Yes I created a free tool that allows uploading binary Dream format soundbanks to the X2 flash.
Maximum compiled soundbank size you can upload on X2 is approx 63.5 mbyte.
Creating your own soundbanks into the right binary format directly, is not possible with free tools, as far as I know.
The spec for the compiled dream banks is proprietory, actually I don't think any 3rd party software can generate it directly at the moment.
So my short term plan, is to compile some banks myself and make them available for X2 users :
1/ a high end piano bank (using 63.5 mbyte!) (a good friend, excellent pianist and instrument builder, will help me, he also has the Dream 5000 SDK)
2/ a chiptune bank with retro-retro interpretion of GM instruments (matej from chipmusic will help me, he will sample his chip hardware)
3/ an alternative converted general midi bank. (not decided yet which one, the Dream bank always sounds better 😉 )
Suggestions are welcome. Once I make these available for download, you can upload to your X2 easily.
I will also provide the Dream GM 16M binary bank file, so that you can return to the original Dream GM kit if you like.
If you want to make your own soundbanks on your own pc, well this is how it can be done :
To edit + compile banks into this 'Dream 5000' proprietary binary format, you need the Dream 5000 SDK (http://www.profusionplc.com/parts/sam5000-sdk).
This is a hardware+software bundle which works well, but is fairly expensive (list price was 650 euro +VAT last year).
This toolkit allows to import wav files, and access to all synth engine parameters of the dream, to create professional soundbanks.
It has no soundfont import function, but it uses an XML based format (+ wav files) for storing your instrument/bank projects, so in theory you can make a tool that
generates data that can be read by the bank compiler.
And there actually is one person I know, who's working on generating this XML format : Garth from Chicken Systems (he also has the Dream 5000 SDK).
I am helping him test the Dream XML driver he is developing for his Translator Hi Tech edition software.
This 299$ software package allows to read many soundbank formats (including soundfonts) and export to Dream XML format http://www.chickensys.com/products/translator … tion_hitech.php.
It is really powerful software, but there are not many users for the Dream driver, which makes slow but steady progress.
Melodic instruments already convert fairly well (still needs some manual tweaking), drum bank support using the different 'drum' bank structure format is still under development.
So yes to convert an individual saxophone or piano bank, i think it is already up to it, for musicians. It does a large amount of the job for you.
For general MIDI, yeah we definitely need drums, and many instruments. We're getting there. I intend to continue testing, finetuning the flow, and
once the drumbank conversion works, convert some banks (where the license and/or owner permits), to provide them to you.
So my planned conversion flow is currently : .sf2 soundfont --TRANSLATOR_HITECH(CONVERT)---> Dream XML Format ---DREAM5000SDK(EDIT/CORRECTIONS/COMPILE)--->Soundbank Binary
It would be great to create a soundbank repository on Vogons, I agree.
If someone is good at soundfont design, has a soundfont site, programs soundfont editor software, or just motivated to help me,
you may always pm me...I definitely would love to make this work, and will provide support where I can.
But have some patience, the next week will be very busy, working on the launch of X2 first. 😊
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