Zelda-themed Sampler VST

[exciter]

I'm in the middle of working on a Zelda-themed hybrid 16-bit sampler/soundfont player/analog synthesizer VST plugin. I'll see if I can get it to load up samples from Ocarina Of Time as presets for the sampler section. I'd like to include an A/B option to process audio from the sampler through the synthesizer, to treat the synth as a sample manipulator as well as a basic synthesizer.

The general idea for the sampler section is to have it act as a very basic soundbank creation tool. You can load samples into one or more of the eight sampler docks and indicate a key range for each sample. The PRIMARY and SECONDARY sections allow you to layer more than one sample to a single key.

At the moment, I've only gotten it so that a single aspect of the instrument can be used at a time. For example, you would hit an ON switch above the sampler to utilize the sampler, whereas you would hit an ON switch for the synthesizer to use the synthesizer, but they can't be used simultaneously yet. The LED in the top left is just decor, as I'm basing the GUI's look on the EMAX II, although the LED can still be interacted with. I'll make it so that you have to hit the ON switch next to the LED to turn the machine on, which makes the LED light up and all that. Just a fun little thing, really. I like things like that.

I will say, the coolest thing about the instrument so far is its knobwork. I'm using graphics of the Mirror of Twilight and the Gate of Time as knob faces. Note the highlighted section in each knob, which act as the knob's indicator:

SPOILER: Click to show

[Wishengrad]

Hmm... That's very interesting. I have a few programs to test the VST in if you'd like me to.

[exciter]

Very kind of you.
Got the keyboard all together, looking good so far.

[dj4uk6cjm]

Just saw this and I had to come online and see for myself, one thing to say...can we get a demo? Please.


It's quite interesting too because I had mentioned a similar idea to arookas but with the gamecube samples.

[exciter]

Really only have so much done at the moment, there isn't a whole lot to demo.
The GUI is about 80% done, I'm testing the waters with a two OSC synthesizer/sampler in SynthEdit as well as SynthMaker, trying to determine which program would be the preferable one to build the full instrument in.

I prefer the sound of SynthEdit, it sounds warmer and less hollow, but SynthMaker is a little more in-depth, and neither of these programs are supported very well (the latter literally has more than one product name: SynthMaker / "Flowstone", don't ask why; its support forum even has a registration bug, where it has two anti-bot protection systems working independently of the other; one of which is an image verification system, and the second involves the individual who wishes to register on the forum having to type in a code that should be emailed to the user following registration, but in order to even get past the registration page, the page requires you to input the code that you would receive via email immediately following registration, which effectively makes registration impossible).

Just trying to find basic tutorials on creating sampler modules in these programs, so far I've only come across either basic tutorials, or completely unrelated information. It'll all get done eventually, just have to work through the setbacks.

In the meantime, I can upload the GUI elements for you, if you'd like.

[dj4uk6cjm]

I would go with synthedit because I had looked into building a vst myself before and some of my favorite vsts like messiah were made in it but I haven't heard anything about synthmaker or know much about it except that it is called flowstone now supposedly and both are pretty pricey I believe.

It's strange but I think vst creation with either of those software can be compared to visual programming so it shouldn't be too difficult I hope. The GUI looks awesome though! As for tutorials theres not that many online for synthedit it seems youtube would be the way to go and TodaysTuts and UPROAR24 have a lot for synthedit on their channel and there are more vst creation software links in this article here MaxMSP design is wonderful and they have an active support community as far as I know, maybe you could try them and they have a 30 trial demo to test. Anyways I hope all goes well with whatever you decide to do because this really is a cool idea.

Also can't forgot to ask but would your Zelda sampler root the samples to the OoT3D midis?

[exciter]

Nah, especially not those MIDIs, considering all the issues they have.
The user would be the one to assign MIDI sequences to the instrument. Although, since the sampler will assign samples to user-defined regions of the keyboard, you could theoretically play an entire song from OoT using just the one instrument.

Optimally I'd like to include an option to save the banks you create in different formats, including .SF2, as well. I'm thinking of having the sampler act as a simpler, smoother version of the Viena soundfont program, with synthesis capabilities. I like Viena, but its interface is a little too 2004. I'd like something a little more intuitive to work with, and since I'm a big fan of the EMAX II, why not incorporate elements from its workflow into a simple VST sampler?

Here's a photo of the EMAX for reference: