SoundFont is a file format for sample-based instrument sounds. You will need a SoundFont to use FluidSynth. If you are not familiar with them, check out Josh Green's Introduction to SoundFonts.
Free Multi Samples, SF2 samples, Soundfonts Pack. All best sellers. The soundfont linked below is one that took me about a week to make. I searched and found all of the best (out of at least 3 or 4 hundred soundfonts I tried individually. Soundfonts Free Download; Sf2 Soundfonts Free Download.
If you just need to play General Midi files, these SoundFonts are known to work well with FluidSynth:
- S. Christian Collins GeneralUser GS - 30 MB
- Fluid (R3) General MIDI SoundFont (GM) - 140 MB
Soundfont Databases
- Hammersound - A nice resource for downloading free SoundFont instrument files.
- ResonanceDB (Currently down, until a new hosting location is found)
SoundFont editors
- Project SWAMI by Josh Green (Linux), http://www.swamiproject.org/
- Polyphone, http://polyphone-soundfonts.com/en/
- Vienna SoundFont Editor by Creative Technology Ltd. (Win)
- Alive Soundfont Editor by Soundfaction (Win)
Note: We cannot recommend using Audio Compositor for creating or editing Soundfonts, as it generates files that violate the Soundfont2 spec (specifically the order of generators as defined in section 8.1.2) and are therefore unusable with fluidsynth!
Conversion Tools
- CDxtract from Safta Consulting, Inc. (Win)
- ReCycle from Propellerhead Software (Win & Mac),
- Translator from Rubber Chicken Software (Win & Mac),
Software SoundFont Synthesizers:
- LiveSynth Pro DXi and Crescendo from LiveUpdate (Win)
- Unity DS-1 from Bitheadz (Win & Mac)
- QuickTime 5 from Apple (Win & Mac)
![Best violin soundfonts Best violin soundfonts](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126225835/984726816.jpg)
Developer Resources
The SoundFont format was originally created by Creative Labs and EMU Systems and used in the SoundBlaster AWE 32 and later cards. There are now many other hardware platforms and software synthesizers supporting this format. SoundFont 2.0 and later are open formats and the specification is freely available.
![Piano Piano](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126225835/934516900.jpg)
- Wikipedia SoundFont page - Good overview of SoundFont format and other resources.
- SoundFont 2.4 specification - PDF document describing SoundFont format technical details.
- The MIDI Manufacturers Association has a standard called DownloadableSounds (DLS) that closely resembles the Soundfont Specifications.
- Creative Labs Developer Documentation - Specifications, docs, SF2 test files, etc. (...vanished, unfortunately)
- Soundfont.com FAQ (...gone as well)