Create new instrument using sound file?
Hello, I'm new to Musescore and I've got some questions. I think that this is the right place to ask the ones I have, though I'm not 100% on it. Anyways, I was wondering if it was possible to make a new instrument (or something else that would help) by importing a sound file (i.e. .wav, .mp3, etc.) and being able to use that as a playback sound. Just for example, if I recorded myself singing a note, would it be possible to use that sound of me singing the note when editing and playing the song back? If I arranged a piece, could I hear myself singing that note in different pitches, just as if it were any other instrument? If so, how?
Thanks, and sorry again if this isn't the right place to ask about this.
Comments
Yes, that is possible.
You will need to turn your recordings into either a soundfont (SF2 file) or an SFZ.
In some respects SFZ is easier to do this with than SF2 because you work with a script file which controls how a set of samples in a folder is played back, thus requiring no software to edit it.
If you want to know more about this a good starting point would be this web page....
http://www.sfzformat.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
The definitive specification is to be found in Simon Cann's book: Cakewalk Synthesisers, which would be a worthwhile investment if you intend to do anything serious with the SFZ format.
The drawback with SFZ though is that you have to do the file management side of things yourself, making sure that the samples are available in the correct folder, and if you want to distribute it to others you will have to package it all up complete with samples otherwise it won't work.
The other alternative, SF2 requires special software to create the file. On Windows there are broadly 2 editors you can use: Kenneth Rundt's Viena, and Davy Triponney's Polyphone, both of which are available free, but Viena is freeware with a restrictive licence and Polyphone is Open Source. Both are excellent tools for the purpose you require, although I think Polyphone has a limitation on the number of presets you can have, but if you're only producing one instrument that won't be a factor.
As a beginner you may want to look at Polyphone first as it has quite a lot of resources available on the website for a beginner. Anyway here are the links for you to download.....
Polyphone - http://polyphone-soundfonts.com/en/
Viena - http://www.synthfont.com/Downloads.html
Do come back here if you need further advice.
HTH
PS IF you are on Mac or Linux then Polyphone is the only soundfont editor I know of for your platform
In reply to Yes, that is possible. You by ChurchOrganist
Hey, thanks for the quick response, but I've only been able to respond myself due to visiting relatives. Anyways, I have both an SFZ format and SF2 format of the recording. What would be the next step? I'm still very new to this program and where to put new files.