Is there a way to get new playback instruments? Like, after importing a midi, is there a way you can save the instrument that file used for a particular staff?
The instrument patch is part of the midi file and is automatically saved in both the midi and in the nwc file when you save it. You don't have to do anything.
That's true up to a point, but all that's saved is a number. What instrument that number represents is down to convention. Since the General Midi convention was introduced, there's a pretty good chance your midi or nwc song will sound the same on all PCs and most modern keyboards, but my old Yamaha PSS-780 isn't GM, so if I use it as a playback instrument, things can sound pretty weird, particularly since the percussion channel is channel 16, not channel 10 as in GM.
Robin
Sorry, I got side-tracked there, and forgot my point, which was that although GM instruments are standard, the quality can vary, depending on the sound card, and whether or not it supports sound fonts (there are plenty of threads in the forum on sound fonts). If you're looking to use special effects, for example, these are not all standard, so if you "roll your own" sound fonts, or use someone else's, a third party will not get the effect you intended.
Robin
thanks, I'm kinda a newbie to stuff like this.