Welcome to SFZFormat.com!
What SFZ is not
To clarify, the term SFZ as used on this site does not mean a sforzando dynamic marking, and it also is not the same thing as a soundfont. Soundfonts are a completely different file format which includes both the samples and the definitions of sample behavior in the same binary file, while SFZ is a file format which only defines the behavior of musical instruments and does not include the sample content. SF2 may look a bit like SFZ visually, but that's a coincidence.
Features
- A .sfz definition file is just a text file. Consequently, it can be created by using any text editor.
- Samples of any bit depth (8/16/24/32-bit) and sample rate (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 384 kHz etc.), mono or stereo.
- Compressed and uncompressed sample formats can both be used within the same instrument.
- Loops embedded in sample files or configured in the SFZ.
- Velocity layers, round robins, keyboard splits and layers.
- Sample playback based on MIDI controllers (note on, note off, continuous controllers, pitch bend, channel - and polyphonic aftertouch, keyboard switches) and internal generators (random, sequence counters).
- Unidirectional and bidirectional exclusive regions (mute groups).
- Release trigger regions with release trigger attenuation control.
- Crossfade layer controls.
- Ability to distinguish legato notes from first notes.
- Envelope and LFO modulation sources with possible targets including volume, pitch, filter cutoff and more.
Requirements
To make use of the SFZ format requires three things:
which tells the player how to use the samples. The SFZ file itself can be created using any text editor, though for more complex cases with hundreds or thousands of samples, additional tools can make this easier - some people use spreadsheets, and there are also dedicated SFZ creation tools.
Here's a basic SFZ file you can copy to start your own.
Making Instruments
Text guides on how to make a simple instrument, covering the essential opcodes
-
Drum basics - covers
global
,group
andregion
headers,sample
,key
,lovel
/hivel
,amp_velcurve_N
,seq_length
,seq_position
andlorand
/hirand
. -
Sustained note basics - using a flute as an example. Adds
lokey
/hikey
,pitch_keycenter
,xfin
/xfout
,locc
/hicc
,keyswitching
,group
,off_by
andoff_mode
.
Some more advanced topics
-
Vibrato - typical string vibrato, humanized vibrato, asymmetrical vibrato, and even filter wobble.
-
Legato - simulated legato and portamento as well as true sampled legato.
-
Cymbal muting - using
group
,off_by
,off_mode
andpolyphony
to make hi-hat and cymbal notes mute previous notes in a musically useful way. -
Brush stirs - two different approaches to brushed drum techniques which produce a continuous sound rather than a hit.