Changing Instruments Within A DLS or SF2 Bank

Question

Level 1

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Changing Instruments Within A DLS or SF2 Bank

I recently learned the magic of the DLSMusicDevice, and how it can be used for sound banks and soundfonts.

What I don't understand, however, is how to change between the instruments within any soundbanks without the use of a MIDI controller. Is this possible, or will I have to find a program that does this for me? I certainly don't feel like using a hefty synthesizer keyboard; I'm more accustomed to clicking and adding my notes in the Piano Roll...

The reason I ask this, is that I have a KK Slider soundfont that I like to use in FL Studio. (To see some of my work, visit my Youtube Channel, here: http://www.youtube.com/user/JJokerDude) However, FL Studio is a hassle to run on a Mac. Even with CrossOver, it occasionally runs slowly... I would much prefer using Garageband.

So if there's an alternate method to changing the instruments of a soundfont in Garageband, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 6, 2010 5:09 PM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

Feb 6, 2010 5:13 PM in response to jjokerdude

GB doesn't supply any built in method for changing banks, i'm afraid. there used to be a program called SoundFontSynth that did it, but i don't believe it's supported any longer

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Answer 2

jjokerdude Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2010 5:20 PM in response to HangTime

Hm... I heard about that program. Supposedly the developers suddenly dropped off the face of the earth, and now the program can't be found anywhere.

Lame. I'm sure there's some type of application out there that can change the instrument.

Or, perhaps there's an app that can split the instruments in SF2 files into separate instruments. I haven't been able to find any myself, though...

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Answer 3

WarriorAnt

Level 4

2,752 points

Feb 6, 2010 5:52 PM in response to jjokerdude

There is nothing right now similar to SoundFontSynth. Apple has chosen to give us access to soundfonts but only in the most limited way and they have not answered the calling for something similar to soundfont synth.

You might want to try CDXtract to get inside those soundfont with numerous banks. In there you can access the files. Afterwards I believe you can convert them for use in different samplers.

From the website

"CDXtract converts all your sampler CDs (Akai, Roland, EMU, Kurzweil...) and files (Giga, Soundfont, Kontakt, Halion, EXS24...) so that you can use them in your Sampler software."

From the above description it seems possible to make a soundfont with this app but I do not know how. If you get the app and figure it out let us know.

i have CDXtract and it allows me to look inside multiple soundfonts. I do not know how efficient the conversions are because I simply moved on to professional synths when SoundFont Synth died.

If you have soundfonts with multiple banks you can at least use CDXract to pull out the sound files and use them as loops one by one.

There is another workaround.

You can use the free soft synth crystal.

http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/download.html

It allows you to use a multiple band soundfont in its generators. Its a nice free synth but a real pain to figure out where to put all the files because it doesn't install itself and the files do not go where the files all other synths go.

I once outlined how to use the generators for access to multiple bank soudfonts in a long thread about it here in the forum with Schneb but I do not know if it is still around.

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Answer 4

jjokerdude Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2010 6:10 PM in response to WarriorAnt

Erm... Thanks. Does Crystal work with Garageband, or is it a standalone synth? I'd rather take the CDXtract thing; although the demo doesn't seem to be very helpful.

Ah, well. Thanks!

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Answer 5

WarriorAnt

Level 4

2,752 points

Feb 6, 2010 6:22 PM in response to jjokerdude

Crystal works in GB.

Soundfonts are a pain if you ask me.

If you are looking for sounds you might want to try the numerous free commercials synths that many companies offer for download.

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Answer 6

jjokerdude Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 6, 2010 6:49 PM in response to WarriorAnt

No, thanks. I have very specific sounds I like to work with... And they happen to be in the form of a soundfont.

I'll just make due with FL Studio for now, I guess.

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Answer 7

WarriorAnt

Level 4

2,752 points

Feb 7, 2010 12:37 AM in response to jjokerdude

I know what you mean. I made a few specialized sounds with some multiple bank soundfonts that I simply cannot recreate and when soundfontsynth disappeared it stopped me cold with those tracks. Now I just stay away from them.

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