]] | * [[http://www.sf2midi.com|Sf2Midi.com]] |
| * [[http://hammersound.net/|HammerSound]] | * [[http://hammersound.net|HammerSound]] |
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| === Orchestral soundfonts === | === Orchestral soundfonts === |
| The [[http://www.sf2midi.com/soundfonts/file-detail/sinfon36-sf2-3885.html|sinfon36.sf2]] soundfont (from **Sf2Midi.com**) might be the best available orchestral soundfont on the net. For playbacks of well-known classical pieces, check [[https://soundcloud.com/misterdls|misterdls's SoundCloud page]]. The audio was produced simply with MuseScore and the sinfon36.sf2 soundfont. | The [[http://www.sf2midi.com/soundfonts/file-detail/sinfon36-sf2-3885.html|sinfon36.sf2]] soundfont (from **Sf2Midi.com**) might be the best free orchestral soundfont on the net. For playbacks of well-known classical pieces, check [[https://soundcloud.com/misterdls|misterdls's SoundCloud page]]. The audio was produced simply with MuseScore and the sinfon36.sf2 soundfont. |
| ==== Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra ==== | ==== Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra ==== |
| The [[http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/|Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra]] (SSO) is an SFZ orchestral sample library. It is currently the best open orchestral sample library - although there are a number of known issues with it. Unfortunately, it is not under development, and there is no structure put in place to help improve it. [[http://mattiaswestlund.net/|Mattias Westlund]], the author, is only one person. A project like this requires collaborative effort. | The [[http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/|Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra]] (SSO) is an SFZ orchestral sample library. It is currently the best open orchestral sample library - although there are a number of known issues with it. Unfortunately, it is not under development, and there is no structure put in place to help improve it. [[http://mattiaswestlund.net/|Mattias Westlund]], the author, is only one person. A project like this requires collaborative effort. |
| There is a need in the Linux community for an open sample library. It is the missing link that hinders otherwise good tools, like LinuxSampler, from developing. What good is a sampler if there is no sample library? | There is a need in the Linux community for an open sample library. It is the missing link that hinders otherwise good tools, like LinuxSampler, from developing. What good is a sampler if there is no sample library? |
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| [[http://www.nilsgey.de/|Nils Gey]]'s project is one such effort to fill in the void: [[https://github.com/nilsgey/sfz]]. | [[http://www.nilsgey.de/|Nils Gey]] has done a series of experiment pieces with SSO, the first one is [[http://www.nilsgey.de/Blog/14_Initial_opinion_about_Sonatina_Symphonic_Orchestra|here]]. While his conclusion is that the library disappoints, do check out his pieces and decide for yourself. |
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| | He also maintains a [[https://github.com/nilsgey/sfz|github project]]. for collecting an maintaining/fixing SFZ libraries like SSO. |
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| | ==== Commercial products ==== |
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| | For an outdated list, see [[http://bb.linuxsampler.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11|List of sample libraries]] at the LinuxSampler forum. Check also the [[http://bb.linuxsampler.org/viewforum.php?f=8|Sample Libraries]] section of the same forum. |
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| | (Please note, it would be useful to have such information integrated and updated here.) |
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| | == Digital Sound Factory == |
| | [[https://www.digitalsoundfactory.com|Digital Sound Factory]] offers sample libraries in 2 formats that can play on Linux: |
| | * [[https://www.digitalsoundfactory.com/soundfont_products|SoundFont]] (SF2) |
| | * [[https://www.digitalsoundfactory.com/dimension_products|Cakewalk Dimension]] (SFZ) |
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| | Cakewalk Dimension is an SFZ player, and the files play on LinuxSampler. |
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| | Check their [[https://www.digitalsoundfactory.com/example-downloads|free example downloads]]. |
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| | Relevant forum discussion: [[http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11331|Thousands of SFZ samples for LinuxSampler]]. |
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| ==== List of Sampled Instruments ===== | ==== List of Sampled Instruments ===== |
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| | See [[Free audio data]] |
| ==== Non-sample based instruments ===== | ==== Non-sample based instruments ===== |
| See [[apps:categories:softsynths_and_samplers]]. | See [[apps:categories:softsynths_and_samplers]]. |
