Attention: Russ

thomasabarnes · Jun 20, 2007, 05:56 AM

Hi Russ.

There was a kX user name zvukovac who made a great soundfont manager for kX users called SFMan. Here are the relavant threads: New Soundfont Management App For kX Users

Soundfont API issue

The problem is that Hammersound was hosting this app for zvukovac, but in Febuary 2007 some hackers messed up the HammerSound site and the site has moved, and sadly the SFMan app can't be found on the new site. Also, it is unbeknownst where zvukovac is now a days.

It just so happens that I have a copy of his app SFMan. My question is do you think this app is worh hosting for downloading. I'm asking because you have a site with kX related downloads. I know there may be some legal concerns since this app was made by zvukovac, but I really don't think he would mind if it was made available for downloading since he made it for kX users anyway. However, I think it would be better if SFMan was available for download on a kX related site such as yours or TravelRec's.

Anyway, what are your thoughts. I can zip the file and upload it to some free file hosting site for temporary downloading. The file is only 504 k in size without being compressed.

What do you think Russ?

Edit:

Concerning whether or not hosting SFMan is legal, here's what Zvukovac wrote in one of his posts:

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvukovac

I find it necessary to mention some necessary facts in advance:
1) I will provide both binary and source code for FREE and...
2) ...I will provide NO guarantee either on the functionality of the code or future support. I work on the app in my free time (and there's pretty little of it for me!) and so I cannot promise I will work on bug fixes whenever a bug is discovered.
3) Although the designed GUI contains a progress bar for displaying status of sf memory consumption, this progress bar will be "dead" in the first release.

I hope someone will find my app useful.

Zvukovac

Russ · Jun 20, 2007, 12:10 PM

Yes, I am aware of the program (and I am sure that I still have it somewhere on my comp as well). It was a decent program, but IIRC it did not allow you to choose the target bank, which for me, makes it a little less useful than the kX loader (as far as loading soundfonts goes).

Russ · Jun 20, 2007, 01:11 PM

I searched my comp, and I do have version 1.0.0.1 of the program.
I took another look at it and it is nice for previewing soundfonts, but it still needs some work.

i.e.
You should be able to choose the target bank.
It does not show the additional banks for multi-bank soundfonts.
The bank list and Preset list should be numbered, and listed in the numbered order (currently they are listed alphabetically), otherwise you have no way of knowing what bank a soundfont was loaded to (without looking in kxmixer or another sf management app), nor the preset locations, etc.

Because of this, it is less useful than it could be, and in some ways less useful than using kxmixer for soundfont management.

Maddogg6 · Jun 20, 2007, 03:39 PM

The way I have used my rather large collection of SF's - is for multi-bank SF's - in the case of a GS sound font - I simply changed the bank/patch for all the non-zero bank patches and made them all use BANK 1 instead of bank 8, 32 etcc.. And saved that as a NEW SF file- For GS midi playback - I would load the original GS SF file - but for sequencing - I would use my modified one. (By saving my modified SF config with my Sonar DSP config - and the normal GS SF config with all my other DSP configs.

It may waste a little HDD space - but I find it much easier to manage patches - and still maximize SF memory at the same time - which imo - is more limiting than my HDD space available.

I also had some fun - and made new patches using existing SF samples in the GS SF file - just for more flexibility and to use up all the extra patch mapping in Bank 1 - that inst filled to capacity.

*Hopes that makes sense*

I have to agree with Russ - the kX SF manager - along with any number of virtual piano / Midi in > Midi out apps makes SF auditioning easy enough - Even Vienna is good enough for this imo. (to play SF's with out a sequencer/DAW.)

thomasabarnes · Jun 20, 2007, 05:11 PM

I still think this SFMan program is a nice peice of software. It allows for playing soundfonts back standalone as the Creative soundfont Player. For that reason alone, IMO, it's a useful program for kX users.

Without SFMan a kX user would have to use MIDI OX or some VSTi/DXi and/or a MIDI/audio multitrack sequencer just to audition a soundfont. However, another con is that SFMan only works with Windows XP.

Nevertheless, thanks for the reply Russ.

Russ · Jun 21, 2007, 02:24 PM

Thats cool if you like it, I just think it could have been more useful... I wonder why zvukovac never finished it?

My web site is a free Geocities account (so I have very limited storage space), why not setup your own website to host it?

As for auditioning soundfonts, as Maddog6 stated, there are many programs that can be used (including Vienna), which allows you to audition the presets in the extra/child banks, as well as the percussion presets.

thomasabarnes · Jun 22, 2007, 08:56 AM

Ah, forgot about Vienna cause I always hated it, and it's a soundfont editor. The goal of SFMan is to make auditioning a soundfont simple for the new kX user. There is for a long time to much about kX that's too hard for a new user. And some of this gibberish talk from some posters only make it harder for new kX users to get an understanding of kX and a means to simply do things with the kX software that are simple to do using Creative software.

If I had the means to host SFMan, I wouldn't have had to start this thread.

As I said, though, thanks for the replies Russ.

Can you tell I'm inclined to be a last word freak? LOL

Really, I see your point Russ, and thanks for the pics.

Jun 20, 2007, 05:11 PM	#5
thomasabarnes DriverHeaven Maniac Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,315 Rep Power: 44 System Specs	I still think this SFMan program is a nice peice of software. It allows for playing soundfonts back standalone as the Creative soundfont Player. For that reason alone, IMO, it's a useful program for kX users. Without SFMan a kX user would have to use MIDI OX or some VSTi/DXi and/or a MIDI/audio multitrack sequencer just to audition a soundfont. However, another con is that SFMan only works with Windows XP. Nevertheless, thanks for the reply Russ. __________________ May a song always touch you in a positive way. Sonar 8 Producer Edition, Vista Ultimate 64Bit, MOTU UltraLite MK3, 250 GB HDD 7200 rpm, 80 GB HDD 7200 rpm, Lite-On DVDRW LH 18A1P My Music Production: Top 40, Contemporary Christian, Pop/Rock, Decent Rap, Inspirationals, and Children Songs

Jun 21, 2007, 02:24 PM	#6
Russ DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,836 Rep Power: 41	Thats cool if you like it, I just think it could have been more useful... I wonder why zvukovac never finished it? My web site is a free Geocities account (so I have very limited storage space), why not setup your own website to host it? As for auditioning soundfonts, as Maddog6 stated, there are many programs that can be used (including Vienna), which allows you to audition the presets in the extra/child banks, as well as the percussion presets. Last edited by Russ; Jun 23, 2007 at 08:08 PM.

Jun 22, 2007, 08:56 AM	#7
thomasabarnes DriverHeaven Maniac Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,315 Rep Power: 44 System Specs	Ah, forgot about Vienna cause I always hated it, and it's a soundfont editor. The goal of SFMan is to make auditioning a soundfont simple for the new kX user. There is for a long time to much about kX that's too hard for a new user. And some of this gibberish talk from some posters only make it harder for new kX users to get an understanding of kX and a means to simply do things with the kX software that are simple to do using Creative software. If I had the means to host SFMan, I wouldn't have had to start this thread. As I said, though, thanks for the replies Russ. Can you tell I'm inclined to be a last word freak? LOL Really, I see your point Russ, and thanks for the pics. __________________ May a song always touch you in a positive way. Sonar 8 Producer Edition, Vista Ultimate 64Bit, MOTU UltraLite MK3, 250 GB HDD 7200 rpm, 80 GB HDD 7200 rpm, Lite-On DVDRW LH 18A1P My Music Production: Top 40, Contemporary Christian, Pop/Rock, Decent Rap, Inspirationals, and Children Songs Last edited by thomasabarnes; Jun 23, 2007 at 11:13 AM.

Jun 20, 2007, 12:10 PM	#2
Russ DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,836 Rep Power: 41	Yes, I am aware of the program (and I am sure that I still have it somewhere on my comp as well). It was a decent program, but IIRC it did not allow you to choose the target bank, which for me, makes it a little less useful than the kX loader (as far as loading soundfonts goes).

Jun 20, 2007, 01:11 PM	#3
Russ DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,836 Rep Power: 41	I searched my comp, and I do have version 1.0.0.1 of the program. I took another look at it and it is nice for previewing soundfonts, but it still needs some work. i.e. You should be able to choose the target bank. It does not show the additional banks for multi-bank soundfonts. The bank list and Preset list should be numbered, and listed in the numbered order (currently they are listed alphabetically), otherwise you have no way of knowing what bank a soundfont was loaded to (without looking in kxmixer or another sf management app), nor the preset locations, etc. Because of this, it is less useful than it could be, and in some ways less useful than using kxmixer for soundfont management.

Jun 20, 2007, 03:39 PM	#4
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 36	The way I have used my rather large collection of SF's - is for multi-bank SF's - in the case of a GS sound font - I simply changed the bank/patch for all the non-zero bank patches and made them all use BANK 1 instead of bank 8, 32 etcc.. And saved that as a NEW SF file- For GS midi playback - I would load the original GS SF file - but for sequencing - I would use my modified one. (By saving my modified SF config with my Sonar DSP config - and the normal GS SF config with all my other DSP configs. It may waste a little HDD space - but I find it much easier to manage patches - and still maximize SF memory at the same time - which imo - is more limiting than my HDD space available. I also had some fun - and made new patches using existing SF samples in the GS SF file - just for more flexibility and to use up all the extra patch mapping in Bank 1 - that inst filled to capacity. Hopes that makes sense I have to agree with Russ - the kX SF manager - along with any number of virtual piano / Midi in > Midi out apps makes SF auditioning easy enough - Even Vienna is good enough for this imo. (to play SF's with out a sequencer/DAW.)