Soundfonts.... What are they? How do you use them?

[Extremist777]

Can you give us more details about SOUNDFONTS? and How you use them for recording?

Thanks in Advance! 

[KitC]

From Wikipedia:

"SoundFont is a brand name that collectively refers to a file format and associated technology designed to bridge the gap between recorded and synthesized audio, especially for the purposes of computer music composition. SoundFont is also a registered trademark of E-mu Systems, Inc..

SoundFont technology is akin to software sampling. A SoundFont file, or SoundFont 'bank', contains one or more sampled audio waveforms (or 'samples'), which can be re-synthesized at different pitches and dynamic levels. Each sampled waveform may be associated with one or more ranges of pitches and dynamics. Generally speaking, the quality of a SoundFont bank is a function of the quality of the digital samples and the intelligent association of samples with their appropriate pitch ranges. Quality is also dependent on the number of samples taken for a given range of pitches.

SoundFont banks are tightly integrated with MIDI devices and can be seamlessly used in place of GM patches in many computer music sequencers. The sound quality of SoundFont banks is generally regarded as superior to standard GM banks, and many SoundFont banks have been created specifically to replace GM banks with samples of each corresponding instrument."


In a nutshell, soundfonts are samples. You can download them from the net and if you own a soundblaster, there are usually examples of soundfont in their install cds. Soundfonts can give you additional sounds to work with; it's like adding a new synth to your arsenal. You load a soundfont into ram and have the soundblaster access those samples; the 'blaster becomes a sound module of sorts when you control it with an external keyboard controller. In effect, every new soundfont turns your soundcard into a different sample playback synth. I once got hold of some Kurzweil string soundfonts and my old SBLive temporarily became a Kurzweil. 

Sometimes you don't even need a soundblaster. Just download the free sfz player (see in the plugins and soundfonts sticky) and you can use soundfonts with your favorite sequencer.

[Extremist777]

Thanks alot KitC. Very detailed and very informative post. 

The best talaga philmusic!