Hi all,
I am using Sonar X2 (not been using it for a while but just getting back into it).
I have some great (in my opinion) drum samples from my old ddrum4 drum kit with multiple drum layer samples.
I'm after a freeware (hopefully) software sampler that will allow me to program velocity cross-fades. I've experimented with Softdrum LTD, but while it does velocity layers there doesn't seem to be a crossfade. Without this the changes between samples can be quite noticeable...
 
Anyone have any suggestions?
 
Thanks
Paul

I've never experimented with it myself, but I believe SFZ supports velocity crossfading, and SessionDrummer uses SFZ files. SFZ is not the simplest/"GUIest" synth-programming format to work with - I've always done it the old-fashioned way using combination of plain text editing and Excel files - but there are SFZ editors that might facilitate the process.
 
Dave

Wow - thanks for that - I never realised you could 'build your own' soundfont files...
 
Just looking at this:

Looks quite interesting...
 
I'd probably be OK creating by text file (I work in IT and have done simple programming before) - but I'm thinking using a freeapp to build it might be a good starting point (even if I edit the text file afterwards...)
 
Great suggestion, I'll look into this
Thanks again
Paul

I use several tools for building SFZ files
SFZ'ed
http://audio.clockbeat.com/sfZed.html
 
read more here
http://www.sfzformat.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
 
some of the tools I use you cant get anymore as even the OP codes are not on cakewalks DEV Exchange website anymore.
 
but they are easy enough to edit and using a notebook editor speeds things up as well.
theres a lot of copy/pasting.
 
ive built several kits from the ground up with my own drum kits.
its pain staking and can take hours but if you have the samples already (velocity samples)
its pretty easy from there, just takes some time.
 
 
a side note, you can drag + drop almost any kind of sample (WAV, FLAC, EXC) right in to session drummer and it will trigger it for you.
 
Example:
Grab a kick sound sample and drag it to the kit drum. hover your mouse right over the drum and release the mouse button.
your sample is now loaded.

Some information that will help you get up to speed on SFZ instruments:
 
The SFZ File Format: Create Your Own Virtual Synths
Create Your Own Virtual Instruments with SFZ Files - this has a downloadable sample and a tutorial based around it that shows how to create a virtual instrument
 
FWIW I did the SFZ file programming for all my expansion packs, like the Gibson Bass Expansion Pack. It really wasn't that difficult once the proverbial light bulb went on over my head ("I get it!! I just write how I want the samples to play!"). My programming prior to that was limited to bouncing a pixel around on a Commodore-64 screen, so if I can do it...you can too 
 

Thanks all, I've downloaded some of those and I'll give it a try.
re: Session Drummer, I didn't know you could drop in samples.... but I guess there's no velocity layers in there?

paulf707
Thanks all, I've downloaded some of those and I'll give it a try.
re: Session Drummer, I didn't know you could drop in samples.... but I guess there's no velocity layers in there?

there is no velocity layers when you drag/drop a sample. but that's because its only one sample.
if you take 5-10 velocity samples and write your own SFZ file, then you'll have your layered velocity samples.
 
my advise to you is to open a pre existing SFZ file for session drummer 3 and just look at it.
you will soon understand how the programing works.
its like boobs on a bull.
 
 
PS- One of the links Craig posted above, was one that I learned a lot from.
(Craig's article on SFZ). That article really made the light bulb come on for me. 
His Gibson Bass SFZ pack. is also a great piece of work. you can study that even though its not drums.

Thanks again for all the advice. Tried a couple of editors, but ended up writing the sfz file using notepad++
First basic test worked (got a kick drum sound!) - will experiment with crossfades next.....
 
Really helpful suggestions from all, much appreciated
 
Paul