Can Vienna 2.3 be used in a computer that
does not have a soundfont compatible
soundcard?
When I open the program in my XP computer, it says "No soundfont compatible device detected".

Hi,
I don't think so ( though I'd love to be proven wrong). Vienna appears work in my xp desktop with the sb live card, but I couldn't get it to work in my xp laptop.
Have you checked out this one? http://www.soundfaction.com/alive/

best wishes
Rikki

Thanks rikki.
I was afraid of that.
I know about Alive, but I was hoping for
a freeware editor.
I have an older version of Awave Studio.
Would Alive be more user friendly than Awave?

Sorry,
don't know that one.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Vquestor:
[B]Thanks rikki.
I

Vquestor, if you do not have a SB card then Alive is the best way to go (ease of use, editing, wavetable creation, etc.). You could also use VSampler but it is more expensive and still has some bugs.

Thanks Frank.
Do you know which version of Vsampler
supports SF creation and editing?

Vquestor, I believe both version 2 and 3 do. Version 3 is being updated and bug fixed. The disadvantage with VSampler is that it strickly adhers to the GM Standard, e.g., drums instruments at specified note numbers, drums on channel 10 only and so on. LiveSynth Pro with Alive is easier to use with the Yamaha XG mode. If you are planning to move away from the XG to the GM standard then you have more choices.

That's a good point Frank. XG drum compatibility is a must so I can play
PSR styles correctly.
There is also one other old (no longer supported)program called Audio Compositor. Have you tried it in the past,
and if so, how is it for soundfont editing?

Vquestor, I bought Audio Compositor to try out. In general it is a very good program. The major restriction was that it could not handle more than the standard number of GM voices, i.e., 128 plus the drumkits. I corresponded with the author at that time and he indicated it would require to much work on his part to change it. Sad!!!

So like so many things in my life I left it twisting in the wind.....and a few less dollars in my pocket.....oh well!!!

I tried the demo of Alive, but did not see see away to see the specific note#s, just the small piano keyboard(hard on the eyes,and
annoying).
If I make a Master drums soundfont that will have GM kits in bank 128, and yamaha XG kits in bank 127 and 126, will LiveSynth access them correctly? What I would like is one instance of Livesynth to play both standard drums for midi files(channel 10),and PSR styles(usually ch. 9 & 10 as you have previously mentioned) correctly.
If so,in Forte,you can have
one instance of Hypercanvas with ch.9 and 10
blocked(since using for our sf drums), and LiveSynth in another instance with all channels (other than 9 and 10) blocked.
If this works,is Alive the only editor that will allow me to make this type of soundfont(i.e., the percussion pool can be specified
for other banks such as 126 and 127, instead of forcing all percussion to bank 128)?

Vquestor, yes LiveSynth Pro will work well with Yamaha styles and midi files provided you have the XG Drums in bank 127. Alternatively, you can transpose the Yamaha styles and midi files to standard GM format using OMB and other available programs.

It may be possible to use VSampler to program GM drum kits or change them to XG drum kits. VSampler likes to work in GM format whereas Alive is specifically written for use in designing Soundfont sounds and wavetables. It is the best option if you don't have a Creative Soundcard - plus it is not very expensive.

I use one instance of LiveSynth Pro to play GM, GS or XG midi and style files and one instance of Kontakt to play premium melody or lead voices. In addition, I will load various GM/GS/XG wavetables into LiveSynth Pro to suit various styles of music. By now I have several hundred GM/GS/XG wavetables to choose from. If you like the the drums from HQ Hyper Canvas better then you can have one instance of it and set it up as you have proposed. Flexibility!!!!


[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 11-15-2004).]

Frank, thanks much for your reply.
What I guess I would really prefer, is to
not have to do any modifications to the
psr style files at all; so the same style
could work in both a PSR keyboard and the
software.
Am I correct in assuming that the special
XG drumkits on Bank 126 would also work
properly with LiveSynth?
BTW, I just tried a new editor in SynthFont9.9 called Viena(not Vienna).
It's a little tricky, since you can't delete
banks or change bank numbers once you set them and have to start over.
I'll probably end up getting
Alive, although I hate not seeing the
note#s.

Hi Vquestor,
I'm not sure I've got the full drift of this thread ( I'm on very limited time at the moment, ) but
I tend to think you will still need to do a bit of editing.
I tried to do something similar ie try to
get the soundfonts to sound similar to the xg sounds in my yamaha piano so that I could use the same style for omb & CLP170 ( xg sounds) OR omb with synergi fonts.
The most notable problem I had was with individual drum velocities. I then figured the best way around it was to edit the fonts. Haven't gotten round to it yet as I'm in the middle of packing up to move house, so I haven't been round much. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll have some spare time again.

best wishes
Rikki

Vquestor, I have not tested Bank 126 for Yamaha drums in LiveSynth Pro - but my guess is it will work - just a guess.

Rikki,
Yes, you got it, I want to make a full
master drum soundfont. And eventually, with the highest quality sounds possible.
There probably will always be some tweaking
needed(as there are thousands of PSR styles
out there). If you can adjust your soundfont
volume levels to accommodate your styles,
as you say, I agree that it would be the best
option.

Thanks Frank,
I hope so. Is the easiest way to analyze
and modify a style(bank#'s etc.) OMB or one
of the Bedesem programs?

Vquestor, both approaches work well. I would say that OMB is more automated whereas using M. Bedesem's program with Cakewalk let's you do the more detailed changes yourself. So I think it depends what you are trying to do - level of detail.

Hi Vquestor,
wondering how you went. I haven't had the internet for a few weeks since we moved. Finally I'm back online.

I've decided to actually just edit the styles as required. I've collected so many over the years it would be hard to know where to start. I'm using omb software as my style editor as well as arranger. Haven't quite decided yet whether to use the synergi fonts for the styles or Hypercanvas. The latter will require changing the drum sets from xg to gm. Sometimes I think it would be easier to just have them as gm.

best wishes
Rikki