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Subject:Best GM SW Synth?
Posted by: musicvid10
Date:12/3/2011 5:46:59 PM
I rarely venture to this forum, since I don't do very many tracks any more (I "graduated" to conducting live orchestras). However, I dug out a bunch of midi arrangements of holiday music I did ages ago, and want to record them again to wave. I rediscovered just how crappy my SBLive hardware synth sounds, and want your opinions on the sweetest free (or free trial) software GM synth for Vista 32. Most of my arrangements are grand piano, strings, pads, woodwinds and percussion. I hate synth brass, period. Many thanks! Message last edited on12/3/2011 8:07:19 PM bymusicvid10. |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:12/4/2011 1:06:26 PM
Do you have ACID Pro 7? A version of Garritan's instruments comes with it. (ARIA for ACID Pro.) Excellent, basic orchestral (and some jazz band) samples. Pick it up via "My Account > My Software" at the top; click "Download" next to your registered version of ACID Pro 7. Can't help with grand piano, pads or percussion. ARIA for ACID Pro comes with some percussion instruments but it's by no means complete. Native Instruments still has their free players (like Konakt Player and Reaktor Player) over at their site though. Might want to check those out. Iacobus |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:12/4/2011 1:49:59 PM
Thanks, looking for a General Midi synth since that is how these arrangements were voiced. I understand now that GM is kind of obsolete with VSTi's. I found the the vanilla Microsoft synth in Vista isn't all that bad. Message last edited on12/4/2011 1:51:51 PM bymusicvid10. |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: MarkWWW
Date:12/4/2011 2:30:28 PM
Don't overlook the built-in DLS synth. Its standard sound set is a GS emulation, which is just a slight expansion of the GM scheme. It's sounds aren't that bad and it's free. Mark Message last edited on12/4/2011 2:30:48 PM byMarkWWW. |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:12/4/2011 3:51:42 PM
I'll check if my old version of Acid has that engine. In the meantime, I found a Winamp plugin that takes SF2 files, and there are a few good ones around. Not the most technically elegant solution, but the results are good enough. |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:12/4/2011 3:56:47 PM
Thanks, looking for a General Midi synth since that is how these arrangements were voiced. Are you referring to the possibility that the MIDI file(s) in question is not split into individual tracks? |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:12/4/2011 7:25:49 PM
The voice for each track is mapped to the General Midi (GM) table. This is a trivial project for Youtube and I didn't want to spend any time editing the original Cakewalk files, that's all. But I found a couple of free GM synths that are going to do the trick. Thanks for everyone's help. ;?) Message last edited on12/5/2011 11:56:49 AM bymusicvid10. |
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Subject:RE: Best GM SW Synth?
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:12/9/2011 11:32:26 AM
I settled on the huge free Fluid R3 soundfont synth, and SynthFont and DiskWriter plugins in Winamp. Although a less-than-elegant workflow, the result came out quite nice. The original MIDI files were rehearsal tracks I had arranged for a series of holiday choir concerts back in 1999. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4H64wjw-5U&feature=g-all Message last edited on12/9/2011 12:16:31 PM bymusicvid10. |