Digital Sound Factory is a sound design company that creates sound libraries, known as
SoundFont
SoundFont is a brand name that collectively refers to a file format and associated technology that uses sample-based synthesis to play MIDI files. It was first used on the Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card for its General MIDI support.
SoundFo ...
libraries, for playback on synthesizers and computers compatible with
Steinberg Cubase
Cubase is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Steinberg for music and MIDI recording, arranging and editing. The first version, which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989. Cut-d ...
,
Cakewalk Sonar
Sonar was a digital audio workstation created by the former Boston, Massachusetts-based music production software company Cakewalk. It was acquired by Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies and renamed Cakewalk by BandLab.
Notable fe ...
, Reasonstudios, Steinberg Halion,
Native Instruments
Native Instruments is a German company that develops, manufactures, and supplies music software and hardware for music production, sound design, performance, and DJing. The company's corporate headquarters and main development facilities are lo ...
Kontakt, Apple
GarageBand
GarageBand is a line of digital audio workstations developed by Apple Inc. for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices that allows users to create music or podcasts. GarageBand is developed by Apple for macOS, and was once part of the iLife software ...
,
Apple Logic
Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software application for the macOS platform. It was originally created in the early 1990s as Notator Logic, or Logic, by German software developer C-Lab which later went by Em ...
,
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation for macOS and Windows developed by the German company Ableton. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Ableton Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool ...
, GenieSoft Overture, Finale,
Creative Labs
Creative Technology Ltd. is a Singaporean multinational technology company headquartered with overseas offices in Shanghai, Tokyo, Dublin, and Silicon Valley (where in the US it is known as Creative Labs). The principal activities of the compa ...
Audigy/X-Fi,
E-MU Systems
E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling m ...
EmulatorX/Proteus X,
LMMS
LMMS (formerly Linux MultiMedia Studio) is a digital audio workstation application program. It allows music to be produced by arranging samples, synthesizing sounds, playing on a MIDI keyboard, and combining the features of trackers and seque ...
,
FL Studio
FL Studio (previously known as FruityLoops before 2003) is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by the Belgian company Image-Line.
FL Studio features a graphical user interface with a pattern-based music sequencer. The program is avail ...
,
MuseScore,
Mixcraft
Mixcraft has been developed bAcoustica Mixcraft is a multitrack recording application for Windows. This music recording software functions as a digital audio workstation, MIDI sequencer, virtual instrument host, non-linear video arranger, and m ...
, VSamp, SFZ,
SynthFont
SynthFont is a commercial MIDI editor and "MIDI to Waveform" converter, developed by European software developer Kenneth Rundt.
Description
SynthFont is a program for editing and playing MIDI files using various sound source files like soundfonts ...
,
Ardour and more.
History
Digital Sound Factory employs musicians and performs detailed recordings of their instruments. The recordings are processed using
digital signal processors
A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor chip, with its architecture optimized for the operational needs of digital signal processing. DSPs are fabricated on MOS integrated circuit chips. They are widely used in audio sig ...
and mapped to a
MIDI
MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, an ...
piano keyboard. Modern music, television, movies, and advertisements are composed using these sounds by electronic musicians Using software synthesizers, composers can have a large collection of sound content on command.
Since 1971 the sound libraries at
E-mu Systems
E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling m ...
were recorded into samples designed to play back audio on physical hardware. Digital Sound Factory has an exclusive license with E-mu to re-master the primary source libraries to function on modern computer formats. Digital Sound Factory's first releases include the E-mu Systems Proteus and Emulator sounds, the
Ensoniq
Ensoniq Corp. was an American electronics manufacturer, best known throughout the mid-1980s and 1990s for its musical instruments, principally samplers and synthesizers.
Company history
In spring 1983, former MOS Technology engineers Robe ...
ASR/EPS/TS sounds, and brand new sound libraries recorded recently independent of the E-MU sound library.
Digital Sound Factory's content is integrated with:
Cakewalk
The cakewalk was a dance developed from the "prize walks" (dance contests with a cake awarded as the prize) held in the mid-19th century, generally at get-togethers on Black slave plantations before and after emancipation in the Southern Unit ...
Creative Labs
Creative Technology Ltd. is a Singaporean multinational technology company headquartered with overseas offices in Shanghai, Tokyo, Dublin, and Silicon Valley (where in the US it is known as Creative Labs). The principal activities of the compa ...
E-MU Systems
E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling m ...
Line 6
PreSonus
PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. (often known and styled as PreSonus) is an American manufacturer of professional audio equipment and software, used to create, record, mix, and master music and other audio. This includes their line of digital aud ...
Propellerhead Software
Reason Studios (formerly known as Propellerhead Software) is a music software company, based in Stockholm, Sweden, and founded in 1994. It produces the studio emulation Reason.
History
Propellerhead Software was founded in 1994 by Ernst N ...
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
Music Corporation
Timeline of major products
*2007 - Digital Sound Factory releases E-MU Systems' original
Proteus
In Greek mythology, Proteus (; Ancient Greek: Πρωτεύς, ''Prōteus'') is an early prophetic sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the " Old Man of the Sea" ''(hálios gérôn)''. ...
trilogy (directly from the Protozoa ROM expansions from Proteus 2000) and
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software that enables one computer system (called the ''host'') to behave like another computer system (called the ''guest''). An emulator typically enables the host system to run software or use peri ...
SoundFont
SoundFont is a brand name that collectively refers to a file format and associated technology that uses sample-based synthesis to play MIDI files. It was first used on the Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card for its General MIDI support.
SoundFo ...
libraries
*2008 - Digital Sound Factory releases E-MU Cakewalk Proteus Pack (Proteus 2000, Mo’ Phatt, Virtuoso, Planet Earth, Xtreme Lead-1, & PX-7 Drums)
*2008 - Digital Sound Factory releases Propellerhead Reason Refills
*2009 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
Motif World XSpedition, XStrings, Vocal XSpressions, &
Steinway
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in Manhattan by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth led to the opening of a f ...
Grand libraries
*2010 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Cakewalk company
Cakewalk, Inc. is a former music production software company based in Boston, Massachusetts and currently a brand of Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies. The company's best known product was their professional-level digital audio wor ...
Dimension SFZ Instrument volumes 1 -13. Includes Grand Piano, Vinatage Synthesizers, World Instruments, Guitars, Basses, Drums, Orchestral, Hip Hop, and more.
*2011 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Cakewalk company
Cakewalk, Inc. is a former music production software company based in Boston, Massachusetts and currently a brand of Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies. The company's best known product was their professional-level digital audio wor ...
Rapture Sound Expansion volumes. Includes Analog Digital Synth Resources, Dance Tools, Film Score, and Synthesizer Rage.
*2012 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Cakewalk company
Cakewalk, Inc. is a former music production software company based in Boston, Massachusetts and currently a brand of Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies. The company's best known product was their professional-level digital audio wor ...
Z3TA+2 Sound Expansions. Includes Digital Keys, Fashion Leads, Ultraspheres, Wave Scapes, & Xtreme Synth Basses.
*2012 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Native Instruments
Native Instruments is a German company that develops, manufactures, and supplies music software and hardware for music production, sound design, performance, and DJing. The company's corporate headquarters and main development facilities are lo ...
Kontakt Sound Expansions. Featured products are the
E-MU Systems
E-mu Systems was a software synthesizer, audio interface, MIDI interface, and MIDI keyboard manufacturer. Founded in 1971 as a synthesizer maker, E-mu was a pioneer in samplers, sample-based drum machines and low-cost digital sampling m ...
Proteus Pack,
Ensoniq
Ensoniq Corp. was an American electronics manufacturer, best known throughout the mid-1980s and 1990s for its musical instruments, principally samplers and synthesizers.
Company history
In spring 1983, former MOS Technology engineers Robe ...
ASR, Performance Synthesizers,
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
Concert Grand Pianos, and
Steinway
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway (), is a German-American piano company, founded in 1853 in Manhattan by German piano builder Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later known as Henry E. Steinway). The company's growth led to the opening of a f ...
Grand Piano.
*2013 - Digital Sound Factory endorsed by
Mason & Hamlin
Mason & Hamlin is a piano manufacturer based in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1854, they also manufactured a large number of pump organs during the 19th century.
History 19th century
Mason & Hamlin was founded in Boston, Massachusett ...
Piano company to sample and reproduce the CC 9'2" Concert Grand Piano in digital format.
*2014 - Digital Sound Factory releases
Cakewalk company
Cakewalk, Inc. is a former music production software company based in Boston, Massachusetts and currently a brand of Singaporean music company BandLab Technologies. The company's best known product was their professional-level digital audio wor ...
Sound Center Sound Expansions for
Valve
A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...
Steam. Expansions include; Video Game Sound Designer, Steinway Grand, Vintage Keyboards, World Instruments, Guitars, Basses, Orchestral Strings, Orchestral Winds/Brass/Percussion, Modern Strings, Urban, Electronica, B-3, Rhodes EP, Wurlitzer EP, Yamaha CP70, Prophet 600, OB-Xa, Clavinet, Mellotron, and Sound Effects.
*2019 - Digital Sound Factory releases EMU Systems' NI Proteus Rack which includes Proteus 2000, Mo’ Phatt, Virtuoso, Xtreme Lead-1, Planet Earth, and Vintage Pro. Though, not an update of the Proteus Rack. This is built from the ground up and designed for Native Instruments free Kontakt Player, the full version of Kontakt, Komplete, and Maschine. They can all also be controlled with NKS hardware as they are seamlessly integrated.
See also
*
Sampler
*
Music sequencer
A music sequencer (or audio sequencer or simply sequencer) is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling Musical note, note and performance information in several forms, typically CV/Gate, MIDI, or O ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Digital Sound Factory
Audio codecs
Digital audio