Visual and Text SFZ File Tutorial Updated: 05/09/24

[pwesynthmaker]

Updated: 05/09/24
Visual and Text SFZ File Tutorial

One of my recent replies was to a request for more information
on Flowstone Sampler SFZ File Code Compatibility.
The schematics involved had no output with the sfz files used
and the creator/designer desired to find a solution.
I downloaded the schematics and loaded some of my sfz files into
all of them and they all functioned normally.

FLOWSTONE PREFERS "___" UNDERSCORES
NOT "---" DASHED LINES BETWEEN LETTER/WORD BREAKS
WITHIN THE .SFZ FILE CODE AND THE .SFZ AND .WAV SAMPLE FILENAMES.
THIS IS ALSO A MICROSOFT 'HIDDEN CODE TRICK' WHEN ACCESSING
DIRECTORIES SUCH AS "PROGRAM FILES" AND PROGRAM FILES (86)
AND ESPECIALLY HELPFUL WITH INTERNET URL CODING.

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN SFZ FILE WITH FOUR 'REGIONS'
ONE EACH FOR A DESIGNATED FREQUENCY RANGE


SFZ FILE WITH MULTIPLE SAMPLES
FOR MORE ACCURATE FREQUENCY RANGE
FORMANT RESPONSE

EXAMPLE FILENAME: C1_C4.SFZ

==========
<group>
lovel=0
hivel=127
ampeg_release=1
loop_mode=loop_continuous


<region>
sample=C1.wav
pitch_keycenter=24
lokey=21
hikey=33

<region>
sample=C2.wav
pitch_keycenter=36
lokey=34
hikey=46

<region>
sample=C3.wav
pitch_keycenter=48
lokey=47
hikey=59

<region>
sample=C4.wav
pitch_keycenter=60
lokey=60
hikey=72
==========

To use this as a 'template' simply
place all .wav samples and the filename.sfz file
in a folder with the name of the instrument for the folder.
Then ...
change the names (in the sfz file code) of the samples
to match those to be used.

Example Instrument/Foldername: GrandPiano


HERE ARE THE STEPS TO FOLLOW.

SFZ FILENAME CHANGE:
Change C1_C4.sfz to =
Grand_Piano.sfz

New .wav Sample Files:
Grand_Piano_C1.wav
Grand_Piano_C2.wav
Grand_Piano_C3.wav
Grand_Piano_C4.wav


CHANGE WAV SAMPLE FILENAMES WITHIN THE SFZ FILE CODE:

Change C1.wav to =
Grand_Piano_C1.wav

Change C2.wav to =
Grand_Piano_C2.wav

Change C3.wav to =
Grand_Piano_C3.wav

Change C4.wav to =
Grand_Piano_C4.wav

DONE.
YOU ARE NOW A 'MIDI' SFZ FILEMAKER!

GOT MORE SAMPLES THAN THE '4' HERE?
COPY/PASTE A 'REGION' SECTION --- ADD THE EXTRA FILENAME ...
SET THE MIDI 'PITCH KEY_CENTER=[21=A0 THRU 127=G9]
'TO MATCH THE FILE NOTE PITCH ...
ALTER THE 'LOKEY' 'HIKEY' RANGES TO YOUR DISCRETION. DONE AGAIN!

P.S. THERE ARE A ZILLION OTHER SFZ CODE PARAMETERS ALTHOUGH THE MORE USED THE HIGHER
THE 'CPU' (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT) DEMAND AND SOME MAY NOT FUNCTION WITH FLOWSTONE.

SEE 'WYSIWYG' SFZ FILE DIAGRAM IMAGE BELOW FOR EASIER
UNDERSTANDING: "A PICTURE PAINTS A MILLION SONGS"


==========