PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows Software synthesizers...what's it all about?

Just getting back to BIAB after a few years hiatus and have some questions for you all. Thanks in advance.

I have a Casio ep-20 digital piano that I use as midi controller with BIAB and a Alesis Quadrasynth for sounds.
The Quad died a painless death last week and before I run out to buy a used Alesis QSR, which has essentially the same sounds as teh
Quad I want to see what all this talk is about software syntesizers that I might be able to run from my laptop.
If someone could point me to a clear reference on the internet that would be great.

Also I have licensed the Alesis Forte DXI plugins and want to be sure that I am using them. How can I confirm that
in BIAB. I have the box checked for "Use VST/DXiSynth" and when I click on the box below labeled "VST/DXi Synth Setting
ForteDXi Plug-in" I see the screen with "CH PROG BANK VOICES" across but only channel 10 has the description "Standard Kit".
Neither "Load Preset" or "Load Group" load anything that I can see. When I do Load Group I can see 3 entries that I must have
created back when I had a clue what I was doing with this.

Also....when you license Coyote plug-in is it only a license for one pc? I have it on one and not the other.
If I can put it on more than one how would I do that? Can I re download it from somewhere and hopefully it
will remember my payment from way back when?

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee

see PM

In my experience, Coyote Forte will run from multiple machines with a single license key (sent with your confirmation email and PGMusic will have it for you if you bought it through them).

I'm not sure what "Alesis Forte DXI plugins" are, but you have my ears perked.
Does Alesis now support the Forte in some way?

You should have gotten an email from PG (or Coyote) with a Registration number (that's how you authorized it) it does not connect to web to verify. You just type it in when it asks for it.

If you lost that registration info try contacting PG (or look for email for from "sales@pgmusic" at around that time) - plus make sure you get v 1.6 if it's been awhile you might have 1.3. (looking at EULA below ANYONE can give you a copy of the install)

I know this has been asked before (and answered but I cannot find it) I am fairly certain you can install it on at LEAST your desktop and your laptop, but can only use one at a time. You might be able to install in more but again I just don’t know for certain. I have it on both but could not find anything in their license agreement/ EULA (that pops up during install) about it one way or other, here it is verbatim :






" ForteDXi is a DirectX (DXi) plugin that may be used with DXi-compatible host programs to give them the ability to play using the sounds of real instruments, rather than using your system's default synth.

You may evaluate ForteDXi for 30 days, with no restrictions, but after that period of time you must either purchase it or delete it (and all of its sound bank files) from your system.

See Coyote's webpage www.coyotes.bc.ca for further registration information.

License Agreement
=================

ForteDXi 1.6
Copyright (c) 2007 Coyote Electronics Inc. All Rights Reserved.
END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR FORTE DXI

IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY: This End-User License Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and Coyote Electronics Inc. ("COYOTE") for the ForteDXi software product identified above which may include associated media, printed materials, and "online" or electronic documentation ("SOFTWARE PRODUCT").

By installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, do not install or use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.

GRANT OF LICENSE.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed as follows:
* Installation and Use. COYOTE grants you the right to install and evaluate the SOFTWARE PRODUCT free of charge for up to 30 days without a registration key. To use it beyond this time period you must register and pay for the product.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS.
* Transfer. You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this EULA, provided the recipient agrees to the terms of this EULA.
* Maintenance of Copyright Notices. You must not remove or alter any copyright notices on all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
* Prohibition on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.

REDISTRIBUTION.
You are hereby licensed to make as many copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT; give exact copies of the original version to anyone; and distribute the SOFTWARE PRODUCT in its unmodified form via electronic means. There is no charge for any of the above.
You are specifically prohibited from distributing or disclosing to any 3rd party the REGISTRATION KEY(S) supplied to you by COYOTE for use with the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

TERMINATION.
Without prejudice to any other rights, COYOTE may terminate this EULA if you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of this EULA. In such event, you must destroy all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.

COPYRIGHT.
All title, including but not limited to copyrights, in and to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and any copies thereof are owned by COYOTE or its suppliers. All title and intellectual property rights in and to the content which may be accessed through use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is the property of the respective content owner and may be protected by applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties. This EULA grants you no rights to use such content. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by COYOTE.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY.
THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THIS PROGRAM.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall COYOTE or its suppliers be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, even if COYOTE has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
"





Larry

I have not used hardware synth sounds in ...like forever.


Softsynths are so much nicer...IMHO. Tons of sound choices that are simply impossible to cram into the chips and software in a keyboard.

I use my keyboards now only for the midi data I need to play the notes. Software synths provide the sounds.

As long as you have a good sound card/interface and run ASIO drivers, you should be good on the latency.... that is the one down side to using soft-synths..... the latency, from using sub-par drivers like MME.

Coyote and TTS are more or less beginner synths.... they are good for what they do. I suggest playing around with them to learn. But once you have learned how to use them, you will likely start yearning for more authentic sounds and easier ways to do things..... that's when you can start looking into the drum synths and some of the offerings from companies such as Native Instruments and East West..... cost is higher but the quality is top drawer. The violins in EW & Kontakt actually sound like violins and not a synth imitation of a violin.

Software synths open a whole new world of sound. Happy hunting.....

I would add to Herb's Native instruments, which is very good, Sampletank You can download Sampletank 3 free right now and it comes with a pack of basic sounds that will get you started. Also there is a free Sampletank 2.5 with BiaB now that has a really good library.

to Guitarhacker

I guess a friendly disagreement on this one is in order, and not to get too far off OP's topic - while I have all the usual suspect softsynths, and yes I DO USE THEM, however, more often than not I use external HW. Why? - you turn them on and they work:

No install issues, no license/registration issues, no boot issues, no must be connected to the internet issues, no where did the fracking VSTi install?, no "forgot to turn this on first and have to shut down and restart," no "this (new) or (old) x-bit OS" needs a new version to work," no "why is that patch wrong? " or "what the H*ll was that?" …

And yes, I like the HW sounds (patches) I have crafted on those HW synths over the years.

Another plus of HW is that with my MIDI keyboards those synths are already turned on anyway (as is my rack) I have no "just controller" keyboards except a small iRig Keys Pro I keep next to PC. to use my GK equipped guitars I also have the HW synths and racks turned on, the only controllers that I have must have the PC turned-on are again the iRig Keys, my Fishman TriplePlay equipped guitars, as well as using my MIDI Guitar by Jam Origins SW.

Best of all: sometimes I don’t even turn my PC on!


But I do use Softsynths - I even drop my sliderules (for REAL!) and use a calculator once in a while.


BACK TO OP:


I agree Forte Dxi and TTS-1 are basic, but even in lieu of any other softsynths between just Forte and TTS-1 you could produce a pretty decent tune, I just wouldn't try to score your next historic Opus with them!

Plus there are MANY free softsynths (including drum SW).

As Robh explained Sampletank 2 and 3 have free versions. There is a free soundfont (SF) player SfZ from Cakewalk, as well as the free Plogue sforzand (Google it) allows you to use some good free SF's files from across the web. Then other free tools allow you to construct your OWN GM banks of soundfonts. Then there are free analog synths, etc. start at Kvr

http://www.kvraudio.com/developer/kvr-audio

Frankly, you could in just a few weeks or months building a really great set of FREE softsynth sounds and make them your goto's! It's just a matter of time, web connection speed, and do you want to spend no money, very little money, a modest amount, a lot of money, or like some of us "OMG HOW MUCH DID I JUST SPEND!"


Have fun, make music, enjoy life

Larry