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I've been using the sfz sound font player and it's been working well for me. However, I've found that, in combination with Asio4All and Amplitube, it causes a memory access error when the song finishes or I press the stop button. This is a real shame because the combination of good guitar sound fonts and Amplitube made guitar midi sound nearly as good as RTs.
Can any of you suggest a good replacement for sfz that works with Asio4All and Amplitube? Freeware is nice but I'd purchase a commercial version if I'm sure it'll work.
I have tried VSTSynthFont and can't get it to load on either of my systems. It gives an error dialog saying 'Unsupported file format *.sf2' and when I click Ok it opens a file select dialog with the caption 'Default sound file not found'. Trying to select any file, or cancelling the dialog, hangs my system.
Finally, what is Sampletank? I'm not familiar with the term 'sampler'. Does it play sound fonts? If so, can sf2 file be converted to a format SampleTank can use?
Thanks for any help or suggestions.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Here we go. Why are you using ASIO.Are you playing a soft synth in real time?
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See if perhaps the sfz+ version of the program is trouble free. Available here for no charge: http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sfz/Sampletank is not all that different than sfz - much more bells and whistles, but in the end, sample playback is what it excels at. This is the same for soundfonts. Soundfont is a name given by Creative Labs many moons ago, to a packaged set of samples for sample playback. Sampling, in general in the music world, is the practice of using a pre-recorded snippet of sound in some fashion in a musical way. This is what soundfonts are. This is what the samples are that are in a sampletank set of sounds. This is what the old-school Ensoniq Mirage did to popularize sampling back in the late 1980's/early 1990's. Finally, I can't recall whether Sampletank can import .sf2 formatted samples or not - I don't believe so in the freeware version of Sampletank. Here's another sampler which does in fact allow importing of soundfonts - I've tried this one myself, but almost always used sfz: http://www.kotkasuniverse.com/paax.phpThere's a free version and a pay-for version. In my recollection, the free version works fine. You do have to be careful with some soundfont player software in that all of the volume envelope information that is intended to be used with the sample can get lost or ignored, thereby completely changing the intended resultant sound. -Scott
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Quote:
Here we go. Why are you using ASIO.Are you playing a soft synth in real time?
Two reasons. I have a controller and need the lower latency to use it well.
Second, MME doesn't work well on my system. I have 2 soundcards and this seems to make the MME drivers perform poorly. If I disable my on board card MME barely works at all. Just static and the odd bit of sound. If I leave it enabled it works but I can't move the mouse without audio dropouts.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Thanks for all the info. Am I correct in assuming, then, that samplers and soundfont players are really the same thing in that they should accept midi notes and construct an audio output? So paax should be able to do what sfz does?
BTW, I reported the issue with sfz to PGM support and they were able to reproduce it immediately. They are going to look at potential fixes and let me know what sound font player they might recommend.
So between your info and PGM I should soon have a fix. Thanks again.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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If you have a midi controller you do need ASIO. pwarren. Check this out. This is what I use and it's excellent. There's a little utility to test if your card is compatible with the AC97 ASIO driver. http://members.home.nl/nahutec/AC97ASIO/ac97asio.htm
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Hi pwarren,
One possible fix would be to replace your soundcard with one from Creative Labs, i.e. soundblasters. Creative Labs created Soundfonts and most all of their cards will play them without any additional software.
Just a thought.
PS – I used a Creative Labs X-Fi Pro soundcard with AISO for years with no problems in XP SP1 through SP3.
I'm no longer allowed to go caroling at the psych hospital. I guess Do You Hear What I Hear was a bad song choice!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I use a cardbus soundcard from Echo (Indigo io). It has a native Asio driver but, you guessed it, it doesn't work. it loads but all I get is static no matter what settings I try.  If I was using the onboard AC97 card that might work.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Thanks MarioD but I already have a cardbuss soundcard. As mentioned above it has asio drivers but they don't work. I have confidence I'll find a solution, especially with PGM working on it.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
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- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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