Practice keyboard bell samples: Difference between revisions

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== Hardware requirements ==

* Keyboard, mouse, display if computer is not a laptop

* USB Midi interface cable

* USB Midi interface cable or a USB audio interface with MIDI

** Roland UM-ONE is recommended - [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMOneMk2--roland-um-one-mk2 from Sweetwater] - [https://www.amazon.com/Roland-UM-ONE-MK2-Midi-Cable/dp/B00967UN50 from Amazon]

*** [https://www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/um-one_mk2/updates_drivers/ UM-~~ONE USB Drivers~~] ~~available for many OS versions from Mac 10.4~~ and ~~Windows XP to Mac 10.13 and Windows 10.~~

*** Be sure to download and install the '''latest drivers from the [https://www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/um-one_mk2/updates_drivers Roland Site]'''

** [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ScarSoG4--focusrite-scarlett-solo-4th-gen-usb-audio-interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i4] Audio and MIDI interface

* Headphones or amplified monitor speaker

== Sample player software ==

=== Plogue Sforzando ===

=== Plogue Sforzando for Windows and MacOS ===

Download Sforzando for OS X or Windows from [http://www.plogue.com/downloads#sforzando Plogue's download page]

Sforzando requires either a

* Mac with ~~OS X~~ (10.6.8 & up). A ~~[https://www.amazon.com/Apple-A1347-MC270LL-Desktop-Intel/dp/B0013FK9U2~~ used Mac Mini] will run it very well

* Mac with OSX/MacOS (10.6.8 & up). A used Mac Mini will run it very well

* or Windows PC (XP and up)

* or Windows PC (Windows 7 and up)

=== ~~Sample players for Linux~~ ===

====Setup Sforzando ====

Once Sforzando is installed, you will need to adjust your preferences so it will use the correct audio and midi devices.

[~~https~~:~~//www.linuxsampler.org/about.html LinuxSampler] supports~~ the ~~SFZ file format used below. Usage is beyond~~ the ~~scope of this article, but we have loaded~~ the ~~samples into it to check compatibility~~. ~~The easiest way to make it work~~ is ~~using a graphical plug-in host such as Carla~~. If you have ~~audio experience~~ in ~~Linux~~, you ~~should be able~~ to ~~get~~ it ~~to work~~. ~~If you are a beginner wanting~~ to ~~experiment with Linux audio, we suggest you start with a distribution called [http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org KXStudio]. It works well on old PCs with good sound cards~~.

Open Sforzando, and go to Preferences. [Windows: Found under Tools in the top menu, Mac: Found by clicking on the program name in the top menu.] Make sure your MIDI adapter is checked under Input MIDI Devices, and click OK.

====Mac Troubleshooting====

After you have setup the MIDI adapter and configured your preferences in Sforzando, if the program doesn't see any incoming MIDI data, you may need to review your Mac's Audio MIDI Setup. Once that is completed, verify that Sforzando has the correct MIDI IN device selected in it's preferences. Changes to the MIDI devices may affect Sforzando's settings.

== Bell samples ==

=== University of Michigan ===

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==== Create chicago.sfz sample map file ====

Open a text editor, then copy the code below and paste it into the editor.

Open a text editor, then copy the code below and paste it into the editor. If, while playing fast, you have issues with a buildup of roaring hum tones or early dying notes, try editing in the '''<group> group=nn''' and '''polyphony=4''' lines from the Larie program above.

//----------------------------------------------------------

Line 216:

Line 220:

//----------------------------------------------------------

~~<group> // was~~ <global> ~~more compatible using group~~

polyphony=64 // reduce for slow cpu/low memory

loop_mode=one_shot // force sample to play in entirety

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== Advanced ==

=== Reducing latency in Windows ===

Windows 10 should be optimized for audio. Out of the box, it will have an annoying delay after playing a key. Focusrite has an excellent guide to [https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207355205-Optimising-your-PC-for-Audio-on-Wind Optimizing Your PC for Audio on Windows 10].

[https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet2i4G2--focusrite-scarlett-2i4 Focusrite's Scarlett 2i4] is an excellent Audio/MIDI USB interface. Now that you have Windows 10 set up for audio, you might as well enjoy higher quality sound than standard motherboard audio provides, for a very reasonable price.

=== sfz file format references ===

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 == Hardware requirements ==
 * Keyboard, mouse, display if computer is not a laptop
-* USB Midi interface cable
+* USB Midi interface cable or a USB audio interface with MIDI
 ** Roland UM-ONE is recommended - [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMOneMk2--roland-um-one-mk2 from Sweetwater]  - [https://www.amazon.com/Roland-UM-ONE-MK2-Midi-Cable/dp/B00967UN50 from Amazon]
-*** [https://www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/um-one_mk2/updates_drivers/ UM-ONE USB Drivers] available for many OS versions from Mac 10.4 and Windows XP to Mac 10.13 and Windows 10.
+*** Be sure to download and install the '''latest drivers from the [https://www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/um-one_mk2/updates_drivers Roland Site]'''
+** [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ScarSoG4--focusrite-scarlett-solo-4th-gen-usb-audio-interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i4] Audio and MIDI interface
 * Headphones or amplified monitor speaker
 == Sample player software ==
-=== Plogue Sforzando ===
+=== Plogue Sforzando for Windows and MacOS ===
 Download Sforzando for OS X or Windows from [http://www.plogue.com/downloads#sforzando Plogue's download page]
 Sforzando requires either a
-* Mac with OS X (10.6.8 & up). A [https://www.amazon.com/Apple-A1347-MC270LL-Desktop-Intel/dp/B0013FK9U2 used Mac Mini] will run it very well
+* Mac with OSX/MacOS (10.6.8 & up). A used Mac Mini will run it very well
-* or Windows PC (XP and up)
+* or Windows PC (Windows 7 and up)
-=== Sample players for Linux ===
+====Setup Sforzando ====
+Once Sforzando is installed, you will need to adjust your preferences so it will use the correct audio and midi devices.
-[https://www.linuxsampler.org/about.html LinuxSampler] supports the SFZ file format used below. Usage is beyond the scope of this article, but we have loaded the samples into it to check compatibility. The easiest way to make it work is using a graphical plug-in host such as Carla. If you have audio experience in Linux, you should be able to get it to work. If you are a beginner wanting to experiment with Linux audio, we suggest you start with a distribution called [http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org KXStudio]. It works well on old PCs with good sound cards.
+Open Sforzando, and go to Preferences. [Windows: Found under Tools in the top menu, Mac: Found by clicking on the program name in the top menu.] Make sure your MIDI adapter is checked under Input MIDI Devices, and click OK.
+====Mac Troubleshooting====
+After you have setup the MIDI adapter and configured your preferences in Sforzando, if the program doesn't see any incoming MIDI data, you may need to review your Mac's Audio MIDI Setup. Once that is completed, verify that Sforzando has the correct MIDI IN device selected in it's preferences. Changes to the MIDI devices may affect Sforzando's settings.
 == Bell samples ==
 === University of Michigan ===
@@ Line 205: / Line 209: @@
 ==== Create chicago.sfz sample map file ====
-Open a text editor, then copy the code below and paste it into the editor.
+Open a text editor, then copy the code below and paste it into the editor. If, while playing fast, you have issues with a buildup of roaring hum tones or early dying notes, try editing in the '''<group> group=nn''' and '''polyphony=4''' lines from the Larie program above.
   //----------------------------------------------------------
@@ Line 216: / Line 220: @@
   //----------------------------------------------------------
-  <group>  // was <global> more compatible using group
+  <global>
     polyphony=64        // reduce for slow cpu/low memory
     loop_mode=one_shot  // force sample to play in entirety
@@ Line 309: / Line 313: @@
 == Advanced ==
+=== Reducing latency in Windows ===
+Windows 10 should be optimized for audio. Out of the box, it will have an annoying delay after playing a key. Focusrite has an excellent guide to [https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207355205-Optimising-your-PC-for-Audio-on-Wind Optimizing Your PC for Audio on Windows 10].
+[https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet2i4G2--focusrite-scarlett-2i4 Focusrite's Scarlett 2i4] is an excellent Audio/MIDI USB interface. Now that you have Windows 10 set up for audio, you might as well enjoy higher quality sound than standard motherboard audio provides, for a very reasonable price.
 === sfz file format references ===