duboisea wrote on 2022-10-22, 03:55:

Do you think it would be possible to fit the ESFM Soundfont into 64M?

I would not say it's impossible to shrink this to 64M but it would need a lot of time and skills probably nobody will spend on it.

But there will be a new DreamBlaster with way more Flash memory release this year:
DreamBlaster X16 Prototypes/Development thread

rakarek wrote on 2022-10-26, 21:15:

Hi. Below is a link for Gravis Ultrasound Classic GM bank converted by me to sf2 format, in 1999. I hope that i will see your opinion regarding to this bank. I hope that someone can convert this bank to dreamblaster format.

I could try it but how is it different from the other Gravis Ultrasound Bank i've already converted?

RetroGamer4Ever wrote on 2023-01-01, 01:24:

Chicken Systems "Translator" sample conversion software works with a variety of sample formats and also apparently works with Dream sample banks, if you get the High-Tech Edition. The support information is spotty on the software's specifics, because the company has shut down their forum and such, but they still sell the software.

You still need Dream's Sound Development Kit to compile a bank out of the files ChickenSys Translator outputs and their format support is very poor.. As far i've tested SF2 and DLS are only partially supported and Dreams format even less.. So the conversion using Translator is almost useless.. Otherwise i would have way more banks available here.. 😉

I think You can will hear differences when you download it and try it. I think that other GUS GM banks sounds like "flat plank" but not my. I have worked on it almost 3 months many years ago - and result, in my opinion, is great.

@Hummtaro I just purchased a X16! Mind doing the conversion script on ESFM? Very excited to hear it.

I love the sound of ESFM. The cards I have are quite noisey though. Using a Orpheus and my X2GS has been so nice.

@duboisea I will give it a try when i find time soon!

I need to convert all the available banks anyways.. I wanted to optimize them but i don't know when i find time to do it so i should just convert them as they are maybe..

And i'll give a shot to rakarek's GUS bank too.

Hey folks,
several old soundbanks are finally available for Dreamblaster X16, including the RolandGM bank!

And there a new additions, exclusively for X16:
ESFM as requested by duboisea
And a high quality MT-32 bank, available in either mono or stereo

To be consistent with what mode changing midi files or softmpu expect, the MT-32 banks have their real MT-32 mapping on variation 127, just like all other banks.
By default they use a GM compatible mapping instead.

Edit: Added a proper preset to the MT-32 banks. Also updated the recordings in soundcloud.

Edit 2: Added X16 builds of the crappy Yamaha and Ultrasound banks. Is anyone even interested in this?

There is an X16 recording of the Monkey Island MT-32 theme, and it sounds glorious. Is this soundbank also X2/X3 compatible?

appiah4 wrote on 2024-02-26, 09:28:

There is an X16 recording of the Monkey Island MT-32 theme, and it sounds glorious. Is this soundbank also X2/X3 compatible?

Unfortunately no.. Due to the huge size of 230 MiB even for the mono version, it wouldn't fit X2/X3

Hummtaro wrote on 2024-02-26, 22:24:

appiah4 wrote on 2024-02-26, 09:28:

There is an X16 recording of the Monkey Island MT-32 theme, and it sounds glorious. Is this soundbank also X2/X3 compatible?

Unfortunately no.. Due to the huge size of 230 MiB even for the mono version, it wouldn't fit X2/X3

Ah.. We still have the MT-32 soundbank you made for X2 earlier I guess. Do you have a comparable recording of that one?

@Hummtaro
Nice work! The purchase of an X16 is now justified.
Is an X16 adaptation of SC55 in progress?
And which one: SC55 by zz_denis? SC55 by trevor0402 ? SC55 by Patch93? SC55 by EmperorGrieferus? SC55 by anyone else?

appiah4 wrote on 2024-02-28, 06:22:

Ah.. We still have the MT-32 soundbank you made for X2 earlier I guess. Do you have a comparable recording of that one?

I never did a MT-32 soundbank for X2. The RolandGM and some other banks have MT-32 mappings tho..

stacker139 wrote on 2024-02-29, 16:25:

Is an X16 adaptation of SC55 in progress?

There is X16GS with a GS bank officially licensed by Roland. I won't do another unofficial one..

Hummtaro wrote on 2024-02-29, 17:57:

appiah4 wrote on 2024-02-28, 06:22:

Ah.. We still have the MT-32 soundbank you made for X2 earlier I guess. Do you have a comparable recording of that one?

I never did a MT-32 soundbank for X2. The RolandGM and some other banks have MT-32 mappings tho..

Ah, I see. Well, I suppose it's not possible to downsample the X16 one to fit into an X2/X3 right?

appiah4 wrote on 2024-03-01, 05:59:

Ah, I see. Well, I suppose it's not possible to downsample the X16 one to fit into an X2/X3 right?

Downsampling from 44khz to 22khz would half the size but it would still be about 120 MiB..
To fit X2 we would need to get it to half again. It does not have many splits we could remove and no layers at all.
So the only option would be to work trough all the samples, cut them and recreate proper loops.
On all percussive instruments like piano this would also mean you have to recreate the envelope.
Of course it is not impossible and someone with experience could probably do it in some days.

But i'm not the one to do this..
If anyone else want to take the original .sf2 and succesfully shrinks it to 64MiB or less, i could port it over to X2. 😀

Hummtaro wrote on 2024-02-29, 17:57:

stacker139 wrote on 2024-02-29, 16:25:

Is an X16 adaptation of SC55 in progress?

There is X16GS with a GS bank officially licensed by Roland. I won't do another unofficial one..

Imho, licensed Roland Dreamblaster X16GS and X2GS products are more legitimate than others to use soundfont compiled X2 or X16 with samples or soundfonts banks from retro gaming devices ROMs : ex. Roland midi modules and wavetables MT32, SC55 ..., Dream DSP sound cards or *.94 and *.tts soundfonts file format.

stacker139 wrote on 2024-03-04, 00:10:

Imho, licensed Roland Dreamblaster X16GS and X2GS products are more legitimate than others to use soundfont compiled X2 or X16 with samples or soundfonts banks from retro gaming devices ROMs : ex. Roland midi modules and wavetables MT32, SC55 ..., Dream DSP sound cards or *.94 and *.tts soundfonts file format.

But the thing is, i can not restrict the bank to be used only on X2GS and X16GS..
If i would provide one, people would just use it on X2 and X16 instead of buying the licensed GS versions.
That would affect both Serdashop and Roland..

Hummtaro wrote on 2024-03-16, 19:30:

But the thing is, i can not restrict the bank to be used only on X2GS and X16GS.. If i would provide one, people would just use […]
Show full quote

stacker139 wrote on 2024-03-04, 00:10:

Imho, licensed Roland Dreamblaster X16GS and X2GS products are more legitimate than others to use soundfont compiled X2 or X16 with samples or soundfonts banks from retro gaming devices ROMs : ex. Roland midi modules and wavetables MT32, SC55 ..., Dream DSP sound cards or *.94 and *.tts soundfonts file format.

But the thing is, i can not restrict the bank to be used only on X2GS and X16GS..
If i would provide one, people would just use it on X2 and X16 instead of buying the licensed GS versions.
That would affect both Serdashop and Roland..

It's true. The right strategy remains to be defined. However, spending more (+10€ on GS version) to contribute to your efforts seems justified to me.

stacker139 wrote on 2024-03-16, 23:17:

It's true. The right strategy remains to be defined. However, spending more (+10€ on GS version) to contribute to your efforts seems justified to me.

The +10€ on the GS version would support not me but Serdashop, Dream and Roland. 😉
Actually the GS version wouldn't be any more legitimate to use copyrighted samples without permission..
Anyway, i will think about it..

I don't want to reveal too much but a new way of conversion is in the works, so i think there will be some more banks soon.
Maybe i'll catch up with banks that were requested but impossible with the old conversion method, like Masterpiece.sf2.
Anyone interested? 😀

Very exciting news! How do SF2 banks translate to Dream banks size wise with this new way of conversion?

Rawit wrote on 2024-04-10, 06:52:

Very exciting news! How do SF2 banks translate to Dream banks size wise with this new way of conversion?

It'll be or less the same as the SF2. X16 banks will be a bit bigger tho, like a few MiB. 😸

Hummtaro wrote on 2024-04-08, 23:08:

The +10€ on the GS version would support not me but Serdashop, Dream and Roland. ;) Actually the GS version wouldn't be any more […]
Show full quote

stacker139 wrote on 2024-03-16, 23:17:

It's true. The right strategy remains to be defined. However, spending more (+10€ on GS version) to contribute to your efforts seems justified to me.

The +10€ on the GS version would support not me but Serdashop, Dream and Roland. 😉
Actually the GS version wouldn't be any more legitimate to use copyrighted samples without permission..
Anyway, i will think about it..

I don't want to reveal too much but a new way of conversion is in the works, so i think there will be some more banks soon.
Maybe i'll catch up with banks that were requested but impossible with the old conversion method, like Masterpiece.sf2.
Anyone interested? 😀

Masterpiece.sf2 is my preferred soundbank for use with an MT32-Pi and I would love a soundbank conversion for my X2/X3s. It is by far the BEST SF2 out there for the size. I seriously have no idea why GeneralUser gets so much love but this SF2 is simply.. obscure for some reason?

Just do it. Please.