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Topic: Awful trumpet (Read 4054 times) previous topic - next topic

Awful trumpet

I have got a new soundcard (SB Extigy) to my notebook. If the trumpet on the standard soundcard was poor, the trumpet sound of the Extigy card is awful. Imagine "Schmuyle" from Mussorgsky/Ravel's "Pictures at an Exhibition - so "speaks" the trumpet here.
Is there any way to change the sound apart from buying a new soundcard?
Steffen

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #1 –
Mebbe try change the instrument entirely. If trumpet not sound right, try change to other instrument. Even might change to organ if sounds better.

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #2 –
I suspect the Exigy supports sound fonts. There are various discussions and links to various sound font resources that may have a better renditions of a trumpet.

Perhaps some of our windy types out there might have a suggestion?

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #3 –
I have been told from the hotline that SB Extigy does not support soundfonts.
Regards
Steffen Appelquist

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #4 –
Can you take the Extigy back and say you want a card that does what you need?  If it won't support soundfonts, it's not too useful to a musician.

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #5 –
Yes, I have found this a problem with the Extigy. The other problem (not apparent in Noteworthy) is that it can't cope with the high demands games and similar applications put on it.
The short answer is, don't get an Extigy unless you absolutely can't install a decent internal sound card (which was my problem initially. However, it isn't a problem any more - anyone want a second-hand Extigy - barely used? ;-))

RObin

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #6 –
Can you recommend another external(!) soundcard? I have a notebook (HP omnibook xe4500) with a 16 bit standard soundcard.
Kind regards
Steffen Appelquist

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #7 –
Steffen: A few years ago, I tried a card-slot soundcard on my former laptop. It was not much of an improvement over the built-in sound card. My current laptop is much better.

If the problem is that you don't like the way the instruments sound when playing MIDI, try playing the MIDI via Quicktime. Quicktime uses its own synth instrument database rather than the one on your soundcard. The result may be better (or, worse). If you are still on Windows 98 or ME, and have DirectX, there is a free program kicking around that allows you to play MIDI using the DirectX instrument definitions. Search this forum for advice on where to find Direct MIDI.

If the problem is that you don't like the way the instruments sound when you play your NWC tune within NWC (and also that you cannot change the soundcard), try exporting to MIDI then using Quicktime or DirectX as described above. It's an extra step, but might be useful.

You might also try Timidity. Search this forum for more info.

But if the problem is that you want high-definition surround sound, that's something for which you need the appropriate sound card.

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #8 –
Thank you for the advice. I have QuickTime 6, Pro and I normally(!) use it when I convert the MIDI-files to Wav-files. I have Windows XP on my notebook, so I can possible not apply the freeware program.
I will search the forum for the Timidity.
Regards
Steffen Appelquist

Re: Awful trumpet

Reply #9 –
as a reply to robin withey i recommend u get a better machine for playing ur games on cos the soundblaster extigy works fine for me its never given me any problems.