README
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- Introduction
- ============
- FluidSynth is a software real-time synthesizer based on the
- Soundfont 2 specifications.
- FluidSynth reads and handles MIDI events from the MIDI input
- device. It is the software analogue of a MIDI synthesizer. FluidSynth
- can also play midifiles using a Soundfont.
- Information on the web
- ======================
- The place to look if you are looking for the latest information on
- FluidSynth is the web site at http://www.fluidsynth.org/.
- Why did we do it
- ================
- The synthesizer grew out of a project, started by Samuel Bianchini and
- Peter Hanappe, and later joined by Johnathan Lee, that aimed at
- developing a networked multi-user game.
- Sound (and music) was considered a very important part of the game. In
- addition, users had to be able to extend the game with their own
- sounds and images. Johnathan Lee proposed to use the Soundfont
- standard combined with an intelligent use of midifiles. The arguments
- were:
- - Wave table synthesis is low on CPU usage, it is intuitive and it can
- produce rich sounds
- - Hardware acceleration is possible if the user owns a Soundfont
- compatible soundcard (important for games!)
- - MIDI files are small and Soundfont2 files can be made small thru the
- intelligent use of loops and wavetables. Together, they are easier to
- downloaded than MP3 or audio files.
- - Graphical editors are available for both file format: various
- Soundfont editors are available on PC and on Linux (Smurf!), and
- MIDI sequencers are available on all platforms.
- It seemed like a good combination to use for an (online) game.
- In order to make Soundfonts available on all platforms (Linux, Mac,
- and Windows) and for all sound cards, we needed a software Soundfont
- synthesizer. That is why we developed FluidSynth.
- Design decisions
- ================
- The synthesizer was designed to be as self-contained as possible for
- several reasons:
- - It had to be multi-platform (Linux, MacOS, Win32). It was therefore
- important that the code didn't rely on any platform specific
- library.
- - It had to be easy to integrate the synthesizer modules in various
- environements, as a plugin or as a dynamically loadable object. I
- wanted to make the synthesizer available as a plugin (jMax, LADSPA,
- Xmms, WinAmp, Director, ...); develop language bindings (Python,
- Java, Perl, ...); and integrate it into (game) frameworks (Crystal
- Space, SDL, ...). For these reasons I've decided it would be easiest
- if the project stayed very focussed on it's goal (a Soundfont
- synthesizer), stayed small (ideally one file) and didn't dependent
- on external code.
- Links
- =====
- Home Page
- - http://www.fluidsynth.org
- Documentation
- - Introduction to SoundFonts, by Josh Green,
- http://smurf.sourceforge.net/sfont_intro.php
- - Soundfont2 Documentation, http://www.emu.com/download/sfspec21.pdf (if
- it moved, do a search on sfspec21.pdf).
- - Soundfont.com FAQ, http://www.soundfont.com/faqs.html
- - The MIDI Manufacturers Association has a standard called "Downloadable
- Sounds (DLS)" that closely ressembles the Soundfont Specifications,
- http://www.midi.org/about-midi/dls/abtdls.htm
- Software SoundFont Synthesizers:
- - LiveSynth Pro DXi and Crescendo from LiveUpdate (Win),
- http://www.livesynth.com/lspro.html
- - Unity DS-1 from Bitheadz (Win & Mac), http://www.bitheadz.com/
- - QuickTime 5 from Apple (Win & Mac), http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
- - Logic from eMagic, http://www.emagic.de
- Soundfont Editors
- - Smurf Soundfont Editor by Josh Green (Linux), http://smurf.sourceforge.net
- - Vienna SoundFont Editor from Creative Labs (Win),
- http://www.soundblaster.com/goodies/vienna
- - Alive Soundfont Editor by Soundfaction (Win),
- http://www.soundfaction.com/alive/index.htm
- Conversion Tools
- - CDxtract from CDxtract (Win), http://www.cdxtract.com
- - ReCycle from Propellerhead Software (Win & Mac),
- http://www.propellerheads.se/products/recycle/
- - Translator from Rubber Chicken Software (Win & Mac),
- http://www.chickensys.com/translator
- Soundfont Databases
- - HammerSound, http://www.hammersound.net