Weeds General MIDI SoundFont v3.0 for SBLive/Audigy/Timidity

[RFNagel]

Email sent with some information. Hopefully you can pinpoint it now.

Got it Yeah, I have the MIDI of DOOM 1's E1M3.

Noticed this problem on 3 computers. Tried XMPlay and Timidity on all 3 machines, and the soundfont bank manager on an older one.

I had a look at the "13 - Toxin Refinery.mp3" that you emailed, and definately hear (and see) that artifact in your MP3. The drum is the Electric Snare (note# E2) used in most of the drum kits, and uses the sample "Snare 2.wav".

Now, I don't really understand what's happening here, as I don't hear (or see) the noise on my PC. I tried it on my SBLive, as well as XMPlay on mine and two other PCs... and the snare is always clean (no artifact).

Attached to this post is a pic ("Waveform_Views.png") showing the waveforms using GoldWave:

The first three pics are of your "13 - Toxin Refinery.mp3", with the third pic zoomed on the artifact.

Pic 4 is of an MP3 that I recorded from my SBLive of the Electric Snare (attached to this message is a ZIP containing it "MP3s_and_WAV.zip").

The last pic is of the original "Snare 2.wav" sample (also included in the attached ZIP).

I'm really not sure what is happening, as I don't hear or see the artifact on my end.

Not sure that program will do anything. I have X-Fis (which are based on EMU20Ks) on both of my newer machines, and one of those is the one I do music stuff with.

AFAIK the EMU20K supports NRPN MIDI controllers as well, so you still might find the calculator utility handy That is, if you use NRPNs in your MIDI compostions.

Just a quick example, inserting this series of controllers in one of your MIDI file's tracks results in some real nice EMU hardware reverb:

99 (NRPN MSB) - 127
98 (NRPN LSB) - 26
6 (DATA MSB) - 65
38 (DATA LSB) - 127

The NRPN Calculator's main function is to calculate the values for "6" and "38"; calculating to and from the raw values of each (0-127), and to and from the actual final value (0-255)... without all of the confusing (at least to me LOL) "modulo" arithmetic used in the calculations.

In the above example, setting 6 to 65 and 38 to 127 results in a final NRPN reverb value of 255 (maximum reverb).

Also, lol at some of those soundfonts. Saved.

Hehe, I knew you (or anyone else) would get a kick out of them Note that all of ZIPs contain example MIDI files. Of notable interest is "DOOM2Sfx.zip" and it's MIDI ("DOOM 2 Monster Jam")... heh, bet you didn't realize that those monsters could sing <LOL>?

The others are a random mix of things. Gatorade.zip was one of my first "creations", and it's surprising how the example MIDI files sounds... all with nothing but slapping a plastic Gatorade bottle <grin>.

Another interesting one (OK, well, ALL of them are in fact interesting <LOL>) is "JerkyBoy.zip" and it's included MIDI "The Jerky Boys Rap". Have you ever heard of the Jerky Boys? Anyone who is a fan of them will surely like this soundfont and MIDI tune <LOL>! Years ago I recorded a cassete tape of the song, and they played it on a local radio station (WIOD) back when I lived down in Miami... heh.

And, yeah, I have no idea where the power drum/kick is from.

Hehe, JJRabbit = Jazz Jackrabbit, XM2.??? = XM2.S3M <grin> I always loved the powerful kick and snare in that Tracker tune, althugh the original samples are a bit noisy (11k/8-bit).

[RFNagel]

Folks,

I recently uploaded a few of my new(er) creations to http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/ :

Bagpipe Marching Band v1.0 SoundFont
(also includes five sample MIDI files)
Readme -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFon ... g_Band.txt
ZIP -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFon ... g_Band.zip

Wind Chimes SoundFont
(also includes one sample MIDI file)
Readme -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/WChimes.txt
ZIP -> http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/WChimes.zip

[RFNagel]

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but...

Your soundfont manages to beat a few I have which are 2 to 5 times as big.

Folks,

I recently (last month) FINALLY got broadband out here in the sticks (10MBS)! Needless to say, I've been YouTubing, downloading like a madman, and such, LOL... and more specifically, downloading monster-sized soundfonts.

I'd have to agree with the above quote, with the worst being "Crisis General MIDI v3.0"... that bastard is 1.6GB (that's GIGABYTES!) decompressed, and IM(not so)HO really sounds horrid (reguardless of it's size)!

Anyways, a lot of the smaller soundfonts that I downloaded were relatively nice (of course, not as good as mine <grin>), but ALL of them blew away Crisis (even ones as smallish as 80-100 megs or so).


(edit) BTW, I've also recently discovered the Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesizer (same thing as a hardware DB50XG or an MU50 tone genrator)... quite a cool sounding thing if one knows how to "kick" it into gear. Anyhoo, a little something(s) that I did with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UODyfKhdyQg (D_E1M1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjA8KXjz_4I (DOOMin' from Eternal DOOM)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4f5x7pEO20 (a funny little thing LOL!)

[NeuralStunner]

BTW, I've also recently discovered the Yamaha S-YXG50 software synthesizer (same thing as a hardware DB50XG or an MU50 tone genrator)... quite a cool sounding thing if one knows how to "kick" it into gear.

Oh yeah! That's my system default too. Very nice sound, some of those XG MIDIs are fantastic too.

Would you by chance be interested in making an XG soundfont?

[RFNagel]

Oh yeah! That's my system default too. Very nice sound, some of those XG MIDIs are fantastic too.

Glad you liked it Yeah, XG compatable hardware (as well as the Yamaha S-YXG50 software symthesizer) can sound quite awesome for a MIDI file that utilizes some of the XG effects processors (tube amp simulation, overdrive, etc...).

BTW, if you have XG compatable hardware (or the Yamaha S-YXG50 software symthesizer), surf on over to http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/ for some goodies for it Throughout the year I've uploaded various utilites, most/all of the "official" Yamaha XG MIDI packs, and such.

Anyways, some tasty tunes (for those without XG compatable hardware):

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/D_E1M1_XG.mp3
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_X ... ove_XG.mp3
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/Grabbag_XG.mp3
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_X ... ive_XG.mp3

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Weeds_Mu ... n_Live.mp3
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Weeds_Mu ... e_Live.mp3

...and if you have XG compatable hardware (or the Yamaha S-YXG50 software symthesizer), the original "XG-ified" MIDI files (using XGEdit 95):

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/D_E1M1_XG.mid
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_X ... ove_XG.mid
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_XG/Grabbag_XG.mid
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Yamaha_X ... ive_XG.mid

http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Weeds_Mu ... e_Live.mid
http://www.cmoo.com/snor/weeds/Weeds_Mu ... n_Live.mid

Would you by chance be interested in making an XG soundfont?

I've thought about that one before. Unfortunately it wouldn't sound ANYTHING like XG compatable hardware (or the Yamaha S-YXG50 software symthesizer), as they have special effects processors built into them that allows for the the sound as heard above.

Mentioned previously are the tube amp simulation and overdrive processors... these function exactly like real-world electric guitar effects boxes (stomp boxes), or rack mount effects units that provide the same effects... unfortunately that's beyond the scope of soundfonts.

Heh (as you might know), the Yamaha MU80 tone generator MIDI module even has audio line in and line out jacks that can be piped through it's internal effects processors... IOW, you could use the MU80 as an electric guitar effects unit


P.S. @All,

Some of my own newer (and older unreleased) stuff that I've uploaded since late last year here -> http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#mp3 ... all using ¥Weeds¥ General MIDI SoundFont v3.0... I'm especially pleased with how the "X-Formers" tunes came out

[MG_Man]

I really like this soundfont. The only thing I don't really like is the Gunshot sound - it feels too loud and delayed so it often seems to peak. I can easily just use a different sample in it's place though.

Also, you might be interested in knowing the soundfont sounds good in System Shock as well. I'll upload a few tracks from it later.

EDIT:

[RFNagel]

I really like this soundfont.

Glad you liked it, MG_Man

The only thing I don't really like is the Gunshot sound - it feels too loud and delayed so it often seems to peak.

The gunshot is sort of special thing in the soundfont; Most MIDI tunes that use the gunshot preset, a lot of times use it for loud explosions. Eons ago, I myself was in need of a 'dramatic' cannon blast <grin> (for music that I was composing for a commercial project that went belly-up), hence the current gunshot preset in the soundfont.

BTW (dunno if I've mentioned it here before), a little trivia test: anyone know where I obtained the original sample from <grin>?

Also, you might be interested in knowing the soundfont sounds good in System Shock as well. I'll upload a few tracks from it later. EDIT:

Many thanks for the upload of the YouTube video I'll add a link on my web page (with credits) under the "YouTube Previews" section ( http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#youtube ).

[MG_Man]

BTW (dunno if I've mentioned it here before), a little trivia test: anyone know where I obtained the original sample from <grin>?

Isn't it the Shotgun from Duke Nukem 3D?

[RFNagel]

Isn't it the Shotgun from Duke Nukem 3D?

GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR!

[NeuralStunner]

Here you go MG_Man!

[RFNagel]

Here you go MG_Man!

Oh, man! That gets my mouth a-waterin'!

[Bio Hazard]

Is there an uncompressed version of this soundfont available somewhere? I can't run the self-extractor and I'm curious what it sounds like.

[RFNagel]

Is there an uncompressed version of this soundfont available somewhere? I can't run the self-extractor and I'm curious what it sounds like.

Sorry, there's not. When I initially uploaded it I was on a miserable dialup connection (only recently; within the past month; finally got broadband out here in the sticks); so's I was trying to compress/spare every single byte that I could <grin>.

I used sfArk to compress the soundfont, and the same utility to then create an sfArk self-extracting archive (so's folks didn't have to search around and dig up a copy of the full sfArk utility/installation).

Anyhow, what problems do you have running it? AFAIK sfArk and sfArk self-extracting archives will run just fine on any Windows platform.

(edit) Just a-thinking... I might have answered my own question; are you running Linux or a Mac?

(double-edit) If one of the above is a "yes", this might help -> http://www.melodymachine.com/sfark.htm . There are Linux and MacOSx versions there as well (which "should" be able to extract/decompress the Windows self-extractor EXE)

[kokocipher]

Newbie here. Quick question about XMplay, can it be installed as a midiout driver like Timidity++?

[Gez]

No, but you can get BASSMIDI, it's the same MIdI engine.