I am trying to use the SFZ synth that came with Sonar X1 Studio. When I try to load a soundfont file (sf2), it takes me through the file dialog with no error messages, but no file is loaded. I have tried all the modes listed (sf32, sf16, pr32, pr16, dfd) with no success. What am I missing?
 
Is there some other way to use soundfonts in Sonar?
 
I'm running the 64-bit version of Sonar in Windows 7.

Hi herbschr:

I just experienced what you describe, but I got it to work. Are you using a MIDI keyboard controller to play the soundfonts in SONAR? I am. What size is the soundfont? When I load SFZ, I choose MIDI Source, First Audio Output, and Synth Property Page: I make sure I select my MIDI input and output in the Preferences Menu (P key on the computer (qwerty) keyboard).

In sf32 play mode, click in the long slim blank area across from File and browse to your soundfont, select it, and click open (you might still have a black slim area across from file). If so, now click on the arrow (next to the word File) pointing to the right, you should see a path directory listed. Left click on that path directory, and the name of the soundfont should appear in the once blank slim area across from File. I can now here the soundfont if I play my MIDI keyboard controller. This worked for me.

Herb , are you using hardware that can load in SF2's ? like say Sound blaster etc ?

try this >

I can't guarantee it'll work as I don't have an SB card.. and the OP didn't get back to me . see post 11

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2156198

Hiya fog! :)

I saw that post you made in that thread. It will be good if the guide you posted in that thread works.

I remember when I used a SoundBlaster, the hardware support for soundfonts in SONAR was a really nice feature to have.

Thank you for your reply, Thomas. I followed your steps but SFZ still won't load files.
 
I tried installing the sfz+ synth that can be downloaded from the Cakewalk website. At first that would not work either, but then I stumbled upon the bitbridge setting in the VST preferences. When I changed it to "Automatic", sfz+ started working -- but SFZ still would not.
 
I can do what I need to using sfz+, so I'm not going to spend any more time trying to get SFZ to work. Nevertheless, if someone has a magic trick to get past this issue, let me know.

SFZ+ is the more feature rich softsynth of the two, but SFZ is native X64! I found that the play mode should be set to PR32 with SFZ+ or you can get an error saying that the soundfont can't be loaded because their is not enough memory.

I don't know what else to tell you about SFZ. They both work for me.

Oh yeah, you can use SFZ and SFZ+ as standalone apps, too. Just send a shortcut to the desktop from the SFZ+.exe in the installation directory.

herbschr


Thank you for your reply, Thomas. I followed your steps but SFZ still won't load files.
 
I tried installing the sfz+ synth that can be downloaded from the Cakewalk website. At first that would not work either, but then I stumbled upon the bitbridge setting in the VST preferences. When I changed it to "Automatic", sfz+ started working -- but SFZ still would not.
 
I can do what I need to using sfz+, so I'm not going to spend any more time trying to get SFZ to work. Nevertheless, if someone has a magic trick to get past this issue, let me know.

SFZ does not work in 64bit. You have to use SFZ+. Many threads about this.

See this one, it has some good info in it.

thomasabarnes

I saw that post you made in that thread. It will be good if the guide you posted in that thread works.

I remember when I used a SoundBlaster, the hardware support for soundfonts in SONAR was a really nice feature to have.

I do have an SB Live here, but haven't used it for music production in a good 10-11 years.. I guess it'd still work, but TBH I can't be bothered to put it in a new machine and look around online for the new drivers..hehe

thats why I was hoping for a quick reply to confirm it.. otherwise I might try it, but do like the guide I did for the mics with LE.. It should work though

people now have it far easier , I used to have to *128 by everything (for the banks).. no patch names nothing.. dunno if you remember them times .. it's leaps and bounds since then

I bought an mu128 a while back :) , no latency and no cpu usage.. so sometimes there is something to be said for that stuff

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Herb, if you do have a hardware interface (e.g. sb live etc) and you loading SF2's in that way , it'd be good to know how you get on

SFZ does not work in 64bit.

 
SFZ works for me in X1 x64.
 
So, it will be more accurate to say it doesn't work for some users, for some reason I don't know.

SFZ works fine for me in 64 bit 8.5.3, but only as a player for SFZ files. I had managed to get SFZ+ working for SF2 files a while back but it was a pain and I can't recall all the hoops you need to jump through because I got Kontakt and have used this as my SF2 player ever since.
 
There are a lot of threads on the topic (most in Sonar thread I think). There is a free utility that converts SF2 to SFZ format, that is discussed here http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?high=&m=1430534&mpage=1#1430539 - Direct link here http://audio.clockbeat.com/sfZed.html Once you have SFZ files there should be opportunities to exploit your sound fonts in Dimension Pro and possibly Session Drummer too, so it could be a good way to go.
 
as an alternative you could try this. http://www.kvraudio.com/db/synthfont_by_kenneth_rundt It say the VST version does not have the sound font tools. I assume it means the editing tools. Its free so its worth a try.