Cowbell (for latin)
Hi, does anyone know if it is possible to create different sounds with a cowbell with musescore. I guess this is possible with midi etc but just wondered if anyone knows if it is otherwise possible. I simply what to create the classic regular salsa beat but with the sound differences: 1 2+ 3 4+ . First and third beats played open, others closed (top and middle of cowbell). Is it possible to muffle a note to create a difference in sound. Have tried simply accentuating the first and third beats.
Many thanks
Art
Comments
You would need to find a soundfont with the two sounds and then use the appropriate sound for each beat.
If you find a soundfont with the two sound in the percussion channel I'll tell you a trick to make it easier.
In reply to You would need to find a… by mike320
Many thanks Mike. I am quite new to using Musescore but adore it! I am no doubt working in a somewhat primitive way and have a lot to learn about technology and music but will do so to get the sound I want, many many thanks.
You need a soundfont that supports Latin percussion setup.
(Note that these setups are not compatible with GM or any other soundfont; and therefore you must be strictly committed to the soundfont you are using)
Unfortunately, there is no way to write briefly here; [alert]Last chance to escape :) [/alert]
If you are using Windows: Install Finale notepad 2012 (free) link: https://www.finalemusic.com/products/notepad/
and search for the synthgms.sf2 soundfont on your system.
Possible file location: "C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Finale NotePad 2012 \ Audio Support"
If you are using a Mac or other operating system, download one of the trial versions of Finale. (You can find the same soundfont in "2012" demo versions.)
Note: Don't download older versions of this soundfont (or very old 1MB, 2 MB versions) on the Internet. These are useless.
Download the instrument-list see attachment: SynthGmsPerc-Instruments.zip
Extract the xml file inside the archive and copy it to the Musescore's (user) Instruments directory. (this instrument-list doesn't conflict with the original instrument list.)
And add it to here: Edit menu=>Preferences=>Score: instrument list 2
See:Edit-preferences-score.jpg
Note: The synthgms.sf2 file must be added and visible in the synthesizer.
See: synthesizer.jpg
If you click the "Save to Score" button or "Set as Default" button from the synthesizer, you can avoid adding the soundfont to the synthesizer every time.
When you add instruments under each title (See: instruments.jpg) , you must find and select the percussion kit with the same name (with title) from the Mixer.
example-1 see: mixer.jpg => Bongos is under Cuban Percussion
example-2 see: mixer2.jpg => Agogo-Hi is under Brazilian Percussion
Repinique is under Brazilian Percussion, etc...
That's all I can do.
Other friends can help you in the rest.
In reply to You need a soundfont that… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Hi Ziya, it's been a while since we saw you.
It doesn't matter if the soundfont is GM compatible. As long as the sounds are in the percussion channel, it's possible to easily define a drumset that allows both sounds for the cowbell. You will probably be limited to sounds in this soundfont in that drumset, but I don't see that being a problem to be able to implement the instrument. Even if the sound isn't in the percussion channel, it's still doable, but messy.
In reply to Hi Ziya, it's been a while… by mike320
Hi Mike, I'm glad to see you too.
You're absolutely right.
But I may be a little worried about the negative effects of my suggestions. :/
Everything is very simple for the person who knows a lot about the use of this software like you :) (<= just compliment.)
In reply to Hi Mike, I'm glad to see you… by Ziya Mete Demircan
At the risk of sounding stupid, is it possible to have two different sound fonts working in the same piece of music? If it is, that'll be great.
In reply to At the risk of sounding… by onscuba
Yes...
You can use many soundfonts in same piece of music.
In reply to Yes... You can use many… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Except using two different sound fonts on the same beat of the same instrument/staff (for example for different voices).
(@Ziya Mete Demircan: sorry for be OT (has nothing to do with the request of the OP), but any news about the "Studio Session Band" soundfont?)
In reply to Except using two different… by kuwitt
"Studio Session Band" has a few problems.
One of these is the Drumset volumes. (In particular: I'm not satisfied with the low volume of Kicks)
Secondly: some places have problems with tuning.
Third: I had to convert to "Mono" because it exceeded 1.5GB in size. And this has affected the sound quality. (I'm not very happy with the result). Yes, size reduced, but the quality has decreased as well.
Fourth: I find it hard to make a list of instruments (and the xml file). Specifically: If I erase the private banks I prepared for the guitars, It will succeed. But I don't want to sacrifice these.
Maybe in the near future, I can take some time to get things done and then publish them.
In reply to "Studio Session Band" has a… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Thanks for reply and for the update @Ziya: I'm aware that @Ericfontainejazz contributed MuseScore's GeneralSoundfont with Saxophone recordings, which sounds quite good.
But some time ago, you attached in another discussion a sound sample of the Alto saxophone from your sound font, and I fall in love with it ;-). Unfortunately I don't have enough knowledge by compressing the size of such recordings to contribute it.
In reply to Except using two different… by kuwitt
@kuwitt, Except using two different sound fonts on the same beat of the same instrument/staff (for example for different voices). doesn't make total sense. There is a way to get 2 sounds from different soundfonts using the same instrument if you use voices. It's just a little tricky.
In reply to @kuwitt, Except using two… by mike320
I had in mind an unpitched drumset and adding a soundfont for cowbells with different tunings for it (like after a short internet research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVOKUSaRWtk). Maybe it's a lack of my experience, but in such a case I think it's more than tricky to adding different sound fonts.
In reply to I had in mind an unpitched… by kuwitt
Without going into detail yet, if the sounds are in different soundfonts you have to use a pitched instrument with more than one channel assigned to it and use the same process as pizz. and arco and change names as needed.
If you have both sounds in one soundfont in the percussion channel, it's just matter of defining a drumset like any other percussion instrument. You need to know which percussion channels they assigned the sounds to.
In reply to Without going into detail… by mike320
My thoughts (and I'm aware this will overexert an average user - and it's my fault ;): You've to edit the mscx file (or alternatively instruments.xml ?) to adding a channel for the same instrument to second voice, so it's possible to select another sound from a different sound font inside the mixer.
Sorry that I started a discussion - I'm aware it isn't productive for the request.
In reply to My thoughts (and I'm aware… by kuwitt
You're method is viable, but I never recommend it because I don't know the capabilities of the user, especially when there's a way to make it work using the program's capabilities.
In reply to You need a soundfont that… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Hi Ziya, many, many thanks for all this. I am pretty primitive with all this and just visualize the sound and feel that I want but clearly have a lot to do and learn here. I will note all that you have included here. I am just a little bewildered by it all through lack of technical knowledge and ignorance but will as I said to Mike (see above) sort this - anything to realise my sounds!
In reply to You need a soundfont that… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Hello Ziya Mete Demircan!
Good afternoon (in Brazil).
My contact would like to thank you very much for this topic in which you wisely and intelligently taught how to insert percussion timbres using the synthgms.sf2 file, copied from the Finale notepad 2012 directory.
Although it's been a few years, but for me it will be of great value for my classes at the Conservatory in my city.
Some time ago you gave me some zabumba files that I use almost constantly.
Just curious: would it be possible to definitely insert this file into Musescore like what happened with this Finale file?
I inform you that, for teaching reasons, I am still using MuseScore 3.6.2.
Big hug friend!
There is a quick and dirty fix that I have used with some success: chose two pitches of the agogo bell. It sounds dirty and clunky but for some styles of salsa it works. (fi the Big fight by Ruben Blades has much clunkier bell sounds than his Siembra or Canciones del Solar.)
In reply to There is a quick and dirty… by arjenvdm
I have to reply to "Cowbell (Latin)" with "campana vaccae" : ) sorry -
I think we can all agree that more cowbell is needed.
In reply to I think we can all agree… by [DELETED] 29378932
Touché!