Posted
I know for many users the answers would be different, but I would like to know everyone's thoughts on truly building an effective library for Synfire. As I am learning more, for me, it personally seems as if organizing by instrument or tone would be highly effective. I realized that many phrases may not be married to the harmony, but they may sound optimal with a certain instrument ,within a certain BPM.
Currently, I'm organizing by its use. For example, melodies under melodies and chords phrases under Chords. I'd probably leave the drum phrases alone since it's mapped directly to my XO, but not all chord phrases sound good with all chordal instruments and their tones, even with a close BPM.
Before I reorganize all of my libraries, I'd like to get all of your thoughts. Thanks guys.
Sun, 2025-08-17 - 14:35 Permalink
That is a very good question. It's more difficult to write about creative workflows than to just do them intuitively.
Here's my 2 ct regarding whether to collect phrases with or without sounds.
I believe BPM is of concern mostly for dance/popular music. Bass lines, drums, syncopes often "work" within a narrow tempo range only. Everything else can be stretched as needed, often to great effect, so I wouldn't make folders based on tempo for other genres.
Slow lead melodies are probably best drawn or recorded as needed (no need to collect them systematically). There are potentially millions of them and it should be almost impossible to organize them in meaningful ways for convenient reuse. For me at least, melodic lines are an emotional/mood thing that is easier to figure out in your head while listening to what you already have (sounds, textures), than by browsing a library.
Fast melodies and melodic patterns (counterpoint, ostinato, arpeggio) make great reusable patterns. You only need a collection of basics that you can edit/transform as needed. They work with almost any sound. Still, it makes sense to save them with their original sound. I have some dramatic and fast low strings here that I would want to reuse with exactly the same sound.
Happy accidents, i.e. odd patterns that happen to just sound great with a particular sound and unexpectedly inspire you. These should definitely be bundled with their original sound. I got many of them and, because of their distinct character, they still linger in my head for future use. Such a library can be a potential gold mine because each item may become the basis of a new piece .
Bass lines may or may not work with different sounds but you will need something better than the default GM sound to audition them.
Chords can sound cringey and uninspiring with the wrong sound. Unless it's for piano or other traditional instruments, I'd always save them with a sound that works best.
Guitar riffs. Definitely always save with a sound. Rhythm guitar is hard to get right based on playing individual strings. Some plug-ins specialize in generating strums, strokes, etc which however is not always intuitive to control with Synfire. For finger picking the same applies as for fast melodies.
Sounds, atmospheres, moods. You can also collect phrases for the sake of just remembering the sound and its effect. A slow stroke, a few notes, to evoke the idea you had when you encountered the sound. Can bloat the library rack. Best for synths with many patches.