how to convert mp3 software instrument samples to format garageband can use

Question

Level 1

4 points

how to convert mp3 software instrument samples to format garageband can use

Hi and thanks in advance.

I'm using GB '08 on OSX 10.4.11 w/ a G4 MDD. ( Sorry folks, This is the setup that I have and cannot buy a new computer or software at this time)

I'm pretty new too DAW and all of this but want to compose music with traditional orchestra sounds as well as what GB offers.

I have found Muse Score and I can get some pretty good results for writing but I want to expand the software instrument voices that GB has.

I found http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange/make_music/samples/library/

and they have some pretty good sounding software instruments for free, except that they are in mp3 format.

I did some reading and see that GB understands a different format for this. I put some of the sounds into the correct GB folder as a test and result is of course no go. I see that GB uses exs and cst files in addition to wav and aff files.

How do I convert mp3 software instrument samples to the formats garageband can use? Is there a way? What would I need to do this?

Thanks again..

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 11, 2012 6:43 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 11, 2012 8:52 AM in response to 0random1

The first step would probably be to convert the samples into AIFF files, that's what GB's sample files are in.

But so far that's only a collection of samples - what you need is a sampler file that tells the software which sample to trigger with which key (the .exs files in GB's instrument library).

Since your software is old, t works pretty well with soundfonts (the latest versions have problems), so you might try this software to create them:

http://sonicamigos.com/polyphontics/

All about soundfonts:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Tutorials/SoundFonts.html

P.S.: The softare costs $60, but you can create 10 instruments for free.

Reply

Answer 2

0random1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 11, 2012 9:03 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

thanks for your reply. I'll check this out and do some more studying

Reply