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midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Over the years whenever I bought a new computer I would also install a new creative soundcard. When the driver was installed 2 or 4 new midi orchestras were also installed and NWC found them right away. Creative only loaded in 2 new orchestras on my latest computer and they are really bad. I can't find any software that will simply install orchestras without having to fix a multitude of other files, etc. All of that to say this: Does anyone know of any midi software synthesizers that I can install like I would any other software like word or excel, etc? Thanks, Mike

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #1 –
Which Creative soundcard is now installed on your system?
Is it capable of using soundfonts?
Have you ever loaded soundfonts on your previous Creative soundcards?
What operating system are you running?

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #2 –
SB X-Fi, ExtremeGamer, Driver version 2.18.15
Yes, it is capable of using soundfonts.
I never loaded sounfonts on previous Creative souncards.
Windows 7 operating system

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #3 –
If you haven't used soundfonts with a Creative card you really haven't made full use of the card.

Here is a link to a small but good soundfont.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3449356/Chaos8.zip
You can load the soundfont  using the Soundfont Bank Manager.
You'll find it in the Start>Programs>Creative group.

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #4 –
I downloaded the SF2 file and the txt file. Load the SF2 file into an empty MIDI bank (which is 10 on mine)?  The txt file gets loaded where? Thanks for your help, Barry.
 

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #5 –
The text file is for reading.
It lists instruments and drum sets in the standard and other banks.

Load the Chaos soundfont in Synth A as a replacement for what is there.
Synth A is the default.

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #6 –
Chaos is loaded and replaced what was there. Example: Bank 005 contains instrument 124 (Windchime). How can I access this instrument from NWC?

15 minutes later: Staff, Properties, Instrument, send patch 124, send bank select MSB 5, OK!!!!

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #7 –
Great Mike,
Does the soundfont improve your playback?

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #8 –
Yes, the Chaos soundbanks sound better than the other.  Can a second sf file be loaded without disturbing Chaos?

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #9 –
Quote from: mikeccm –
Yes, the Chaos soundbanks sound better than the other.  Can a second sf file be loaded without disturbing Chaos?

There's a synth b under Midi devices, soundfont devices.

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #10 –
Mike:

Open the Soundfont Bank Manager.
Click on the MIDI Devices button.
In the Soundfont Device list select Synth B.
Click on the Bank button - (Configure Bank SB X-Fi Synth B[D000]) appears at the bottom.
Highlight the existing soundfont in the Bank Stack and click on the Replace button.
Select another soundfont in the file dialogue.

If you want to use Chaos on this synth - copy and rename Chaos8Mb to something else.
If you want to try another soundfont here is a link:
http://www.hammersound.net/
Click on Sounds...then Soundfont Library ....then Collections (for the standard 128 GM patches).
Or you could download soundfonts for specific instruments from the list.
(Note: Larger does not mean better when it comes to soundfonts)

When Synths A and B are loaded with soundfonts you will have 2 MIDI Ports.
Each port providing 15 Instrument and 1 Percussion channel making 32 channels in all.

To use a second MIDI Port (synth) with NWC:-
Make the second synth available.
Tools>Options>MIDI tab
Highlight the required synth in the Available Play Devices list then click on the -> arrow.
This will move the synth to the Devices Used by Playback list.
Which should look like:-
SB X-Fi Synth A [D000]
SB X-Fi Synth B [D000]

To select a synth and patch for a staff.
Click on the staff then Staff Properties (or key f2).
Under the MIDI tab select the required synth from the Playback Device list.
Under the Instrument tab - select from the Predefined Instrument list.
[OR]
MIDI Patch Instructions and select the Patch number and Bank (MSB only for the X-Fi).

Below is a list of drumkits available on the Percussion channel (10) in the Chaos8.sf2.
Patch (0 based -add 1 for 1 based)
0   Standard 1 [SC-55]  
1   Standard 2 [SC-88]  
7   Room [SC-88]  
8   Room [SC-55]  
16  Power [SC-55]  
24  Electronic [SC-55]  
25  TR-909 [SC-55]  
26  Dance [SC-88]  
32  Jazz [SC-55]  
40  Brush [SC-55]  
48  Orchestra [SC-55]  
49  Ethnic [SC-88]  
50  Kick & Snare [SC-88]  
56  SFX [SC-55]  
57  Rhythm FX [SC-88]  
99  Chaos Standard Drum  
127 CM-64/32 Set [SC-55]

For example:
Select Patch 40/41 on a percussion staff using Channel 10 to hear the Brush set.

If you have any questions - ask them here.

-----------
Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #11 –
Barry:

Thanks again for all this good information. It is very much appreciated.  I will probably be busy with all this new tech (for me) for awhile but will definitely post questions, etc. as needed.

Mike
Philadelphia, USA

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #12 –
Reference:
"To use a second MIDI Port (synth) with NWC:-
Make the second synth available.
Tools>Options>MIDI tab
Highlight the required synth in the Available Play Devices list then click on the -> arrow.
This will move the synth to the Devices Used by Playback list.
Which should look like:-
SB X-Fi Synth A [D000]
SB X-Fi Synth B [D000]"

Barry:

Is it possible to create more MIDI ports? For example Synth C Synth D etc. I ask this because I would like to load in about 4 GM soundfonts.

Thanks,
Mike

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #13 –
Mike:
Your X-Fi Soundfont ports are A: and B:
You can load additional soundfonts into empty Bank slots in each device.
You would then have to select both Bank and Patch when selecting a staff patch in NWC to access these.

The other thing you could do is select the required patches from your soundfonts and load these into the Presets replacing a patch in one soundfont with a patch from another.

Perhaps I should ask:-
1. What are these soundfonts you wish to load?
2. How large are the soundfonts?
3. Will you only be using specific patches from each of the four or do you want all patches in all soundfonts available?

As an alternative you could use a soundfont editor (like Vienna) to make up a custom soundfont from patches derived from your 4 GM soundfonts.

Regards

Barry Graham
Melbourne, Australia

Re: midi software synthesizer - out of the box

Reply #14 –
Barry:

On the earlier creative soundcards somehow they delivered up to 6 complete GM soundfonts with only 2 ports. They now deliver 2 GM sets with a greatly diminished soundfont: CT2MGM.sf2.

I am working with SynthFont which accepts as many soundfonts as you can find and is wonderful for rendering midi files into unclipped wav files. The retailers are now selling external hard drives with capacities up to 3 tera bytes. A 20 kb midi renders into a 240 mg wav but the highs and lows are still present.

Yes, I think I now have to teach myself how to use an editor like Vienna. I downloaded SoundFont Librarian from Creative Labs but haven't installed it yet:

http://connect.creativelabs.com/developer/SoundFont/SoundFont%20Librarian.zip

http://connect.creativelabs.com/developer/SoundFont/Forms/AllItems.aspx

I find that I use only a percentage of the instruments available but that could be because of my lack of SF technology, which has now rapidly increased, thanks to you.

In addition to chaos I would like to round out the GM sets available to NWC with:

Gravis_Ultrasound_Classic_PachSet_v1.6.sf2  5,721 kb
(SOUNDFONTS_GM-GS)_Roland_55mb.sf2  55,114 kb
CT8MGM.sf2  7,372 kb (an earlier sf from Creative?)

The longer term project is to build my own sf2 file with my favorites.

Mike
Philadelphia, U.S.