KVR Audio

Spratman · Post by **Spratman** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:16 pm

And no I'm not trying to be negative - just trying to put up what some of the important base issues are. Apologies Jeff, not quite awake..I do try to use names!

Spratman

Rangtangtang · Post by **Rangtangtang** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:22 pm

Spratman wrote

The Freesound project is one source of samples right now that seems to be getting somewhere.

Thats a good site, but it concentrates more on soundFX samples. I think the site itself, is a bit akward in construction, and its upload setup was auful last time I tried.

I was thinking about at one stage, maybe in the future when I know how to, having a Impulse Response page(they don't require a lot of storage capacity), using the same approach as I do, you can download a few for free, but you can't download the rest until you contribute a couple. You upload a few, and the get free registration which allows you access to the rest....something like that.

But, far as sampling is concerned for example, I could spend time and concentrate on sampling just my electic bass, and somebody else could concentrate on just sampling their drums.You should only need to concentrate and spend time on just doing one realy well?

spuddle · Post by **spuddle** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:27 pm

Just turn it into a sf torrent tracker site? That way this idea is feasible without the huge running costs of bandwidth.

Spratman · Post by **Spratman** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:29 pm

Oh yes, the contributor download idea is good. Assuming everyone who uses the place can contribute something useful. The problem with forced submissions is often people will try and provide as little as possible to get as much as possible and often of questionable quality to do it to! I'd love to see something like the synth collection that Hollowsun generated appear again personally....

I didn't say the Freesound project was perfect

Webdesign is an art, UI's usability etc are difficult concepts. The number of really awful websites out there is quite significant.... I know my site wasn't the best, but it was simple [my html, web coding, scripting and other skills have jumped more than 10x fold since then ;].

If you wanted a small impulse site, it'd probably be best to manually handle submissions and extra downloads [like giving away this month's bonus pack or something, you could bcc the files via email if you wanted]. Low tech, but it'd work.

Spratman

learjeff · Post by **learjeff** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:11 pm

Can someone explain what bittorrent or sf torrent is and how it would be used? (Thanks!)

Great idea about impulse response files. Any framework that works well for soundfonts should work for them as well, and they're easier being small.

I see the following kinds of things being useful:

- single instrument sample sets (soundfonts, or other formats)
- soundbanks (e.g. GM soundfonts, containing lots of instruments)
- impulse responses
- sound samples (single samples, e.g., FX)
- loops (single samples but intended to be looped)

Note: For folks who don't know, impulse response files are files you plug into a convolution engine plugin (like SIR) to imitate some real thing. For example, you create an impulse file for Carnegie hall by setting up a mike and recording a starter pistol shot from the stage (I won't go into why). Plug that impulse file into SIR, and you now have a "Carnegie Hall Reverb".

The main features for any entry in the database would be membership in one of the above categories. Each of the categories would have its own set of attribute-value pairs for sorting & searching, like "single instrument sample set" would have an AVP for "instrument" and a suitable value would be "piano".

Each entry would also have a rating and reviews, similar to kvraudio. A download count would be nice.

learjeff · Post by **learjeff** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:18 pm

BTW, a big reason I created the jRhodes soundfonts and posted them on the net was to help give back for all the great free software I've found, especially plugins.

I would want a site where anyone can download, registered users could rate and review, and the only incentive for posting material (or uploading) would be for the grins. The idea being to minimize junk postings and maximize quality.

It might be fun to have lists of members by number of downloads or ratings of their posted material, but not go overboard about it. I don't want folks spending time pumping up their numbers, for example.

Bob Nova · Post by **Bob Nova** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:57 pm

I agree with most of the comments in this thread. I find sf2 insufferable to use, and would rather not wade through that site anymore.

I also agree that hosting a sample site must chew up bandwidth like nobody's business.When you use "free" sites, you have to take what you get, of course. Someone is spending $$$ out of their pocket to keep it running .

But this is an important subject. A nice well organized home for soundfonts ,etc. would be great. I'll be following this thread with interest..

Bittorrent isnt the answer. Too many ISPs are declaring war on it and using devices to restrict the speed severely.. Yes, there's ways around it, but the ISPs figure them out too. A web based solution would be the best for everyone.

mistertoast · Post by **mistertoast** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:19 pm

Well, I like the torrent idea myself. Makes the hosting a shared responsibility. Seems more practical than a website. If the website idea was going to work, we'd already have something. Seems like this is the kind of problem torrent is made for.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon May 29, 2006 4:19 pm

The torrent idea could definately work. However, you have to keep people seeding the files. And if it's not a tracker that punishes for low ratios, then people just won't seed. And you really don't want to "punish" people who are just trying to find some cool samples but can't give back as much.

I would be willing to support this. I can help a bit with webdesign, including installing a content management system, or something like that. I really can't afford to host any more files on my web hosts(I have nine sites already). But I will help however I can.

A couple of ideas:

Ads would definately be needed. Maybe if we could get some devs here to put cheap ads up on it. Not too expensive, but rather just enough. Especially focus on the devs with sample related items.

Also, maybe there could be everything available for download for free. But if you want, you could send $10 through Paypal to get a CD or DVD with every sample the site has that month. That way, no dowloading, especially for those with slower connections. And bandwidth is saved that way. I'm sure some people would do that, and it would help, even if just a bit.

Have a request section. Something you need? Post in in requests, and somebody can help you. May work, may not.

I like the idea. It would HAVE to be approval only I would think, to avoid porn and also copyrighted samples. That's just my opinion though.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help! I would even be willing to help mod this.

Brent

marce · Post by **marce** » Mon May 29, 2006 4:23 pm

Most of guys here have their hardisks full of soundfonts, and most uf them thinking in buy something like GPO. So, i would like to see a soundfont site, but with new ideas. We dont need a new "sf2midi.com", it already exist.
What i expect from a new soundfont site:
-A place where you can found:
* information about how to sample and free tools for do that (how to record, which mics, in what position, what method, to normalize or not, etc)
* Soundfonts with background: i really appreciate the guys that has taken time to upload with their soundfonts, photos of the real instrument, history of it, how they do the job, etc.
* Few soundfonts but with the new quality standards. I dont need another guitar soundfont ripped from a roland. But i will like one, by example, carefully sampled at diffrent velocitys, with optional finger noises, well programmed trough sfz, etc. That takes time, but who is hurry?
* A place with a serious community, not a bunch of rippers that dont care about nothing. When you are in a place like that, you can compromise yourself with a project. Suppose one day we decide that we need an excelent french horn soundfont. But nobody plays it. Well, like community we can collaborate and pay to a french horn player to sample him. Is an example i quickly thought, but i mean that with that kind of community you can make significative things.

Well, too much wishes, but you can count with me to collaborate in what i can. Im this year working with a teenagers choir, so maybe i can make something in that way.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon May 29, 2006 4:34 pm

Good ideas marce. I do like the idea of as a community donating towards paying a musician to sample him. I could even do some of this. Being in Nashville, there are plenty of musicians and studios to choose from.

As for the guitar samples you want, stay tuned(I'm very excited about this, but can't say anything yet).

Brent

Gregjazz · Post by **Gregjazz** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:19 pm

I think the torrent idea is the way to go, having the torrents all organized (and with user ratings and what not!) in a website.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:22 pm

Would we make it a tracker that punished for low ratios? If not, then nobody will seed. You can find Tracker software everywhere on the net. Maybe I'll look into it and we can try. Anybody else up for this?

Brent

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:26 pm

cool idea, seems worthwhile.

koolkeys · Post by **koolkeys** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:32 pm

If somebody wants to buy a domain name to use, I will set it up and install the software. If you have hosting, that would be great, as my hosts are pretty full with my sites.

Also, I use torrents for different things. I do know how to use it, but many may not. Anyone want to make a tutorial for using Bittorrent or rather provide a list of links related to getting it working for people?

Brent

We need a GOOD new soundfont database site