# Leveling factory SFZ lib: NEED INPUT

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752>\
**Category:** Using Zynthian\
**Tags:** soundfont, sfz\
**Created:** [October 11, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752 "2026-10-11T15:41:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/1 "2026-10-11T15:41:04Z")

</div>

I’m about to go through all the factory SFZs (as well as my own sfz packages) and level the volumes. I’d like input, though: what’s the target?

Here’s my take:

- polyphonic instruments: play a 4-note chord around Middle C
- monophonic: play Middle C
- Use 96 (75%) for velocity, CC7 (volume), and CC11 (expression).
- Use LUFSMeter to measure, and set sfz `global_volume` to get target LUFS value.
- Make sure peak level stays below -10dBFS.
- Use a MIDI file to play consistently. The chord or note plays repeatedly with keys held down most of the time.

What should the target LUFS level be?

LUFS is fairly close to RMS, but is adjusted to reflect human loudness perception. It’s also not far off from VU, if you’re old enough (like me) to have an idea what VU levels mean. If you don’t have any sense of these units, feel free to answer in dBFS and I’ll do my best to compensate.

If the answer is different for different kinds of instruments, just list the ones you have opinions about.

There might be a special case for non-velocity-sensitive sounds like organs. I’ll have to give that some thought and fiddling.

And finally, percussion is definitely a special case (not melodic percussion like marimba, but drums & such.) I plan to leave them alone unless anyone has specific requests. Too far outside my wheelhouse.

Please voice your opinions on targets, or methods, or anything I didn’t mention that should be considered.

Thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/2 "2026-10-11T16:24:00Z")

</div>

In the broadcast industry we equated “VU” with “virtually useless” because it didn’t give us a useful measure of peak programme levels. We used a peak meter with weighted response and slugged release. The meters on zynthian are designed like this and are calibrated so I wonder why you haven’t suggested using them, rather than another device.

I would suggest nominal peak programme of a large chord to hot the amber section, below the red. I am away from home now, but IIRC the red is at -10dbFS and the orange is at -18dbFS. We used floating point internally so as not to clip but clipping will occur when the signal hits the output. Percussion is a challenge. There will be transient peaks the are very loud within a quieter sound. You can often allow these to overload because they are spikes that you may not detect distortion but you really want those peaks to be below 0dbFS.

Zynthian meters also have peak hold and overload indication which helps with setting levels.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/3 "2026-10-11T16:59:01Z")

</div>

VU was virtually useless during recording and broadcast because they don’t prevent exceeding the capacity of the medium. They were more useful than peak meters for estimating loudness, though.

The best case is two indicators, one for peaks and another for volume (LUFS), and the peak indicators should leave a high-water mark that slowly sinks back down. If Zynthian uses the continuous mark for something approximating volume and the drifter for actual peak, that’s great.

Note that LUFS are compensated by the K filter too, which approximates human hearing response to frequencies.

Peak meters are wrong for adjusting volume, because they don’t correlate to volume very well at all. LUFS was defined for exactly that purpose; perceived volume.

I’ll be interested to see how Zynthian meters compare to actual peak and LUFS meters.

I like your suggestion for targets. Good to leave lots of headroom.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aethermind](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/aethermind/32/9208_2.png) [@Aethermind](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/Aethermind)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:08am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/4 "2026-10-12T06:08:39Z")

</div>

> [@jlearman](#):
>
> - polyphonic instruments: play a 4-note chord around Middle C

I would expand the chord, so as to better capture the amplitude excitation of the combined highs and lows. I would suggest a four-note C major chord above middle C (right hand) with an octaved C2+C3 bass below (assuming C4 is middle C).

> [@jlearman](#):
>
> - Use 96 (75%) for velocity, CC7 (volume), and CC11 (expression).

Should we make it 100 for both velocity and CC? (considering that it reflects most Midi insert standard levels in DAWs).

Cheers 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HansR](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/hansr/32/15102_2.png) [@HansR](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/HansR)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 7:44am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/5 "2026-10-12T07:44:30Z")

</div>

In addition to the tools you mention I would suggest adding your own ears as well.

In the end, the whole purpose is to get a sound that is balanced with other engines.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fussl](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fussl](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/fussl)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 8:54am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/6 "2026-10-12T08:54:28Z")

</div>

On radio, everything drowns in a [swamp of unified overcompressed loudness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war).  
On TV and streaming services, dialogue is almost drowned out by constant, deafening pad sounds.  
Thanks to psychoacoustic sound modeling!

They are all trying to save on sound engineer costs through automation. At what price?

Nowadays, dynamic range no longer matters. It just has to be loud enough!  
Remember, the CD-DA gave us 96dB of dynamics, a breakthough!  
Instead dynamics are mow compressed down to 16bB or less and then peaked out maximum level.  
[As long as it is loud enough!](https://www.hanna-eng.com/guides/norme-r128-livraison-pad/)

_The end might be a true binary 1-bit sound.  
Maximum volume, maximum compression, minimal dynamic range. Simple and inexpensive.  
And it wouldn’t sound much worse than many of today’s audio._

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/7 "2026-10-12T09:24:07Z")

</div>

The production of (good / quality) radio cares immensely about levels and dynamic range. The studio output is well balanced. It then feeds processors that adjust the sound to meet the station’s requirements (and the technology of broadcast). This might be multiband compression to stand out on the band. It may be gentle compression and limiting to provide wide dynamic range for listening in an armchair. It may be more aggressive compression at drive-time to compensate for noise from the commute. Our job is to create the tools to allow the composer / performer to create their masterpieces. Those same artists can then cry when they hear what it sounds like on there FM radios!

My point is that we should aim for levels that naturally sit in the mix but can be adjusted by the performer. We shouldn’t create an oboe that is quieter than a trumpet because that is how they sound in real life. Both should peak to a sensible level so that they can be mixed without excessive loss of quality. (I tend to normalise samples so that they have maximum dynamic range allowing them to be attenuated with minimal impact on fidelity.) Quiet samples can introduce noise when boosted… but we may already be constrained by the existing samples.

(I may have mentioned working in broadcasting for several decades, and specifically radio.)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/8 "2026-10-12T18:37:53Z")

</div>

I suspect you never worked for Clear Channel. I knew an audio engineer who did. He cared about all that stuff, but CC’s goals were a bit different. Anyway, that doesn’t undermine anything you said. You and @fussl are saying opposite things, but I believe that you’re both correct.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fussl](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/d07c76/32.png) [@fussl](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/fussl)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 11:52am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/9 "2026-10-13T11:52:10Z")

</div>

No, we are not saying opposite things!

@riban is still working (or allowed to work by shareholders) at the radio station and doing a great work.

But other stations have decided to have no riban, but use leveling plugins instead. Yes, not even dedicated devices specifically crafted for the purpose by experts, but a plugin with everything else in a computer.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/wyleu/32/514_2.png) [@wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/wyleu)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/10 "2026-10-13T16:15:23Z")

</div>

The normalize dragon stirs briefly,…

Frowns, rolls over and goes back to sleep snoring loudly . …

And never exceeds ppm 6 at any point . . .

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/11 "2026-10-15T20:53:04Z")

</div>

On the chain level meters, amber starts at -2dBFS. On the master chain meter, it begins at about-10dBFS, assuming the -9 tick mark at the top is correct.

Doing a quick review of a lot of SFZs, most are at reasonably consistent levels around -24dBFS.

I’m tempted to stick with the ad-hoc convention, and only adjust the outliers.

Here are the levels I measured, using LUFS Meter. I forgot to change expression from 96 to 100.

Fluid and Pianoteq are included just for reference.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/12 "2026-10-15T20:53:57Z")

</div>

| Instrument | LUFS | global\_volume |
| --- | --- | --- |
| -------------------------------------------- | ---- | |
| Bass/AcousBass | -29 | 14 |
| Bass/AnalogBass | -20 | 5 |
| Bass/BrightBass | -20 | 5 |
| Bass/DeepBass | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/FatSynthBass | -16 | 1 |
| Bass/FenderBass2/bass mono | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/FenderBass2/stereo bass | -13 | -2 |
| Bass/FenderPick2 | -17 | 2 |
| Bass/Fretless2/Fretless | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/Fretless2/fretless stereo | -10 | -5 |
| Bass/GretchBass/gretch bass | -14 | -1 |
| Bass/GretchBass/gretch bass stereo | -11 | -4 |
| Bass/JazzBass | -21 | 6 |
| Bass/MellowBass | -12 | -3 |
| Bass/MoogBass | -18 | 3 |
| Bass/pastabass | -19 | 4 |
| Bass/pastabass/bass legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass | -14 | -1 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass legped | -16 | 1 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass legsus | -16 | 1 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass mute | -24 | 9 |
| Bass/Rickenbacker/bass slap | -17 | 2 |
| Bass/SoloBass/bass | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/SoloBass/bass legmode | -22 | 7 |
| Bass/SoloBass/bass legped | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/SoloBass/bass legsus | -15 | 0 |
| Bass/SoloBass/bass pizzi | -24 | 9 |
| Bass/SynthBass | -25 | 10 |
| Bass/Meatbass | -18 | 3 |
| | | -15 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax legmode | -24 | 9 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax legped | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax legsus | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax vib | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax vib legmode | -24 | 9 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax vib legped | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/AltoSax/altosax vib legsus | -15 | 0 |
| Brass/SaxSect | -18 | 3 |
| Brass/SoloTrombone/trombone | -16 | 1 |
| Brass/SoloTrombone/trombone legmode | -27 | 12 |
| Brass/SoloTrombone/trombone legped | -16 | 1 |
| Brass/SoloTrombone/trombone legsus | -16 | 1 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet | -18 | 3 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet legmode | -26 | 11 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet legped | -18 | 3 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet legsus | -18 | 3 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet vib | -19 | 4 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet vib legmode | -30 | 15 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet vib legped | -19 | 4 |
| Brass/SoloTrumpet/trumpet vib legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Brass/SoloTuba/tuba | -14 | -1 |
| Brass/SoloTuba/tuba legmode | -26 | 11 |
| Brass/SoloTuba/tuba legped | -14 | -1 |
| Brass/SoloTuba/tuba legsus | -14 | -1 |
| Brass/SoulBrass | -19 | 4 |
| Brass/SynthBrass | -23 | 8 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax full | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax growl | -18 | 3 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax vib | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax vib legmode | -33 | 18 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax vib legped | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TenorSax/tenorsax vib legsus | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TromboneSect/trombones | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TromboneSect/trombones legmode | -32 | 17 |
| Brass/TromboneSect/trombones legped | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TromboneSect/trombones legsus | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TrumpetMute/trumpet mute | -24 | 9 |
| Brass/TrumpetMute/trumpet mute stereo | -21 | 6 |
| Brass/TrumpetSect | -23 | 8 |
| Brass/Tubas | -19 | 4 |
| | | -15 |
| Ethnic/Accordian | -33 | 18 |
| Ethnic/Air Gamelan | -27 | 12 |
| Ethnic/Ban-Di | -30 | 15 |
| Ethnic/Bata Drums | -30 | 15 |
| Ethnic/Celtic Harp | -22 | 7 |
| Ethnic/Chinese Percussion | -22 | 7 |
| Ethnic/Cumbus | -26 | 11 |
| Ethnic/Dobro | -23 | 8 |
| Ethnic/Dulcimter | -24 | 9 |
| Ethnic/East Indian | -26 | 11 |
| Ethnic/Erhu | -20 | 5 |
| Ethnic/Guzhen | -24 | 9 |
| Ethnic/Kanun | -25 | 10 |
| Ethnic/Koto | -30 | 15 |
| Ethnic/Luan | -22 | 7 |
| Ethnic/Mizmars | -29 | 14 |
| Ethnic/Ney Flute | -23 | 8 |
| Ethnic/Pan Flute | -24 | 9 |
| Ethnic/Percussion 1 | -29 | 14 |
| Ethnic/Percussion 2 | -31 | 16 |
| Ethnic/Pipa | -23 | 8 |
| Ethnic/Pipa tremolo | -25 | 10 |
| Ethnic/Sarod | -22 | 7 |
| Ethnic/Shakuhachi | -23 | 8 |
| Ethnic/Shamisen | -28 | 13 |
| Ethnic/Shenai | -28 | 13 |
| Ethnic/Shofars | -22 | 7 |
| Ethnic/Sitar | -21 | 6 |
| Ethnic/Tabla | -34 | 19 |
| Ethnic/Tamburas | -25 | 10 |
| Ethnic/Tampura | -37 | 22 |
| Ethnic/Tar | -27 | 12 |
| Ethnic/Temple Gong | -24 | 9 |
| Ethnic/Turkish Oud | -25 | 10 |
| Ethnic/Veena | -23 | 8 |
| Ethnic/Waterphone | -29 | 14 |
| | | -15 |
| Guitars/Banjo2 | -25 | 10 |
| Guitars/Mandolin2/mandolin | -25 | 10 |
| Guitars/Mandolin2/mandolin legpad | -23 | 8 |
| Guitars/Nylon2 | -25 | 10 |
| Guitars/SteelGtr | -32 | 17 |
| Guitars/StereoLesPaul/harmonic | -35 | 20 |
| Guitars/StereoLesPaul/mute | -32 | 17 |
| Guitars/StereoLesPaul/noises | -46 | 31 |
| Guitars/StereoLesPaul/sus | -23 | 8 |
| Guitars/StereoLesPaul/sus mute | -22 | 7 |
| Guitars/Strat2/strat mute | -34 | 19 |
| Guitars/Strat2/strat sus | -23 | 8 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha mute | -28 | 13 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha mute nz | -28 | 13 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha mute nz s | -26 | 11 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha mute s | -26 | 11 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha noises | -? | #VALUE! |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus | -18 | 3 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus hoff | -16 | 1 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus hoff nz | -16 | 1 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus hoff nz s | -15 | 0 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus hoff s | -15 | 0 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus mute | -18 | 3 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus mute nz | -18 | 3 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus mute nz s | -15 | 0 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus mute s | -15 | 0 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus nz | -18 | 3 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus nz s | -15 | 0 |
| Guitars/YamahaGtr/yamaha sus s | -15 | 0 |
| | | -15 |
| Organs/Accordion | -17 | 2 |
| Organs/B3 | -20 | 5 |
| Organs/Calliope | -13 | -2 |
| Organs/DrawbarOrgan/DrawbarOrgan | -26 | 11 |
| Organs/Farfisa | -13 | -2 |
| Organs/Harmonica | -18 | 3 |
| Organs/Melodica | -17 | 2 |
| | | -15 |
| Pianos/Clavinet | -17 | 2 |
| Pianos/dx7 piano | -21 | 6 |
| Pianos/harpsichord | -19 | 4 |
| Pianos/jRhodes3d | -7 | -8 |
| Pianos/StevieClavinet | -15 | 0 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Grand Piano; K | -24 | 9 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Grand Piano; K - Legacy | -23 | 8 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Grand Piano; S Model B 1895 | -21 | 6 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; English - keyswitch | -28 | 13 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; English - Lute | -30 | 15 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; English - Normal | -26 | 11 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Flemish - 4’ | -29 | 14 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Flemish - 8’ | -27 | 12 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Flemish - Full | -25 | 10 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Flemish - Keyswitch | -29 | 14 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; French | -29 | 14 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Italian | -27 | 12 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Harpsichord; Unk | -26 | 11 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Upright Piano; Knight | -22 | 7 |
| Pianos/VCSL Keys/Upright Piano; Y | -21 | 6 |
| Pianos/Wurt | -18 | 3 |
| Pianos/ZynthianSalamanderGrand | -21 | 6 |
| | | -15 |
| Strings/Basses/bass pizzicato | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/Basses/bass sustain | -17 | 2 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos | -18 | 3 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos full | -18 | 3 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos legmode | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos legped | -18 | 3 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos legsus | -18 | 3 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos pizzi | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/CelloSect/cellos tremulo | -18 | 3 |
| Strings/Harp | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/JgViolins | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/Mellowtron | -17 | 2 |
| Strings/SCC Expressive Strings/Key Switch-CC1 | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/SCC Expressive Strings/Key Switch-CC11 | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello pizzi | -25 | 10 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib legmode | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib legped | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib slow | -24 | 9 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib slow legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib slow legped | -24 | 9 |
| Strings/SoloCello/cello vib slow legsus | -24 | 9 |
| Strings/viola | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/viola legmode | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/viola legped | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/viola legsus | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/viola pizzi | -24 | 9 |
| Strings/viola vib | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/viola vib legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Strings/viola vib legped | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/viola vib legsus | -20 | 5 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin/ V2 | -22 | 7 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin | -21 | 6 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin legmode | -33 | 18 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin legped | -21 | 6 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin legsus | -21 | 6 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin pizzi | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin pizzi vib | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin spiccato | -24 | 9 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin sw | -300 | 285 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin tremulo | -22 | 7 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin vib | -23 | 8 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin vib legmode | -21 | 6 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin vib legped | -23 | 8 |
| Strings/SoloViolin/violin vib legsus | -23 | 8 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin tremulo | -21 | 6 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 legmode | -29 | 14 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 legped | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 vib | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 vib legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 vib legped | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SoloViolin2/violin2 vib legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Strings/SynthStrings | -27 | 12 |
| Strings/WarmPad | -29 | 14 |
| Strings/WarmPad2 | -31 | 16 |
| | | -15 |
| Synths/303 Punch | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Acoustic | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Air Softs | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/A Dark Piano | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Chaos Short | -19 | 4 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Crystal Voice | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Decadence | -40 | 25 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Extrange Voices | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Falling Up | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Glassy | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Half Live | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Heeling | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/The Heart | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/The Love | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/The Pulse | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/The Thing | -34 | 19 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Tubell | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Ambients & Drones/Winds | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Analog | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Arp V | -32 | 17 |
| Synths/Atmosphere | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Axis Sweeps | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Axis Sweeps Long | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Bang | -32 | 17 |
| Synths/BeatIt | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Bells Heaven | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Big | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Big Synth | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Bowinds | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/BowString | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Breathy Chiffs | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/BrethBell | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/BrethVox | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Bright | -31 | 16 |
| Synths/Brush Pads | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Celestial | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Clarinety | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Covers | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Delicate | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Detune | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/DigiBell | -31 | 16 |
| Synths/DigiString | -31 | 16 |
| Synths/Digiverb | -37 | 22 |
| Synths/Dyna | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Dyna Layers | -158 | 143 |
| Synths/Dyno | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Dyno Stack | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Elec Bass | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Eli Pads | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Ensemble Strings | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/EpicSynth | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Especial | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Etherial | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Fat Synth | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Fat Synth1 | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/FatString | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/FiolterSweep | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Hard Rub | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/HarpSis | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Heaven Choir | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Huge Synth | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Dydromatics | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Indian Fats | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Ito Waves | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/JP Vox Softw | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Jump Bass | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/JX Saws | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/L Synth | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/LaString | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Low | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Marimbell | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/BegaBrass | -18 | 3 |
| Synths/MelloString | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Moog | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Moog 2 | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Moog Buzz | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Moog Punch | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/MSys | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Mute Plug | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Night Pads | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/OB 01 | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/OooZzz | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/OrchBrass | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Organ | -36 | 21 |
| Synths/Pad Synth 1 | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Pan Choir | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/PhaserOrgan | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Piano Strings | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Piano Strings L | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Pick | -32 | 17 |
| Synths/Pipez | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/PlukBell | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Poly S Keys | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Pop Syn Vox | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Power | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/PowerSynth | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/PowerSynth2 | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Pulse Bass | -34 | 19 |
| Synths/Pwn | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Pwn5ths | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Res | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Rich | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Rich Stacks | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Rip Synth | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/RiseString | -38 | 23 |
| Synths/Saw Lead | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Saw Rez | -31 | 16 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Arpegiomun | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Classic Seq | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Classic Seq II | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Classic Seq III | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/conSequence | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Flight Seq | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/First Seq | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Glass | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Prophet | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Pulsating | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Pulse | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Sequence | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Sub Seq | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Synth Harp | -16 | 1 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Synth Harp II | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Seq & Pluck/Tubular | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Slap Synth | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Slow Heavens | -37 | 22 |
| Synths/Smooth | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Solina | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/SpacePad | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Square Rez Bass | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Swell Synth | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Swell Synth1 | -35 | 20 |
| Synths/Syn Stacks | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/Syn X Bass | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/SynBite | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/SynOrch | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/SynStr | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/SynStrings | -34 | 19 |
| Synths/Synth Brass | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Synth Brass1 | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Synth Pad 1 | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Synth Vox 1 | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Synth Vox 2 | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/SynthHorn | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Synths/Chinesse | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Synths/Classic Lead | -27 | 12 |
| Synths/Synths/Classic Lead II | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Synths/Classic Short | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Synths/Classic Synth | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Synths/Doing | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Synths/First Synth | -18 | 3 |
| Synths/Synths/Hard Leead | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Synths/Hard Sync | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Synths/Lesser Harp Hard | -17 | 2 |
| Synths/Synths/Lesser Harp Soft | -17 | 2 |
| Synths/Synths/Squares | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass | -19 | 4 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass II | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass III | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass Horns | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass Keys | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass Keys II | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Synths/Synth Brass Keys III | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Synths/Vangelis ePiano | -21 | 6 |
| Synths/Synths/Vangelis Synth | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Synths/Vangelis Synth II | -24 | 9 |
| Synths/Synthy Voces | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/System | -29 | 14 |
| Synths/Tinr Punch | -28 | 13 |
| Synths/TrillSynth | -25 | 10 |
| Synths/TriPad | -20 | 5 |
| Synths/Ultimate Synth | -23 | 8 |
| Synths/Unis Stab | -22 | 7 |
| Synths/Vibe Softs | -26 | 11 |
| Synths/Vocal Padds | -30 | 15 |
| Synths/Wonders | -22 | 7 |
| | | -15 |
| Vocals/Choir | -24 | 9 |
| | | -15 |
| Woodwinds/BassoonSect | -20 | 5 |
| Woodwinds/ClarinetSect | -20 | 5 |
| Woodwinds/FluteSect | -25 | 10 |
| Woodwinds/Recorder | -18 | 3 |
| Woodwinds/SoloBassoon | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloClarinet | -20 | 5 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute full | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute legmode | -28 | 13 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute legped | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute legsus | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute vib | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute vib legmode | -29 | 14 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute vib legped | -19 | 4 |
| Woodwinds/SoloFlute/flute vig legsus | -19 | 4 |
| | | -15 |
| Fluid/Yamaha Grand Piano | -15 | 0 |
| Fluid/Bright Yamaha Grand | -15 | 0 |
| Fluid/Electric Piano | -14 | -1 |
| Fluid/Honky Tonk | -16 | 1 |
| Fluid/Rhodes EP | -12 | -3 |
| Fluid/Legend EP | -15 | 0 |
| Fluid/Harpsichord | -13 | -2 |
| Fluid/Clavinet | -14 | -1 |
| | | |
| Pianoteq | | |
| GSD -11 | | |

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/13 "2026-10-17T17:49:33Z")

</div>

OK, done – committed, but I haven’t run through all instruments and verified yet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/14 "2026-10-17T22:27:09Z")

</div>

Quick run-through, noticed these problems:

Strings/SoloViolin/violin\_sw - silent  
Synth/303 Punch – WTF? Super loud. subtract 24?  
Synth/Dyna Layers - no sound  
Synth/Rich\_Stacks - -9 LUFS  
Synth/Synth\_Horns - -24 LUFS  
Synth/Synth\_Keys\* - -24 LUF

I’ll fix these shortly. Everything else seemed OK.

Meanwhile, I did NOT look at Drums or Percussion. On retrospect I should have at least done the melodic percussion instruments like steel drum and marimba, and will get to those soon.

Someone else needs to go through drum and non-melodic percussion and LMK what needs to be adjusted.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/15 "2026-10-17T23:05:56Z")

</div>

Thanks a lot @jlearman !

In the next days, I will generate a new SD-image with the normalized soundfonts.

We should find a way of updating just the SFZ files while keeping the samples. Perhaps a new package command. Something like “quick update”. Let’s think about it …

Regards

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/16 "2026-10-18T18:33:15Z")

</div>

> [@jofemodo](#):
>
> quick update

Nice idea, though I suspect there are more important fish to fry.

If you do look into it, I suggest adding an element to info.yml that lists the supported extra operations (other than `installed`, `install`, and `uninstall`.) Then the install script can do whatever’s needed. But without some fancy footwork in the repo, it’ll still have to download the whole thing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a698b9/32.png) [@jlearman](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jlearman)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/leveling-factory-sfz-lib-need-input/13752/17 "2026-10-18T19:04:42Z")

</div>

… stand by, getting conflicting measurements, not sure why.

OK, things are stable now but I’m not sure why they weren’t. It’s as if something was changing the LUFS meter reading by 5dB sometime after startup. I saw this at least twice. I checked but it wasn’t due to getting a MIDI CC7 – at least, in settings, it always showed as 96. (I was doing too much stuff to notice whether there was an actual volume change.) In any case, it’s not happening now, and I know how to check for it in the future.

Anyway, found a few muffs and fixed them, so should be good now.

Note that VCSL instruments range from -25 to -35 dB LUFS. Also, I haven’t updated any of my package SFZs to conform to the 15 dB LUFS convention. (We should document that convention somewhere, perhaps in the wiki – LMK if you know a good place for it.) And of course, I didn’t address anything other than the factory SFZs, so there will still be leveling issues with various instruments, especially non-SFZ.

Also, I noticed an issue with Strings. Those look like they’re from Karoryfer – I recognize DSmolken’s fingerprints. Many of them use CC1 (mod wheel) as a control for different voicings, but there are no `label_cc1` opcodes to clue in Zynthian to enable the CC. I’ll be looking into that and fixing it. There may be other factory SFZs where this happens too, and I’ll see if I can find them all. My first step would be to add the label\_cc opcodes. Second step would be to include yml files so the controls get appropriate labels in the Zynthian UI.