JMD,
Better sounds cost money. There's no way around that.

The Synth B on your sound card is probably a SoundFont Synth. If you have SoundFonts, you can load another one in place of the default one that Creative stuck in there.

Do a Google Search for SoundFonts. You're looking for a General MIDI or GM soundfont. There are some out there that are huge, over 60 megabytes. However, size is not an indicator of quality. Most are free, some are pay. Download and try them. Learn about SoundFonts, how to install them, edit them, and make your own.

Next, after you get frustrated with SoundFonts, you can try using a DXi or VSTi as stated above. Some are free, some are pay. The Roland VSC DXi, if you're using Windows XP, the Coyote Forte aren't bad.

Hardware synth or Module, when you get frustrated with trying to get DXis to work right. Several choices there, Yamaha, Casio are low end, but good sounds for the dollar.

For only $199, you might consider this Yamaha entry level keyboard.

http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.co...oard?sku=439620

It's on sale at Musician's Friend. You can listen to sound clips of it's brother keyboard here: http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Cont...mp;CTID=205100#

You can spend a lot more money, but the next step that I would go from here would be to a dedicated sound module, specifically the Ketron SD2, which PG Music sells here: http://www.pgmusic.com/ketronsd2.htm

Listen to demos of the unit here: http://www.ketronus.com/demos.php Scroll down until it says SD2. These are *THE BEST* sounds for the dollar that you can get right now, bar none!

If you want the best sounds, you have to pay for them.

Gary

I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!