Introduction:

Finding the right SoundFont is often based upon the needs of each individual musician.  And obviously. it requires time of research over the internet to find the best one that fits your type of sounds or what we call, "sampled instrument rendered as SoundFont."  As we all know, SoundFont Technology was originally developed and introduced back in the late 90's by E-MU Systems and Creative Labs on the first Sound Blaster to hit the market, Sound Blaster AWE32.

When GM (General Midi) was introduced few years ago, it became the popular standard format to most commercial songs or midifiles followed by GS, which became the trademark and version of Roland.  At present, majority of the midi instruments, keyboard manufacturers bears the GM Logo which supports general midi playback under this format.  If you drop by to any of your favorite local music store, you'll easily spot on the GM sign on top of the board to assure consumers that this product can handle playback of GM Midifiles.

Yes, there are but few GM SoundFonts that are rated average in terms of quality.  At least  you'll be able to find such a good version that will probably suit your own taste of sounds for midi playback.  If you're looking for a sound replacement, SoundFont is a good alternative to your external gears and other hardware modules.  Just plug your laptop, hook to your amp, load the SoundFont and start your gig.  It's so simple, no complicated setup is necessary and could save much of your time.

Now there are six major areas outlined here related between SoundFont and Midi. This might be valuable and would benefit both beginners as well as amateur musicians who are at the learning stage and have never been a fan of SoundFont Technology.

My Laptop.  My Music.  My Band

   About JaZMan GM SoundFont™

   Editing Your Midifiles

   Midi Improvisation                                          

   Performing On Stage

   Useful Midi Tools
                                                                                                                  

   Additional Resources                         
     

I. About JaZMan GM SOUNDFONT ™

For years. I've kept searching for one great SoundFont, that will meet my current set up. I managed to find some lists and even purchased virtual instruments out of curiosity, but I need a sound that's exceptional.  My aim is to use something "Simple but with Quality."  Of course, as a performing musician, getting a live rhythm section is a lot better compared to a sequencer. But to minimize the costs, use of rhythm box or backing tracks nowadays can get you more gigs and sometimes in my experience, give you a better pay eventually. Most places, like hotels, small pubs save their budget when hiring a good live band, therefore you have to be versatile and flexible musician, using other means is just necessary to survive.  It's always part of the competition among musicians around.

"When there's opportunity for a live rhythm section, go for it, why not? If not, other people might grab it."

JaZMan GM SoundFont has a decent and balanced choice of instruments. It took me several months to sample these sounds and one of  my creations, fully optimized so it won't kill extra memory even you got a simple system. Choices are between GM Lite16-bit and GM Pro24-bit and my final project,  the GM Max32-bit version which I plan to release in the future dedicated to those sound enthusiasts out there.

I believe that even an amateur musician would enjoy the benefits of using SoundFont on their music once you've tried it. Definitely, every musician wants to get the right quality and expects to hear the right sound or instrument when playing midifiles.  Don't you?

If you wish your GM songs to sound a lot better, you have to listen carefully and test the entire quality during playback. JaZMan GM SoundFont is indeed a good value for money.  I've put so much effort to it because I understand what a musician needs based on my experiences.  
In short, SoundFont is one perfect companion for a working musician who doesn't require a complicated setup. Back in the days. I got racks of different gears, equipments to bring along with me whenever my band performs.  Starting from bulky ones to those portable modules, I just found out that SoundFont is so simple, handy and yet so much practical to use.

You don't need to invest an expensive soundcard to get the best sound out of your midifiles. We understand that audio quality from a real hardware is different, we can't compete that.  But to minimize use of external gears, you can make use of your laptop as it's more practical to carry around just one equipment when travelling from one place to another. 

Anyway, entertaining the audience is our main concern or top priority and of course to get a decent sound and good instruments as much as we can before the actual performance.

 JaZMan PRO GM 24-BIT SOUNDFONT™

JaZMan 24-bit GM SoundFont Demo Sounds

JaZMan 24-bit GM SoundFont Demo Sounds by digitalproaudiosamples

II. Editing your Midifiles

Moreover, there's plenty of great tools that you can use if you plan to improve your midifiles and get the best sound of it. Cubase and Cakewalk Sonar are one of the best commercial softwares widely used around by majority and also my favorites for midi-programming and audio recording.  Not to mention FL Studio and Ableton, especially if you're that type of guy who are fond of creating audio loops to blend well with your midi.  They're intuitive graphical interface will give you more freedom, room for creativity and improvement. Sooner or later it could help shape up your skill and becomes a professional midi-arranger once you've mastered every piece of it and dedicate so much of your time.

If you're a solo performer who does his or her own back up vocals, Cubase or Cakewalk Sonar should be on your lists together with your other favourite tools. Well okay, they are great programs but if you got tons of midis, you sure need an extra time to edit or modify them.  How?

The answer is, yes,there are power tools which are user-friendly and will do the job for you in just a couple of minutes.  As for my case, I apply both methods,  using professional and simple softwares, will definitely enhance your knowledge, improve your playing styles when you don't stick to only one application. "Simple programs do not mean they're not good."

I've no problems with midifiles I've created as I've programmed them for commercial use and for other purposes, hence creating the right beat and rhythm is always present during playback. Volume and note velocity of each track are well compensated, to give it a nice final mix.

But if your midifiles come from various sources, you need to adjust, or edit them in order to match your own standard of listening and playing. 

"If you play live with your backing tracks, make sure your midifiles stand out" play them with the same amount of volume as possible." This makes your audience enjoys listening to your songs and watch you rock the stage.  If your music isn't well-balanced enough, it can sometimes destroy the mood and tends to becomes lousy.  Moreover, you have to control the volume manually if your files are programmed with different velocities. It sounds irritating especially if the next song is either too loud or too soft and inconvenient during live performance. 

"You should hear your music and feel the music." As a general rule, always make sure you do not sound exactly like a karaoke version or an old am radio just to get something to listen to.  If you or your group is really good and outstanding, your music should project the right image for yourself and your band as an artist. "Solid music, great sounds produce a killer product" and makes it easier to market yourself and your group to any music companies out there.

In my experience, I do two versions of midi-arrangement and mixing, one for live playing and another version for studio use. Why? If you play live, your backing track should sound powerful and blend well with a live vocals.  Professional midifile that you can purchased in the internet can be easily lay or mixed down among other live tracks, this is typically done for studio or home recording.  And it's good if you're cutting your own album or doing a cover version. It would even save time for a sound engineer to finish the entire project during mixing because those midis are arranged professionally. 

"Don't expect that midifiles you download for free are perfectly done."  I do some stripping around, either edit the notes or tracks volume, adjust panning of each instrument  and minimize or reduce the effects, namely chorus or reverb applied to each midi track. Not too dry, just a small percentage to add some depth in your instrument.  Remember, too much effects tend to cover up the presence and integrity of the entire song.  It is true that effects are not only intended for vocals, it's also very useful to your midifile.

If you keep this method, your music will come out more lively. Imagine your yourself that you're performing with a live rhythm section, instruments playing in the background will have more life, giving a bit more character.  Always avoid your midifiles to sound exactly like a real minus-one. The better you edit them, the more you produce a great music.
 "Listen to commercial songs and review how they are mixed to give you better idea."

Of course, if midi tracks are well sequenced or programmed, you got a richer and cleaner sound compared to those unedited version. Take a look at these examples. (will add later on...)

Finally, you should "Pick up the right midi instrument assigned on each track." Well, the best is listen to the original source for you to review prior to editing. Let's say, if the selected drum kit or instrument doesn't sound right for that song, try other preset or sound bank until you are satisfied with the results.

Here's another example: (will add later on...)

Each band or solo artist has its own identity, so why not create one something for yourself or your group?  Our audience often remembers when you got something special to watch on and listen to.  Always remember "First impression is most important."

III. Midi Improvisation:

Most of the bands who use a sequencer and play midifiles downloaded from internet, may have something in common, not unless you're doing an original song. You'll notice that songs follow the usual intro, pattern and ending.  Every musician or band does a cover version and uses the same midifile, so you keep hearing the same sound everywhere.  It's pretty boring sometimes.  Well, it's a fact, but do you know that you can introduce something better than that?

If you're one who does a cover version, spend time to improvise your tracks and learn how to add some flavor to it. Learn to be creative, try to catch some inspiration and review the rhythm of the song. Focus your attention in the entire content then later start drafting your own ideas into it.

Let's take this midifile as an example. (will add later on...)

As we all know, every commercial song has a simple intro and ending, and sometimes, the music simply fades out, so let's try to create something unique and cool.  In my case, if an original intro sounds a bit plain, commercial and common, I'll add few bars before the actual song starts then fill it with a nice ending.  You have two choices here when adding a bar, either you extract one nice tune within the song or create a drum beats. Depends on how you analyse it and whether it matches the music.  That's how you develop your own creativity.  This creates a more realistic sound during midi playback while maintaining the rhythm as soon as the next song starts or fades out. '

Remember, always try to "Make a nice introduction of your music and a unique ending."

Example: (will add later on...)

If you attend a concert, artists often introduce something different from the song originally cut from their album. This is to enhance the beat making it more a bit catchy and interesting during the concert.  In short, "Do something special out of your midi tracks as you perform."

"Put more emphasis on Bass and Drum tracks," they are the solid foundation of a song and your music.  You can alter the original bass lines or drum fills and patterns so long it does not spoil the entire music or lose the original content. There's nothing wrong when revising or remixing something based on your preferred style.  That's what we call as "Improvisation"

As always, I advise my friends that  every musician should be creative, everytime you wake up the next day, you'll often get multiple ideas. So grab which one that interests you most as you improvise your midifiles. Develop this habit and you'll get a wider edge in the music business where you can introduce your originality.

Guess what? Who are those people behind those successful artists? You're right, no one else but composers and music-arrangers. Professional artists are creative and they are considered as talented people. They're born with talents but your talent can also be developed.  I don't really believe that a "smart person knows everything and a idiot fellow knows nothing at all."

"Practice makes you perfect" if you're consistent to what you're doing, things would come naturally easier for you. Always learn from the basic, jumping from one to another application won't give you much credit and might confuse you. The best is, concentrate and master it before stepping to another level. 

I used to remember that I don't have a single idea about midi or how does it really work. But as time flies, it's pretty challenging to learn and explore the importance of midi and audio particularly to any music production as long as you're interested and you have the passion to learn.

IV. Useful Midi Tools

The most useful midi editor I've ever tried is GNMidi. Thanks to the author for this unique software designed for all midi musicians, so managing and editing your midifile is easy at your fingertips and menus are very straightforward. But the coolest thing I like in this program is the batch processing editor, obviously powerful enough to polish and enhance all your midifiles at one shot. Simply assign the parameters, click the button and things will run automatically.

Not all media players are able to support SoundFont for midi playback. Of course, there are ways or methods, but the result may vary and some virtual routing  is needed or what we call "Virtual Midi Port."  to run in your operating system.

If you want fast and simple application, you should try either Spider Player Pro or Midi Converter Studio. These are stand-alone players that allow you to load SoundFont bank straight without using any additional plug-in which is often used in Cubase or other DAW. Some softwares are quite similar, but these two programs are just my great choices that doesn't look cheap to use at all.  SynthFont is also another great player, it's only that I wasn't used with the interface.  But the feature that I like most in this program is the ability to load individual SoundFont bank for each track.  This is great especially when your auditioning the quality of a SoundFont Instrument.

Both Spider Player Pro and Midi Converter Studio support playback of midifile using GM SoundFont in real time and conversion to MP3 or Wave format as well. Though they aren't free, it's worth spending few dollars to either one of them. Next thing is, converting your midifiles into an MP3 or Wave format may be a little bit better and has some advantage.

Obviously, filesize may increase but turning your midifile into this format, you'll have wider options producing a great backing track. Apart from queueing your song similar to DJ, playing is really enjoyable and fun. You'll definitely love it. You can even apply EQ, or other DSP audio plug-ins supported by MP3 so long you don't overdo it. DJ softwares has more advantage for a non-stop music playback and I regularly use it on disco and party occasions.

For MP3 playback, one of my top pick  is Virtual DJ Pro and my next list is J.River Media Center, this program helps you cut the gap between your songs, fair enough and all your music just plays non stop. Really cool, I would say.

After all it's your choice which one really suits you.There are dozens of softwares I've tried in the past, yet only pick up the best, simple but easy to understand and most important, practical in every areas you want to do in your setup.  From menus, navigation and shortcut keys, you should consider these things when buying a software of your choice.

As an aspiring musician, "Learning from zero is just a beginning,  it is your passion  that should rather motivate and make you successful."

I never realized that I would still be on this line after so many years.  No matter how much I try to quit the music industry, I'm still hooked into this profession and hobby.  My friends always tell me, it's just about time to retire, share something and inspire young musicians..

All I can say is, "wish you all the best and good luck to your career"

V. Performing On Stage

Now that you're ready, keep the idea of practicing regularly with your backing tracks. If you're a piano. keyboard or guitar player or a sax player, it's rather convincing to watch you play the instrument section live on your own.

Playing along with your backing tracks is no other like a karaoke version, so let's try to make it less obvious and treat it in a professional way. Mute the midi track of the instrument you're playing, so you can naturally fill in and express your style as you play your music instrument. "Treat yourself as the real performer not your midifile which normally does the backing part.” As a piano or keyboard player, I usually delete this track and rather play straight on my instrument. 

But if you intend to keep the original music without muting or deleting a midi track, use a different chord progression so your playing blends well on the music.

Another good factor is, on any special gig, I occasionally add a guitar player to join my group. It's a good combination, more people, more appealing on the stage and you'll  get a rich and thicker sound as well. Whatever combination, either drums, bass or guitar, you can always think of something else.  With this setup, you can treat your group as semi-live performers.

Audience doesn't just listen, always remember that. They do watch and observe how unique is your style and performance. While the good part is, you can also inspire young musicians watching you perform on the stage.  At younger age, I've watched a lot of bands and that's how I got my first inspiration and slowly joined my first group. Keep in mind that your audience can be influenced by your talent, by starting to learn some tips or  techniques, it's natural for a person to  get motivated.  Remember, it's fun and challenging to build a cool image as it can boost your confidence even more especially when audience supports you.

"Don't pretend when you're not”, it can spoil your image or even identity of the group. You can either watch videos or clips of those professional musicians and artists.  I'm pretty sure you will learn the techniques and slowly get to know the right attitude, position of each chord as you play your own instrument.

"Read more music books or other materials” about various styles of playing. Slowly you will pick up and develop once you absorbed and compiled those great ideas even when you're not that talented and skillful. It's necessary to have at least basic theory in music, not only practical experience which majority does.

If you're an amateur or beginner, always remember that this is one key to improve yourself. And believe or not, I don't have a music degree nor qualification either, but I'm proud to achieve all the experiences I had for the last  25 years in the music scene.

It's true, here in Singapore, to qualify for a job or get a career in music, you should have at least the right diploma, no matter how good or smart you are, you won't get the job, trust me.   And it's funny, I remember those companies who interviewed and auditioned me in the past are either amazed or surprised, they never expected that I am actually a self-learner.  You need to have at least certificate to teach music in any reputable school.  I actually graduated with a degree but not in music so unfortunately, I still didn't passed the job requirement.  With this experience, It made me felt good.  I've tried to prove myself that I can and it was indeed challenging.

"Be simple, humble and true to yourself” because people will appreciate you more this way. Of course, always play from your heart as you perform on stage, we all know money is just a second priority but keeping a low profile will eventually make you build more friends and support. I believe this is the right attitude that every musician should carry on even as you get older.  "You should always have the right value" even if you wish to retire one day.

VI. Additiomal Resources

As I mentioned earlier, everything depends on your interest and which application to choose, whether you are keen to learn Midi or MP3 or Wave, any music software or audio tools should help you improve your skills either as an midi- arranger or as a performing artist or even both.

I'll include some lists of the best ones I've tested in the past few years and used in my setup. This is to help amateurs understand what we are discussing about and how to make use of them.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with these applications, but for those who has little knowledge, this is a good place to develop your interest and adapt yourself to SoundFont Technology.  Knowing the importance is one good way of increasing your exposure to other music sources.

I've categorized them to Midi and MP3, though there are several audio formats supported by midi conversion, I realized that MP3 nowadays is very common, but it's a lot easier for beginners to understand how the application actually works.  I bet you'll probably learn and discover more things as you continue your journey in the music industry.

More to come...

Jazman GMSoundFont.com™