Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Latest sound cards which work well with NWC (Read 2306 times) previous topic - next topic

Latest sound cards which work well with NWC

Hi,
Could anyone help me with the choice of a sound-card as I have just bought a PC with a sound chip which seems to work well when playing CDs but sounds dreadful when playing NWC music. Its a PC with windows XP. Myself , like other enthusiasts record NWC files to audio capture/remixing software and had lots of success using an older PC using Win-98, SB Live card and Cool-edit 2000. Whats on offer Nowadays that compliments NWC.

Rich N

Re: Latest sound cards which work well with NWC

Reply #1 –
I can't offer advice regarding sound cards (my laptop cannot change sound card). BUT... When a NWC file (or, a MIDI file) is played, the instrument sounds are provided by your computer. Presumably, the sound card on your old computer was better than the as-installed one you have now.

I have XP, and my as-installed sound card plays NWC (and MIDI) better than did my older W98 machine, but nowhere near as good as a "real" sound card or software synth.

Until you get your new sound card, look on this forum for the free "Timidity" software synth.

Re: Latest sound cards which work well with NWC

Reply #2 –
On Board sound is pretty atrocious on midi rendering.

I continue to like my Soundblaster Live for general purposes. Creative has an updated driver on their site if you happen to still have the card.

Re: Latest sound cards which work well with NWC

Reply #3 –
The SB Live card is probably the cheapest and a very good way of getting more out of your midi files.  It is a hardware synthesizer, meaning that your can also download sounds fonts.  With it, you get the Vienna software, which allows you to tweak your midi/wave/CD reception and adjust the sounds fonts as well. Apart from the help file, there's lots of info on SB Live on the internet.

Jan