
                 TThhee EECCMMCC SSFFLLIIBB DDIIRREECCTTOORRIIEESS

The  digitized acoustic soundfiles within the sflib ("_sound
_sile _l_i_brary") directories (folders) on the ECMC Linux,  SGI
and  Windows  systems  are available to all users. Currently
the sflib directory is divided into the following  subdirec
tories:

 _a_f_r_i_c_a  : sounds from Africa
 _a_m_e_r_i_c_a :  sounds from native North and South American cul
tures
 _a_n_a_l  : spectral analysis files (not playable) in subdirec
tories pv, lpc and sms  (ECMC Linux and SGi systems only)
 _a_u_s_t_r_a_l_i_a   :   sounds  from indigenous (non-European) Aus
tralian cultures
 _b_r_a_s_s_l_o_o_p  :  short  orchestral  brass  samples  with  loop
points; designed for looping in synthesis algorithms to pro
duce longer sounds; unlike most other sflib soundfiles these
are not very usable in their raw form
 _c_h_i_n_a_p_e_r_c  :  ancient and modern Chinese percussion instru
ments
 _c_h_o_i_r  : choral samples from an  SATB  (soprano-alto-tenor-
bass) Western chous
 _c_s_u_t_i_l  :  not  playable soundfiles; attack portion of some
idiophones designed for  use  with  certain  Csound  opcodes
(Linux and SGI systems only)
 _e_n_v :  environmental sounds
 _g_a_m_e_l_a_n :  gamelan sounds
 _k_b  :   piano  and  harpsichord  samples, many of which are
designed for looping
 _j_a_p_a_n :  sounds from Japan
 _p_e_r_c  : idiophone and membranophone (percussive) soundfiles
 _p_r_o_s_o_n_u_s  :  soundfiles bundled with IRIX (available on SGI
systems only)
 _s_t_r_i_n_g :  chordophone (string) soundfiles,  exclusing  key
board instruments
 _v_o_i_c_e  : solo soprano, alto and bass vocal multisamples
 _w_i_n_d  : aerophone (wind instrument) soundfiles
 _w_o_r_l_d   : miscellaneous world and ethnic music samples
 _w_o_r_l_d_s_t_r_i_n_g  : world and ethnic music chordophone samples
 _x   : example soundfiles illustrating resources of the ECMC
Linux and SGI systems (not installed  on  the  ECMC  Windows
systems)
     __________________________________________________

LLIISSTTIINNGG  AANNDD  PPLLAAYYIINNGG  SSFFLLIIBB SSOOUUNNDDFFIILLEESS oonn tthhee LLIINNUUXX aanndd SSGGII
SSYYSSTTEEMMSS::

The commands to list and play sflib  soundfiles  are  summa
rized within section 4 of ECMC System Users' Guide handbook.

To list the current contents  of  one  of  the  sflib  sound
directories, type _l_s_f_l_i_b _d_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y_n_a_m_e or else _l_s_f_l _d_i_r_e_c_t_o_
_r_y_n_a_m_e

Example:   _l_s_f_l _s_t_r_i_n_g
will list all soundfiles in the string directory
     (SGI systems only: If you see the character  @  at  the
     end  of a soundfile name, this character is NOT part of
     the file name, but rather indicates that the file is  a
     link  to  a source soundfile within the Prosonus direc
     tory.  You can use these link files  exactly  like  any
     other  sflib soundfile; just omit the @ when playing or
     otherwise using the file.)

To find soundfiles from any sflib directories that  match  a
character string, use the _f_i_n_d_s_f_l_i_b command. Type _m_a_n _f_i_n_d_s_
_f_l_i_b to display a manual page for this program.

Example:        _f_i_n_d_s_f_l_i_b _d_r_u_m  _._a_4
will display the names of all sflib soundfiles  whose  names
include the character strings _d_r_u_m or _._a_4

To  play  one  or more soundfiles from any sflib directories
type : _p_l_a_y_s_f_l_i_b _s_o_u_n_d_f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e_(_s_) or  else  _p_s_f_l  _s_o_u_n_d_f_i_l_e_
_n_a_m_e_(_s_)

Example:  _p_s_f_l  _c_b_._c_1   _c_y_m_1     or,  on ECMC Linux systems,
_p_s_f_l _c_b_._c_1_._w_a_v  _c_y_m_1_._w_a_v
will play soundfile _c_b_._c_1 from the  string  directory,  fol
lowed by soundfile _c_y_m_1  from the _p_e_r_c directory.
Note  that  on ECMC Linux systems you can omit _._w_a_v filename
extensions if you wish when using  the  _p_l_a_y_s_f_l_i_b  and  many
other ECMC utilities.

To read the header of one or more sflib soundfiles, type
_s_f_l_i_b_i_n_f_o _d_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y_/_s_o_u_n_d_f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e    or else
_s_f_l_i _d_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y_/_s_o_u_n_d_f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e_.

Example:      _s_f_l_i _e_n_v_/_f_i_s_h_f_a_r_m
will  give you information about soundfile  _/_s_f_l_i_b_/_e_n_v_/_f_i_s_h_
_f_a_r_m
     __________________________________________________

PPLLAAYYIINNGG SSFFLLIIBB SSOOUUNNDDFFIILLEESS oonn tthhee WWIINNDDOOWWSS SSYYSSTTEEMMSS::

On the ECMC Windows  PC system _i_g_o_r and the Dell laptop sys
tem  the  sflib soundfiles can be opened and played with the
_W_i_n_a_m_p application and with the Windows _M_e_d_i_a _P_l_a_y_e_r  appli
cation.  If  you open one of the sflib folders (for example,
the _a_f_r_i_c_a directory), you can drag-and-drop icons for indi
vidual  soundfiles  within  this  folder  onto  the icon for
Winamp or Media Player, or else simply double click  on  the
soundfile icon.  The sflib soundfiles also can be opened for
use by ("imported" into) almost all other applications  that
can read .wav files, such as Reaktor and Cubase SX.
     __________________________________________________


FFOORRMMAATTSS:: _A_I_F_F and _W_A_V_E; Mono and stereo; _S_a_m_p_l_i_n_g _r_a_t_e_s _:

On  the  ECMC  Linux  and  Windows  systems all of the sflib
soundfiles are in  WAVE  format,  and  the  soundfile  names
include  a .wav filename extension.  On the SGI systems, all
of the sflib soundfiles are in AIFF format, but  the  sound
file  names  do  not include .aif or .aiff extensions, since
these are not needed by the SGI audio software.

Currently, almost all of the sflib soundfiles  have  a  sam
pling  rate  of  44100  and  16 bit resolution. However, new
directories containing new soundfiles we have recorded at  a
96 kHz with 24 bit word sizes are under construction and are
scheduled for installation beginning in the  fall  of  2002.
Most  sflib  soundfiles  are  monophonic, and most have been
normalized to a peak amplitude of between 95  and  99  %  of
maxamp  (a  raw  amplitude  value  of approximately 30000 to
32000).

_S_t_e_r_e_o _s_o_u_n_d_f_i_l_e_s_:

There are stereo versions of some soundfiles  in  which  the
source  recording  included aurally significant localization
of sound sources between the left and right stereo channels.
All  stereo sflib soundfiles begin with the character string
_S_T. In most cases, a mono version of  the  stereo  soundfile
also  exists:  for  example,  the  env  directory includes a
soundfile called  _S_T_w_i_n_d_._h_i_g_h and a mono mixdown version  of
the  same  soundfile  called  _w_i_n_d_._h_i_g_h.  However, for a few
stereo soundfiles, such as  _e_n_v_/_S_T_h_o_r_s_e_s,  no  mono  version
exists.

For  most soundfiles with a well defined _p_i_t_c_h or percussive
strike tone, the pitch  and  octave  are  indicated  in  the
soundfile  name.  The  pitch  class and octave abbreviations
employed here are identical to those used with  the  score11
and nGen keyword _n_o_t_e_s. The lowest three notes (a, a# and b)
on the piano keyboard are octave 0. The  next  12  chromatic
tones,  from  the lowest c on the piano keyboard through b a
major seventh higher, comprise octave 1. Middle c is _c_4, the
highest  c  on  the  piano keyboard is _c_8. _c_s stands for the
pitch class C sharp, _d_f for the pitch class D  flat.  Gener
ally,  sharps  rather than flats are used to identify "black
keys" on the piano.

_M_u_l_t_i_s_a_m_p_l_e_s are sets of samples of an instrument  or  voice
usually  pitched  a third or fourth apart. These multisample
sets enable one to employ the instrumental or  vocal  timbre
throughout its normal pitch compass. With most of these mul
tisamples sets, most pitches can be obtained with a transpo
sition no greater than a major second.
     __________________________________________________


_S_a_m_p_l_e_s _d_e_s_i_g_n_e_d _f_o_r _l_o_o_p_i_n_g_:

sflib  soundfiles  whose  names include the character string
_l_o_o_p  (for  example,  the  soundfile   _v_i_o_l_e_g_a_m_._l_o_o_p_._a_f_1_._w_a_v
within  the string directory) are designed for looping.  All
of the soundfiles within the _b_r_a_s_s_l_o_o_p  directory,  and  the
multisample  sets within the _k_b, _s_t_r_i_n_g and _w_i_n_d directories
whose names include the string <I>loop</I>,  can  be  looped
with Csound, Reaktor and certain other audio applications in
order to obtain output durations of arbitrary lengths.  How
ever,  some  of  these  will not sound well, or be musically
usable, if looping or additional amplitude envelope controls
are  not employed. Some of these soundfiles do not include a
decay, and will end very abruptly (possibly with a click) if
amplitude decays are not added. A few looped soundfiles also
require a fade-in on the attack.  More information on  using
these  soundfiles is included in the companion ecmchelp file
_s_f_l_i_b_l_o_o_p_s_.
     ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOTES ON SOME INDIVIDUAL SFLIB DIRECTORIES:

Separate ecmchelp files  are  available  for  several  sflib
directories, currently including:
     _a_f_r_i_c_a_,_a_m_e_r_i_c_a_, _a_u_s_t_r_a_l_i_a_, _b_r_a_s_s_l_o_o_p_, _c_h_i_n_a_p_e_r_c_, _c_h_o_i_r_,
     _g_a_m_e_l_a_n_, _j_a_p_a_n_, _k_b_, _p_e_r_c_, _p_r_o_s_o_n_u_s_,  _w_o_r_l_d  and  _w_o_r_l_d_
     _s_t_r_i_n_g

Below  are  some  notes  on the contents of individual _s_f_l_i_b
directories for which separate _e_c_m_c_h_e_l_p files are not avail
able:
               ______________________________

SSTTRRIINNGG DDIIRREECCTTOORRYY: Western stringed instruments:

_c_b  =  contrabass, _v_c = violoncello, _v_l_a = viola, _v_l_n = vio
lin, _p_n_<_/_I_> _= _p_i_a_n_o _, _g_u_i_t = guitar , _v_i_o_l_e_g_a_m  =  viole  da
gamba, _c_e_l_h_a_r_p = Celtic harp

    _._p = pizzicato, _._m = martele bowing, _._h = harmonic
               ______________________________
VVOOIICCEE DDIIRREECCTTOORRYY  (Solo voice tones) :

Soprano,  alto and bass tones in group 1 (e.g. _s_o_p_1_._a_s_4) are
long tones sung loudly with vibrato
Tones in group 2 (e.g. _s_o_p_2_._a_3) were sung softly, with mini
mal vibrato.
Tones  in group 3 (e.g. _s_o_p_3_._a_s_4) are short tones, less than
a second in duration.
               ______________________________
WWIINNDD DDIIRREECCTTOORRYY  (Western aerophones, mostly orchestral wood
winds and brass)

This  directory  includes multisampled sets for most orches
tral woodwind and brass instruments, as well as a  few  non-
orchestral instruments:

Woodwinds:
_f_l = flute , _b_f_l = bass flute ,
_b_a_r_f_l = baroque (18th century) flute,   _p_i_c_c = piccolo
_o_b_o_e = oboe
_c_l_a_r  = Bb clarinet , _b_c_l_a_r = bass clarinet _c_b_c_l_a_r = contra
bass clarinet
_b_s_s_n = bassoon,   _c_b_s_s_n = contrabassoon
_s_a_x = saxophone (soprano, alto,  tenor, baritone and bass)

Orchestral brass:
_b_r_a_s_s_._s_h_o_r_t  =  multisamples  of  short  brass  tones,  tuba
through trumpet, g1 through d5
_t_r_p = trumpet , _h_n = (French) horn
_t_r_b = trombone , _t_u_b_a = tuba (duh!)

Non-orchestral instruments
_i_r_i_s_h_w_h_i_s_t = Irish whistle , _m_e_x_p_i_c_c = Mexican piccolo
               ______________________________
 PPRROOSSOONNUUSS  DDIIRREECCTTOORRYY  (available  only  on the SGI and Linux
systems) :

The prosonus directory, which comes  bundled  with  the  SGI
IRIX  operating  system, includes four subdirectories: ambi
ence, instr, sfx and musictags.  Most of the more frequently
used  Prosonus  sounds  have  been linked to copies in other
sflib directories, where they can be accessed somewhat  more
easily.   On  the  ECMC Linux systems a smaller sampling has
been consolidated within a single directory.
For some information from Prosonus, see  the  _e_c_m_c_h_e_l_p  file
_s_f_l_i_b_p_r_o_s_o_n_u_s.
     __________________________________________________
Note:  Some  of  the ECMC sflib samples (e.g. the solo vocal
samples in the _v_o_i_c_e directory, most of the  _p_e_r_c  directory
and most of the _g_a_m_e_l_a_n directory) were recorded by ECMC and
Recording Arts staff members, and ECMC users are welcome  to
use these on their personal computer systems, but you cannot
re-distribute (and you certainly cannot sell)  these  sound
files.   However,  many  of  the  sflib soundfiles have been
taken from commercials cds.  We have licensed these  commer
cial  recordings  for use by ECMC users, but you cannot copy
them or distribute them to other  sites.  If  you  have  any
questions about these policies please see a staff member.

Last updated: September, 2002

