Subject:Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Posted by: MrSpeed

Date:1/17/2008 10:58:11 AM

One of the things I like to do with Acid studio is to import midi files and mute the guitar parts to jam along with.

The DLS Soft Synth sounds ok but I think it can be better. It's my understanding that a DLS synth uses sound font files. Is there a way to upgrade the sounds in the included DLS soft synth ?

I went to the Native Instruments site. The samples in Bandstand sound great, but I don't think it's a VST.

What are some other inexpensive (hopefully free) solutions I can look at to improve the sound of midi files ?

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: scoopy

Date:1/17/2008 1:13:22 PM

Great question. I'll be watching the answers MrSpeed!

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:1/17/2008 2:56:45 PM

The DLS SoftSynth does not use SoundFonts. It uses a special DLS format that never quite caught on and so there are very few libraries for it. You'd be better off using SFZ from rgc:Audio which is a free SoundFont player. I have a list of some nice free and for fee VSTi's in the VST Instruments page on my web site.

Once you get SFZ to get a heaping helping of free SoundFonts. (I spent a week there one night) ;-)

~jr

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: MrSpeed

Date:1/17/2008 3:08:37 PM

I don't think you can get SFZ anywhere for free. Cakewalk bought them a while ago.

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:1/17/2008 3:32:55 PM

> I don't think you can get SFZ anywhere for free. Cakewalk bought them a while ago.

Click on the link that I provided in my post and that will take you to the Cakewalk page to download the free version. The link on my web site needs to be updated (I'll do that when I get home)

~jr

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: alltheseworlds

Date:1/17/2008 4:43:20 PM

There are hundreds of excellent free synths including sounfonts players, samples etc etc

Search here:
http://www.kvraudio.com/get.php

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: DKeenum

Date:1/17/2008 6:22:01 PM

I agree with Johnny. sfz and soundfonts are the free way to replace the DSL synths. There are some good soundfonts... and some bad ones, but they are free.

Subject:RE: Anything better than the DLS Soft Synth ?

Reply by: MrSpeed

Date:1/18/2008 7:47:00 AM

I went to kvr and tried out a bunch of vst's and romplers. Nothing really floated my boat.

I then downloaded SFZ and then went to hammersound and soundfonts.it. I was able to find some great sounding drum kits.

I guess I'm mostly interested in better sounding drums and pianos. There are some very nice soundfonts for these instruments.

For anyone interested there are some nice sounding free loops here
http://www.adobe.com/special/products/audition/loopology.html