Sound selection wizard - refers to this video:
(the one in this chapter)
I would like to use Synfire, but after the tutorials I have great difficulty understanding where to start and what the many steps - which are mostly not explained in the videos - mean. Even after watching it several times, I cannot see how this all works. Synfire introduces many of its own terms that you also have to understand.
I consider videos without sound to be extremely questionable in didactic terms. You have to take a myriad of steps by simply following the mouse movements, windows popping up and selections are made, reading the subtitles at the same time (which means you cannot follow the mouse movements over and over again) and constantly stumbling over inconsistencies that make understanding impossible.
I could now compare all the steps shown in the video with the somewhat outdated manual, but this calls into question the meaning of a tutorial video. A tutorial should always show the steps in such a way that they can be easily followed. I did not backup my following questions with the manual, because a tutorial should answer them.
I try to describe what went through my head watching the above video. I've probably watched this video five or six times.
Step 1: Call up the Sound Selection Wizard via the menu or in the inspector
Question: Does the Global Rack have to already exist for this step and for those that follow? If "yes", then this video is in the wrong place on the Setup page and should come AFTER the Global Rack setup.
Step 2: 1 browsing all sounds
Question: In the window that opens, I see selected: SWAM Bass Clarinet. Where does it come from? Is this available in the Global Rack (setup before) or is it a VST that was scanned by Synfire? Why Bass Clarinet? Could that be any?
Where does the list of instruments come from, that is shown in the middle window?
Why is Bass Clarinet selected and "New Bass Clarinet" displayed in the third window?
Why then switch to the Global tab and select Bag Pipe there? Does it matter which instrument I choose there? Is that mapping in this case Bass Clarinet to the GM sound Bag Pipe? If so, why Bag Pipe and not another GM Instrument?
Step 3: 2 Using a Global Instrument
Click on "use a global instrumet" and select Bass. Here you have to stay very focused: Bass Clarinet -> Bag Pipe -> Bass??
It is not clear why these steps are taken in this way. Does step 2 "Browsing all sounds" have something to do with step 3 "Using a global instrument" or are these two different possibilities?
Step 4: 3 samplers - adding one sound at a time
Is that one more alternative yet? Why multiple sounds? Bass on Channel 3? Is this mandatory, is it the standard bass channel? Could it be any?
Example: Standalone Sampler? I don't understand why standalone sampler now. Isn't it about VST? Or is this again one more option?
Step 5: Extending a Sampler - Adding more sounds as needed
Guitar on Channel 4 (see question about channel above)
Extend existing module. Now the guitar is added as an extension to the previously created bass instrument. Why in the bass? Why not its own module? I create the guitar in the bass module, but it then appears in the instruments under guitar? If it doesn`t matter, if I create another instrument in the former created Bass, why not simply use the name "Instruments" or alike for it.
These steps are really confusing.
Step 6: 4 Synths - With multiple Programs
For this instrument (DLS Music Device) now another module is created. What's this? A standard for synths? Why not extend as before the already created Bass module?
The synth set to piano is then saved as a piano. Program 1 - why? Default for Piano?
Then "Add another Program". Why on number 25, why not number 2? What is meant by "Program"?
Is that then a guitar patch that is filed with guitar, but comes from Synth?
Then select Program 39 = Synth Bass. Again the question, why on Program 39?
The programs (instruments, patches of the synth, I guess) then appear in the instrument browser. Why is it on the right "New Acoustic Piano ... etc." and these instruments are also in the middle window, but not as "new". Is this window with "New...." redundant?
Step 7: 5 Using a Device - Detect or select an existing device
Where are these devices searched from? From the installed VST instruments? Or do they have to be created in the Global Rack beforehand? It is misleading here that a clarinet is actually being sought under Bass Clarinet. Why is the bass previously created under Bass Clarinet not found in such case?
Is the whole thing under this point an alternative to putting on instruments? Could I put my instruments together so easily by detect? Would I then miss out on instruments that I might be able to create manually, but which are not recognized automatically?
Step 8: 6 Loading a Preset - Recall frequently used modules
Presets are saved on rack editor.
Again the question: does (in this case) the presets need to be installed in the global rack? The three drum kits shown in the following screen are probably such presets? Where do they come from?
Can I save any or multiple instruments as a preset? Where do i do this?
Step 9: 7 Using Templates - Insert known sound properties
Load plugin. Does the plugin have to be installed in the global rack or is the selection list displayed the list of recognized VSTs?
The templates represent a mapping of the sounds of the respective plugin, I guess. Do these templates exist? Are they made available by the plugin? Are they part of Synfire? Do I have to create it myself first?
I could sit down in front of Synfire now and try it out. Some steps I can perhaps derive more logically, others not at all. That means, try and see what happens. I can do that without a tutorial, and with a program as complex as Synfire, that doesn't work.
A good program also means that it can be understood and that instructions and documentation also help users who have never seen this program before. That's a big flaw with Synfire. The results presented in the promotional videos are mostly astonishing and impressive, but as a user it is not so easy to get there at all.
It would certainly be good to make videos in which the creation of a piece of music is demonstrated from start to finish in all steps with common VST. With sound and with all the basics. Or maybe that's impossible, I don`t know.