New ensemble strings: please test
I have finally completed the next major instrument upgrade for MuseScore: Ensemble strings based on samples from VSCO2 Community Edition. This ended up being a pretty ambitious undertaking. The VSCO2 samples needed a lot of editing and manipulation to result in something that responds well as an instrument.
The result is eight instrument sections (Violins, Violins 2, Violas, Violas 2, Celli, Celli 2, Basses, and All Strings) each with seven articulations (Fast, Slow, CC2, Staccato, Tremolo, Tremolo CC2, Pizzicato). The default sustained articulation for use in MuseScore should be "Fast", so that notes in fast passages will be audible. "Slow" can be used where a more lyrical tone is desired.
For the "CC2" presets, note volume (expression) is controlled by CC2 (MIDI controller #2), and the speed of the bowed attack is controlled by key velocity. The CC2 presets cannot currently be used by MuseScore, but future versions may be able to incorporate a fluid expression mode (e.g., crescendo on a single note). I will be designing all of the expressive instruments to be able to support this feature in the future. Meanwhile, the best way to experience this preset is with a nice keyboard and an expression pedal mapped to CC2. You will need to use FluidSynth or Sobanth VSTI to test this since MuseScore doesn't support CC input. Other SoundFont players (including editors like Viena and Polyphone) do not play this SoundFont correctly. Be sure to use a good reverb plugin when testing, as it will help everything sound more natural.
The second instrument sections (Violins 2, etc.) use various sample manipulation techniques so two sections of the same instrument can play in unison without sounding weird. Of these, only Violins 2 is likely to remain in the final integration with MuseScore_General.sf3, since the Violas 2 and Celli 2 sustained presets are subpar. The CC2 presets will be left out as well, until that day where MuseScore can do expressive dynamics. All of these decisions are yet to be made, so I would love to hear your feedback.
You can download the SoundFont here: MuseScore_VSCO2_Strings_1.0_BETA1.zip
More details are available in the included readme.md. Please test and let me know what you think.
Comments
I think your String Ensemble SoundFont will go PERFECTLY for the NEXT Update for the MuseScore General SoundFont!!!!!
As for the Violin Preset, are you able to use my Samples, or the samples from No Budget Orchestra/Virtual Playing Orchestra?
To my opinion, I think my samples would be better.
Hey Chris. I made some free sample instruments. http://alpineproject.wixsite.com/main.
I'd like to help if I can, and I have many high-quality PD samples. Send me a message on the about page of the website if you are interested at all.
-Noah
In reply to Hey Chris. I made some free… by [DELETED] 15302181
Oh muy gorsh yer samples are so beautiful man. I hope that these get included in a soundfont, but I'm also curious if you already have these in a GM soundfont.
In reply to Oh muy gorsh yer samples are… by speedmeteor101
Thanks, speedmeteor101! The strings are now included in the MuseScore_General SoundFont. You can check it out in the latest MuseScore_General.sf3 EDIT: not yet available with the MuseScore 3.0 beta, or download here for use in older MuseScore versions.
In reply to Thanks, speedmeteor101! The… by s.chriscollins
Are you sure? I still see a MuseScore_General-License,md that claims the soundfont to be version 0.1.1 from 25th March 2018
In reply to Are you sure? I still see a… by Jojo-Schmitz
Gah! You're right. My bad. The new SoundFont is not included with MuseScore yet, but should be with the next beta/RC.
In reply to Gah! You're right. My bad… by s.chriscollins
If so, it should also (and first) be included in the development builds, and for that (as well as for any build) it needs to get placed at ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/musescore/soundfont/MuseScore_General/ first, but it isn't there yet
In reply to Gah! You're right. My bad… by s.chriscollins
I still see the old SoundFont on the ftp server!?
In reply to I still see the old… by pthvogt
Yes, the new version of the soundfont was omitted from the new version of MuseScore due to size concerns (even though there’s now also a Lite version). You can get them here, though:
https://people.debian.org/~tg/sf/
In reply to Yes, the new version of the… by mirabilos
Should be mentioned on the Download page (or somewhere else), shouldn't it? I think, only a link inside the handbook sound font section would be overlooked.
In reply to Should be mentioned on the… by kuwitt
This is not official. This is just me publishing the Debian binaries in an easier-to-use format.
In reply to This is not official. This… by mirabilos
By suggestion of S. Christian Collins, the SF2 of the full soundfont is now also included. It’s huge, but it completely eliminates the long startup times and possible audio compression artefacts. This is now also in Debian (as
musescore-general-soundfont-lossless).I like it! Especially, the viola section, in my opinion, sounds very good.
I'm missing one thing though: the Basses group appears to be very small (for me it sounds as 1 bass only), as you say in the Readme. Hope you find some samples out there for assembling this important string section. Also, the pizzicato for the Celli ("Celli-Pizzicato") sound somewhat "thiny", as the VSCO sample were recorded for only one celli.
I've written and uploaded a test in https://musescore.com/user/28932047/scores/5332822 , but I gave up trying to upload it (via Save Online) after several attempts, so I uploaded a MuseScore 2.2 test playback with your soundfont to https://clyp.it/w5ogqtpw?token=63ab6e54bdf94a6f1cec168008095678
Very good work, keep on with it!
In reply to I like it! Especially, the… by dilon2001
Thanks, dilon2001! I was able to fatten up the bass section with additional layering of the samples. You can check it out in the latest version of MuseScore_General, which will be included in the next version of MuseScore.
In reply to I was able to fatten up the… by s.chriscollins
Hey, thanks!
I like
I went back and plugged these ensemble soundfonts into a score and they sound absolutely stunning in context. 👏👏👏
Hi s.chriscollins - I tested what I believe to be your new font. I installed Musescore_General_full.sf3 weeks ago. I believe its the very same you are speaking of.
I did string orch. pizz. I'll do another when I have another bout of writer's block.
https://musescore.org/en/node/281415
In reply to Hi s.chriscollins - I tested… by penne vodka
Nice! Now we just need to graft round-robin support into the SoundFont format to really make these samples come alive. :)