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What is sfz?

sfz is a software application made by RGB Audio, that can be used to play Soundfonts from within most sequencer programs. Unfortunately, it only runs on the Windows operating system (but since Mac users have Garage Band, which has built-in support for Soundfonts, this isn't really a problem.)

It is included with recent versions of Cakewalk Sonar, and is currently available as a free download from the RGB website. Because it operates as a 'VST' plug-in, it will work in any sequencer that supports the VST format.

Loading sfz into your sequencer:

sfz will operate in your sequencer as a VST plug-in. In Sonar, for example, you can simply load sfz into Sonar’s "Synth Rack" and Sonar will automatically create two associated tracks, one MIDI and one Audio, and then open the sfz application window shown below. Other sequencers work in a similar manner. (Refer to your operating manual for specific instructions on how to load "software synthesizers" and VST plug-ins with your particular sequencer.)

Clicking the “FILE” menu will allow you to search for and load any Soundfonts that you have on your system. In the example above, the JP Alto Sax has been loaded. Note that sfz refers to "patches" as "programs."

The various patches of the Soundfont library can be selected under the “PROGRAM” menu. The example above shows the first patch “Jas Short -solo” has been selected. When MIDI notes are played in the MIDI track, notes from the JP Alto Sax patch 0 (Jas Short –solo) will be played.

Setting up your sequencer tracks:

Within your sequencer, the “sfz” program runs as a plug-in, and responds to MIDI notes played from an external MIDI controller (keyboard, guitar synth, etc.) or from MIDI note information on the MIDI track.

The figure below shows how the tracks in Sonar are set up to use the sfz plug-in. The MIDI track output is set to sfz, and the associated AUDIO track’s input is also set to sfz. Your sequencer will need to be set up the same way.

Now, any MIDI information received by the MIDI track is passed to sfz, which plays the Soundfont that it has loaded into the channel that has been set in the MIDI track. (In the example below, the MIDI track does not actually have a Channel assigned so it defaults to Channel 1.)

So how can this actually be used?

A Real-World Example:

You could, for example, load 16 different Soundfont patches into sfz, and then set up 16 different MIDI tracks, all set to channels 1 through 16. This would allow you to independently control each of the 16 channels in sfz from each of the MIDI tracks.

So you could set up TRACK 1 as a kick drum, TRACK 2 as a snare drum, TRACK 3 as a bass guitar, etc. and in this way compose music for an entire band.

With the MIDI track's input set to "OMNI," it will accept MIDI data from any source attached to your system, or from the track itself (which can be notes you enter manually to the score screen, or notes you record by playing on an external MIDI keyboard).

Playing the tracks back will result in sfz playing sounds from the Soundfonts loaded into its channels, which can then be recorded to give you an audio track.

This audio track, in turn, can be used as the background to vocals and other live instruments.

Conclusion/Summary:

sfz is a very powerful plug-in which allows you to play up to 16 different Soundfont patches of Virtual Instruments (such as guitars, drums, saxophones, etc.) all at the same time, using MIDI data you have recorded into one or more sequencer tracks.

This MIDI data can be edited and the sound from sfz processed to create a resulting audio track which can then serve as the background for other vocals or live instruments.

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We hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful.

If you have further questions and/or comments, please contact us.

Regards,

Jayzen Sound

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General overview of Virtual Instruments

Links to other websites with information on Soundfonts