| Are you a music producer or beat maker into making | | | | Another benefit of Soundfonts is that they don't use |
| various hip hop instrumentals, rap beats, or other types | | | | as much RAM (memory) on your computer when you |
| of instrumentals? Have you ever come across the | | | | are creating beats or instrumentals in your music |
| term "soundfont" or the file ".sf2"? Have you ever | | | | production software, whether it's FL Studio that you |
| wondered what they were, or how they were used? | | | | are using, Reason, Orion Pro, or any other program. |
| Or did you bypass them when making hip hop beats in | | | | Using Virtual Instruments (VSTi's) can sometimes drain |
| hopes of finding WAV audio files for your production | | | | alot of PC memory, causing your computer to go |
| needs instead? Ever wonder if those soundfonts you | | | | slower the more programs are opened in your music |
| passed by would've been helpful in making beats or | | | | production software. But with Soundfonts, it would |
| instrumentals? | | | | take opening up several before you start to feel your |
| Exactly what is a Soundfont? Well, while I won't go | | | | computer lag. |
| into the detailed programming logistics of it all, I will | | | | And, although WAV files are universal in most |
| summarize to say that Soundfonts are files labeled as | | | | programs, Soundfonts are compatible with many |
| "SF2" files that are simply a combined number of | | | | different programs as well. With FL Studio, soundfonts |
| WAV audio files put together into one file called a | | | | work using the FL Soundfont Player. With Reason, you |
| Soundfont. Whether the audio files are hip hop | | | | can load a soundfont up nicely into the Reason NN-XT |
| samples, music instrument sounds, or even drum | | | | plugin. In Orion Pro, you can use their soundfont player. |
| samples and sounds, any of these types of files can | | | | With other programs like Cubase, Sonar, or similar |
| be combined into Soundfonts as long as the files are | | | | music production software, you can load up a |
| WAV files. You can compare Soundfonts in similiarity | | | | soundfont if you can find a soundfont plugin. Most of |
| to Reason Refills which are also a various assortment | | | | these can be found for free on the internet doing a |
| of different WAV audio files combined into a Refill file | | | | simple Google search. |
| and used with the Reason music production | | | | Finally, soundfonts are easy to manage and to keep |
| sequencing software. | | | | on your PC in a particular folder, and are easy to |
| So, now that you have a bit more information on what | | | | transport to other programs as well. You can burn |
| a Soundfont actually is, what makes soundfonts | | | | your soundfonts onto a CD or DVD and take them |
| beneficial to use? Some people shy away from them | | | | with you, whereas with VSTi music program |
| because they say that the quality is greatly reduced. | | | | synthesizers, that would be virtually impossible. |
| This is not actually the case however. While WAV | | | | Soundfonts are easily used, and easily managed, and |
| files will more than likely be the most clear audio files to | | | | are of high quality. |
| use in making music, Soundfonts are also very close in | | | | So, the next time you are working on hip hop beats, |
| quality (unless you've managed to get your hands on | | | | rap instrumentals, r&b beats, movie scores, video |
| some low end soundfonts), and have benefits as well | | | | game music, or any other types of beats or |
| that WAV files do not. | | | | instrumentals, especially if you're working in FL Studio |
| One of the great benefits of soundfonts is that you | | | | or Reason, and are in need of some sounds for beats |
| can rely on one SF2 file format to create a completely | | | | or instrumentals, look for some soundfonts and try |
| rendered music instrument sound for use in your music | | | | them out. Whether you're in need of hip hop samples, |
| instrumentals, rather than several WAV files. Let me | | | | piano samples, guitar samples, string sounds, bass |
| clarify. Let's say for example, you want to use guitar | | | | samples, brass and horn sounds, world instrument |
| samples in your next rap beats. With WAV files, in | | | | sounds, or other types of music instrument sounds, |
| order to best simulate the guitar you're aiming for, and | | | | you're sure to find soundfonts on the internet in a large |
| to recreate the guitar instrument on your instrumental, | | | | variety of different sounds and samples. Some of |
| you would have to load up several WAV files in your | | | | them are lower quailty, some of them are well created, |
| music production software, and then play your keys | | | | where as some soundfonts are free and others have |
| accordingly to simulate the guitar riff or guitar melody | | | | to be paid for, which is no different than going to a |
| you want. However, with a guitar soundfont, you would | | | | website and purchasing some hip hop samples in |
| only need to load up the guitar soundfont you obtained, | | | | WAV format and only liking a couple of them, or liking |
| and you can play accordingly without having to load up | | | | most of them. Some say soundfonts are dead, but on |
| many WAV files. Also, some soundfonts have multiple | | | | the contrary, they are very much alive and very useful |
| hip hop samples and loops placed into one file, so that | | | | if you know how to use them, and the right ones to |
| you are able to easily use the soundfont without | | | | use as well. Don't overlook them, give them a chance. |
| having to load up several more samples. | | | | You may be happy you did. |