Hardware Soundfont SF2 Player, USB

[Amberwolf]

For those that still use Soundfonts, and always wanted a hardware way to access them without having to setup a system just for that.  Not quite a replacement for those that used to use the AWE / etc cards with the old Cakewalk that had a soundfont manager in it. Has USB and MIDI in ports. 

 

https://www.serdashop.com/SF2 

There's another (older?) version here

https://www.serdashop.com/MP32L

From the site: 

Quote

 

SF2 is a MIDI synthesizer that uses sf2 soundfont files
the software is based on MT32Pi, with a tweaked configuration for excellent live performance
Complete unit, including enclosure. 
Powered by USB-C (adapter not included)
More information coming soon.  SF2 is similar to the MP32L which is also still available.

Features :
High Quality Stereo DAC, 3.5mm stereo line out
Standard DIN MIDI input
Micro SD card slot for MT32Pi based software
USB-C connector for power (for 5V 2A adapter)
Uses pi zero 2W, 512 mbyte of RAM
High quality enclosure, dimensions : 81mm x 75mm x 26mm , 74g

 

  

Edited January 13 by Amberwolf

[Sock Monkey]

That’s a cool idea.But? 

The MT32 was a terrible sounding sound module. I used one live for about 3 years.  It sat on my shelf when I replaced it with the Korg 05R/W  that was a huge improvement for me. 
I can’t think of one single sound it had that even the MS Wavetable didn’t do better. 
I eventually chucked it out. 
Then a few years later a person gave me a box of music junk and there it was! Back to haunt me again! I thought? Maybe it wasn’t so bad as I remembered!!  It was even worse. But it sat on the self again and eventually was recycled. 
If you want those sounds that badly just grab an old laptop. it will have a slightly better version built in as the Wavetable synth that windows has used I think since XP. 
But possibly they are using sound fronts like the Synth Font 64 uses which are much better in their own pathetic sort of way.  
 

Edited Tuesday at 10:26 PM by Sock Monkey

[Amberwolf]

AFAICT, you put your soundfonts onto it, so whatever sf2 you have or make.

 

[Sock Monkey]

Well that sounds better. Another anomaly of the MT32 was its default bumped the channels up one so channel 1 was 2 etc. very confusing. I seem to remember it only played 32 notes. Therefore the name. That’s why I find it interesting anyone on earth would want to emulate it.