Edit Drumset. . .

• Oct 18, 2012 - 03:47

So, I downloaded a neat soundfont with some really good percussion sounds, but they're not drumset sounds; they're just individual sounds. I would like to edit the drumset so that I can use them in a drumset staff (Yes, I could use channels, but then I can't use more than one at a time, and I want to cut down on the number of staves I use). Is there a way to edit drumset sounds, perhaps by adding instruments to the drums palette?


Comments

As things stand in 1.2 you will need to edit the soundfont you are using and put the samples from the new soundfont in it.

When 2.0 finally arrives, however, it will support the use of multiple soundfonts, so in theory you will be able to use these sounds alongside the default soundfont.

It is unknown, however, whether it will be possible to combine sounds from different fonts in the same drumset.

I have not tested the use of multiple soundfonts yet in the nightlies, so unfortunately I can't give any further advice at the moment.

HTH
Michael

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

I think you misunderstood my question. I've already combined the sound font with some others to make a good, high-quality sound font. My problem is that the percussion is just sounds in the mixer (like flute or oboe), and I need to put them in the drum set so I can use more than one sound at a time on a particular staff. Is this possible?

In reply to by iHasCheese

In order to use them in a drum set you need to have entered them all into a drum set in the sound font.

You can then assign the sounds in the Edit Drumkit dialogue in MuseScore.

If you need further help on this, can I suggest you post in the SoundFonts forum

There is dedicated upload space there for samples ans soundfonts associated with MuseScore.

You will just need to send me an email through my account here so I can send you the upload details.

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

Okay. So how do I enter them into the drum set in the soundfont?

And I'll gladly upload my soundfont on the forums when I'm done tweaking it for percussion. It took me a really long time to compile it, and it's really high quality, so I'm sure there's someone who could benefit from it. And of course anyone who wants to tweak it would be free to do so.

In reply to by iHasCheese

I take it you are familiar with the role of samples instruments and presets in the soundfont - if not say and I will explain.

To define a preset as a drumset you set its Bank number as 128.

Probably the best way forward to begin with is to edit one of the existing Drum presets in the Soundfont. You can then see how to get your sample to be treated as a one shot trigger rather than looped, and how to prevent the pitch being affected by key.

You may like to examine the tweaks I did to the TimGM6withDL soundfont to get 2 sets of cymbals going. You can find both of those at the MuseScore Soundfont Project filespace download area here: http://www.filefactory.com/f/2f5c9d8b1807368d

You will need SfArk to unpack my tweaked soundfont.

If you need any further advice, please come back.

HTH
MIchael

In reply to by ChurchOrganist

Thank you very much for your response! I think I understand what you're saying, though if you wouldn't mind indulging me, I'm not sure I know exactly how to edit a preset or change its bank number (or maybe I do and I'm just not familiar with the technical terms). Could you please explain? Thanks!

In reply to by iHasCheese

Good, because that is the editor I am most familiar with :)

In Viena you should have a frame down the left side of the window in which you can navigate through the various components of the soundfont ie samples, instruments and presets.

The presets are what are selected by the program change messages from MIDI, and are composed of one or more instruments.

Instruments are where a set of samples is put together to make a useable sound and also contain layering information, velocity and keyboard splits etc - this is where the main work of editing the soundfont goes.

Samples are the bottom level of the soundfont and you can do some basic editing of envelope and loop data.

Changing a preset's bank number is easy enough, you simply right click the preset and then choose Edit name from the context menu. A box will pop up and you can edit Bank number, Program number and name in the relevant boxes.

I have not yet found a way to edit a preset's instruments however, If you want to change that you have to create a new preset and then delete the old one.

HTH
Michael

I think I encountered this today when trying to transcribe drum and percussion parts into MuseScore.

I think ChurchOrganist's tutorial provides the answer? I will try it shortly :).

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