A tool for converting SoundFont (.sf2) files into LV2 plugins, specifically designed for use with the Isla Instruments S2400/Caladan but compatible with any LV2 host.
SF2LV2 converts SoundFont (.sf2) files into fully functional LV2 plugins with:
- MIDI input support
- Stereo audio output
- Real-time control over Filters and Envelopes (when properly configured in the SoundFont)
- Full preset name display
- Bank and program change support
- Preset Management: All SoundFont presets are available through the Program selector
- Sound Shaping (requires proper modulator setup in the SoundFont):
- Cutoff: Filter frequency control
- Resonance: Filter resonance control
- ADSR Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release controls
- Level Control: Master volume control
Important Note: The filter and envelope controls will only affect the sound if the appropriate modulators are set up in the SoundFont file. You can easily configure these modulators using Polyphone, a free SoundFont editor.
- FluidSynth development libraries
- LV2 development headers
- GCC compiler
- Make build system
Just run 'make' - the build process is interactive allowing you to:
- Choose between batch processing all .sf2 files in the directory or processing a single file
- If processing a single file:
- Enter your source .sf2 file and chosen plugin name
- Choose whether to install to the system LV2 folder
- If batch processing:
- All .sf2 files in the current directory will be processed
- Each plugin will be named after its source file (without the .sf2 extension)
- Choose whether to install all plugins to the system LV2 folder
The plugin provides several real-time control parameters that can be automated or controlled via MIDI CC messages:
- Level: Master volume control (0.0 to 2.0)
- Program: Preset selection from the SoundFont
- Filter Controls:
- Cutoff (CC 74): Controls the filter cutoff frequency
- Resonance (CC 71): Controls the filter resonance
- ADSR Envelope:
- Attack (CC 73): Controls the attack time
- Decay (CC 75): Controls the decay time
- Sustain (CC 70): Controls the sustain level
- Release (CC 72): Controls the release time
All MIDI CC controls range from 0-127 and can be automated through your DAW or controlled via external MIDI controllers.
The plugin includes a debug mode that can be enabled by setting plugin->debug = true in the code. When enabled, it outputs:
- SoundFont loading information
- Available presets and their bank/program numbers
- Program changes with bank/program details
- CC value comparisons between the plugin's state and FluidSynth's internal state
- Compiles the metadata generator (ttl_generator.c)
- Scans the SoundFont file for all presets
- Generates LV2 TTL files describing the plugin
- Compiles the plugin runtime (synth_plugin.c)
- Packages everything into an LV2 bundle
-
Metadata Generator (ttl_generator.c):
- Scans SoundFont presets
- Generates LV2 metadata
- Creates plugin description files
-
Plugin Runtime (synth_plugin.c):
- Handles MIDI input
- Manages preset selection
- Controls sound parameters
- Processes audio output
build/
└── [PLUGIN_NAME].lv2/
├── [PLUGIN_NAME].so (Plugin binary)
├── [PLUGIN_NAME].ttl (Plugin description)
├── manifest.ttl (LV2 manifest)
└── [SF2_FILE] (Copied SoundFont)
MIT License - See LICENSE file for details.
-
FluidSynth (github.com/FluidSynth/fluidsynth)
A real-time software synthesizer based on the SoundFont 2 specifications. FluidSynth provides the core synthesis engine for this plugin, handling SoundFont loading, MIDI processing, and audio generation. -
LV2 (lv2plug.in)
A portable plugin standard for audio systems. LV2 provides the plugin architecture and host interface, enabling integration with digital audio workstations and other audio software. -
Created by Brad Holland/Isla Instruments (www.islainstruments.com) with assistance from Claude AI & ChatGPT