Fin2004 makes use of a soundfont for its playback (if you choose the SmartMusic softsynth for playback), so anybody using Fin2004 can make use of soundfonts.
All of the CreativeLabs SoundBlaster soundcards since the AWE generation of cards can make use of soundfonts, as can some external sound modules and some softsynths. Reality and Surreal are two softsynths that can use soundfonts directly (they only run on Win98).
Why do you need them? Well, maybe you don't. If you're happy with the playback devices and sounds you are now using, you don't need them.
If you want different sounds for different occasions, they can be quite helpful (a lot less expensive than purchasing different sound modules with different strengths for different styles of pieces.)
As far as Finale is concerned, you can make a copy of the existing soundfont that ships with Fin2004 (it is the .sf2 file residing in the Component Files folder under your main Finale folder) so you can reinstall it if you want, and then you can simply place a copy of whatever soundfont you want to use into the component files folder and rename it to synthgms.sf2 and Finale will then load that soundfont the next time you start Finale.
That way you can either create or find a soundfont that is specialized for a brass quintet sound, or string quartet sound, or rock group or whatever you want and install that and finale will use those sounds.
Perhaps in the next version of Finale, they will let us specify which soundfont to load, by name and path, to make their soft-synth playback more versatile.
There are some wonderful free soundfonts on the web that may be ideal for you. On the other hand, you may find that after downloading many hundreds of megabytes of soundfonts, that you are still not happy with any of them.
Soundfont quality, as with all sound issues, is in the ear of the behearer (to borrow a phrase from Dewey Redman).
But, to repeat myself, if you are happy with your current playback setup, there is no need to go bothering with soundfonts.
Eden - Lawrence D. wrote:
I need some education on this topic. Why do I need soundfonts? What are they used for?
Thanks
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-- David H. Bailey [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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