@pax-eterna
We can import SF2 files into YEM, but.. there's always a "but"![:)]( "Smile")
From my experience, with most SF2 files that we can find on internet (for free), we won't necessary get optimal result. Most problematic is usually resulting voice file size -and we know how precious memory is on arranger keyboards.
That is, in many cases, wav samples in SF2 files are unnecessary long. For example, for a C5 piano sound 3-4sec long sample is more than enough.. but in SF2 files, it can happen that sample for C5 will be 10+sec long (keep in mind that last 6sec of the sample is actually silence) -that's a lot of wasted memory space!
In short: if we import a piano SF2, it can happen that the voice will have the size of 300MB or even more. However, if we manually shorten samples to necessary size, the resulting voice will maybe have only 90MB.
The next thing that we need to decide about (to keep voice size optimal small) is, how many samples per octave we wish to have. For example, it doesn't make sense that we have separate sample for each note. But then, number of samples/oct also depends on voice that we create.
My advice is (to keep story short): first study samples in SF2, manually copy wav samples from SF2 on disk, optimize them in some audio editor and then import them manually into YEM.
@pjd
Yeah, looping wav samples is extremely delicate and time consuming process. Ok, samples in SF2 that need loops are already looped. The problem is (depending on software we use), if we edit looped sample, then loop markers are usually lost. And because of that I would recommend to use such samples as they are (without editing them).
Btw. according to my finding, if sample is longer than "loop end" marker (usually the case in SF2), then YEM will automatically cut the sample at "loop end" marker -what a pleasant surprise![:)]( "Smile")
Anyway, if I need to loop sample, then I use free "Loop Auditioneer" for that. I tried some other programs that can find/set loops (i.e. Audacity), but "Loop Auditioneer" is the best for that, in my opinion. The second option would be (not free) "Acoustica".
I'm sure you know that, but I will mention for general audience: some samples are (almost) impossible to be looped perfectly. That's especially true for samples that were made by recording real instruments.
Bogdan
We can import SF2 files into YEM, but.. there's always a "but"
From my experience, with most SF2 files that we can find on internet (for free), we won't necessary get optimal result. Most problematic is usually resulting voice file size -and we know how precious memory is on arranger keyboards.
That is, in many cases, wav samples in SF2 files are unnecessary long. For example, for a C5 piano sound 3-4sec long sample is more than enough.. but in SF2 files, it can happen that sample for C5 will be 10+sec long (keep in mind that last 6sec of the sample is actually silence) -that's a lot of wasted memory space!
In short: if we import a piano SF2, it can happen that the voice will have the size of 300MB or even more. However, if we manually shorten samples to necessary size, the resulting voice will maybe have only 90MB.
The next thing that we need to decide about (to keep voice size optimal small) is, how many samples per octave we wish to have. For example, it doesn't make sense that we have separate sample for each note. But then, number of samples/oct also depends on voice that we create.
My advice is (to keep story short): first study samples in SF2, manually copy wav samples from SF2 on disk, optimize them in some audio editor and then import them manually into YEM.
@pjd
Yeah, looping wav samples is extremely delicate and time consuming process. Ok, samples in SF2 that need loops are already looped. The problem is (depending on software we use), if we edit looped sample, then loop markers are usually lost. And because of that I would recommend to use such samples as they are (without editing them).
Btw. according to my finding, if sample is longer than "loop end" marker (usually the case in SF2), then YEM will automatically cut the sample at "loop end" marker -what a pleasant surprise
Anyway, if I need to loop sample, then I use free "Loop Auditioneer" for that. I tried some other programs that can find/set loops (i.e. Audacity), but "Loop Auditioneer" is the best for that, in my opinion. The second option would be (not free) "Acoustica".
I'm sure you know that, but I will mention for general audience: some samples are (almost) impossible to be looped perfectly. That's especially true for samples that were made by recording real instruments.
Bogdan
Statistics: Posted by BogdanH — Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:33 pm