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Ive been advised to post this up regarding understanding of sound fonts.Ive got the creative sb live sound card and would like to know more about how it could help in my songwriting demos.If someone could point to any info here or on the web it would be most appreciated.Thanks Frankie
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Tributeman, just google soundfont or SF2 and you will find a ton of information about them. Also you will find a ton of free soundfonts that are available as well as many that you can purchases.
Have fun.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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thanks Mario will do Frankie
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If you check out Allanah's site, you'll find a bunch of Soundfonts. Please respect her wishes not to download everything at once, but you'll find a number you can try out. My favorite is the one listed as "031.9mg Reality GM GS Bank". You'll need the sfArk extraction program to decompress them, but that's easily found on the "Misc Files" button on her site.
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Tribute,
If you remember dedicated sampler keyboards, you understand how SoundFonts work. You load a specific SoundFont into the memory for your SB Live to use, and then you direct the MIDI output to that particular synth (there may be two). Then, when you play a file, you can hear those particular sounds.
You'll need some understanding of Bank and BankLSB to be able to fully utilize the SoundFont capability.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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It looks like you have got some great info already tributeman, so I will just add this.. Using a Soundfont will improve immensely the sound you here for a Midi track, this you will have more inspiration to work on the tunes, and that can only help out your songwriting. There a are a TON of SF out there, and Allanah's site has some good ones. Just remember to grab the GM Soundfonts only, this way everything will be set up & ready to go. If you grab them a single instrument at a time, you will have to "map them" to the right channels. I like the 037.4mg Personal Copy v4.0.0 Bank for general backing tracks. Tho it is a large download, I think it is worth it. 
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thanks everyone for this info.. Rharv was right when he said post it in the proper forum.Cheers Frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
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JCS, Quote:
Using a Soundfont will improve immensely the sound you here for a Midi track, this you will have more inspiration to work on the tunes, and that can only help out your songwriting.
Not necessarily. While most SoundFonts are a step up from the basic DLS that's included with Windows, in form of the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, aka cousin to the Roland VSC synth, I've not heard too many SoundFonts that can top either one of my Korg hardware synths. I will admit that there are some capabilities in SF's that my synth can not do, such as mapping a single up or down strum on a guitar to a single note. Something like that allows you to play two notes on your keyboard and 'strum' a guitar. Various chords would be mapped to different keys, allowing you to strum different chords across a 61 note keyboard.
However, SoundFonts are just like any other sample, depending on how good they were recorded, and what you do with them, they may make a difference, or they may make your whole song sound a whole lot worse.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Having superb real guitar strumming on real tracks means having no need for guitar midi samples.So Im not really sure myself if Im just going through the motions regarding sound fonts when what Ive heard from biab real tracks is perfect for my songwriting. Im not into dance/trance music (and I dont perform live anymore) but ballads.. country rock and gospel music which real tracks and real styles from what Ive heard so far (and Im only just touching the tip of the iceberg) is more than good enough to provide half decent demos though I do think strings.. brass and bass could be a great help in midi.So that doesnt mean I wont take a good look at it and also quality sound fonts but Im still unsure if its going to be of any great benefit to me and the type of songs that I write.Cheers Frankie 
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I used to use soundfonts. They are really old technology at this point. Just to give you an idea. The so call nice GM set that has 128 different instruments is 37Meg. I have Sonivox strings. One Instruments. It has 552 files totaling 457 Meg.
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Consider the Coyote Forte sold through PG Music. Very nice sounds for the money. Here is a link to plenty of SFs http://www.synthfont.com/links_to_soundfonts.htmlRachael
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Quote:
There a are a TON of SF out there, and Allanah's site has some good ones. Just remember to grab the GM Soundfonts only, this way everything will be set up & ready to go. If you grab them a single instrument at a time, you will have to "map them" to the right channels.
Getting a GM soundfont to start with is a good idea. However using a soundfont librarian one can change individual sounds in a soundfont set. Thus if one doesn’t like the muted trumpet sound for example you can replace it with another better sounding muted trumpet. When I was using SF2’s a lot I would always replace the sound effects, #121-127, with usable alternate sounds such as other trumpets, saxes etc. I also had separate modified GM soundfont sets for specific songs. For instance I would replace all of the orchestra and sound effects SF2s and replace them with different sounding brass and reeds if I were doing a big band song. As stated you would have to map them to the right channels and with a sequencer (RB for example) that is very easily done.
SF2’s are a great place to get started. Most are inexpensive and/or free. However as Silvertones have stated it is old technology that has been overtaken by larger more realistic sound sources like Sonivox, Kontakt, Reason etc.
Have fun
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
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Quote:
Not necessarily. While most SoundFonts are a step up from the basic DLS that's included with Windows, in form of the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, aka cousin to the Roland VSC synth, I've not heard too many SoundFonts that can top either one of my Korg hardware synths.
I disagree. To get better results right now, without $100's invested, the SF format is a viable option, especially with the SB card.
Yes, it is old technology, but I feel the Roland sounds have always been pretty unrealistic, and that the Yamaha XG format sounded much better. I would place some of the SF files I have heard over the Roland, ad right up there with the Yamaha Softsynth.
This would get the OP up & running with better sounds, without any investment by grabbing them from Allanah's great site (Thanks Allanah if you read this!).
And it goes without saying that any "newer"hardware sampler will sound better than an old SF, but the Original questions was "would like to know more about how it could help in my songwriting demos." That is what I tried to answer.;)
Of course this is all IMHO, YMMV, yada yada...
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The ability to change soundfonts (customize them) was one of the strengths it had IMO. Tons to choose from for very little cost.
Of course newer hardware synths will be better, but the cost is often a factor. Comparing inexpensive soundfonts with thousand(s) dollar equipment isn't fair. Then there is the 'user' part. I have heard thousands of dollars of equipment not sound as good as a VSC based recording.. in the right hands.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Quote:
Consider the Coyote Forte sold through PG Music. Very nice sounds for the money.
Especially if you're using Win7 64. The last I heard, Roland VSC wouldn't work with WIN7 64.
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Quote:
Quote:
Not necessarily. While most SoundFonts are a step up from the basic DLS that's included with Windows, in form of the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, aka cousin to the Roland VSC synth, I've not heard too many SoundFonts that can top either one of my Korg hardware synths.
I disagree. To get better results right now, without $100's invested, the SF format is a viable option, especially with the SB card.
Yes, it is old technology, but I feel the Roland sounds have always been pretty unrealistic, and that the Yamaha XG format sounded much better. I would place some of the SF files I have heard over the Roland, ad right up there with the Yamaha Softsynth.
This would get the OP up & running with better sounds, without any investment by grabbing them from Allanah's great site (Thanks Allanah if you read this!).
And it goes without saying that any "newer"hardware sampler will sound better than an old SF, but the Original questions was "would like to know more about how it could help in my songwriting demos." That is what I tried to answer.;)
Of course this is all IMHO, YMMV, yada yada...
JCS,
You took my post completely out of meaning. 
I am not, and will not quarrel, that some sound fonts can do everything that you said they can do. However, the vast majority of the soundfonts that I've listened to, or purchased from Sonivox or others, do not stand up to my hardware synths.
BUT, they can do everything that you said they could do, and they are a cost effective way to move beyond the most basic sounds. Plus, with some collections that are very specific in nature to one type of instrument, guitar for example, I can get and use samples that are not available from my keyboard.
Finally, I said this:
Quote:
However, SoundFonts are just like any other sample, depending on how good they were recorded, and what you do with them, they may make a difference, or they may make your whole song sound a whole lot worse.
A good soundfont, created by someone like Sonivox, or someone with lots of experience doing sample libraries, may sound very good. It may be just the sound that you are looking for, and it may do everything that you said it would. On the other hand, someone with NO experience, taking samples from various keyboards, as is the case many time, may do a poor job of creating the soundfont, and hence, it would do more damage to your song.
It all depends on the SoundFont.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Bob, It *IS* unfair to compare the two, because there is a huge difference between a $100 SoundFont and a $2,800 keyboard. I was also replying to this particular part of JSC's original post. Quote:
Using a Soundfont will improve immensely the sound you here for a Midi track...
However, I *would*...easily...be willing to compare my $2,800 synth with a $400 Ketron, and very favorably at that. Would you pay someone like Sonivox $100 for something like this?
http://www.sonivoxmi.com/ProductList.asp...l%20MIDI%20Sets
Or, would you be willing to pay PG Music less than $400 for this?
http://www.pgmusic.com/ketronsd2.htm
Yes, I know that cost is often a factor in our decision, I couldn't afford to buy the Ketron now, either.
But, you see my point?
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Hi Gary,I just listened to those sonivox sound fonts and I was impressed especially the guitars they were the most authentic Ive ever heard Cheers Frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
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tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
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Fender semi accoustic guitar
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I am sorry you feel I took your post wrong, I did not mean it that way. But without going to the other thread, here is what was asked in this thread.. Quote:
Ive got the creative sb live sound card and would like to know more about how it could help in my songwriting demos.
I answered this question with an answer that I feel was appropriate, that using sound fonts CAN improve his MIDI sounds, thus help with songwriting by working with a better sound set. There was no question about any type of hardware, just how a sound font could help tributeman situation now.
You responded with....
Quote:
Not necessarily. While most SoundFonts are a step up from the basic DLS that's included with Windows, in form of the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth, aka cousin to the Roland VSC synth, I've not heard too many SoundFonts that can top either one of my Korg hardware synths.
Which got off of the originals posters question, and that is what I disagreed with.
I also don't want to quarrel, but I don't feel that I "took my post completely out of meaning." It looked to me that you were saying that hardware is better than sound fonts, and like you, in some circumstances I agree. But that did not address the OP question of HOW sound fonts could help him with the equipment he has NOW.
And it strikes me as funny that, in the 2 comparisons, that tributeman chose the sound font over the hardware!
I again say that by using sound fonts to enhance what tributeman already has that, with no $$ outlay, he can improve his songwriting ability's, and enjoy it a lot more, over the supplied roland stuff.
I will now gracefully bow out of this thread....
i5 3.20GHz, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD OS, 12tb HDD, 4gb gForce vid card, 32" monitor, Audient id44, Win10 x64, BiaB/RB 2023, Reaper 6,IK Multimedia Total Studio 3.5 MAX, Waves 10
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JCS,
Okay, I see your point of view.
I did not mean to come across that SoundFonts aren't useful, and that hardware is the end all, be all. I just said I hadn't heard any SF that sounded as good as my hardware. BUT, some SFs *are* good, and do suffice for songwriting.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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