Installing .sfz files
I downloaded and unzipped Virtual Playing Orchestra. I copied each of the instrument folders to the Soundfonts subfolder in the Musecore folder in Documents as instructed by the manual. I then added the folders to Edit/Preferences/General/Soundfonts (which as far as I can see is not mentioned in the mnual!). None of the new instruments show up on the list when I'm creating a new score. I've tried shutting down MuseScore and reopening. I also reset the computer. This should be such an easy operation. Quite frankly the manual is useless. Help!
Comments
You need to copy everything, not just the instrument folder, esp. you need to also copy the SFZ file, which is basically a text file describing where all the sounds for those instruments are, sort of an index.
The manual states (emphasis mine):
After downloading an SFZ (see →below), you need to manually extract all the files that belong to the SFZ (the SFZ file itself and all the subdirectories) into the directory listed above. Leave the subdirectories and their contents as they are.
In reply to You need to copy everything,… by Jojo-Schmitz
Many thanks Jo-Jo, especially for so quick a response. I've copied all the folders from the zip file which included a Documentation folder (which has instrument-list.css in it) and a libs folder which has more instrument in it. What have I not done?
In reply to Many thanks Jo-Jo,… by brigb39
What about the .SFZ file itself?
In reply to What about the .SZF file… by Jojo-Schmitz
Sorry if I seem a bit thick, JoJo. Each folder contains all the .sfz files for each instrument. Is that what you mean?
In reply to Sorry if I seem a bit thick,… by brigb39
I have to go now. Look forward to your reply and thanks very much for your help.
In reply to Sorry if I seem a bit thick,… by brigb39
I guess I mean those. You need to add/load those szf files to/in the synthesizer to them see their sounds in the mixer
In reply to I guess I mean those. You… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thanks JoJo. Sorry to have to ask, but what does this mean? How do I do that?
In reply to Thanks JoJo. Sorry to have… by brigb39
In reply to https://musescore.org/en… by Jojo-Schmitz
Thank you so much for taking this trouble to help. I'm sorry you had to. As a writer and erstwhile IT training professional as well as an amateur musician, I'm afraid the manual is a very poor example of what most users need. That's why I've outlined my difficulties below – not so much for you, but in the hope that someone from the otherwise excellent Musescore team might pick it up and do something about it.
I've made a little progress, thanks to your links, but still haven't got access to my new sound library.
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/soundfonts-and-sfz-files#install-sfz
“In most cases, the SoundFont file type will already be associated with MuseScore, and MuseScore will start and a dialog will appear asking if you want to install the SoundFont.”
IT DOESN'T RECOGNISE IT. JUST COMES UP WITH AN ERROR.
This directory can be viewed or changed in MuseScore's Preferences, but the default location is:
Windows: %HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore3\Soundfonts
THAT'S WHERE I COPIED THE FOLDERS CONTAINING THE .sfz FILES. THE MANUAL DOESN'T SAY WHETHER TO COPY FOLDERS OR INDIVIDUAL FILES, BUT IT SEEMED TO WANT ME TO SPECIFY FOLDERS. IT DIDN'T GIVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION AND ONE SHOULD THEREFORE ASSUME THAT BY THIS MEANS THE SOUNDFONTS ARE INSTALLED. THEY ARE NOT!! THE MANUAL DOESN'T MENTION WHETHER A .sfz FILES ARE PREFERED OR WHETHER ONLY THE FILES ON THE RECOMMENDED LIST ARE ACCEPTABLE.
Install an SFZ
After downloading an SFZ (see →below), you need to manually extract all the files that belong to the SFZ (the SFZ file itself and all the subdirectories) into the directory listed above. Leave the subdirectories and their contents as they are.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? A WELL VERSED COMPUTER BUFF MIGHT UNDERSTAND IT BUT I'M A MUSICIAN!
I COULD FIND NO SFZ FILE AMONG THE FOLDERS I DOWNLOADED. I COPIED ALL THE DIRECTORIES AND SUBDIRECTORIES INTO THE CORRECT FOLDER: Windows: %HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore3\Soundfonts
THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS PAGE ABOUT INCORPORATING THE UPLOADED FONTS INTO THE SYTHESISER VIA EDIT/PREFERENCES/GENERAL/ HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT BY ACCIDENT AND INCORPORATED THE FOLDERS.
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/soundfonts-and-sfz-files#synthesizer ->
To load a soundfont
1. Click on the Add button
2. Click on a soundfont in the list.
DID THIS. NO ADDITIONAL SOUNDFONTS APPEARED AND THERE WAS NO FACILITIY TO BROWSE FOR THEM!
NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS SO REACHED A TOTAL DEAD END.
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/synthesizer#load-soundfont
MANAGED TO LOAD ALL THE SFZ FONTS INTO ZERBERUS BUT THEY DON'T SHOW UP IN THE AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS.
I'm afraid I don't understand the relevance of the mixer link in relation to this problem.
Best wishes
Brian
In reply to Thank you so much for taking… by brigb39
In most cases, the SoundFont file type will already be associated with MuseScore, and MuseScore will start and a dialog will appear asking if you want to install the SoundFont.”
It doesn't read that way for SFZ, is does (only) for SF2/SF3.
Windows: %HOMEPATH%\Documents\MuseScore3\Soundfonts
yes, that's where to put it
In Synthesizer for SFZ soundfonts open the Zerberus tab, see https://musescore.org/en/handbook/synthesizer#zerberus
I'm afraid I don't understand the relevance of the mixer link in relation to this problem.
That is where you change an existing sound to another
In reply to You need to copy everything,… by Jojo-Schmitz
What does an SFZ folder hierarchy look like?
In reply to What does an SFZ folder… by Ilya Anglisky
That's defined by the SFZ file