sfArkXT decompressor for sfArk files on MacOS

Program and documentation copyright 1998-2003, melodymachine.com
Maybe be freely used and distributed for non-commercial applications (but please read this)
For commercial applications see below.
This document last updated 07-October-2003. 
Contact email: sfArkForMac at melodymachine.com

What is it?
"sfArk XTract" is a small Carbon application that will decompress sfArk files.  sfArkXT cannot be used with sfArk files created with sfArk versions earlier than 2.0.  If you find such files, please contact the originator to ask him/her to convert them to sfArk V2 format.

What is a sfArk file?
Files created using our sfArk application, which was first released in October 1998, and the much improved version 2 was initially released early in 2001, the current 2.15 release in November 2001.  sfArk files contain a SoundFont file in a special compressed format, and optionally "Notes" and "License" text files.  The vast majority of SoundFonts available on the net are compressed with sfArk.  There is one other relatively widely used compressed format: sfPack from Megota Software, but it has rapidly lost popularity as it seems to be no longer supported by the authors (their website disappeared about a year ago).  Note that currently sfArk only compresses SoundFont files, but a forthcoming release will handle other formats including DLS and GigaSampler.  For further information on sfArk visit the main sfArk page at http://melodymachine.com/sfark.htm

How can I create a sfArk file on the Mac
Right now, you can't - sfArkXT is just for decompressing existing sfArk files.  But a full version of sfArk for MacOS is a possibility - read this for more information.

What is a SoundFont?
SoundFonts are a widely used format containing digital audio samples for use in music production and reproduction.  The format originated with Creative Labs AWE32 series of sound cards on the PC, and is now supported by a wide range of hardware and software including Apple's QuickTime.

Why is sfArk used?
Because SoundFont files to not compress well using general purpose compression tools (Zip, StuffIt, etc).  Such utilities typically compress a SoundFont by only around 10% or less.  sfArk typically achieves 50% (sometimes better) compression.  SoundFont files tend to be big, often 10 MB or more (there are some around on the net as large as 128MB) so in order to minimise disk space usage, transfer times and bandwidth sfArk is generally used to compress them.

Installing and removing
Simply copy the contents of the distribution archive to the folder of your choice (typically the "applications" folder).  In addition you may want set sfArkXT to be the "Open with application" used by Finder to open sfArk files.  There are some minor complications here.. see "sfArk File Extensions" below.  To remove the program, simply delete it.

Basic Use
Select a sfArk file to decompress using "File, Open" from the main menu.  Then press "start" to decompress the file.  The uncompressed SoundFont plus notes and license files (if included) will be created in the same directory as the source sfArk file.  Note that decompression may take several minutes if the file is large and sfArk's "maximum compression" mode was used to create the file.  For sfArk's "standard" compression mode, decompression will normally run at several megabytes per second (depending on the speed of your Mac of course).

License and Notes Files
If the sfArk file contains License and/or Notes text files, they are extracted to the same directory as the source sfArk file.  These are text files typically created with some Windows based editor, so may not display correctly on the Mac.  In the case of a License file, a dialogue box will ask the user if he agrees to the terms of the license before decompression of the SoundFont will continue, so you should read the license file before clicking "yes".

Filename extensions
Files created by the Windows sfArk application get a .sfArk extension (with a capital A and the rest in lower case).  However, inevitably these sometimes get renamed to .sfark when uploaded and downloaded etc.  This doesn't matter under Windows, because it treats them equally.  But MacOS, (or at least Finder) seems to regard an extension of .sfArk as distinct from .sfark, so you may need to configure "Open with application" in Finder for both file types.  As a further complication, there are also "self-extracting" sfArk files around.  These maybe decompressed by sfArkXT just as for standard sfArk files.  They get created with the extension .sfArk.exe but again may get renamed to .sfark.exe or simply .exe and so on.  Finder only seems to care about the final extension (.exe in this case), so it is impossible to define "Open with application" in Finder for .sfArk.exe files.  Unless you want to define sfArkXT as the application to open all .exe files, which may be inconvenient, we suggest the best work-around is to rename any .sfArk.exe files that you have to .sfArk_exe, and define sfArkXT as the "Open with application" for .sfArk_exe files.

Need more SoundFonts?
You can buy SoundFonts at http://melodymachine.com and we also have free demo versions of our SoundFonts.

Commercial Use
The sfArkXT program (and other sfArk programs) may not be used for commercial purposes without specific permission from the author. Commercial use includes but is not limited to the following:

One specific exclusion to the above:- The program may be distributed on magazine "Cover CDs" provided that you inform us via email and on request supply to us a free copy of that issue of the magazine and CD.  Please ensure you use the latest copy of the distribution (see "Obtaining Upgrades" section above).

For further information on obtaining permission for commercial use and/or distribution email sales at melodymachine.com  

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sfArk, the sfArk logo and the MelodyMachine logo are trademarks of melodymachine.com.
Sound Blaster, the Sound Blaster logo, Creative, the Creative logo are registered trademarks. The Sound Blaster Live! logo are trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. E-mu Systems and SoundFont are registered trademarks of E-mu Systems, Inc. Cambridge

All other trademarks acknowledged.