Just saved my school £3000 But...

Jake Farr · Feb 5, 2003, 10:14 PM

I have just saved my music department a packet by installing the Kx drivers rather than upgrading the cards on our 26 pc workstations, but have lost the original onboard sounds for our Soundbalster Live! cards. I understand that we now have to use Soundfonts instead, which is fine, but where do I get the best sounds? how do they compare with the onboard sounds and will they load?
If Kx Project can point me in the right direction and guarantee they will work I will happily donate some of our savings to their cause.

Daniel Drummond · Feb 6, 2003, 12:44 AM

Look for *.sf2 soundfiles using SEARCH function in windows. All files that show up will be soundfonts. If none show up you can search the original sb live CD. It contains lots of soundfonts. For a GM soundfont (the one normally installed by Creative's drivers) you'd load in KX mixer (soundfont page) the 8mbgsfx soundfont or the 4 or 2mb versions.

strangeloop · Feb 10, 2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

...but have lost the original onboard sounds for our Soundbalster Live! cards. I understand that we now have to use Soundfonts instead...

Yes, search for .sf2-files on your harddisk or on the SBLive-cd. The 8 Mb SoundFont is pretty good.

Soundblaster Lives don't have onboard sounds (like the good old AWEcards did); with the original drivers you were already using SoundFonts (a GM SoundFont bank is loaded by default in the SBLive after installing the Creative software/drivers). The only problem is that you have to reload this SoundFont (or another / a better one) into Bank 0.

Also, on the internet you can find loads of fine SoundFonts. Take a look at Hammersound or just Google for it (e.g. this searchterm).

Quote:

...how do they compare with the onboard sounds and will they load...

I'm not so much into great GM Banks (don't use much GM instruments) but Google can tell you everything about it... I can, however, assure you that they often sound much better than the standard GM banks you got from Creative.
It depends on your system (how much RAM you have) if they will load or won't load. But for some 20 or 30 megabytes you already have great banks (I assume you have at least 128 Mb RAM). Just try.

s3n71nel · Feb 13, 2003, 07:07 PM

If you want better sounds for your midi than what the creative soundfonts give you , then try this soundfont. It is about 26 Mb.
General User GS 1.35

bye.

Feb 5, 2003, 10:14 PM	#1
Jake Farr DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Just saved my school £3000 But... I have just saved my music department a packet by installing the Kx drivers rather than upgrading the cards on our 26 pc workstations, but have lost the original onboard sounds for our Soundbalster Live! cards. I understand that we now have to use Soundfonts instead, which is fine, but where do I get the best sounds? how do they compare with the onboard sounds and will they load? If Kx Project can point me in the right direction and guarantee they will work I will happily donate some of our savings to their cause.

Feb 6, 2003, 12:44 AM	#2
Daniel Drummond DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Brazil Posts: 1,137 Rep Power: 0	Look for *.sf2 soundfiles using SEARCH function in windows. All files that show up will be soundfonts. If none show up you can search the original sb live CD. It contains lots of soundfonts. For a GM soundfont (the one normally installed by Creative's drivers) you'd load in KX mixer (soundfont page) the 8mbgsfx soundfont or the 4 or 2mb versions. __________________ www.palcomp3.com.br/ed

Feb 13, 2003, 07:07 PM	#4
s3n71nel DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 41 Rep Power: 0	If you want better sounds for your midi than what the creative soundfonts give you , then try this soundfont. It is about 26 Mb. General User GS 1.35 bye.