Editing SoundFont (section)

{{Short description|File format containing audio samples for use in sequenced music}}
{{Distinguish|Sound chip|SFZ (file format)}}
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{{Lead too short|date=December 2022}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{ listen
| filename    = Pascal_Provost_-_Side_By_Side.ogg
| title       = Example of what can be achieved with SoundFonts available in the public domain
| description = 1:15 song, MIDI played through SoundFonts
}}
[[File:Soundfont Comparison (Updated).wav|thumb|Playing a single MIDI file while switching between several SoundFont files available on the Internet.<br /><br />SoundFont files used in the chronological order: <br />
<br />• SONiVOX EAS GM Wavetable (Legacy Android Soundset)* [1 MB]<br />• RLNDGM.sf2 (Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth)* [3 MB]<br />• FluidR3 GM.sf2 [141 MB]<br />• SGM-V2.01.sf2 [235 MB]<br />• Orpheus_1.047.sf2* [1.18 GB]<br />• ChoriumRevA.sf2 (Modified) [56 MB]<br />• ColomboGMGS2 SoundFont v14.5 [245 MB]<br /><br /> *Marked soundfonts fall back to play "Muted Guitar" at Bank 0. whereas the MIDI file addresses "Muted Distortion Guitar" at Bank 1 ([[Roland Sound Canvas|SC-88]])]]
'''SoundFont''' is a [[brand name]] that collectively refers to a [[file format]] and associated technology that uses [[sample-based synthesis]] to play [[MIDI]] files. It was first used on the [[Sound Blaster AWE32]] sound card for its [[General MIDI]] support.

SoundFont is a [[trademark|registered trademark]] of [[Creative Technology|Creative Technology, Ltd.]], and the exclusive license for re-formatting and managing historical SoundFont content has been acquired by [[Digital Sound Factory]].<ref>{{ cite web | year = 2007 | accessdate =2007-08-30 | url = http://rekkerd.org/digital-sound-factory-releases-soundfont-libraries/ | title = Digital Sound Factory releases SoundFont libraries }}</ref>

Starting in the late 2010s, the derived term ''soundfont'' has gradually gained online colloquial status to refer to [[chiptune]] – specifically the soundscape of a console's sound chip. Any video game console that utilizes sequenced audio is often referred as having "the [console] soundfont", similar to the usage of [[wikt:Coke#Noun|Coke]] to refer to any soft drink. Additionally, it can also refer to a video game's audio data that specifically uses [[Video game music#Early digital synthesis and sampling|reusable digital samples]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}