SoundFont

1:15 song, MIDI played through SoundFonts

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SoundFont is a brand name that collectively refers to a file format and associated technology that uses sample-based synthesis to play MIDI files. Originally developed by E-mu Systems and Creative Labs, it was first used on the Sound Blaster AWE32 sound card for its General MIDI support in 1994.

SoundFont files, commonly identified by the .sf2 file extension, store collections of audio samples along with instructions for how they should be played back at different pitches and velocities. The format became widely adopted in music production, video game audio, and software synthesizers. Following the expiration of Creative Technology's trademark, SoundFont has become an open and freely used standard in the audio software community.

SoundFont was a registered trademark of Creative Technology, Ltd. before 2026, and the exclusive license for re-formatting and managing E-mu Systems' and Creative's historical SoundFont content has been acquired by Digital Sound Factory.