Some NBO feedback

[ssj71]

The open source musician podcast is doing a tunestorm (musical uncompetition) where they must use some of the samples from the No-Budget Orchestra in an original composition and submit it in April. Already using it a bit I've found some suggestions:

1. several of the zips extract without an extra directory, so if you batch extract you end up with a directory full of .wav and .sfz's. It looks like mostly the percussion zips that are an issue. It would be nice if they were consistent with the structure of the other files. Here are the sfzs that are in the root rather than subdirectories after extracting all:
bass_drum.sfz cabasa.sfz claves.sfz cymbal.sfz kit.sfz orch_kit.sfz sleigh_bell.sfz tambourine.sfz triangle.sfz
block.sfz castanets.sfz cowbell.sfz harpsichord.sfz nsa.sfz shaker.sfz snare.sfz timpani.sfz

2. softbells just refers to a .wav that doesn't exist

3. marimba clips at higher velocity levels.

4.wurly.sfz (StereoWurly) had some issues with some extra <regions> on lines 158, 178, and 196

I hope the tunestorm will get a lot of folks using these and improving them. Thanks a ton to Jeff for his prolific effort to collect these.

p.s. for more tunestorm info you can listen to the podcast (https://archive.org/details/OSMP74)

[ssj71]

Its not too bad right now with just a

Code: Select all

wget -r --no-parent --reject "index.html*" http://www.bandshed.net/sounds/sfz
cd www.bandshed.net/sounds/sfz
unzip '*.zip'

Not the easiest for contributing, but its kinda nice to have it all in one place.

[shimpe]

- i made a quick'n dirty "safe_unzip" utility in python that extracts every .zip file in its own directory to get rid of the unzip problem. For what it's worth it's located on github: https://github.com/shimpe/safe_unzip (it requires python 3, and depends on argparseui and PyQt4).
Use at your own risk. Safe was about the worst name I could choose (but hey, it works for me)

- the acoustic bass instrument seems to suffer from timing problems: some notes start too late and the result sounds messy

- I considered putting my "safe-unzipped" and then re-"tar.bz2"-ed nobudget instruments on github, but it exceeds the recommended max size of 1GB/repo with a factor 3 :s

[ssj71]

I've put all the sfz files according to their original batch-unzipped directory structure in gh (as well as contents.txt and licenses where they exist). Now I just need to figure out how to make a clean way to get the wavs there.
https://github.com/ssj71/No-Budget-Orchestra

I'll do some of the changes I've made tomorrow and think about how to make distribution of fixes easier

[j_e_f_f_g]

I've already come up with a new, consistent directory organization. And I've come up with a new, much simpler packaging plan, which I have to clear with Glen first since he hosts the files. If Glen approves, the new packaging will turn NBO into a "rolling release" orchestra, very likely with a version checking utility that will download and install only those files that are out of date. The goal is to automate and streamline updates.

The new organization is required in order facilitate the planned General MIDI synth, and General MIDI file player. Shhhh. These are secret projects.

As far as any flaws in the orch, I've tried to fix any reported to me. For example, I have a redone solo cello coming up which notably improves the mid/high register. But this is the first time I'm hearing about the above issues -- from folks I didn't even know were using nbo.

But you'll have to be patient. First is the new LV2 Creator with support for creating custom UI, the eDrummer plugin, the new Pipe Organ virtual instrument/plugin... oh damn, another secret project exposed.

[ssj71]

sorry for making you leak all your secrets.

Any way you'd prefer us to report issues than here? We reported these more or less as soon as we found them. (Several came from IRC users who don't hang here). As I tried to mention there's hopefully an influx of NBO users due to the tunestorm.

[j_e_f_f_g]

sorry for making you leak all your secrets.

Don't worry. This isn't my first leak. God bless adult diapers.

Any way you'd prefer us to report issues?

Yes, I'd prefer you all to report issues balancing upon one foot while holding a plate of baked beans in one hand and some hot s'mores in the other.

It's not just for my entertainment. It's legitimate scientific research. I think I can get a government grant to study it. (You'd be surprised how many politicians are also entertained by it). Then I won't have to put a PayPal donation button on my OSS web site, beside a "goal widget" that displays how many pennies I've received so far this month.

[ssj71]

Sorry, I'm out of baked beans. But these smores smell good.

A couple more:
-french_horn_sect.zip - /SoloHorn/Release/2_A_f.wav needs to be renamed 2_A_r.wav
-panther.zip - only contains pinkpanther.wav, no sfz I don't think its supposed to be in there