Semiautomatic creation of SFZ samples from VST plugin or external hardware

[hlavsa]

I wanted to try if I can generate samples in SFZ format from MIDI instruments, for example to sample different hardware MIDI keyboards I have or to sample my favourite instrument VST plugins (for example to be able to use favourite VST instruments on Linux) etc.

I wrote a simple reascript to generate notes in different velocity layers and coresponding regions that I need to render samples. It also generates SFZ format file.

Anyone would like to test it?

Parameters:
velocity layers
notes from - to
length of notes
"shortening" of notes from the lowest to the highest
Path to generate SFZ format file
Samples directory under path

Workflow:
1. Insert an empty MIDI item
2. Select the MIDI item
3. Run lua script that will generate notes in the MIDI event and all regions
4. Set MIDI item length to fit all generated notes
5. Play MIDI notes to your hardware MIDI keyboard and record it to a new stereo audio track
or
Assign a VST plugin instrument to the MIDI track with generated notes and render the MIDI track to new stereo audio track
6. Check if recorded audio of notes is OK: length, clipping etc.
7. Render each region with settings:
Bounds: Project regions
Format: FLAC (SFZ format also accepts WAV and OGG format)
Directory: directory for samples
8. Now you can use your generated instrument with SFZ players like Sforzando from Plogue (https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando.html) or tweek it if you understand SFZ format.

[Arthur McArthur]

Really cool idea, hlavsa. I found myself wishing for this functionality lately. I gave it a try and seem to be having issues getting the created regions to line up with the created midi notes: https://imgur.com/yqZt9AO

Am I getting the procedure wrong?

[hlavsa]

Originally Posted by Arthur McArthur

Really cool idea, hlavsa. I found myself wishing for this functionality lately. I gave it a try and seem to be having issues getting the created regions to line up with the created midi notes: https://imgur.com/yqZt9AO

Am I getting the procedure wrong?

Sorry for late answer. There is an error in my code. It works well only at 120 BPM. I corrected the bug. Thanks for testing my script.

I enclose updated script.

[pandabot]

Alternatively you can render long stems of notes, cut them up, and then glue and rename them. That's what I do, here's one of my glue/renaming scripts