XML Import/Export: Instrument Categories
Table of valid category indentifiers for use in XML documents.
The table below lists the currently valid instrument categories that may be used in XML files for sound bank definitions. This category tree is by no means intended to be a comprehensive taxonomy of musical instruments. It's just a coarse classification of popular sounds available for standard MIDI equipment, roughly following the General MIDI instrument classes.
An instrument may be assigned to any category symbol (e.g. 'String', or 'StringEnsemble'), regardless of its nesting level in the tree. However, it is recommended to use the most specific category possible for each sound. The better a category assignment is, the better a sound can be replaced for a similar sound automatically. This ensures that an arrangment may be played in different studio environments, on different MIDI devices, without re-assigning sounds manually.
Sound Category | Remarks | |||
Root | This category holds all sounds which have not yet been classified (default for new sounds) | |||
Piano | Generic Piano Sounds | |||
PianoAcoustic | ||||
PianoElectric | Incl. Rhodes | |||
Clav | Incl. historical instruments | |||
Organ | ||||
OrganChurch | ||||
Accordian | This is possibly a strange classification, however, the instrument doesn't actually fit anywhere else | |||
String | Generic Strings (no guitars) | |||
StringEnsemble | ||||
StringPizzicato | ||||
Violin | ||||
Cello | ||||
Contrabass | ||||
SynthString | Synth sounds which are meant to imitate a "string" feel (see also: synthPad) | |||
Bass | Put all generic bass sounds here | |||
BassAcoustic | ||||
BassElectric | ||||
SynthBass | Synth sounds you like to play in bass voice - not necessarily a genuine "bass" | |||
Guitar | Generic guitar sounds | |||
GuitarAcoustic | ||||
Guitar12string | ||||
GuitarSteel | ||||
GuitarNylon | ||||
GuitarElectric | ||||
GuitarElectricClean | ||||
GuitarElectricDistorted | ||||
Banjo | ||||
Brass | Generic brass sounds (includes ensembles) | |||
Sax | ||||
Trumpet | ||||
Horn | ||||
Trombone | ||||
Tuba | ||||
SynthBrass | Synth sounds which resemble a "brass" feel | |||
Woodwinds | Generic woodwinds | |||
Flute | All kinds of flutes (not restricted to wooden instruments) | |||
Recorder | ||||
Oboe | ||||
Clarinet | ||||
Bassoon | ||||
Voice | Human voice and all instruments imitating it | |||
Synth | Generic synth sounds | |||
SynthLead | Sounds you like to play as a solo lead | |||
SynthPad | Sounds you like to play as sustained chords | |||
SynthPadSlow | dito., but with rather slow attack and evolving volume | |||
SynthBleep | Techno-like sounds for paced sequencing | |||
SynthSoundscape | ||||
Percussion | ||||
PercussionPitched | e.g. Marimbas or Xylophone | |||
PercussionUnpitched | ||||
Drums | Generic (individual) drum sounds | |||
Drumkit | Mapped drum kits (usually General MIDI) | |||
SynthDrums | Percussive instruments with a synthetic sound | |||
Effects | Noise and special effects | |||
Ether | This is a rather generic category for everything else | |||
Harp | ||||
Sitar |
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2006-07-22