New Soundfont Management App For kX Users

thomasabarnes · Apr 17, 2005, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvukovac

Hi there!

Here is the link to my SFMan app:

http://web.archive.org/web/200609190...mmersound.net/

I'm sorry for the awfully sloooooooooow connection but it's a free demo webhosting - no miracle and it will expire on 30/9/2005... doesn't anyone know about a fast & free webhosting for SFMan? Up to 5 MB would be just enough. Any tips?

Zvukovacz

P.S. Please read the comments at that site... apart from others it will tell you that SFMan is proved to run ONLY on a Windows XP machine with Soundblaster Live 5.1 and kX drivers. Please let me know if you are not able to run the app or encounter any problems with it. I will try to resolve it. Please attach your configuration description (i.e. HW&SW setup), too. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvukovac

One more note about SFMan:
Some features are not finished, some are buggy. If you're looking for a product that is ready to go, just forget about SFMan or wait till next release. The current (pre-)release is intended for SF enthusiasts who were waiting for an app like this a long time and feel like they cannot wait any longer. Those people are likely to respect the current poor state of the app (although it's functional and fully sufficient for my needs).

Zvukovacz

This app can be used to play your soundfonts standalone. It's a soundfont player that's like a substitute to the Creative Soundfont Player. It can be used by users who have kX installed. I do beleive the absence of this potential in the kX driver and software is what sparked the author of this nice peice of software to create this app.

I used it with an Audigy soundcard and the 3537 driver version, and it works well!

This was posted in a thread that everybody probably wouldnt have looked at cause the title to that thread has a technical sound, so I posted it in a thread as the main topic.

This may be used instead of MIDI OX, too. Til this app came along, MIDI OX is all I knew of that would allow kX users to play soundfonts standalone.

You all may want to check this out!

Thanks for your useful contribution Zvukovac!

zvukovac · Apr 21, 2005, 10:49 AM

Good News Everyone!

Zvukovacz is hosted at Hammersound.net

, here is the new URL:

http://zvukovacz.hammersound.net/

Now the download and response times should be substantially better!

I made some changes to the code, go download the new release!

Here are the new features and bug fixes:
- pc-keyboard auditioning (2 octaves, you'll find the layout ;-)) so far without visualization on the virtual keyboard (that still works just for mouse) - Samir, do you like it?
- app icon appears ;-)
- 'Soundfont Location' setting is considered by now, user can choose whether to start in the last open directory or in the 'Soundfont Location' set in the 'File Settings' dialog
- it shouldn't crash with SB (hopefully) - better check for kx (though DLLs still might be required)
- fixed bug with updating Drive combobox
- a bit refactoring, really not much

To be done:
- 'Set Filter' dialog is still dead
- Menu items are not updated (enabled/disabled)
- any other observations?

Zvukovacz

**dj_stick** · Apr 21, 2005, 11:49 AM

thread stuck

BiCho · Apr 21, 2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasabarnes

This may be used instead of MIDI OX, too. Til this app came along, MIDI OX is all I knew of that would allow kX users to play soundfonts standalone.

Actually, the latest version of Bidule is able to run without audio devices, which means you can use kXSFi, kXi and loads of MIDI plugins to run LFO, sequenced patterns, etc.

Way more flexible than MIDIOX, and it can be used for SF2 without loading the CPU (it means you can have a live keyboard player while playing along with Traktor!)

cheers

thomasabarnes · Apr 21, 2005, 10:27 PM

zvukovac:

Your updated app is working fine! I can see the app icon, too. The load to last used directory is a nice ability as well. Thanks for your work. Congrats on being hosted by HammerSound!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiCho

Actually, the latest version of Bidule is able to run without audio devices, which means you can use kXSFi, kXi and loads of MIDI plugins to run LFO, sequenced patterns, etc.

Way more flexible than MIDIOX, and it can be used for SF2 without loading the CPU (it means you can have a live keyboard player while playing along with Traktor!)

cheers

OK, first, I was refering to freebees, but do you have a link to this app youre refering to? I saw an app named Bidule on the KVR forum, but the newest version costs money. Is this the one youre talking about? A link would be nice.

Samir · Apr 22, 2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvukovac

Zvukovacz is hosted at Hammersound.net

, here is the new URL:
http://zvukovacz.hammersound.net/

Now the download and response times should be substantially better!

I made some changes to the code, go download the new release!

Here are the new features and bug fixes:
- pc-keyboard auditioning (2 octaves, you'll find the layout ;-)) so far without visualization on the virtual keyboard (that still works just for mouse) - Samir, do you like it?...

Well, i must admit download experience was much better... zvukovac, pc keybourd support is great, but i have one slight issue with it (not that i wasn't expecting it!)... I'm using Bosnian keyboard layout, and it has switched key 'Z' with key 'Y', comparing to standard US keyboard, so when i play keys: W, E, R, T, Z... i receive notes C2, D2, E2, F2, C1... It's not really big issue, i can live with it... BTW, what's Cesky keyboard layout?

zvukovac · Apr 22, 2005, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samir

I'm using Bosnian keyboard layout, and it has switched key 'Z' with key 'Y', comparing to standard US keyboard, so when i play keys: W, E, R, T, Z... i receive notes C2, D2, E2, F2, C1... It's not really big issue, i can live with it... BTW, what's Cesky keyboard layout?

Well... the current implementation of the pc-keyboard support is not ideal... I've programmed it in less than 2 hours with the simplest approach which is sensible to local keyboard layout. Thus it works properly only for US-keyboard layout which I am using as well... So please stay patient - I'll find a better solution till next release...

The Czech keyboard layout suffers from just the same problem as the Bosnian does, i.e. Z and Y keys are switched. As a programmer, I HATE localized keyboards! But that's another story...

One more note: if you had some basic C/C++ programming knowledge I would recommend to you a very very slight change in the code that would solve your problem after recompilation... In fact it is a change of just one character in a string at a specific place in the code...

Zvukovacz

marce · Apr 22, 2005, 05:12 PM

A report from my tests:

WinXP/KX..37/SBlive value 5.1= All is OK

Win98/Creative drivers/SBLive value 4.1= You need:

copy to the same folder than sfman: kxapi.dll
kxgui.dll
mfc librarys
(all them at kxproject home page)
and install Directx9.

Tiger M · Apr 22, 2005, 06:07 PM

It works great, very nice.

zvukovac · Apr 25, 2005, 10:57 AM

Marce, thanks a lot for performing the tests and reporting them here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by marce

Win98/Creative drivers/SBLive value 4.1= You need:
copy to the same folder than sfman: kxapi.dll
kxgui.dll
mfc librarys
(all them at kxproject home page)
and install Directx9.

Great work, Marce! Very valuable information! I will add your information to the SFMan site. Anyway I'm really pleased that SFMan works on W98 (I thought some problems should have occurred...) and with Creative drivers (I stopped the maintenance)... This makes the app useful for even more users...

...can you just tell me please how did you find out that DirectX9 needs to be installed?

Zvukovacz

marce · May 9, 2005, 01:06 AM

Quote:

...can you just tell me please how did you find out that DirectX9 needs to be installed?

Simply because the KX dlls dont work without DirectX installed (if you have not installed directx they say that "dsound.dll" is missing) Im not sure if DirectX 9 exactly, maybe it runs with version 8 or 7. I believe that you need to Look at the KX requirments.

TravelRec. · May 9, 2005, 07:13 AM

DirectX7 will not work, 8.1b is fine too.

Licho · May 30, 2005, 06:15 PM

Windows XP profesional SP2, spanish language
EMU APS
3537 driver version

SFman doesn't find any SoundFont device.

Does anybody have the same problem and knows how to fix it?
Thanks in advance!

mattcro · Nov 30, 2005, 01:05 PM

Is SFMan still under development? Last post here was a while ago...

I just downloaded SFMan 1.0.0.1 off the linked Hammersound page and have been playing around with it. I primarily wanted some way of quickly auditioning different soundfonts (using a MIDI master keyboard) as I used to do way back when I was using the standard Creative drivers, and this util seems to do that ok. I'm using kX 3537 on SBLive5.1 under WinXP.

However, I've noticed a few "bugs" and things that could be improved - is this the place to post them?

* Doesn't seem to remember last used folder or any other folder settings (is there more to installing this than simply running the downloaded sfman.exe?)

* Allow selection and playing of percussive presets (bank 128??). It seems that only melodic presets are shown, and I'd like to be able to play drumkit soundfonts that have only percussive presets.

* Add bank select panel to allow auditioning of multiple banks within soundfonts (may be the cause of problem above??).

* Preset changing seems to glitch sometimes - doesn't properly switch instrument when selecting in the presets panel. I haven't checked this out thoroughly, but have noticed that sometimes selecting a different bank or preset doesn't change the auditioned preset.

* List banks/presets in numerical order (with numbers shown next to presets) rather than alphabetical. Any empty presets/banks can be either left out of the list or marked as unused (like the Creative Keyboard utility).

* Add velocity sensitivity to the clickable keyboard, like Creative Keyboard and Vienna have - the tips (near the player) of the keys produce high velocity, and the hinge (away from the player) end produces low velocity, with a linear change along the length of the keys.

* Add option to ignore incoming patch/bank changes from external MIDI input so that selected patch/bank remains selected regardless of MIDI input.

* Double-clicking blank space in the file tree panel causes an error "Could not load "" soundfont" - clicking on blank space in the tree view should just be ignored. Alternatively, the selection zone for files could be extended to cover the whole width of the tree panel.

I hope that's constructive and useful. This is (at least for me) a useful addition to the kX system. Keep up the good work, Zvukovacz and anyone else working on it!

Matt.

Maddogg6 · Feb 7, 2008, 09:08 PM

It would appear this application is no longer available - both hammer sound and original link...

Emu10000X · Apr 20, 2009, 06:32 PM

For those who are looking for this app:
SFMan
Zvukovacz SFMan Soundfont Browser

BTW, Im loving the wayback archive for a lot of hard to find stuff. This was a PITA to find till I looked there.

Cheers

thomasabarnes · May 22, 2009, 11:38 AM

It's nice that you relocated this app, Emu10000X.

Apr 22, 2005, 06:07 PM	#9
Tiger M kX user Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 851 Rep Power: 0	It works great, very nice. __________________ Miss you, Steve...

May 9, 2005, 07:13 AM	#12
TravelRec. Alternative Audioproductions Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Germany / Sachsen-Anhalt Posts: 1,710 Rep Power: 56	DirectX7 will not work, 8.1b is fine too. __________________ Always take a look behind.

Apr 20, 2009, 06:32 PM	#16
Emu10000X DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 20 Rep Power: 19	Re: New Soundfont Management App For kX Users For those who are looking for this app: SFMan Zvukovacz SFMan Soundfont Browser BTW, Im loving the wayback archive for a lot of hard to find stuff. This was a PITA to find till I looked there. Cheers

May 22, 2009, 11:38 AM	Thread Starter #17
thomasabarnes Long Time ***** Friend Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,373 Rep Power: 58 System Specs	Re: New Soundfont Management App For kX Users It's nice that you relocated this app, Emu10000X. __________________ May a song always touch you in a positive way. Sonar 8.5.3 PE, Windows 7 Pro 64Bit, MOTU UltraLite MK3, 150 GB HDD, 250 GB HDD, 1 TB HDD 7200 rpm, My Music Production: Top 40, Contemporary Christian, Pop/Rock, Decent Rap, Inspirationals, and Children Songs

Apr 21, 2005, 10:49 AM	#2
zvukovac DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Prague Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Good News Everyone! Zvukovacz is hosted at Hammersound.net , here is the new URL: http://zvukovacz.hammersound.net/ Now the download and response times should be substantially better! I made some changes to the code, go download the new release! Here are the new features and bug fixes: - pc-keyboard auditioning (2 octaves, you'll find the layout ;-)) so far without visualization on the virtual keyboard (that still works just for mouse) - Samir, do you like it? - app icon appears ;-) - 'Soundfont Location' setting is considered by now, user can choose whether to start in the last open directory or in the 'Soundfont Location' set in the 'File Settings' dialog - it shouldn't crash with SB (hopefully) - better check for kx (though DLLs still might be required) - fixed bug with updating Drive combobox - a bit refactoring, really not much To be done: - 'Set Filter' dialog is still dead - Menu items are not updated (enabled/disabled) - any other observations? Zvukovacz

Apr 22, 2005, 05:12 PM	#8
marce DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	A report from my tests: WinXP/KX..37/SBlive value 5.1= All is OK Win98/Creative drivers/SBLive value 4.1= You need: copy to the same folder than sfman: kxapi.dll kxgui.dll mfc librarys (all them at kxproject home page) and install Directx9.

May 30, 2005, 06:15 PM	#13
Licho DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Rosario - Argentina Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	Windows XP profesional SP2, spanish language EMU APS 3537 driver version SFman doesn't find any SoundFont device. Does anybody have the same problem and knows how to fix it? Thanks in advance!

Nov 30, 2005, 01:05 PM	#14
mattcro DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 29 Rep Power: 0	Is SFMan still under development? Last post here was a while ago... I just downloaded SFMan 1.0.0.1 off the linked Hammersound page and have been playing around with it. I primarily wanted some way of quickly auditioning different soundfonts (using a MIDI master keyboard) as I used to do way back when I was using the standard Creative drivers, and this util seems to do that ok. I'm using kX 3537 on SBLive5.1 under WinXP. However, I've noticed a few "bugs" and things that could be improved - is this the place to post them? * Doesn't seem to remember last used folder or any other folder settings (is there more to installing this than simply running the downloaded sfman.exe?) * Allow selection and playing of percussive presets (bank 128??). It seems that only melodic presets are shown, and I'd like to be able to play drumkit soundfonts that have only percussive presets. * Add bank select panel to allow auditioning of multiple banks within soundfonts (may be the cause of problem above??). * Preset changing seems to glitch sometimes - doesn't properly switch instrument when selecting in the presets panel. I haven't checked this out thoroughly, but have noticed that sometimes selecting a different bank or preset doesn't change the auditioned preset. * List banks/presets in numerical order (with numbers shown next to presets) rather than alphabetical. Any empty presets/banks can be either left out of the list or marked as unused (like the Creative Keyboard utility). * Add velocity sensitivity to the clickable keyboard, like Creative Keyboard and Vienna have - the tips (near the player) of the keys produce high velocity, and the hinge (away from the player) end produces low velocity, with a linear change along the length of the keys. * Add option to ignore incoming patch/bank changes from external MIDI input so that selected patch/bank remains selected regardless of MIDI input. * Double-clicking blank space in the file tree panel causes an error "Could not load "" soundfont" - clicking on blank space in the tree view should just be ignored. Alternatively, the selection zone for files could be extended to cover the whole width of the tree panel. I hope that's constructive and useful. This is (at least for me) a useful addition to the kX system. Keep up the good work, Zvukovacz and anyone else working on it! Matt.

Feb 7, 2008, 09:08 PM	#15
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 50	It would appear this application is no longer available - both hammer sound and original link...