Question re: downloading and using soundfonts

[jumpingpound]

I have a quick question about using soundfonts with home studio:

After downloading a few drum soundfonts and the SF pack utility from thesoundsite, I have un-compressed them. But where to put the files? I have tried putting them in almost every folder in cakewalk, but each time I go to "Options" -> "Soundfonts" in the cakewalk menu, the "soundfont" is ghosted out, ie. it won't let me select this option. This is the case even if I highlight the drum track itself, and try to attach the soundfont.

Any advice? I can't live with the mechanical drums in cakewalk anymore.

[DS_Sultan]

The software has to know that you have a SF capable card. Do you? With CW you typically need to install their version of the font manager. Did you? If not, then run the install again and tell it yes to installing the sound font manager. As for where to put the fonts, anywhere is fine for the software as it will just have you point it to the path where you have them once the SF manager is installed. Of course, put them somewhere that makes sense and is eay to find.

The other option for you if you have a sound blaster style card is to load it using the cards SF manager, then CW will use it as the default installed font.

Good luck.

[jumpingpound]

-->If not, then run the install again and tell it yes to installing the sound font manager.

I've installed everything on the CD twice, and I never saw the sound font manager. Maybe there is something I'm missing, as the sound font option is still ghosted out. I'm sure that I have a capable card, so there must be some other problem.

[DS_Sultan]

So what card do you have?

[AlChuck]

jumpingpound,

As far as I know only the SoundBlaster AWE, Live, and Audigy lines, and one of the Terratec models from a couple of years ago, support Sound Fonts directly. (They can also be loaded in some soft synths, by which means any card can play them).

Also, this statement you made:

"I can't live with the mechanical drums in cakewalk anymore."

I fell compelled to point out that there are no drums "in" Cakewalk. Cakewalk can record drums as audio tracks, use drum loops, or record and send off MIDI data that can trigger drum sounds on a MIDI synth. But it has no inherent built-in sounds itself. The "mechanical" drums are in your sound card, not Cakewalk.

[Paul881]

The guys are right, you need to tell us what soundcard you have. If its not one that supports soundfonts directly, you need a s/font mangement software program.

[AlChuck]

Paul881,

The Sound Font Manager is needed if the card does support Sound Fonts; it's basically the driver for the Sound Font capability on the card. It will be useless to load the Sound Font Manager with a card that doesn't support Sound Fonts. The only alternative is to install a softsynth like LiveSynth or GigaStudio that can open Sound Font files to use as sound sources.

[Paul881]

AlChuck, I was thinking about Live Synth pro for cards that do not support soundfonts directly. I should have called it a soft synth and not a soundfont manager.