Re: Noteworthy Composer Sound Font
Reply #5 –
Soundcard - the actual hardware device that allows the various audio data sources within your PC to be connected to your speakers...
MS GS Wavetable Softsynth - a software synthesiser from Microsoft that uses a wavetable set from Roland. Synths, whether hardware or software are what are used to convert the MIDI command stream into reproducable audio - MIDI data is NOT audio, merely directives for synths to produce audio from.
Hmm, never assume - makes an ASS out of U and ME -
Back to soundcards - AFAIK Creative are the only ones who make soundfont compatibe soundcards - I stand to be corrected on this. If you only have an onboard sound chip like "SoundMAX" or a "Realtek" or any number of "noisemaker" chips then you would be well advised to look at upgrading to a decent soundcard.
In reading the specs. for the current Creative X-Fi range I'm not sure they even have hardware synths anymore - certainly the vista drivers seem to not have the applets to allow soundfont control. I've been keeping an eye a few forums recently and thats the conclusion that I'm inclining to.
That said, if there's anyone reading this that has an X-Fi can you please enlighten us. Especially vista and XP users.
Now, you might be able to pick up a second hand Live! or Audigy card by Creative - these are OK and definitely use soundfonts - they are also full duplex so the recording problem will "go away" too.