28 Nov
2002
28 Nov
'02
6:36 p.m.
Hi,
I am one of two persons in Utopia Sound Division, makers of profesionally
sounding (and commercial) soundfonts since 1996.. I'm currently trying to
find out if there would be any interrest in a commercial patchset which is
natively developed for tiMIDIty. A few days ago Jaroslav Kysela (from the
ALSA dev crew) suggested me to try on this mailinglist so that's what I'm
trying right now.
In the past we've made products for many soundcards (among which was a 100+
MB patchset for the GUS PnP which the Ultrasound Driver project got native
support for) of which only a few where released under our name on our
website. My name can be found somewhere in the ALSA documentation and I've
convinced (incl. signing contracts etc.) Gravis in the past to release all
Gravis UltraSound driver sources to the public to allow further driver
development.. I'll telling this to avoid a flame after sending this email
which might be considered as an advertisement of some and to show that not
all of our interrests are purely commercially. This message is only meant to
get an idea of the interrest in the project described in this email (which
is currently vaporware).
What we've planned is a patchset sounding very similar to our current Utopia
Live! soundfonts currently available for the SB Live! and Audigy soundcards
(for information and MP3s check our website to get an idea what I'm talking
about.). Since I noticed that tiMIDIty is still widely used these days in
the Linux community I thought it might be a good idea to build a GM/GS
patchset for tiMIDIty from scrap. This would mean a full GM instrumental set
with all GS percussion kits (except for the SFX kit which only takes up
space and is seldom used these days). All samples will be 48 Khz 16 bit and
the final patchset is likely to cross the 300 MB barrier. Since the Linux
community likes getting things for free we are planning to release a lower
quality version of the patchset to the public to download for free (should
it the product ever pass the vaporware status), while the full quality set
would cost around 15$ and will below 50 MB to download (using oggvorbis
compression).
All replies on this message and the questions below will only be used by me
to determine whether or not there is a reason to start with this project. No
one who replies will be added to a mailinglist or will be contacted in the
future about this product unless he/she asks for it by sending an email to
me (roel(a)utopiasd.com). My replies on this matter will only be directly to
the mailinglist and will only go about this current topic as long as it
could be considered 'active' (or until a moderator considers it closed).
Basically my questions are:
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast of any form are you interrested in such a
product if it truly stands out. With interrested I mean, would you be
willing to buy it it would be developed ?
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast but are not willing to pay for a product like
this, do you think others would be.
- What do you dislike or like about current tiMIDIty patchsets ?
- Is there some size which you consider the maximum size of a good sounding
patchset ?
- Any other suggestions where to ask for interrest in a project like this
(e.g. regarding sequencers which use tiMIDIty etc..) ?
- Would you be interrested in beta-testing this product if it ever is made
(send a PM) ?
... and last but not least:
- Can anybody tell me what is and what is not correctly supported currently
in tiMIDIty regarding SF2 files (we are trying to decide between the .PAT
and .SF2 format). I've done some tests which have not been too promising
with the SF2 format but I'm still considering it since .PAT files only allow
single layered (mono) instruments.
I'd appreciate any comment on this email (either negative or positive)..
I hope that I've not crossed any rules in this mailinglist (I've been very
careful to avoid doing so) since I really need some feedback for MIDI
enthusiasts in the Linux community to decide whether or not it has any use
for use to develop such a product.
---
Roel / Utopia Sound Division
http://www.utopiasd.com
28 Nov
28 Nov
10:17 p.m.
Roel de Wit wrote:
Basically my questions are:
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast of any form are you interrested in such a
product if it truly stands out. With interrested I mean, would you be
willing to buy it it would be developed ?
Yes. As long as it installs itself.
- Any other suggestions where to ask for interrest in
a project like this
(e.g. regarding sequencers which use tiMIDIty etc..) ?
MusE, Rosegarden
- Would you be interrested in beta-testing this
product if it ever is made
(send a PM) ?
Yes.
... and last but not least:
- Can anybody tell me what is and what is not correctly supported currently
in tiMIDIty regarding SF2 files (we are trying to decide between the .PAT
and .SF2 format). I've done some tests which have not been too promising
with the SF2 format but I'm still considering it since .PAT files only allow
single layered (mono) instruments.
Takashi?
--
Patrick Shirkey - Boost Hardware Ltd.
For the discerning hardware connoisseur
Http://www.boosthardware.com
Http://www.djcj.org - The Linux Audio Users guide
========================================
Being on stage with the band in front of crowds shouting, "Get off! No!
We want normal music!", I think that was more like acting than anything
I've ever done.
Goldie, 8 Nov, 2002
The Scotsman
29 Nov
29 Nov
9:15 a.m.
Roel de Wit wrote:
I am one of two persons in Utopia Sound Division,
makers of profesionally
sounding (and commercial) soundfonts since 1996...
[snip]
Hi Roel: Thanks for writing to this list, hopefully we can help you make
a good decision.
What we've planned is a patchset sounding very
similar to our current Utopia
Live! soundfonts currently available for the SB Live! and Audigy soundcards
(for information and MP3s check our website to get an idea what I'm talking
about.). Since I noticed that tiMIDIty is still widely used these days in
the Linux community I thought it might be a good idea to build a GM/GS
patchset for tiMIDIty from scrap. <--- !
I think you mean "from scratch". ;)
My first question for you is: How would your set improve upon the
available Midia PAT set or the Fluid SF2 soundfonts ? Can you give some
technical details (i.e., how they've been recorded, layered, etc.) ? I
would pay for an outstanding set of soundfonts. They're used in some
very cool Linux audio software, for instance:
iiwusynth (softsynth)
Swami (SF2 editor, very good!)
Csound (software sound synthesis environment)
TiMidity++ (well, you know about TiMidity...)
Snd (soundfile editor with support for SF2)
MusE (MIDI sequencer with iiwusynth support)
and others, so I think you might find some market here.
Basically my questions are:
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast of any form are you interrested in such a
product if it truly stands out. With interrested I mean, would you be
willing to buy it it would be developed ?
Yes.
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast but are not willing to
pay for a product like
this, do you think others would be.
Hard to say. Commercial Linux audio software has not fared well so far,
but that's due to a rather complicated set of circumstances.
- What do you dislike or like about current tiMIDIty
patchsets ?
The Midia PAT set is of uneven quality, but it's quite serviceable. One
big complaint I have with it is the format itself: AFAIK there's no PAT
editor for Linux.
Fluid seems better prepared, but I haven't explored the set as fully as
the Midia PATs. And of course for editing SF2 we have Josh Green's
wonderful Swami.
- Can anybody tell me what is and what is not
correctly supported currently
in tiMIDIty regarding SF2 files (we are trying to decide between the .PAT
and .SF2 format). I've done some tests which have not been too promising
with the SF2 format but I'm still considering it since .PAT files only allow
single layered (mono) instruments.
Hopefully Josh Green and/or Peter Hanappe will jump in here, they
probably know the most about soundfonts on this list.
I'd appreciate any comment on this email (either
negative or positive)..
I hope that I've not crossed any rules in this mailinglist (I've been very
careful to avoid doing so) since I really need some feedback for MIDI
enthusiasts in the Linux community to decide whether or not it has any use
for use to develop such a product.
We must have quite a prickly reputation ! ;)
Seriously, thank you for your concern re: etiquette. I hope the feedback
is positive enough for your company to pursue this venture.
Best regards,
== Dave Phillips
The Book Of Linux Music & Sound at http://www.nostarch.com/lms.htm
The Linux Soundapps Site at http://linux-sound.org
9:50 a.m.
At Fri, 29 Nov 2002 11:00:46 +0900,
Patrick Shirkey wrote:
the stable release of timidity doesn't support the pitch envelope.
the vibrato and tremolo LFOs are supported. the behavior of initial
cut-off and resonance Q are "guessed".
the stereo samples are not handled by this version well.
the current development version of timidity supports the pitch
envelope and the stereo samples, too.
it's available on sourceforge, btw
http://timidity.sourceforge.net/
please note that the current version is not stored on the main cvs
branch but on another one.
there is a mailing list in english there.
ciao,
Takashi
... and last but not least:
- Can anybody tell me what is and what is not correctly supported currently
in tiMIDIty regarding SF2 files (we are trying to decide between the .PAT
and .SF2 format). I've done some tests which have not been too promising
with the SF2 format but I'm still considering it since .PAT files only allow
single layered (mono) instruments.
Takashi? 
12:44 p.m.
On Fri, Nov 29, 2002 at 08:12:54AM -0500, Dave Phillips wrote:
I think a MIDI patch set is different than software. With software, I
generally find one option that suits my needs really well and use it
100% of the time.
Very few musicians work that way though - it's always better to have
more options available to you, for a wider selection of sounds.
I've never used Midia, but have used Fluid quite a bit. The version I
have is a tad old, so maybe it's gotten better, but it's frustratingly
incomplete. Some of the patches sound pretty good, some not.
My first question for you is: How would your set
improve upon the
available Midia PAT set or the Fluid SF2 soundfonts ? Can you give some
technical details (i.e., how they've been recorded, layered, etc.) ?
Well, I've used Fluid for a good number of months and I think it has
its shortcomings. I'd welcome another options - especially if the
company would allow a lower-quality trial version for download, and
offer the full quality patches for $15!
I mean hey, if I can try it out, and it only costs $15, it sounds like a
great idea to me.
> Basically my questions are:
> - If you are a MIDI enthusiast of any form are you interrested in such a
> product if it truly stands out. With interrested I mean, would you be
> willing to buy it it would be developed ?
Absolutely! Especially if I could actually play with a trial version
like suggested. Since your suggested price is so reasonable, it would
almost be silly not to buy the high quality release.
- If you are a
MIDI enthusiast but are not willing to pay for a product like
this, do you think others would be.
Hard to say. Commercial Linux audio software has not fared well so far,
but that's due to a rather complicated set of circumstances. - What do you
dislike or like about current tiMIDIty patchsets ?
Fluid seems better prepared, but I haven't explored the set as fully as
the Midia PATs. Seriously, thank you for your concern re: etiquette. I
hope the feedback
is positive enough for your company to pursue this venture.
Me too - I'm quite excited now!
--
Ross Vandegrift
ross(a)willow.seitz.com
A Pope has a Water Cannon. It is a Water Cannon.
He fires Holy-Water from it. It is a Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses it. It is a Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He Blesses the Hell out of it. It is a Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He has it pierced. It is a Holey Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
He makes it official. It is a Canon Holey Wholly Holy Holy-Water Cannon.
Batman and Robin arrive. He shoots them.
30 Nov
30 Nov
8:06 p.m.
Le Jeudi 28 Novembre 2002 23:30, vous avez écrit :
I'd appreciate any comment on this email (either
negative or positive)..
I don't use much GM/GS/XG organisation of sounds.
I am likely to buy soundfonts in a near futur, i am searching good old
vintage keyboards.. There are very little good free sf2 for that.
Something that would made me very happy is another format than the "sf2" and
a soft synth in linux that can play it.
The sf2 format has only one lowpass filter, nothing fancy...
A not proprietary format ?
Linium
1 Dec
1 Dec
2:03 a.m.
Hi all
On Sun, 1 Dec 2002 01:01:09 +0100
Linium <intent(a)club-internet.fr> wrote / a écrit:
I am likely to buy soundfonts in a near futur, i am
searching good old
vintage keyboards.. There are very little good free sf2 for that.
Absolutely. I too am always hunting for Rhodes (with tremolo), Hammond and Clavinet
sounds. Some of the best ones I found are the ones with the Roland RD-500 keyboard.
Some good bass-guitars (accoustic and electric) and both analog (jazz brushes) and digital
(TB) drums sets are necessary, IMO.
But this is only my taste... :)
cheers
-------------------------------------
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/guy.clotilde/
-------------------------------------
3 Dec
3 Dec
8:45 a.m.
Roel,
Just catching up from travels.
I would very much like a high-quality GM device for Linux. I'd probably
use TiMidity to get that.
I'd also like some really great drum sets also.
Bottom line - If the price is low, I'd buy them just to support you. If
the price goes up, then I'd have to look at the quality carefully. I've only
used sound fonts on the Windows platform and I've been pretty disappointed
with the quality. In fact, bad sound fonts drove me to GigaStudio, which I
now love, so you'll get compared to that platform.
Any questions - drop me a note.
Cheers,
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: linux-audio-user-admin(a)music.columbia.edu
[mailto:linux-audio-user-admin@music.columbia.edu]On Behalf Of Roel de
Wit
Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2002 2:30 PM
To: linux-audio-user(a)music.columbia.edu
Subject: [linux-audio-user] Big professional tiMIDIty patchset.. Any
interrest ?
Hi,
I am one of two persons in Utopia Sound Division, makers of profesionally
sounding (and commercial) soundfonts since 1996.. I'm currently trying to
find out if there would be any interrest in a commercial patchset which is
natively developed for tiMIDIty. A few days ago Jaroslav Kysela (from the
ALSA dev crew) suggested me to try on this mailinglist so that's what I'm
trying right now.
In the past we've made products for many soundcards (among which was a 100+
MB patchset for the GUS PnP which the Ultrasound Driver project got native
support for) of which only a few where released under our name on our
website. My name can be found somewhere in the ALSA documentation and I've
convinced (incl. signing contracts etc.) Gravis in the past to release all
Gravis UltraSound driver sources to the public to allow further driver
development.. I'll telling this to avoid a flame after sending this email
which might be considered as an advertisement of some and to show that not
all of our interrests are purely commercially. This message is only meant to
get an idea of the interrest in the project described in this email (which
is currently vaporware).
What we've planned is a patchset sounding very similar to our current Utopia
Live! soundfonts currently available for the SB Live! and Audigy soundcards
(for information and MP3s check our website to get an idea what I'm talking
about.). Since I noticed that tiMIDIty is still widely used these days in
the Linux community I thought it might be a good idea to build a GM/GS
patchset for tiMIDIty from scrap. This would mean a full GM instrumental set
with all GS percussion kits (except for the SFX kit which only takes up
space and is seldom used these days). All samples will be 48 Khz 16 bit and
the final patchset is likely to cross the 300 MB barrier. Since the Linux
community likes getting things for free we are planning to release a lower
quality version of the patchset to the public to download for free (should
it the product ever pass the vaporware status), while the full quality set
would cost around 15$ and will below 50 MB to download (using oggvorbis
compression).
All replies on this message and the questions below will only be used by me
to determine whether or not there is a reason to start with this project. No
one who replies will be added to a mailinglist or will be contacted in the
future about this product unless he/she asks for it by sending an email to
me (roel(a)utopiasd.com). My replies on this matter will only be directly to
the mailinglist and will only go about this current topic as long as it
could be considered 'active' (or until a moderator considers it closed).
Basically my questions are:
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast of any form are you interrested in such a
product if it truly stands out. With interrested I mean, would you be
willing to buy it it would be developed ?
- If you are a MIDI enthusiast but are not willing to pay for a product like
this, do you think others would be.
- What do you dislike or like about current tiMIDIty patchsets ?
- Is there some size which you consider the maximum size of a good sounding
patchset ?
- Any other suggestions where to ask for interrest in a project like this
(e.g. regarding sequencers which use tiMIDIty etc..) ?
- Would you be interrested in beta-testing this product if it ever is made
(send a PM) ?
... and last but not least:
- Can anybody tell me what is and what is not correctly supported currently
in tiMIDIty regarding SF2 files (we are trying to decide between the .PAT
and .SF2 format). I've done some tests which have not been too promising
with the SF2 format but I'm still considering it since .PAT files only allow
single layered (mono) instruments.
I'd appreciate any comment on this email (either negative or positive)..
I hope that I've not crossed any rules in this mailinglist (I've been very
careful to avoid doing so) since I really need some feedback for MIDI
enthusiasts in the Linux community to decide whether or not it has any use
for use to develop such a product.
---
Roel / Utopia Sound Division
http://www.utopiasd.com
7985
days inactive
7990
days old
linux-audio-user@lists.linuxaudio.org
7 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
Dave Phillips -
Guy Daniel CLOTILDE -
Linium -
Mark Knecht -
Patrick Shirkey -
Roel de Wit -
Ross Vandegrift -
Takashi Iwai