Kx drivers and Soundfont 2.1 ?

Tintin72 · Mar 8, 2007, 07:55 AM

Hi all,

Can somebody tells me if the Soundfont 2.1 format is supported by the kx drivers ?
In Vienna, I deseperatly tried to assign some midi controllers with modulators
but it doesn't work at all.
(my souncard is an Audigy Platinum eX)

Thanks

Maddogg6 · Mar 8, 2007, 11:38 AM

KX supports SF 2.01 spec. not 2.1 (which I *think* adds those extra modulators.)

What were you looking to 'modulate' ?- you may not need to change the SF to do it - and just use the Midi CC's spec'd in the KX help file /MIDI Implementation.
But, If you tell me what your looking to accomplish, I'll do a test to verify it will work for you or not.

On a different subject - I assume your asking before you switch to KX - yes?
If so - you may want to search these forums for your card model (SB0XXX) - I think some of the 'eX' (with the external I/O box) may have audio issues (intermittent/noisy inputs or something - which may be something to consider also.

KX MIDI Implementation.

Code:

0x80 note off
 0x90 note on / off
       Velocity affects Filter Cutoff according to SoundFont 2.01 specification:
       (8.4.2 MIDI Note-On Velocity to Filter Cutoff (-2400 cents))
       for velocities less than 64: Filter Cutoff -= (64-velocity)*2400/64 (0..2400 cents)
 0xa0 key pressure (realtime velocity change)
 0xb0 controller
 0xc0 program change
 0xd0 channel pressure (realtime modulation change)
       MIDI Channel Pressure affects Vibrato LFO Pitch Depth [50 cents / max excursion]
       (according to SoundFont 2.01 specification, 8.4.3)
 0xe0 pitchbend
 0xf0, 0xf7 sysex

 MIDI Controllers:

  0 - bank LSB
       see #32
  1 - modulation
       MIDI Continuous Controller 1 affects Vibrato LFO Pitch Depth [50 cents / max excursion]
       (according to SoundFont 2.01 specification, 8.4.4)
       in 'Legacy mode' affects Modulation LFO Pitch Depth (18 * Modulation CC) / 1200
  2 - breath [under development]
  4 - foot [under development]
  5 - portamento time [under development]
  6 - data entry
  7 - volume
  8 - balance
       stereo balance
       doesn't change instrument positions
  10 - pan
        affects stereo samples in generic way
  11 - expression
  16 - General Purpose 1 [10k2 SendE Amount]
  17 - General Purpose 2 [10k2 SendF Amount]
  18 - General Purpose 3 [10k2 SendG Amount]
  19 - General Purpose 4 [10k2 SendH Amount]
  32 - bank MSB
        supports 'mixed' programming model
        resulting bank number is: LSB+MSB,
        thus, 254 banks are accessible and both 'LSB only' & 'MSB only' modes are supported
        kX Mixer supports 251 (0..250) banks
        this behaviour might change in the future...
  38 - data entry
  64 - sustain
  65 - portamento on/off [under development]
  66 - sostenuto
  67 - soft pedal 
       implemented via Filter Cutoff:
       if active, Filter Cutoff is increased by 0x9e (158) - that is, gives 9000 cents
       (that is, Filter Cutoff frequency is decreased)
  68 - legato 
       if active, sets Attack time to 0
  69 - hold2 
        implemented via Modulation / Volume Envelope Release Time
        if active, Modulation / Volume Envelope Release Time is increased by 1900 timecents
  71 - sound resonance
        implemented via Filter Q (0..15 units)
        0 - resonance is decreased by 15 units
        64 - default
        127 - resonance is increased by 15 units
  72 - sound release
        implemented via Volume Envelope Release Time
        0 - release time is decreased by 2400 timecents
        64 - default
        127 - release time is increased by 2400 timecents
  73 - sound attack
        implemented via Volume Envelope Attack time (0..127 units)
        0 - attack time is decreased by 64 units
        64 - default
        127 - attack time is increased by 64 units
        (log-encoded)
  74 - sound brightness 
        implemented via Filter Cutoff
        0 - Filter Cutoff frequency increases (minimum effect depth)
        64 - default; 
        127 - Filter Cutoff frequency decreases (maximum effect depth)
  84 - portamento control [under development]
  91 - reverb level
        implemented according to SoundFont 2.01 specification:
        8.4.8 MIDI Continuous Controller 91 to Reverb Effects Send
        Amount equals to 200 tenths of a percent
        that is, 127 gives 20% reverb increase
  92 - tremulo level [under development]
  93 - chorus level
        implemented according to SoundFont 2.01 specification:
        8.4.9 MIDI Continuous Controller 93 to Chorus Effects Send
        Amount equals to 200 tenths of a percent
        that is, 127 gives 20% chorus increase
  94 - celeste level [under development]
  95 - phaser level [under development]
  96 - data increment
  97 - data decrement
  98 - NRPN lsb fine
  99 - NRPN msb coarse
  100 - RPN lsb fine
  101 - RPN msb coarse
  120 - all sounds off [terminate all notes]
  121 - reset all controllers
         the following controlles aren't reset (according to MIDI specification):
         7 (Volume),
         10 (Pan),
         8 (Balance),
         91 (Reverb),
         93 (Chorus),
         92, 94, 95 (Tremulo, Celeste, Phaser)
         0, 32 (Bank selection)
  123 - all notes off [release all notes]

 supported RPNs:
  00 - pitchbend sensivity
  01 - master fine tuning
  02 - master coarse tuning
  7f - RPN reset

 supported NRPNs:
  SoundFont 2.01 NRPNs
  AWE NRPNs

 SysEx:
  f0 7f 7f 04 01 LL MM f7 - synth volume

Tintin72 · Mar 8, 2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

KX supports SF 2.01 spec. not 2.1 (which I *think* adds those extra modulators.)

It's really too bad

there are many helpfull features in the soundfont 2.1 format.

Quote:

But, If you tell me what your looking to accomplish, I'll do a test to verify it will work for you or not.

I just want to assign the volume to the modulation wheel of my midi keyboard in order
to use the wheel as a volume pedal (with sounds like strings and such).
is it possible ?

Maddogg6 · Mar 8, 2007, 06:14 PM

um -those are midi CC# 7 (volume) and CC#1 (modulation)
Most SF are set up like that by default and should be part of SF2.01 as well.
I bolded the ones in my last post.

Tintin72 · Mar 9, 2007, 06:03 AM

Thanks for your answer, but I'm not sure if it's so easy.

To make it works, assignations must be modified in the soundfont itself.
Unfortunatly, in Vienna the mod wheel is assigned by default to the LFOs modulators, and the only way to remove it or to reassigned the mod wheel to an other modulator (volume etc....) is to use the soundfont 2.1 functions.
It means that even if I assigne the mod wheel to the volume in Kx automation or something like that, I'm afraid that when volume will be modified (via the mod wheel), modulation (in the soundfont) will be modified too.

Lex Nahumury · Mar 9, 2007, 07:44 AM

Better to use Expression (CC#11) instead of Volume for 'Swell'.
Just re-map Mod-wheel MIDI messages to Expression.
Several ways to accomplish that; your sequencer, midiox etc. etc.

Maddogg6 · Mar 9, 2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tintin72

Thanks for your answer, but I'm not sure if it's so easy.

To make it works, assignations must be modified in the soundfont itself.
Unfortunatly, in Vienna the mod wheel is assigned by default to the LFOs modulators, and the only way to remove it or to reassigned the mod wheel to an other modulator (volume etc....) is to use the soundfont 2.1 functions.
It means that even if I assigne the mod wheel to the volume in Kx automation or something like that, I'm afraid that when volume will be modified (via the mod wheel), modulation (in the soundfont) will be modified too.

No... KX Automation - uses a different MIDI port (KX Control) - NOT KX Synth X. So no - Midi CC's wont interfere in that way you describe.

Also - if you use the 'GM' preset for a SF's modulation mapping in Vienna - should stil make it SF2.01 compatible.