I bought a new high end laptop, and have set it up yesterday to prepare the coming ..Hyper Canvas[soft synth from Edirol]..My old laptop didn't have enough ooofff to handle Hyper Canvas..I am running XP Professional..A few problems with my antique HP 5100c and 722c hardware, they suggest some work a rounds, but without success..I guess I will have to pick up new printer and scanner[USB]...Well Donny , Dave and I are ready for HC, are you almost ready[new laptop]?

What kind of Lt did you buy? specs....etc....I'm ready!

Compaq 2570US, pentium 4, 2.4, 512ram, 64ram graphic,USB2,firewire, DVD/CDrw , 40 gig HD etc..XP Pro..

With Hyper Canvas, can you just play midis from the LT and not go through the keyboard?
Are there free programs to do that? I really need something like that.
DonM

Fran, I have tested the Edirol HQ Sound Canvas and it is certainly a significant improvement over the previous VSC88 version. I believe this version has a 16 mb wavetable compared to others at 4 or so. It is expensive but it is worth it.

Fran what is this - all this modernizing??? Looks like the past is to be found only in the rear view mirror.

DonM, yes you can play midis just like with any sound module or keyboard with built in sounds. All you need is a good media player, e.g., VanBasco, etc. The sound card/chip needs to be up to the task as well so that you get acceptable performance (latency, noise, distortion and so on). I would think the new LTs are up to the task. For music you may need to disable the LT power management so that it does not go to sleep while you are in the middle of a performance.

If the built in sound chips are not up to the task you can always get outboard or plugin soundcards, e.g., Echo, etc.

Another good thing about the Edirol Softsynth is that it comes with very good effects (reverb, chorus) that respond to control changes from your midis or keyboard.


[This message has been edited by Frank L. Rosenthal (edited 08-30-2003).]

My laptop plays them fine, using Van Basco, but the sounds are not as good as playing them from the keyboard. I didn't know if there is a software fix, or a new sound card is needed.
Thanks,
DonM

DonM, if your LT is up to the task then installing the Edirol HQ Sound Canvas softsynth will make all the difference. It will sound as good as if not better then any of Roland's GM/GS modules. It will sound better then any of Yamaha's soft synths at 4mb - plus at a much better latency. In fact, with a midi controller (PSR 2000) you could play the soft synth live if you wish.

It is starting to look like DonM is ready to make investments in his future and leave some of us behind. Oh well!!!

Thanks Frank. My lt is top-of-the-line.
I have Yamaha Softsynth S-YXG50 in my PC. Would it work for this purpose if I put it on the laptop?
Don

Frank,

I have Hyper Canvas, but I need to go to cakewalk to load the softsynth, and then revoice the midis to let them play with HC.
As for as I know you can't use HC in combination with Vanbasco since its not standalone.
So if there is any way to play them using Vanbasco, then please explain, thanx.

Greetz ,
Wazza