Using Soundfonts

Question

Hey, I'm working with soundfonts with my midi files in Sonar 4 but I have a couple of questions...I guess maybe about soundfonts in general. Can you modify them? I mean, Sonar won't let me add reverb or an echo to soundfonts, which is bad if you're using a couple different soundfonts together and one has more echo than the others...I want to even them all out so they have about the same echo.
What can and can't you do with soundfonts in terms of editing and/or modifying them? Also, if anyone has any other advice on how to make my midi files sound realistic rather than generic, let me know. I thought soundfonts was a good solution to at least try.
Sorry if it's confusing but thanks.

Answer 1

Moonwalk,
To get Reverb and Chorus in your SoundFonts, click the "Effects" tab at the bottom-left of your Sonar screen, and you should be able to adjust both settings. To make sure they "stick", go to the "Options" menu and select "Project". Click the "MIDI Out" tab and un-check the box that says "Zero controllers when play stops".
Let me know if this helps. BTW, if adjusting the reverb/chorus sliders has no effect, you will need to set up an EAX preset to use when composing with MIDI. Here are the steps I recommend:
1. Open up EAX Control Panel (via AudioHQ or otherwise).
2. Make sure the "Master" tab is selected.
3. Select "ENV" from the first drop-down menu under "Audio Effects" (if applicable).
4. Select "Concert Hall" from the second drop-down menu under "Audio Effects".
5. In the effect type window, click on "Reverb".
6. Using the slider at the bottom of the screen, set the reverb amount to -6.0 dB or higher.
7. In the effect type window, click on "Chorus", then click the "Parameters..." button below.
8. Change the following parameter values:
LFO Rate: 0.56 Hz
LFO Depth: 10.00 %
9. Highlight "Default Chorus" from the drop-down window, and type in the new name: "Warm Chorus".
10. Click the little disk icon to the right to save the effect.
11. Click "OK".
12. Using the slider at the bottom of the screen, set the chorus amount to -6.0 dB or higher.
13. Select the "Source" tab, and remove the reverb and chorus from any source that you don't want to be effected such as "Wave/MP3" or "CD Digital" (do this by selecting each menu option and dragging the reverb and chorus sliders all the way to the left). If you don't do this, your normal wave and music playback will sound echo-ey. Do not drag the sliders to the left for the "MIDI" menu option, if it shows up on your system.
14. Highlight "Concert Hall" from the second drop-down menu, and type in a new name: "MIDI Playback".
15. Click the little disk icon to the right to save the preset.
Please be aware that this custom EAX preset will kill EAX effects in games, so you should always select "No effects" from the menu before playing a game that uses EAX.
-~=Chris