Convert AFC to SFARK

Understanding AFC and SFARK file formats

AFC files are audio sample files used primarily by the Nintendo GameCube and Wii gaming consoles. These files typically contain compressed audio data for use in video game soundtracks. SFARK files, on the other hand, are compressed soundfont files. SFARK is a specialized format designed to reduce the size of SoundFont (SF2) files, which are widely used in digital music production for storing instrument samples.

Why convert AFC to SFARK?

Converting AFC to SFARK is not a common workflow, as these formats serve different purposes. However, if you wish to use audio samples from a GameCube or Wii game in a music production environment that supports SoundFonts, you may want to extract the audio from AFC files and package them into a SoundFont, then compress it using SFARK for easier distribution.

How to convert AFC to SFARK

There is no direct converter from AFC to SFARK. The process involves several steps:

1. Extract audio from AFC: Use a tool like vgmstream (available as a command-line tool or as a plugin for audio editors like Audacity) to convert AFC files to WAV or another standard audio format.
2. Create a SoundFont (SF2): Use a SoundFont editor such as Polyphone (free and cross-platform) to import the extracted WAV files and arrange them as instruments or samples in a new SF2 file.
3. Compress to SFARK: Use sfArk (by MelodyMachine) to compress your SF2 file into the SFARK format. The sfArk utility is available for Windows and can be run via Wine on other platforms.

Recommended software for the conversion

• vgmstream: For extracting audio from AFC files.
• Polyphone: For creating and editing SoundFont (SF2) files.
• sfArk: For compressing SF2 files into SFARK format.

Step-by-step conversion process

1. Use vgmstream to convert AFC to WAV: vgmstream-cli input.afc -o output.wav
2. Open Polyphone and import the WAV files: File → New, then Sample → Import.
3. Arrange samples and save as SF2: File → Save As and choose SF2 format.
4. Open sfArk and compress the SF2: File → Compress and select your SF2 file.

Conclusion

While there is no one-click solution to convert AFC to SFARK, following the outlined steps with the recommended software will allow you to repurpose game audio samples for use in music production and share them efficiently in the SFARK format.