New: Aegean Symphonic Orchestra Soundfont Sf2
A gift to Musescore users: Aegean Symphonic Orchestra, SF2 Soundfont.
For classical music; in SF2 format, Balanced and GM compatible.
Details, Samples and Download: https://sites.google.com/view/hed-sounds/aegean-symphonic-orchestra
Comments
Thank you! I do intend to run it through the Tchaikovsky test to see how it turns out.
In reply to Thank you! I do intend to run by Elwin
I love the tests.
I would appreciate it if you told me which files you used for the test (I've always wondered what kind of tests other people do).
If these files are not available online (in musescore.com) and you add them here, I can also test them.
Thank you for attention. :)
In reply to I love the tests. I would by Ziya Mete Demircan
I'm currently listening to the 1812 Overture played by Agean Symphonic Orchestra. Here's what I notice instantly.
1) It is a little lacking in depth.
2) There are certain notes in the woodwinds that tend to dominate over the entire Orchestra.
3) Section strings are astounding, They blend really well.
4) The Solo strings do not sound like strings at all. You might want to check that out.
Over all, I am impressed with This SoundFont. The only thing I don't like is the Solo Strings, as well as some notes in Woodwinds.
In reply to I'm currently listening to… by Elwin
Can you export the 1812 overture to flac and share it with me? I would love to give more insight on this soundfont as well.
In reply to Can you export the 1812… by ♪𝔔𝔲𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔯 ℭ𝔯𝔞𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯♪
Due to its large size, it is extremely hard to do. I just downloaded the 1812 Overture from OpenScore and then switched the SoundFont.
In reply to Due to its large size, it is… by Elwin
OpenScore is up now?
I guess I could do that when I am at my computer. And maybe test Dvorák's ninth symphony.
In reply to I'm currently listening to… by Elwin
Notice and suggestions:
1. You can try different reverbation settings.
2. With mixer settings: you can increase the volume of strings or reduce the volume of woodwinds.
3.
4. Violin solo, viola solo, cello solo, contrabass solo instruments are not solo strings (group). These are solo instruments. (solo violin = 1 violin)
In reply to Notice and suggestions:… by Ziya Mete Demircan
1) I tried it with the settings you suggested. I am not good with reverb settings, so I'll leave that alone
2) It is certain notes within the instrument that dominate.
4) I am aware that solo instruments are not group instruments. What I wanted to point out was that the sound is less realistic.
In reply to 1) I tried it with the… by Elwin
When I created this SoundFont, the main idea was that SoundFont was balanced in itself.
Please specify your thoughts on problems and balancing here.
I can make version 2.3 by doing some fixes on this.
As far as I've seen so far, most of the instruments have what seems to be a metallic (or echo?) sound to it. Perhaps this is reverb? I'm not sure. When I listen to the entire symphonic orchestra it sounds good.
In reply to As far as I've seen so far, by mike320
Since the samples on the site are compressed using ogg, the quality may be somewhat lower. (Average bitrate is 113kbps)
If you are testing on your own computer: Have you tried listening by switching off (or adjusting) the reverb? Also, turn off the compressor if it is on.
There is no reverb or echo effect on the original VPO2 samples.
I tested your https://musescore.com/user/6105546/scores/2522981 file (William Tell Overture). It sounded pretty good on my computer (with "Aegean Symphonic Orchestra" soundfont) :)
Test it: https://soundcloud.com/ziya-mete-demircan/william-tell-overture-aegean-… (320kbs VBR) (Because of the compression, Cymbals and High-frequencies will not be sound well. These problems are not present in the original SoundFont and in the original wav file I exported. It is caused by compression.)
In reply to As far as I've seen so far, by mike320
I understand what the "metallic" problem is today :)
Some parts of this SoundFont are extremely stereo.
If the headphone or speaker jack is loose, or the sound comes from only one channel (for some other reason), then sounds are strangely metallic. Because you hear plus the reverb of the other channel (In addition to the sound of the channel you normally listen to).
I think it is necessary to try to listen to the stereo (check that the connections are tight and to have both speakers are on).
In the hall of the mountain King did pretty well: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10WnvNtGq4tXfyTiUtmo-Cxvcxlrs9QgS/view?…
In reply to In the hall of the mountain… by ♪𝔔𝔲𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔯 ℭ𝔯𝔞𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯♪
It sounds so good.
It's like a real orchestra.
Good mix and panning also.
Congrats.
In reply to It sounds so good… by Ziya Mete Demircan
With other soundfonts I had problems with the bassoon not sounding quite right. I had the same problem with ASO but I wondered how it would sound with the dark bassoon as Grieg intended that part to be dark and mysterious. The dark bassoon works so well for the start so that's what I have there. The only problem is in the beginning every line is accented with a stopped horn. I used sordino horn because it sounded more similar to stopped horn than open horn but it still is different. Thinking about it, what it was missing was the nasal quality. Oboes possess a lot of this quality so I will duplicate the part on a hidden stave of oboe. Maybe I should use dark oboe.
In reply to It sounds so good… by Ziya Mete Demircan
I actually used percussion from the soundfont +Orch battery because it's better. You should consider adding this soundfont to ASO. It has some things that a GM orchestra kit doesn't have like a suspended cymbal and a piccolo snare. You can get +Orch battery here:
http://www.freesoundvault.com/sounds/misc_percussion/
In reply to In the hall of the mountain… by ♪𝔔𝔲𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔯 ℭ𝔯𝔞𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔯♪
The pizzicatos sound gorgeous!
Here's a suggestion, for each of the String sections, add a "Solo" articulation, so that way should the composer desire a "Solo" within the section, an extra staff doesn't have to be added.
I'd love to try your soundfont with Musescore but ... If I follow the link to Google Drive I can only download a file: "ASO-sf2_2.7z which I cannot open. Changing the extension to "zip" or "sit" doesn't help.
In reply to I'd love to try your… by Bob Hesse
You need the "7-zip" program
In reply to You need the "7-zip" program by Marc Sabatella
Thanks. I'm running on a Mac but I opened with a generic expanding app. I just installed and opened a Carmina Burana midi file. Without touching anything WOW. This is a game changer! Thanks,
Bob
I tried out this SoundFont, and it sounds AWESOME!!! I would definitely say that the samples came from Virtual Playing Orchestra, No Budget Orchestra, Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra, etc.
Can someone explain how to use the aso-instruments.xml file. The last time I used a file, I ended up with channels for both the default xml and the added xml file every time I added an instrument (so for example every flute was defined twice in the mixer).
In reply to Can someone explain how to… by mike320
Sometimes what you say is happening for me too, but not always.
I used the following definitions (in aso-instruments.xml file) so that the software doesn't mix instruments:
"aso- prefix" and special genre definition "asoorch":
example:
But, maybe it probably wasn't enough. (Or there is a bug somewhere in MS)
Maybe the only place where the software can fall into the trap:
//Because I can't use special additions (prefix, postfix, insert) here.
I don't know.
But; Following is absolutely normal:
some instruments uses 2 channels.
1 Flute;
2 Dark Flute (Sordino)
...
1 Clarinet;
2 Dark Clarinet (Sordino)
...
1. Vibraphone (Auto Damp)
2. Vibraphone (Open)
some uses 4 channels:
1. Violin Section;
2. Violin Section-pizzicato;
3. Violin Section-tremolo;
4. Violin Section-sordino
some uses 6 channels:
String Ensemble-pizzicato
String Ensemble-tremolo
String Ensemble-sordino
String Ensemble-sordino and pizzicato
String Ensemble-sordino and tremolo
It is especially set up so that it can be used easily with the staff-text.
In reply to Sometimes what you say is… by Ziya Mete Demircan
I haven't tried your instruments file yet, because I don't want to have the same problem again. I know you made the definitions to take advantage of the extra sounds you created, but I only want 4 channels for my violin section-not 7.
What do I do in the preferences to make sure only one set of definitions is used. I'm hoping someone knows how to make it work correctly.
In reply to I haven't tried your… by mike320
Maybe there is a bug; and it's triggered on with some special conditions. (and I haven't figured out how yet.)
In reply to Maybe there is a bug; and it… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Until there is a better answer I'll continue with my current process of using an instrument with enough channels and changing the name, transposition, sounds in the mixer...
I simply cannot figure out how to get this into Musescore. Please provide a step-by-step procedure. None of those provided mean anything to me. For example, I have no idea what to do with a 7z file. I've tried to download software to handle it, but it doesn't work. I've downloaded the other files and unzipped them, but I don't know what to do with them. There is no clear explanation.
In reply to I simply cannot figure out… by Michael E. Henderson
The 7z file is a zipped file. There is a program called 7zip https://www.7-zip.org/download.html that is used for these files. When you open the archive (which is what a zipped file is called) you can unzip the .sf2 file to the location of your soundfonts and point Instrument list 2 t the instruments.xml file that's included.
In reply to The 7z file is a zipped file… by mike320
Thanks, got it to work, but it doesn't seem to make any difference in the sound, and it even did away with pizz. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.
In reply to Thanks, got it to work, but… by Michael E. Henderson
To default to use the Aegean soundfont, have it listed first in the synthesizer. Also, make sure you change instruments to those from the ASO section in the instruments list. This way the definitions and sounds match. if you don't use the ASO instruments, you have to use the mixer and assign sounds. Keep in mind, the sounds listed in the mixer have all of the first soundfont sounds listed, then the second and so forth.
I love your soundfont, but there's a little bit of a problem:
1. The strings are good, like the violin, etc.
2. Can you improve the sound quality of the piano?
It helps you enhance the soundfont you have.
3. No other piano?
In reply to I love your soundfont, but… by user1398128561
Thank you for using this soundfont :)
For the Aegean Symphonic Orchestra, I used the original soundfont (sfz) to develop the instruments (VSO and SSO).
There is also Salamander C5 Lite (Yamaha) piano on the same site.
You can try it too.
After the years...
Finally a maintenance update is being prepared.
Since this is a maintenance update, it does not include a new feature or a new instrument.
Version number: 2.3
Estimated release time: December 19 2019
Next month we will start working for the new major version.
Version number: 3.1
Things to do:
In this version the sound-quality may differ slightly from the previous ones.
Estimated release time: January 22 2020
If you have any requests for v3.1, please specify.
In reply to Next month we will start… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Complements on how absolutely wonderful the soundfont is with the new expressive changes.
In reply to Complements on how… by LuuBluum
Thank you very much for your kindness.
In reply to Thank you very much for your… by Ziya Mete Demircan
If I did have to make a request (not sure how difficult this would be), but I noticed that the individual string sections (violins, violas, etc) lack sord + trem, which the "string ensemble" instrument has. If nothing else, is it possible to add in sord + trem for all the other string sections, even if it is just switching over to the string ensemble's audio for that?
I know that it's possible to just do an instrument change every time it comes up, but there's two issues with that. Firstly, adjusting mixer options such as pan for an instrument change requires opening up the score as a text file, finding the change, and adjusting it manually. This, naturally, is a terrible workflow. Secondly, though I am not entirely certain, I recall there being problems if you add too many instrument changes to a score- the score can't process that number of instrument changes, and eventually every part just becomes strings.
I don't know whether this is possible (or even coherent), but it would certainly help a lot.
Same request applies to sord + pizz, naturally.
In reply to If I did have to make a… by LuuBluum
You want: additional sordino+trem and sordino+pizz sub-patches for violins, violas, celli and basses, right?
Since I don't have such samples, I can do it like other pizz / trem-sordino patches (imitiating). But I don't know how satisfying it can be :)
In reply to You want: additional sordino… by Ziya Mete Demircan
I will take the imitation. If it's anything like the version for string ensemble, it's actually quite nice.
In reply to I will take the imitation… by LuuBluum
Version 3.2 will be available tomorrow or the next day, with some minor tuning problems I can't handle, and fixing some non-existent instruments in instruments.xml. (also with including patches you want)
In reply to Version 3.2 will be… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Hi, Ziya!!!
Can you give me a good course about how to use a soundfont editor (like Polyphone)? ???
I want to do something I don't know if we can do: To take some instruments from a soundfont file and put it into another soundfont file (replacing the original sounds) and, then, to create a new soundfont file, with a new name. Too much Sci-Fic? Can We do that? ???
In reply to Hi, Ziya!!! Can you give me… by jotape1960
Just copy and paste Presets.
Use the "new soundfont" button (in Polyphone).
Open the other soundfont.
Copy the Presets you like.
Paste into the "Presets" section of your newly created empty soundfont.
When you're done, open another soundfont.
and continue copy and paste.
And save the your new soundfont that is no longer empty. :)
After a while, you notice that the sound balances of instruments (and sometimes tunings) do not match.
Open your new soundfont and let real work begin.
In reply to I will take the imitation… by LuuBluum
Soundfont updated to version 3.2 :)
v3.2
+ Adding sordino+pizz and trem+pizz patches to violins, violas celli and basses. (requested)
+ some tuning corrections.
+ version 3.1 removed
In reply to Updated :) by Ziya Mete Demircan
I see the sounds available in the mixer, but I can't seem to switch to it through staff text, like I can with the string ensemble.
In reply to I see the sounds available… by LuuBluum
Staff text is only for switching channels of a single instrument. To select the sound in general, use the Mixer.
In reply to Staff text is only for… by Marc Sabatella
Right, and the request (and his intent, I imagine) was so that sord. pizz., and sord. trem., would be channels available to the various string sections rather than just the string ensemble.
In reply to Right, and the request (and… by LuuBluum
Maybe I’m missing something, but that has nothing to do with the soundfont, it’s an attribute of the instruments.xml file you are using.
In reply to Maybe I’m missing something,… by Marc Sabatella
Huh. Checking the instruments.xml file that came with it, the channels are there. However, they don't appear in Musescore proper- I just checked to be sure, and I did set my second instrument file to be the correct file (the one that comes with the soundfont).
EDIT: Nevermind, figured it out- I have to go in and manually change the instruments to themselves to get them to read from the new instruments.xml file rather than defaulting to what they read from the old,
In reply to Huh. Checking the… by LuuBluum
Yes, when you specify a new instrument-xml, you need to redefine the instrument (Staff/Part properties => Change Instrument).
Only in this way can new settings in Instrument-xml be redefined into the existing score.
Soundfont updated to version 3.5
v3.5 (for musescore, SND) & 2.5 (universal) revisions:
Major bug fixed: "-" sign in Filter-cutoff-modulator was missing (in all instruments), it is now fixed.
All Instrument levels and attenuations corrected (including percussions and drum-sets)
+ Now it is much more balanced.
In reply to Soundfont updated to version… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Hi, Ziya!!!
"Houston, we have a problem, here!"
I downloaded the last update (3.5) and I put it into my soundfont folder, and I added to the MuseScore Synthesizer, but... It doesn't sound!!!
I tested all the possible Symphonic Orchestra instruments I know and... NOTHING!!! Not sound at all!!!
All the other soundfonts work so fine (included the previous version of Aegean). So...
What's wrong, here? ???
BTW: I'm using MuseScore 3.4.1 Portable AppImage in Ubuntu Studio 19.10 (64 bit Linux).
In reply to Hi, Ziya!!! "Houston, we… by jotape1960
I have now tested and haven't seen a problem.
Most likely the expressive / non expressive settings are clashing with default settings.
For ASO, the "non-expressive" button means "All expressive"; but for the default (ms_general) soundfont, this is the opposite.
You should use it with the settings shown on the site. (See Adjustments" section)
You may also need to use the "Save to Score" button if another soundfont was previously defined/saved in the score.
[Edit:]
For ASO v3_5, I re-added a test file that had been preset (see attachment).
Open the file,
Click the "Load from score" button on the synthesizer;
and play it.
In reply to I have now tested and have… by Ziya Mete Demircan
I followed all the steps the ASO page says and... NOTHING!!!
Curiously, with your test file it works!!!
I don't know what to say...
BTW: Something I don't understand is why we have to change the settings on the MuseScore synthesizer each time we use a different soundfont file(s). Wouldn't be there some kind of "universal compatible" setting, whatever the soundfont file we would want to use, at any time? ???
In reply to I followed all the steps the… by jotape1960
General Midi is that, but it is not universal. It is spotted by a lot of soundfonts, including ASO.
Hello Ziya,
first of all, thanks for your efforts to provide such a complete soundfont.
I'm trying to use single note dynamics on timpani rolls, but it seems not working. Do you know why?
Enrico
In reply to Hello Ziya, first of all,… by EnricoM
I couldn't find the source of the problem.
It also seems that something has changed in the software.
timpani-roll is not working at all with SND (in the current nightlies).
Works on version 3.3.4.9066; but that version also has a different problem (about ties).
I don't know what they changed again.
In reply to I couldn't find the source… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Current nightly builds include a pretty large-scale reorganization of the SND code, to make it easier to maintain, easier to enhance in the future. Definitely testing and bug reports are very welcome!
In reply to Current nightly builds… by Marc Sabatella
I'm currently using the official 3.4.2:
OS: macOS 10.15, Arch.: x86_64, MuseScore version (64-bit): 3.4.2.25137, revision: 148e43f
In reply to Current nightly builds… by Marc Sabatella
We cannot blindly test without knowing what has changed in this area and how these changes have used.
Only the people who made the change definitions know what it is.
We only come up with surprises and we don't know what to do.
In reply to We cannot blindly test… by Ziya Mete Demircan
In theory, nothing changed from a user perspective, just the implementation behind the hood. So basically, just do the normal things you do with SND and make sure they still work. Really not much more I can say than that since I didn't implement it. But the change became active in the nightlies a few days ago only.
After using this soundfont for quite a while on a variety of works, I hope the feedback/comments I provide is useful to those who are trying to improve it. I used it primarily for wind ensemble/concert band works, so I don't have much to comment about the strings.
First off, the single-note dynamics ability is truly amazing and certainly a pleasant surprise from the Sonatina Symphonic soundfont I had before, which did not support SND.
Most section ("Sect.") instruments for winds and brass sound rather synthesized, with the exception of the oboe. The solo banks are exceptionally realistic, so I used those instead.
The dark/sord. instruments were not practical for me, as the solo instruments I used were not overly dark or bright; I only used the sord. clarinet solo for bass clarinets for lyrical passages, as the bs. cl. can get too reedy. These took up a lot of the mixer space (Can we have a search function for the mixer?).
The sord. for brass is not equivalent to actual mutes; they're just darker, not brighter/"nasal"-ier. I haven't found a good muted brass font besides this harmon mute for trumpet (I think no SND): https://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1133791
The articulations for WW and brass seem a bit heavy, but usually only during lyrical passages.
For a wind ensemble setting at least, I had to turn the woodwind velocities down (WW: 60-70, Brass: 100) to mimic the balance in a real setting. For orchestra, I'd probably need to keep the strings at least at 100 velocity. REVERB IS ESSENTIAL!
Timpani hits are good, rolls not so much; I have an excellent percussion bank with better rolls that I'm not sure where I sourced from...they were all SFZs.
The "Orchestra Percussion" is decent, but I find the "All Percussion" from SSO to be much better, mainly for its suspended cymbal rolls. The glockenspiel sounds great but seems to be at least two octaves higher than it should be? Might just be a notation setting error from my end.
No euphonium/baritone soundfont, but the dark solo horn is a surprisingly good substitute for me.
No saxophone soundfonts, also never able to find a good classical sax patch either.
Pipe organ is legendary, mainly because I can actually change the velocity through dynamics (unlike the one from SSO, I'm not sure why).
There's contrabassoon?!?! Heck yea! Though usually those are quite soft so sadly must be lowered in mixer.
I still use SSO for its percussion and its sustained french horns, which are amazingly brassy (but no SND) for those feature horn parts. Prob makes my mixer chug a lot but I get by.
To me, the "Old Grand Piano" is the only realistic-sounding piano option; seems to be the same as the "Concert Grand Piano" from SSO.
Choir is the usual meh, don't think there's any good choir patch (just held vowels) unless you pay $$ for something from Spitfire Audio or something.
Section strings and their extended techniques seem good, though I haven't tried any of the solo ones besides the one for string bass. I've sometimes had problems with solo strings glitching with the audio from SSO.
Overall, amazing free soundfont without its faults. But with some integration with other patches, I'm pretty satisfied with what I am capable of sound-wise. Can't wait to see what's next in this realm!
In reply to After using this soundfont… by Quinn Ouyang
Hi!
I use MuseScore Portable AppImage 3.4.2 inside Ubuntu Studio 20.04 (last 64 bit Linux OS).
I've tried to use Aegean Symphonic Orchestra V. 3.5 soundfont (the version to MuseScore), but... I cannot to get any sound from it! !!!
Whatever other soundfont I use in the MuseScore synthesizer... Sounds!!! Not Aegean.
What's wrong here? ???
Maybe some MIDI patch numbers incompatibility? ???
(If this was the case... Why no to build soundfonts following the Universal Standard MIDI patches list? ???)
How can I work around this? ???
Blessings and Greetings from Chile!!!
JUAN
In reply to Hi! I use MuseScore Portable… by jotape1960
I'm not familiar with Linux OS; did you try the soundfont that is customized for MuseScore? See this: https://sites.google.com/view/hed-sounds/aegean-symphonic-orchestra , it should be one of the first download links. Download it, move it into the "Soundfonts" folder, and add and save it in the Synthesizer.
In reply to I'm not familiar with Linux… by Quinn Ouyang
Now I can see clearly it is about the internal "map" of sound patches (instruments) of ASO. As it is not the same GM uses, of course I don't get sounds (because my MuseScore files are made following the GM patches order). Why not to make an ASO soundfont file with the GM patches order? ???
In reply to Now I can see clearly it is… by jotape1960
ASO, follows GM patch order.
It has additional banks for patches that do not exist in GM.
It is also mentioned on the site and in the Instrument list.
In reply to After using this soundfont… by Quinn Ouyang
You might also want to check out this soundfont. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MF-6vIYrdR0Wa3is_Z1W9_K_j0JPGqu…
This is a wonderful soundfont, but I seem to run into a problem with some instruments(The glock and Timpani specifically) they work just fine in the Musescore app but seem to disappear in the export. Is there anything that could be done to fix this problem?
In reply to This is a wonderful… by Who_Knows
Also after clicking under view->synthesizer the button "save to score"?
In reply to Also after clicking under… by kuwitt
Yes, They still don't work in the Mp3 file, the other's seem to work though
In reply to Yes, They still don't work… by Who_Knows
If the instrument's sound is playing in the software, it must also exist in export.
If not, this could be a new bug.
In reply to Yes, They still don't work… by Who_Knows
Maybe related: https://musescore.org/en/node/316051
In reply to Maybe related: https:/… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Doesn't exist ?!
In reply to Doesn't exist ?! by Jojo-Schmitz
corrected
In reply to Maybe related: https:/… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Yes, They do seem to be connected. It turns out all I had to do was enable "use-signal note dynamics" in the Part/Stave Settings, the export works fine now, Thank you.
This is perhaps a rather specific request, but is it possible that you could make a patch for various instruments (at the very least woodwinds and strings) where it is the same as the normal patch, except just the sustain portion (i.e. cut out the attack)?
My idea here is that, and this isn't your fault in particular (to my knowledge no soundfont includes what I'm asking), but instruments that have the means to continuously transition from one to another can't really do so properly- every note sounds like it is initiating a new note. It would be as if a violinist played the entire piece spiccato. However, if the instrument were to have a patch that starts in the middle of the sample rather than the start, switching to that patch after the first note (and switching back after the sequence of notes is done) should theoretically sound perfectly nice and continuous; a true legato playback.
I have no idea whether this is feasible, of course, and no clue how much work it would be (let alone whether it'll actually work), but I think it has considerable potential to give a sound to playback that Musescore has never had before.
In reply to This is perhaps a rather… by LuuBluum
Thank you for this nice post with good ideas.
Let me explain some things:
In fact, this soundfont has two parts for sounds
1.Attack part
2.Sustain part
and these parts are used by combining.
Almost fifty percent of the sound characteristics of the instruments come from the attack part (maybe more). Therefore, it is imperative to preserve this part - even if only a little.
In fact, when we only listen to the sustain part, we hear that the sound still starts in a similar way (ie sharp) to the attack part because the sound doesn't start slowly. It starts suddenly at the loudness of the sustain part. In order to deal with this, it is necessary to give a long initial value to the attack-time from the soundfont parameters.
I did this (by trial / error) on ASO-soundfont and instruments have a high attack time of almost "0.060". Values higher than this result in delay and low volume for notes with 16th and lower values. (And you say a little more than exist to describe it, no instruments in ASO sound like spiccato. You only have to hear the attack part a little bit :P ).
Of course, an additional sub-bank (eg slow-violin) can be put for each instrument and switch to it as you said, but this switch/bank-change can be used to change the notes in the score each time (for the starting of the violin-bow, and for the continuation of the violin-bow) it has to be put by hand, and after a while this action becomes boring. In addition, the number of banks starts to increase gradually (x2).
Your opinion is good, but the Soundfont technology unfortunately doesn't have a parameter to handle this. If there was an "X-fade transition" feature or a "mono-legato" playback parameter, this could be easily (though not fully) simulated.
There are actually some MIDI commands that can be used in mono-legato(portamento). But in order for them to be implemented, it is necessary to make some improvements to Musescore's synthesizer and to allow some parameters for soundfont-developers (at least in instrument.xml) to be implemented.
It would be better to think that playing the scores you wrote is a simple pre-listening / simulation / faking, rather than thinking that all instrument techniques will be played exactly. :/
Maybe Musescore v4 will allow the use of some advanced MIDI parameters. But when that time comes, everyone will be using VST or something, and our soundfonts will perhaps be thrown away (except for a few enthusiasts and its creator who still uses it). :)
In reply to Thank you for this nice post… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Ah, fair enough. I suppose I'll have to wait until Musescore 4 to see if I can ever expand what I do beyond piano.
For what it's worth, I mostly use Musescore as a means of providing the best "faking it" that I can muster- my goal is to try and digitally reproduce human-like performances to the best that can be expected. At least with piano pieces, I have all of the tools that I really need to do so. It's just expanding beyond piano that proves beyond the capabilities of the software at the moment. We shall see with Musescore 4 if I can finally transcribe Medtner's Sonata Epica and have it sound as it should.
In reply to Ah, fair enough. I suppose I… by LuuBluum
Your effort is truly admirable.
I also had this effort. I often used MIDI parameters (in Midi editors) to even write a proper guitar line.
It's nice to see that there are people who still have this motivation.
In reply to Your effort is truly… by Ziya Mete Demircan
I use several methods. Sometimes I export Musescore files to Midi, and then use a DAW - several - including perhaps LMMS, Logic, Reaper with various different sound libraries. This can get closer to some effects, but it can be a lot of work.
I don't think tweaking pieces in a DAW is worthwhile unless the piece is already in a near finished state, as the changes don't "push back" along the workflow line. You can make a change in MS and that would (or should) be reflected in a change in Midi/DAW output, but tweaking at the DAW stage doesn't affect the notation representation - or at least not sensibly. There are DAWs which can output notation from their representation (MIDI?) but the notation is usually very difficult to use. If anyone has ever tried to work back from a Midi file to notation they will understand what I mean.
It's easy to do that - find a Midi file -there are many of those in Midi archives/repositories, and import it into MuseScore and see if it makes any sense to you. It probably won't.
I have heard good things of NotePerformer, which I think is a targetted aim for MuseScore 4 - or at least a sound facility similar in quality to that one.
You can also export MusesScore files as MuscXML, and then import into other notation software tools such as Sibelius. Probably most users won't do that, as those tools are more expensive to purchase and use, but MuseScore does provide a transition path. That can be useful for a musician/composer who starts with MS and then decides to make some form of career out of music/recording etc., and may be able to gain access to the more expensive systems later on.
In reply to This is perhaps a rather… by LuuBluum
that is very well possible in a soundfont, but not in Musescore, because this program uses Velocity instead of Control 8 (Volume) for setting the Volume of a note.
in a soundfond you can trigger every sample at a specific velocity value, so it is easy to let a note play 1 or 2 samples (for example; a Spiccato sample AND a Legato sample at velocities above, say , 90, and just the Legato sample at velocities below that value) .
regards bottrop
Unfortunately, the sound quality has decreased considerably because some of the soundfont modulator settings in my ASO soundfont do not work properly with the "Expr" features of the Musescore software.
Also, users usually work with Musescore software's default synthesizer settings, which does not match the structure of the ASO soundfont. Timbre, attack and frequency changes and modulator settings depending on Velocity-values do not occur. Users unfortunately cannot hear the beautiful timbre of this soundfont as in Musescore 2.x.
For this reason, I started working to make the ASO soundfont compatible with Musescore's default soundfont (with expr patches).
Since I have to change some additional patch numbers for this new version, it will not be compatible with the old one. // Except for basic GM patches.
The reason I did this is because the beautiful samples included in the soundfont can be used for a while with a new MuseScore compatible soundfont. I even canceled another soundfont project for this reason.
It takes about a month to complete (including the time required for tests).
Soundfont has been updated.
Compatible with Musescore_General (and HQ) soundfont and Single Note Dynamics.
//Contains Orchestral patches only.
https://sites.google.com/view/hed-sounds/aegean-symphonic-orchestra
In reply to Soundfont has been updated… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Can you do flautando on the strings?
In reply to Can you do flautando on the… by TheBlockofSwis…
I don't have any samples for this :(
I tried to emulate it with parameters but the result was nothing like it.
In reply to I don't have any samples for… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Oh :(
Soundfont updated:
Revision 4.02: Sordino parameters used in 2.x versions of Musescore differ in 3.x versions using CC02. Therefore, Attenuation corrections were required. It has been replaced with an emergency fix version for this situation that was noticed at the last minute.
Soundfont updated; Demos added.
Revision 4.06: The orchestra's overall instrument levels were tested by listening to test-scores with over-ear headphones in many different sessions, and many attenuation settings were adjusted to be more appropriate.
Soundfont updated to v4.08; 2 audio demos of this version have been added to the site.:
Revision 4.08: Improvements have been made to Keyboard instruments and Harp, and many attenuation settings on instrument levels have been adjusted to be more appropriate.
Hi, first of all thank you for your hard work on this lovely soundfont.
Does the soundfont needs to be the first in the synthesizer list for the staff text properties to work? Because I only managed to make the mute/arco/pizzicato/etc options work that way. If the soundfont is not the first it they became all bungled up, or is there any way to make it work that I'm missing?
In reply to Hi, first of all thank you… by Nuno R. Rodrigues
This soundfont was originally intended to be used alone (and for symphonic works).
But it's true that other soundfonts (if any) should be in second, third, etc... order.
In reply to This soundfont was… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Thanks. I'm using the option of saving/loading the synthesizer settings on each score, which takes care of that.
In reply to Thanks. I'm using the option… by Nuno R. Rodrigues
> any way to make it work
I've added my experience working with instruments.xml to this page on dev handbook recently
In reply to > any way to make it work I… by msfp
Cheers, that gives me a picture of what's going behind the scenes.
Hi. I have just come across this thread.
Please accept my admiration for your efforts and persistence.
:)