What is Sforzando?
Sforzando is a free sfz player that we will be using for this course. For more information on the sfz format and how to make them, feel free to read the sfz article. This article will talk about how to install the sforzando VST and the aria engine. You can find Sforzando at the following link:
https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando/
Prerequisites
This article already assumes that you have downloaded the sforzando file from the plogue website. You can also get the free sounds module for sforzando from the same page. You will also need the script as made by the folks at access4music. You can find the script at the following link:
http://access4music.com/file/Sforzando-Access.zip
Run the file called Sforzando Access 2.0.exe.
Installation instructions.
- Start by running the win sforzando executable that you have downloaded and saved.
- Select your language and move on through the installation until you get to where you want sforzando to install. This first part is for the standalone version of sforzando, so the program files path it chooses here is ok for most users.
- Now you will get to a tree that asks you which components of sforzando you wish to install. If you want both 32 and 64 bit vst's, make sure you have them both checked. Unless you are using a mac, you don't need the other extensions.
- On the next page, you will choose where sforzando should put the VST plugin you just checked. It is important you put this VST in the folder where you want the rest of your VST instruments to be for easier access.
- Once you are done with all that, you can just press next through the rest of this dialogue up until you get to the part where it says install.
- Read through your paths in the read only box before pressing the install button to make sure you ahve all of the components installed in the right place.
- This will both install sforzando and the aria engine.
Free sounds for aria installation.
Now that we have sforzando installed, we can now install the sounds that plogue has generously offered us as a starting point. You can find the free sounds volume 1 pack at the following link:
https://www.plogue.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=7090
- From the site mentioned above, make sure you download the file called WIN_ARIA_Engine_Free_Sounds_Vol1.exe and save it.
- This file is pretty straight forward, follow the prompts and install the program. You can read the installation instructions right before you press install in order to make sure everything is correct just like in sforzando itself.
Using sforzando
Now we will attempt to both load an sfz from the free sounds pack and one that was custom made. Remember, the access4music script must be running in order for these commands to work. Simply extract the script to a place where you can easily get at it and then open either sforzando access2.0 for the newest one, or if you are running an older version of sforzando, run sforzando access.exe.
Using the free sounds pack
- First, we will add sforzando to a track. The easiest way to do this is by adding it as a virtual instrument on a new track. You can get to that from the insert menu by pressing alt+I
- Choose sforzando from the effects and either a bridged window will come up if you have your reaper configured that way, or the effects window will show sforzando in the list view.
- Press shift+E to then get into the menu to load an instrument.
- For one of the free sounds from the pack, arrow down to free sounds. You will see several sounds you can choose from. In this case, we will choose the glockenspiel from gariton.
- Once you press enter on that, you will be back in reaper, the bells should play with your keyboard of choice.
Loading an sfz from another location.
Getting an sfz to load that you have saved somewhere or one that you have made is similar.
- Insert sforzando on the track and press shift+E to pull up the menu.
- Instead of going to the free sounds part of the menu, arrow down to import.
- A standard windows dialogue will open for you to find the sfz. Then press enter. to open it.
One thing to note about importing sfz's, it remembers the last path you went to when importing them. so if you have a place where most of your sfz's are you won't have to worry about constantly finding a path where they are unless they are in different paths.
