SoundFonts 4+
Polyphonic soundfont synth
Brad Howes
Designed for iPad
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- $7.99
Screenshots
Description
This is a straightforward yet powerful app that acts as a polyphonic audio synthesizer with a virtually unlimited collection of sounds. Under the hood, It uses an AVAudioUnitSampler to generate the audio output when you touch one or more keys. The sounds that are available come from soundfont (SF2) files, such as those available online for free (and of variable quality).
The app also exists as an AUv3 plug-in (included) so you can use it in your favorite music generation application such as GarageBand, Logic, or AUM. It also includes two AUv3 effects units – reverb and delay - which you can use separately as well..
The app supports MIDI input -- just connect a MIDI keyboard/controller to your iOS device and you should be good to go! There is also support for MIDI over Bluetooth. You can also control some app settings using MIDI controls, including the active favorite preset and the audio effects.
To use, simply select a SoundFont name in the left list, then a patch name on the right and start playing. Some additional hints to get going:
• Add a SoundFont (SF2) file that you have downloaded onto your iCloud Drive. Press the "+" button and then locate the file to add. You can always change the display name of the SoundFont by swiping right. And you can remove a SoundFont that you no longer want by swiping left on its name.
• Bring up reverb and delay effects by touching the wavy "signal" button.
• Swipe right on a patch name to make it a favorite. Favorited patches have a star next to their name. You can edit the name of the favorite by again swiping right and selecting the edit action. You can remove a favorite by swiping left and selecting the remove action.
• Touch the labels at either end of the black bar to change the range of the keyboard. You can go as low as "C0" and as high as "C9". You can also change the range by swiping left/right on the black bar. Note that this ability does not exist in the AUv3 extension -- use the native application keyboard controls to achieve the same results. You can also toggle the keyboard sliding feature by touching the small arrow between the note labels.
• Switch between the soundfont patches listing and the favorites view by double-tapping on the patch name in the black bar above the keyboard. You can also swipe left/right with two fingers in the patches and favorites views to switch to the other view.
• In the view of favorites, you can edit a favorite button by double-tapping on it. You can rearrange the favorite buttons with a tap-and-hold gesture.
Finally, you can check out the source code! Go to the Support URL to find out more.
What’s New
Version 2.29.1
* Fix access to font files on external drive after device restart. Thanks to Eduard for alerting me to the problem.
* Minor UI fixes.
Ratings and Reviews
A Godsend, but-
This app is literally legendary. The only DAW i can afford to write music on is garageband, and with its limited selection of samplers, doesn’t support soundfonts very much. (i’ve always wanted to recreate Bonetrousle from Undertale, with this app i was able to). The ability to create your own presets with selected effects is amazing.
There are only a few problems.
When using the AUv3 with garageband, it is VERY touchy. It may automatically assign to a different instruments, or may completely revert to a sine wave, which results in the UI removing the text. (this happens when merging, or copy and pasting tracks) And this might be on me, but the pitch bend feature doesn’t seem to function (with garageband at least). i would record a section that includes pitch bend, then move it to the sound font track, and it would play the note all the way through. I looked in the settings, and turned the range to 24+ semitones, and still, nothing. If you guys have a solution, feel free to reply!
love you guys!
Developer Response ,
Update: In the latest release, I've revamped how the AUv3 component works with host apps such as GarageBand. I hope this fixes the issues you were encountering.
Hi I have a question about your sound font
Can I use your SoundFonts in an original composition mixed and mastered by me in Will a third-party copyright strike saying I’m using third-party sounds by my distributor registering the original composition with publishing and BMI will you guys collect royalties off of those sounds in my original composition and will you guys be considered third-party sounds like samples or loops in original composition get back to me at your earliest convenience thank you so much
Developer Response ,
From the standpoint of the app, there are no royalties involved. As for the SF2 files included with the app, they are freely available online, but that does not mean that their underlying samples are not owned by another party.
Perfect For Use With GarageBand, But Needs Something Addressed
This app is by far AMAZING, and it deserves a 5-star rating!
I have been using it with GarageBand for a few months now, but there is one annoyance that always triggers me.
Whenever I restart my iPad, it wipes all the soundfonts I added and it messes up my songs in GarageBand that rely on using the AUv3 Extention. Making all tracks play a sine wave or the "Yamaha Grand Piano" in the Fluid R3 soundfont. If this is fixable I would greatly appreciate that in the next update.
Other than that one problem this app is absolutely incredible! Keep up the good work!
-Vulpix4025
App Privacy
The developer, Brad Howes, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Brad Howes
- Size
- 195.8 MB
- Category
- Entertainment
- Compatibility
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- iPhone
- Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
- iPad
- Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.
- iPod touch
- Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
- Mac
- Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- Languages
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English
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2022 Brad Howes
- Price
- $7.99
Supports
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Family Sharing
Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.