How to Convert a SoundFont File from sf2 to sf3
Hi, Gang!!!
I wonder if there is an easy way to convert a soundfont file in sf2 format to sf3 format...
This is because I think I discovered that MuseScore works better with the sf3 format.
Some idea???
Blessings and Greetings from Chile!!!
JUAN
Comments
Hello, Juan,
Polyphone soundfont editor has an export function that should be able to do the conversion from sf2 format to sf3. Unfortunately the program crashes when trying to do that. Maybe the bug will be fixed in the next version.
And even after it's fixed, an sf2 file containing n programs will result into n separate sf3 files, which isn't too convenient.
https://www.polyphone-soundfonts.com/en/forum/support-bug-reports/177-p…
Install the sf3convert package. This is how the people working on the official soundfont do it.
In reply to Install the sf3convert… by mirabilos
I tried to install it into my Ubuntu Studio 18.04.1 LTS system, BUT...
Even the fact, it seems to be installed... There is not any result!!! Not a shotcut to any software. Not something into MuseScore. Not some registered executable package anywhere!!!
So...
In reply to I tried to install it into… by jotape1960
As you can see with
dpkg -L sf3convert | sortit installs ansf3convertbinary and corresponding manual page, which you can then use, as normal, from the command line.In reply to As you can see with dpkg -L… by mirabilos
I see!!!
Thanks for your data!!!
I will have to learn how to use it.
I think you will discover, though, that you are mistaken about MsueScore working better with sf3. It's the same thing except sf3 needs to be uncompressed first, so it's slower to load, but after that should be identical.
In reply to I think you will discover,… by Marc Sabatella
It is just my suspicious mind, Marc.
When I use the MuseScore_General.sf2, I had been experimenting some problems, specially when I use the symphonic orchestra tutti, at full volume... There is a noticeable silent on some instruments, something like the internal synthesizer can not to handle all the involved sounds.
The same piece, but with the sf3 version of the same soundfont... Works so fine, perfectly!!!
So...
In reply to It is just my suspicious… by jotape1960
Is it definitely the same version number of the font? If not, I'd bet that is the actual difference.
In reply to Is it definitely the same… by Marc Sabatella
That’s my guess as well. There’s literally no way anything can work in an SF3 that does not work in its corresponding SF2.
In reply to Is it definitely the same… by Marc Sabatella
What number???
Both files have the same creation date:
January, 28th, 2019.
Both files have the same name:
MuseScore_General_Full.sf2
MuseScore_General_Full.sf3
This is the last upgraded files I know.
So...
In reply to What number??? Both files… by jotape1960
I have experiencied this issue in my laptop (HP G250, Pentium, 8GB RAM), only.
The other PCs (MSI-7788, Intel I5, 8Gb RAM) don't show this behaviour.
When I use the sf2 soundfont file... I can hear, clearly, how some instruments are silent in the symphonic orchestra tutti, at full volume (as the file I added here).
There is not any problem when I use the sf3 soundfont file.
Maybe, as my laptop is older than my desktops... MuseScore has this problem with non-compressed soundfont file when the processor is not enough newer.
It is just my thought...
In reply to I have experiencied this… by jotape1960
This sounds like you use the Debian versions of the soundfont… hm, good, because this is the same as I have.
On my laptop (dual core 2 GHz) the sound stutters when I play it for the first time. When I play it again, it sounds good. Perhaps this is a performance issue… the file has a large amount of instruments, after all. Memory might also be an issue. But I cannot imagine how SF3 would improve that here.
Which of the instruments are you not hearing?
In reply to This sounds like you use the… by mirabilos
Trumpets, Tubes (maybe Horns, too, I'm not sure), Violins and Violas are silent at the middle of the raising glissando.
All the instruments come back at the last chords.
In reply to Trumpets, Tubes (maybe Horns… by jotape1960
Hm, I guess my audio equipment is not good enough to distinguish these without soloing :|