Ho to find a soundfont that sounds like a "REAL" Orchestra
Does anyone know if I can find a soundfont that sounds like a "REAL" Orchestra? Because every orchestra soundfont that I tried don't play like a real orchestra at all. All that I know that can play like a real orchestra is the "Vienna Symphonic Library Instruments" https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Products/Instruments and I don't even know how to download these instrument samples for a soundfont I'm creating.
Any Ideas?
And can you please comment below if you can find an orchestra soundfont that sounds like a real orchestra?
Thanks.
Comments
OK. This is fairly new. I only discovered this a few days ago.
http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2016/06/29/vsco-community-edition/
This website provides you with adetailed description of the avalable downloads.
You can download .wav files and Soundfont files .sf2.
I have downloaded them, but have not tried them out yet.
:)
In reply to OK. This is fairly new. I by stupot101
Downloading them now - hopefully these can smarten up MuseScore's default soundfont a bit :)
Sorry, I made a mistake. The free edition is only available in .wav files.
(I'm sure I thought they were soundfont files, but...)
Ayway, they allow you to make soundfont files from them
:)
Ah. I was correct.
http://vis.versilstudios.net/vsco-community.html
From their website
'Vanilla' SFZ Format- Everything mapped as SFZ instruments, for use in Sforzando or Aria-
Let us know how they sound
:)
In reply to Ah. I was correct. by stupot101
Stupot101 whenever I tried to open some of the VSCO SFZs in Polyphone or add them to the MuseScore SFZ Files Section in the Synthesizer, There's not a single sample in ALL of them.
Is there anyway for me to have all the samples in each instrument? I also have No Budget Orchestra: https://nbo.libreorchestra.net/download/ but that does the same thing.
In reply to Stupot101 whenever I tried to by Arianna2001
Unfortunately, I will not have time until the weekend, to have a look at the SFZ files, but I will have a go. :)
The problem I have found with the Rompler version (the VST) is that when I play an instrument, I get sudden burst of dynamics, from Mp to F - with nothing in between. :( If my analysis is correct, it is because the samples my only have 2 velocity layers - but I'm fairly new to this, having been out of it for a number of years. Of course, the unfortunate part is, I am not using a USB MIDI keyboard to play the notes, using a free DAW - Tracktion 5, and using the keyboard on screen.
:(
However, I have a link which may be of use to you.
http://bcvsts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/the-vsco2-orchestra.html
I believe you can download each individual instrument/sample that is used in the Rompler (i hope I have my terminology correct. I am typing this in a hurry :) )
Hope that has been of some help :)
In reply to Stupot101 whenever I tried to by Arianna2001
@Arianna2001 please see my post below :0
In reply to Ah. I was correct. by stupot101
You can also get a sfz based on their work there:
http://virtualplaying.com/virtual-playing-orchestra/
I didn't manage to make it work with linuxsampler, but it works fine with Zerberus in Musescore!
Oops! I meant to add a "w" in the word "How" in the title.
Sorry.
@Chruchorganist - Are the samples/soundfonts ok from VCSO?
Do you use this software for creating your soundfonts?
http://www.synthfont.com/
In reply to @Chruchorganist - Are the by stupot101
Not had time to assess them yet.
I will post here when I have.
And yes, I use Viena for creating soundfonts.
I do have Polyphone too, but I'm more familiar with Viena's interface.
Arianna, I use SGM v 2.01 (I think that's the actual name). I like its orchestral capabilities. The samples, especially among strings might be a bit below average alone, but the blend in orchestra is really good.
There is also HQ orchestral soundfont which you can find by joining "Young Composer's group" Its instruments are a bit better sounding, but the blend is not as good in a full orchestra setting (The flute of it is a bit dominant).
There is the actual Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra, which you can get somewhere online, that only has really good string sounds. The brass, and woodwinds sounds are a bit below average.
You might like Timbres of Heaven, however its playback is loud.
Isaac Weiss came up with "MuseScore Orchestra" that has worked well for some people.
For SoundFonts, everything is subjective. You might disagree with what I stated about some of the SoundFonts. In general, what works for me might not work for you.
There is no good enough soundfont that by itself sounds like a "real" orchestra.
The only way to achieve that is to pick good individual instruments here and there from various soundfonts and combine them together to make your own "best of" orchestral sf2's.
I'm not sure how this works either. I am probably missing something, but not sure what.
I also downloaded the VCSO Rompler 2 and the individual instruments listed from my link above
when I open the individual instrument files, I can use 7Zip to decompress the .rar files, and I can access the original .WAV sample. Fine :)
However, when i try and open the sample files in the Rompler, I see files with a .mse extension.
Could someone please explain how this works? It would probably help out @Arianna as well
:)
EDIT: unless, of course I have to use Polyphone or another soundfont editing program to access the samples perhaps?
:)
The only "real" way to get a "real" symphonic orchestra sound is...
To have a real orchestra, with real human players!!!
It is absolutely impossible to get that "real" sound from a machine (which has not feelings).
Sorry!!!
In reply to The only "real" way to get a… by jotape1960
Thank you Captain Obvious for your valuable information!
As mentioned above, we need human players to make an orchestra sound "real". But I have found a significant improvement in realism when I use legato effect in virtual instruments. Here's is how I managed to have legato effect in Musescore:
https://musescore.org/en/node/286283
Even so, when writing for virtual and digital instruments I think it's necessary to make some adjustments because not all orchestration techniques that work in a real orchestra sound fine in a virtual one.
Until now, I still haven't found satisfying string fonts, either free or paid, maybe i should make my own violin fonts from my violin.
In reply to Until now, I still haven't… by Xianyue賢越
I think SoundFonts are like handwriting. Some are clear and legible, others a complete mess, and none of them can imitate my own preferred signature. Just point me to the free wav samples and I'll write my own signature, thank you :)