The sfz format is far more amenable to immediately responding to control changes, since it only has to read the small control file (and compare with wave files loaded and adjust, of course -- but mostly we're talking about control changes and not waveform changes).
I asked Rene how a program might be able to do this with sfz but no response (or I missed it). However, running as a VSTi, I know there is a primitive to cause the VSTi to reload parameters, and when the data from disk is still in memory cache, this happens very quickly. And for disk streaming (which didn't work well on my laptop last time I tried) it would be very quick.
What I don't know about soundfonts
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- KVRian
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
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- KVRian
- 820 posts since 15 Dec, 2004
Well, in another thread, someone post that vienna 2.4 is available for download, and it runs with any soundblaster card, even if it is not 24 bit:
http://soundblaster.com/soundfont/downloads.asp
http://soundblaster.com/soundfont/downloads.asp
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- KVRist
- 46 posts since 2 Sep, 2005 from Calgary, Canada
Yeah. It was only available with the new cards until they heard I bought one 
What do you think of the improvements?
k
What do you think of the improvements?
k
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- KVRian
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
I think it's great because sf authors will be able to create 24-bit soundfonts suitable for conversion to any other format (and vice versa) and nobody can winge about "only 16 bits".
Practically speaking, I don't think it'll mean diddly. In most cases, 16 bits are way plenty (IMHO). With non-normalized samples, however, 24-bits is crucial.
Maybe it's because my ears aren't as good as they once were, and they were never "golden". But frankly, few peolple can distinguish a 24-bit single track from a 16-bit single track, or a 24-bit mix from a 16-bit mix.
What folks DO seem to be able to distinguish between is a mix created from all 16-bit tracks versus one made of all 24-bit tracks. I have my suspicions about that but don't want to go into it here, plus it's rather idle speculation anyway.
Practically speaking, I don't think it'll mean diddly. In most cases, 16 bits are way plenty (IMHO). With non-normalized samples, however, 24-bits is crucial.
Maybe it's because my ears aren't as good as they once were, and they were never "golden". But frankly, few peolple can distinguish a 24-bit single track from a 16-bit single track, or a 24-bit mix from a 16-bit mix.
What folks DO seem to be able to distinguish between is a mix created from all 16-bit tracks versus one made of all 24-bit tracks. I have my suspicions about that but don't want to go into it here, plus it's rather idle speculation anyway.
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- KVRist
- 46 posts since 2 Sep, 2005 from Calgary, Canada
Hi Jeff,
I'm inclined to agree on all counts -especially the 'smoke and mirrors' aspects of audio, but no doubt, years of playing in bands can't help the ears, golden or otherwise. (I'm definitely otherwise).
I was also trolling for opinions on the 2.4 Vienna program, too. It seems to me to be a lot nicer to use than 2.3 was.
I'm inclined to agree on all counts -especially the 'smoke and mirrors' aspects of audio, but no doubt, years of playing in bands can't help the ears, golden or otherwise. (I'm definitely otherwise).
I was also trolling for opinions on the 2.4 Vienna program, too. It seems to me to be a lot nicer to use than 2.3 was.
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- KVRian
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
Glad to hear it, but I don't have a Creative card (on my laptop) so I can't run it anyway.
Cheers
Cheers
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- KVRian
- 820 posts since 15 Dec, 2004
Hi Keith. I have downloaded it and installed on a sblive system. It runs ok, and has some simple features that really makes some things easy, like automatic assignation, and presets that limit the keyrange (sax, flute, clavinet, etc).
The modulator window looks powerfull, but it takes more time to test.
A interesting thing can be that the vienna clone, viena, from synthfont, will probably support 24 bit too.
The modulator window looks powerfull, but it takes more time to test.
A interesting thing can be that the vienna clone, viena, from synthfont, will probably support 24 bit too.
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- KVRAF
- 7275 posts since 19 Apr, 2002 from Utah
Viena seems to be a really nice alternative for those who don't use Soundblaster cards. I hope he keeps development up on it.
--Sean
--Sean