| Soundfont FAQs |
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[top] Where can I get quality FREE soundfonts?
Here are a few of my favorite links: [top] How do I create my own soundfont files? With TiMidity's ability to build custom cfg files that use instruments from different soundfont files or patches, it is not likely that the average user will ever need to create their own sf2 file. Try the Timidity sf2 Configurator first. If you insist, then I suggest Awave Studio to edit or create soundfonts. [top] Why does TiMidity sound strange on the fast part of some passages? This is probably a problem with the soundfont and not TiMidity. Fast, repeated notes, especially of the same pitch are the most difficult thing to emulate properly with a soundfont. Some pieces really demonstrate the problem, but there is not much that can be done. If you create a soundfont that works well for music with fast repeated notes, it will not sound good for most other types of music, so you pick the better of 2 evils and live with it. [top] How can I see the information on instruments in a .sf2 file? Assuming you want to do it for FREE, my first suggestion is to get the trial version of Alive Soundfont Editor. You cannot edit or save anything, but you can load and view soundfonts with the trial version, so you can see what instruments are in the soundfont and what Patch and Bank they are mapped to. Another option is the trial version of AWAVE Studio, but it expires after 30 days. [top] Why can't I hear anything with TiMidity when I use the trumpet.sf2 file I just downloaded? Many of the individual .sf2 files you get off of the internet are not mapped to the proper patch#. Usually they simply start with 0 and go up for whatever instruments they contain, or have the same patch# and diffferent bank#'s. This is not a problem when you get a full GM bank [top] What are the instruments in a standard GM soundfont? For GM Midi standards you might want to look at the GM Patch List. [top] What is the difference between Patches and Soundfonts? Patches are individual .pat files for each instrument and you need to configure every patch in your .cfg file. A soundfont is a .sf2 file and can contain samples for any number of instruments. You can list it only once in your .cfg file [top] Can I use soundfonts from different directories on my PC? Short answer is "YES". If you have trouble editing your .cfg file, you should try my TiMidity Sf2 Configure tool. [top] How do I replace an instrument on Bank #0 with one from Bank #1? Let's say you want to replace the trumpet with one that is in Bank 1. Here is what you would need in your .cfg file: You need to replace "xxxx.sf2" with your soundfont filename. Let me explain this a little better. The first line "bank 0" means you are going to remap some instrument in bank 0. The first number in the second line specifies the instrument you want to remap, in this case 56 trumpet. The %font tells Timidity that you are planning to use a .sf2 file not a .pat file. Next is the soundfont filename followed by the bank number,1, and instrument number, 56, in the new soundfont. Of course you could always try my TiMidity Sf2 Configure tool. [top] How do I change soundfonts when I am listening to midi files with TiMidity? [top] Why does it sound the same when I change soundfonts with TiMidity? You probably have an error in your .cfg file. Here is how to Debug Your .cfg File to see if your soundfont is loading properly [top] How do I configure TiMidity to replace drum samples in a soundfont? Well, there might be a better way, but here is what I do. Let's say your base.cfg file looks like this: Here is what it should look like to use the standard drumset 0, and room drumset 8, from soundfont SC55GM.sf2: Here is the explanation. First TiMidity loads the SC55GM.sf2 file, then it loads mybase.sf2 over top of it. TiMidity will use mybase.sf2 since it was loaded last. The "font exclude 128 0" line excludes the drumset 0 from the loaded sf2 (mybase.sf2) leaving the drumset 0 from SC55GM.sf2 still remaining. Same for the line "font exclude 128 8". [top] Is there a way to change instruments in drum patches (for example change bank 128 preset 0 #80 to #81 in the standard kit) using the config file? You can change any instrument you want in a drumset. If you are using soundfonts then this is an example of how you would change instrument #80, the triangle in the room drumset 8 to be the same as triangle #81 in the same drumset. To use a different drumset, just replace the 8 in both lines with another drumset, like "0" for the standard set, and of course you can change the volume and panning as desired as well: [top] How do I get TiMidity to use my soundcard? TiMidity will not use your soundcard, only .sf2 or .pat files are used to render midi. If you already are satisfied with the quality of midi sound provided by your soundcard, I suggest WinAmp 2.91. [top] I have a midi that plays drums, so why does it sounds like a piano with TiMidity? TiMidity use channel 10 as the default drum channel. Your midi probably uses a different channel. Here is how you can change the drum channel for TiMidity: Be sure to change it back to 10 when you are done or all your other midi files will sound strange. [top] How do I configure TiMidity to use Jeux Organ Soundfont (Jeux14.sf2)? I did some experimenting with the Jeux14.sf2 and TiMidity. Here is what I found out. Jeux14.sf2 has 128 instruments (0-127) on bank 0, which you are supposed to map to bank 42, and 76 instrument (0-75) on bank 1, which you are supposed to map to bank 43. In TiMidity, there is no simple way to map everything in one bank to another. You would have to define each instrument, 0-127 for bank 42 and then 0-75 again for bank 43. A simple .cfg solution follows:
This loads the Jeux14.sf2 and uses it regardless of what bank the midi has in it. The only drawback is that the Jeux14.sf2 also has instruments 0-75 defined on bank 1 that you are supposed to map to bank 43. If the midi used bank 43, you would not hear the correct instruments. If you are set on getting it done correctly, here is what the .cfg would have to look like. You need to fill in all of the remaining instruments in the ...... section:
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