Have been trying (unsuccessfully) to find recommended replacements for CoyoteWT. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I have seen Roland Sound Canvas. It does support VST2 but, is it any better than CoyoteWT?

Almost anything is better than CoyoteWT. My goto GM is VSTSynthFont64 in combination with the original CoyoteForteDX sound font files. The VSTSynthFont64 is free with BIAB and there is a link on the web for the ForteDX sound font files.

Budget would be helpful.
Are you looking for a free one, or do you have a little something to spend?

As mentioned by DrDan, VSTSynthFont64 is free with a little effort, and there are many sound font options to choose from that would likely be better than Coyote ..

Also, what kind of sounds/music?
Country, Orchestra, Bluegrass, Rock, Synth .. (?)
I assume for a GM app like BiaB

Thanks for all the responses and some great questions. The music is all covers. Classic Rock, Blues, Rock and Roll, Country, Oldies. I would like to find something under $100 but a little more wouldn't break the bank if it provides a significant improvement.

Are you looking for a GM sound source? If so google/bing GM VSTs and you will find many options.

If you want the best sounding MIDI sources you will have to not use GM, but of course you will have to assign each track to a MIDI sound source. You can enter that world with the free Kontakt Player, the free IK MultiMedia Sampletank 4, as well as a number of good sounding free VSTis.

So, since I am a Newby, I can say that I am only familiar with the GM version and would likely fair better with GM related options.

In that case I would go with soundfonts (SF2). Get a soundfont player and make it your go to sound source. Google/bing free soundfont players . Many SF2s sound better than the WT. For the rare number of times I use a SF2 I use the free TX16Wx Software Sampler. Most SF2s are GM so you don't have to worry about that.

You can get a soundfont editor and mix and match SF2s to create your custom SF2s. Thus you can replace one sound/patch with another, for instance changing one trumpet sound with one that better fits your song.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Like Dan I tend to use VSTSynthFont64 (which confusingly is a soundfont player, not a soundfont)
My usual soundfonts are "Compifont", "Timbres Of Heaven", or the JJazzLab soundfont.
There are many others, though, depending somewhat on the size and the type of sound you want.
A great many including all the above are free.

Dr Gannon made a pitch for TTS-1 for a free GM soft synth here.

I used TTS-1 for years and it's better than just ok.

I'm using the Roland SoundCanvas GM soft synth now. Think I paid $50 for it on sale. It's a little better than TTS-1 to my ears, even though both are based on SoundCanvas sounds.

Both are "assign it as default and forget it" if that's what you want to do.

Hi MarioD,
I have down loaded and ran the install for TX16Wx. Now I'm stuck trying to get PowerTracks Pro to recognize the new Sampler. I've looked on their site but haven't seen any clear directions as to how to do this. Could you provide some direction?

Thank you,

Ed

Hi DC Ron,
I looked at Roland sound canvas. Glad to here you have had success with it. I will likely be trying it next. Was it easy to get installed and set up?

Hi MarioD,
AS an update, PowerTracks now is recognizing TX16Wx and I am seeing movement on the track meters but, no movement with regard to the main meters and no sound output.

Did you load a GM soundfont into the TX?

GM Sound Font, hmm. I did not. Is there a set of sound fonts contained in TX or do I need to find one and load it into TX?

Thanks again,

Ed

There are a number of free GM soundfonts available. One of the better ones according to many of the forum members is Timbre of Heaven:

https://midkar.groups.io/g/main/topic/88313840

Just scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the link. This SF2 is very large, thus making in one of the best. Just DL it and have the TX find it. I put all of my SFs in a folder called Soundfonts, clever right? I have a lot of them but I have moved on to better sounding and more versatile sound sources like Kontakt and many VSTis. Google/bing free GM soundfonts and you will find a lot of them. There are also SF2s that you can purchase, however I suggest you start with the free ones first and maybe that is all that you will need.

Hi MarioD,
Yes the soundfont folder for storing your soundfonts sounds both creative and effective and the Timbresofheaven file is extraordinarily large. So the next question is how do I get TX to look for the TH file?

The deeper I get into this, the more I am liking the idea of a quality set it and for get it solution. Like maybe a VST solution. Ant thoughts?

You click on the Timbres of heaven when in the TX16Wx. As I said I rarely use SF2s and when I do it is in my DAW. So I tried to load the TX into BiaB and BiaB can't find it. I am going to have to do some more research and get back to you.

Set VstSynthFont as default synth and set the SF2 as default soundfont.

OK I got the TX16Wx working in BiaB; I had the original set as VST3 and BiaB doesn't do VST3. However you have to assign a sound to each channel and if you have to do that you probably should follow Musocity's "Set VstSynthFont as default synth and set the SF2 as default soundfont" as most likely it is more popular than the TX in the BiaB world. Note that the CoyoteWT does the assigning automatically.

I searched for a SF2 player that automatically assigned channels but I couldn't find one however others may be able to help.

Like I said a very rarely use SF2 and/or GM sounds anymore so I am out of the loop.

First of all a big thank you to all who have provided their input regarding trying to find a replacement for CWT. I have purchased and installed Roland Sound Canvas but now I'm looking for the usable sounds I can get from RSC and what package would provide better sounds than Roland Sound Canvas. AS always very interested in reading your thoughts concerning this matter. In addition is anyone familiar with a tutorial for Roland Sound Canvas?

Here's an example:
https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=762889

Oops, sorry I was late in replying. Don't know of a tutorial but there is a fairly comprehensive manual.

Here's my (dated) prior response:

Yep, pretty easy. Only real downside is you have to load Roland's software manager and periodically re-enter your password. Worth it to me though. This is the specific software I have. Good luck!

EWW.

Here's another alternative to look at and it never ceases to amaze me that this isnt discussed here more…computer music mag.uk. One issue costing 20 bucks gives you 80 fx and instrument plug-ins. i would suggest if you can't do a gold record using that lot plus pg's supplied synthfont and free synthmaster plugins and fx plugins you wont with anything.

Now let me defend coyote a tad. What is it good for ?
Unlike many plugins it doesnt use lots of pc resources.
imho it's good in situations when one has that song idea at 3am and just wants to get a song idea down fast. Without futzing around with a plugin that might have lots of settings.
ive seen too many times users new to music production load up on an old clunker pc lots of plugins and get problems.

i'm sure some some will disagree with me, but i find some fancy plugins (evern the cm mag ones) offer so many sound options that i never get a song done because i have too many options. i used to be a plugin collector but culled the herd because i wasnt getting songs finished.

Here's loads of videos on the 80 fx and instrument plugins.

https://www.youtube.com/user/computermusicmag


ps there are also a slew of free instrument plugins on the net…just google.


hth.

om
ps DC Ron...studiocat daw...i hear very nice.
happy with it ?

That looks like the one I have. You mentioned a manual. I have been looking for the manual on the Roland site and can't seem to find it. Could you point me in the direction of where I might find it?

DC Ron
Great news, I found the manual. I break down drums to groups usually 4 or 5 , Kick, Snare, toms, high hat/ ride and crash cymbals. It looks like SCVA only supports two ports for drums. Is there a way around this limitation? Next question is there a place where newbys can ask questions like these?

Great! I rarely use the Roland Soundcloud plugin as anything other than a GM engine that I don't have to think about, so...I haven't thought about the limits of the drum ports. Know that programs like EZDrummer let you get real detailed on ports, but that might be beyond the ability of this VST. There is an official Roland forum for the Roland family of cloud products but it's not very active from what I can tell.