The goal of the project is to generate as many quality samples as possible, using open source software if possible. The second goal is to create a set of utilities to aid in generating such samples, including analysis tools and ready-made algorithms that take several values (pitch, detune amount, filter rolloff, random seed etc) and create a sample of a given type (string ensembles, pads, stringed instruments, cymbals, kick drums etc). Optimially, those algorithms could be wrapped up in a GUI, perhaps based on Python and Gtk+, because of simplicity.

Project members:

• Krzysztof Foltman (struggling with sound design)
• Stefan Westerfeld (ideas, interfacing to BEAST/BSE)
• Tim Janik (web/git stuff, ideas, interfacing to BEAST/BSE)

Of course, we are looking for people who know more than us about producing quality samples. If you think you could contribute, please mail us! (wdev AT foltman dot com is my email address). Or catch us on IRC channel #beast on GIMPNet.

Tools used:

• Csound 5 (flexible, powerful, efficient, free/open source - a great deal)
• Python (good to generate parts of Csound scripts - like 100 oscillators with separate envelope each)

Tools to be used in future:

• bsewavetool (to generate .bsewave file)
• libswami (to generate soundfonts)

Available sounds (not very good ones, to be honest, but the sustained sounds loop perfectly, due to algorithm used!):

• crappy string ensemble
• some plucked stringlike instruments based on modified padsynth algorithm
• 4 analog cymbals
• two analog kick drums
• some tambourine soundalikes
• 808 snare drum
• rim shot substitute
• some stereo bell

Download sounds here: http://foltman.com/sounds.zip

License for the sounds: BEAST/BSE project's "AS-IS" license - http://beast.gtk.org/mirror/LICENSE-AS-IS

Basically, use them for whatever you wish, but do not sue any of us. You may put them in your songs, or in a software or hardware sound module, open source or commercial, or even release a sample CD with them. We don't feel they're good enough for a commercial instrument or sample CD yet, though!

Wanted instruments and how we intend to try to generate them: