Originally Posted by Frank G
Hi. I'm new to the forum. I use .sf2 soundfonts in the music software I use to compose and adapt songs. It's called MuseScore 3.62. Although Musescore has come out with a newer version that uses VST libraries, I don't yet use it and am still using the older .sf2 soundfont version, for a variety of performance reasons.

I have found some very nice VST sounds online that I would love to use in MuseScore 3.62. I am prepared to buy them. Is there any software anywhere that will input a VST sound and convert it to an .sf2 soundfont? I tried Polyphone but so far, no go.

Help!

Are you on Windows, Linux, or a Mac?

I use Windows, and I recall back when I was using older versions of Muse Score that I could install the JACK Audio Connection Kit (jack2), and this would allow MuseScore to stream MIDI output in a way that I could divert it back into a standalone instrument, or into a secondary host like bidule, or Kushview Element and then play the sounds in real time through whatever MIDI hardware or software instruments I like.

It was a bit weird to get working, but it worked, as Musescore 3 has special sockets and support specifically for jack2.

It seems like I might have needed a virtual MIDI port or two installed to help out with MIDI routing. I've always used loopMIDI on Windows machines.

To get jack2 working on a Windows PC...
If the audio device in your system does NOT have native ASIO drivers, then you will need a WDM>ASIO bridge. ASIO4ALL is a very popular option that works well for most users.

Years ago getting jack2 working could be pretty complicated, but I think the package is much improved these days. Easier to install, understand, and use.

Jack2 offers quite a few other perks as well. Think of it like a patch bay and audio matrix that allows you to route MIDI and Audio to and from any application that supports ASIO running on your system.

Example 1:
I could divert the MIDI stream straight into an external MIDI sound module or keyboard, such as my Roland Fantom XR.

Example 2:
I could launch the stand-alone version of software based instruments like HALion, Kontakt, Musio, or Opus. I could use the jack2 interface, and virtual MIDI ports to route a MIDI stream from Muse Score into the instrument(s). In this case you'll be limited to instruments that get base dynamic information from key-velocity, and do hair-pin dynamics via CC7. Note that many of the high end orchestra plugins these days expect every note to be accompanied via CC1 or CC11 event to get the initial volume/attack correct. Some might allow a way to toggle how dynamics work. Some might offer alternate 'General MIDI' patches/programs/instruments. Some might allow you to use simple scripts to work it out. Some are pretty ridged, and simply are not going to work well with Musescore 3's MIDI stream without some 'third party help'.

Example 3:
I could launch something like Bidule, Kushview Element, or even a full blown Tracking DAW, and host whatever VST plugins I like inside this. I'd instruct both Musescore, and the DAW to use the jack2 interface as the 'audio device'. From there I could stream both the MIDI and Audio from Musescore into the alternate 'host', and manipulate/mix it from there.

I used this approach years ago to play Muse Score through Garritan Libraries. In this case Bidule was essential because I needed to create some CC1 events in real time to get any 'dynamics' with this sort of Library. Muse Score was sending velocity information, but Garritan needs CC1 or CC11 too for string and wind instruments. So, I'd have Bidule read the velocity of each note and inject a matching CC1 event in real time for the instruments that needed this. It wasn't great, but it did the trick.

Last edited by Brian Roland; 07/23/24 03:17 AM.
Windows 11, OmniPak