soundfonts

Soundfonts are a collection of recorded instrument sounds that can be used to play a midi file. Many sites that used to host soundfonts aren't available anymore. So, on this page I host some of the better soundfonts I was able to find.

These are compressed in the rar format. In Windows, I recommend the program WinRar. In Linux, the package unrar is easy to get if you don't have it already. After running one of sudo apt-get install unrar or sudo yum install unrar, your archive manager should be able to uncompress rar files. Each rar file contains the soundfont as well as a text file with the source or author information.

To use, just uncompress the rar file, and in bmidi to wave, click on Choose Soundfont from the Audio menu, and point it to the .sf2 file on your hard drive.

General Midi Soundfonts (containing a complete set of instruments)

music_theoria_v2 (better) and timGM6mb SoundFonts are included in bmidi to wave.

merlin_8mbgm_plus13.rar
10.1 Mb

merlin_gmv22.rar
18.9 Mb

merlin_audigy.rar
23.6 Mb

merlin_vienna.rar
53.5 Mb, best for orchestral

The following are compressed with sfArk.
FluidR3_GM.sfArk
73.4 Mb

SGM-V2.01.sfArk
109.6 Mb, very good

Individual Voice Soundfonts

Jeux14Organ.rar
1.6 Mb, contains many organ sounds.

ClavinovaSopranoSax.rar
3.0 Mb

ClavinovaHarp.rar
1.0 Mb

ClavinovaPanFlute.rar
1.8 Mb

organ42.rar
0.4 Mb

DistortionGuitar.rar
0.9 Mb

CleanGuitar.rar
0.2 Mb

TRB5_bassguitar.rar
0.2 Mb

Trumpet3d.rar
0.3 Mb

AltosaxJ4.rar
1.0 Mb

Piano Soundfonts

Stereo_Piano.rar
2.4 Mb

piano42.rar
7.2 Mb

Fazioli_Grand_Piano_v1_3.rar
7.8 Mb

Steinway_Grand_Piano_1_2.rar
14.4 Mb

Steinway_bright_1_2.rar
5.1 Mb

Patch files (Gravis Ultrasound .pat files compatible with Timidity)

eawpats12.rar
22.8 Mb, Eric A. Welsh's famous patch set.

other_patches.rar
4.2 Mb, other .pat files found online, of varying quality.

Other Resources

Freepats project
Free and open patches. You can point bmidi to wave to the freepats timidity.cfg.

PersonalCopy
Has some good soundfonts. Source of some of the above soundfonts.

Composition Contest, soundfonts
Hosts the Merlin soundfonts.