GarageBand '11: Play Soundfonts in GarageBand

Play Soundfonts in GarageBand

You can play Soundfonts in GarageBand. Soundfonts are a type of software instrument (the file type is .sf2) based on audio samples. A variety of commercial and free Soundfonts are available on the Internet and from other sources.

Before you can use a Soundfont, you must install it on your computer in the /Library/Audio/Sounds/Banks/ folder. After installing a Soundfont, you can play and record it in a Software Instrument track.

To play a Soundfont in a Software Instrument track:

  1. Double-click the track’s header, or select the track and choose Track > Show Track Info.

  2. In the Track Info pane, click Edit to show the track generator and effect controls.

  3. Choose DLSMusicDevice from the Sound Generator pop-up menu.

  4. Click the icon to the left of the sound generator.

  5. In the editor window, choose the Soundfont you want to use from the Sound Bank pop-up menu.

  6. When you're finished, close the editor window and the Track Info pane.

  7. Play and record the Soundfont as you would any other Software Instrument.