This question has probably been asked n times, so with apologies in advance
for n+1:

My old system ran (runned?) Win98, with a larger (4 or 8MB) midi wavetable
option, and sort of sounded OK.

The new PC has Win2000, AC'97 & Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth on a 3GHz
Thingium.  It sounds decidedly low-rent (kiddy-winkies, lacking in grandeur,
regally challenged, delightfully unencumbered with gravitas) when playing
midi files.

Q1. Does a simple file replacement upgrade path exist?  While being a DSP
programmer of sorts, I hesitate to install a (seriously) nonstandard scheme
which may require perpetual maintenance, care & feeding, or perhaps may not
be transparently utilised by existing software.

Q2. There is no Q2.

Thanx.
Jim Adamthwaite

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:59:19 +1100, "Jim Adamthwaite"
<secad@netspace.net.au> wrote:

>My old system ran (runned?) Win98, with a larger (4 or 8MB) midi wavetable
>option, and sort of sounded OK.
>
>The new PC has Win2000, AC'97 & Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth on a 3GHz
>Thingium.  It sounds decidedly low-rent (kiddy-winkies, lacking in grandeur,
>regally challenged, delightfully unencumbered with gravitas) when playing
>midi files.
>
>Q1. Does a simple file replacement upgrade path exist?  While being a DSP
>programmer of sorts, I hesitate to install a (seriously) nonstandard scheme
>which may require perpetual maintenance, care & feeding, or perhaps may not
>be transparently utilised by existing software.


What sound card did your old computer have?   Possibly a SoundBlaster,
with an on-board hardware midi synthesiser?

Your new computer has an integrated sound system.  Doubtless with 5.1
surround, digital link, etc., but lacking a midi synth.   So you're
falling back on the Microsoft Synth, a Windows component.

You can put a SoundBlaster in your new machine and disable onboard
audio in BIOS.  You don't need to spend a lot - the cheapest OEM
Audigy has the same synth as the posh one.

     CubaseFAQ www.laurencepayne.co.uk/CubaseFAQ.htm
"Possibly the world's least impressive web site": George Perfect

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:37:10 +0000, Laurence Payne
<l@laurenceDELETEpayne.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

>On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:59:19 +1100, "Jim Adamthwaite"
><secad@netspace.net.au> wrote:
>
>>My old system ran (runned?) Win98, with a larger (4 or 8MB) midi wavetable
>>option, and sort of sounded OK.
>>
>>The new PC has Win2000, AC'97 & Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth on a 3GHz
>>Thingium.  It sounds decidedly low-rent (kiddy-winkies, lacking in grandeur,
>>regally challenged, delightfully unencumbered with gravitas) when playing
>>midi files.
>>
>>Q1. Does a simple file replacement upgrade path exist?  While being a DSP
>>programmer of sorts, I hesitate to install a (seriously) nonstandard scheme
>>which may require perpetual maintenance, care & feeding, or perhaps may not
>>be transparently utilised by existing software.

  As far as I know there isn't a simple way to upgrade the GS synth.
It can use a DLS file, but even if you could change the samples you'd
still be stuck with the lackluster synth engine.  Default MS synth
doesn't implement actual Roland GS controllers or effects, and doesn't
have reverb or chorus either (which are common on GM synths), though
with some sound cards DirectX audio may allow that.

>What sound card did your old computer have?   Possibly a SoundBlaster,
>with an on-board hardware midi synthesiser?
>
>Your new computer has an integrated sound system.  Doubtless with 5.1
>surround, digital link, etc., but lacking a midi synth.   So you're
>falling back on the Microsoft Synth, a Windows component.
>
>You can put a SoundBlaster in your new machine and disable onboard
>audio in BIOS.  You don't need to spend a lot - the cheapest OEM
>Audigy has the same synth as the posh one.

  If you can't stick another sound card in, Roland's VSC software
synth gives a nice improvement in sound.  Check out www.edirol.com or
www.pgmusic.com. 
-- 
*-__Jeffery Jones__________|  *Starfire*   |____________________-*
** Muskego WI Access Channel 14/25 <http://www.execpc.com/~jeffsj/mach7/>
*Starfire Design Studio* <http://www.starfiredesign.com/>

Thanx gize.  I'll try 'em.
Jim Adamthwaite.

I'm not sure I understand your question, but if your audio uses sf2
files, there are some decent ones around on the net.  It's pretty
common with Windows.  sf2 was created by Creative (imagine that) but I
think it's pretty widespread, considering the number of people who
upgrade from Soundblaster.  If that is what you're talking about, you
just plug it in and there it stays.  If not, can't help you.

On the Edirol note, you can go one better if your PC can handle it -
Sonar 4 has a built-in Roland sound module which is pretty nifty. But
that of course meanse you have to have Sonar and use it a-la-VSTi.