To be honest the coyote-windows and DLS-synths mac sound like s***. This could be a paid add-on and would be a great addition to BIAB. Sibelius sounds is a good example on how it could be done.
The decent (at the time) Roland VSC synth that PG Music used to use was 32-bit only.
Note that the Coyote that ships with BIAB now is not the Coyote Forte, which was acceptable sound at the time, but instead (as I understand it) is just a wrapper to give you the built-in Microsoft sounds. And yes, those are truly terrible for BIAB.
Peter Gannon a few years ago was recommending people get the free Cakewalk by Bandlab because it came with the TTS MIDI synth.
And I do understand the value of good sound. I changed music notation program last year mostly because the current one came with a sound set of the London Symphony Orchestra. This made anything I did in my old notation sound like a tin can by comparison.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
For Windows, I suggest trying CoolSoft's free VirtualMIDISynth, an excellent replacement for the POS Mickeysoft GM Wavetable Synth that comes with Windows. Their website lists a bunch of free SoundFonts and some paid ones, too. I use the free Arachno soundfont and the free JJazzLab soundfont.
VSTsynthfont $15. Takes any GM SF2 banks, there are many free ones that sounds OK, or you can build your own. It will do GM program change and is very flexible. It was included in some versions of BIAB, so you might have it already.
The best paid option is Halion Sonic for GM + Program change. Free would work too, but is limited. A good way to try it.
I have not found anything better than two above tat do GM + Program changes. If you are not looking for Program changes, there are more choices.
I use the VSTsynthfont64 mentioned above. This is an older version. Not sure how this was loaded as i never paid for it, but as Rusty mentioned it may have come in a BIAB install at some time in the past. It works great.
CoolSoft's free VirtualMIDISynth looks to be very similar to VSTSynthfont64 in that it uses soundfonts. This is freeware. Installs on PC fine, but I have not been able to install in BIAB! This may be worth figureing out.
TTS MIDI synth was a total bust. The free version has little to no sounds.
While there certainly are worthwhile third party solutions in my judgement the best solution is to have PG Music create a MIDI soft synth that is integrated and built-in.
Jim, I think the issue is... it is complicated to make something decent and more or less future proof. Meaning PG can update their HQ set, and solder it in. But then it would still be very basic as far as "tweaking" go. Even something simple as to change octave of a single instrument could be tricky.
If Peter G. recommended TT1 himself that was not a coincidence. Couple of years ago I reached out to Cakewalk developer asking for a possibility to change TT1 in some way to accept user SF2. I was told it is not possible because of licensing.
I have not found anything better than Halion (Sonic) as far as quality of sound, and a budget, but highly user flexible solution VSTsynthfont that would do GM program changes.
Bottom line, I think it would be hard for PG to reinvent the wheel. However, I think they could tweak HQ set, add instruments and make it work seamlessly with VSTsynthfont Or... have their own internal synth that can accept a user SF2 banks, that way users will not be "stuck" if they decide they do not like particular instrument.
Yes I know there’s a lot of alternatives around. Back in the day I used NI Bandstand on my mac.. Realtracks are amazing, but I think the midi recordings that you make also deserve quality sounds without having to search for SoundFonts etc. Especially if you are a new user of BIAB
Svenne, I do know some weak spots of BIAB, but I do not consider specifically this as one. PG gives a basic set of sounds, even with the cheapest tier of BIAB....
Consider that Sonic by itself cost $250 (when not on sale) BIAB or NOT BIAB Sonic IS the best GM (software) synth that would do program changes out of the box with possibility to swap instruments from internal library, which has decent soundest and highly tweakable. Unless you can prove me wrong.
Question is this. Would you pay even half of the Sonic price extra to get similar in BIAB? I doubt 90% of users will....So if you are looking for advanced software GM module, I believe there are no alternatives to Sonic / Halion. Get the free Sonic, and try it. Think of it as a next generation of Bandstand... but much better.
P.S. If you decide to try it and run into issues, I am sure there are enough people here who have it, to help you setting it up. Once you set it up, you are golden
PG Music includes VSTSynthFont64. As I remember the version of VSTSynthFont64 PG Music provides is modified so it automatically loads as GM compatible. But a user still must install the application so it's still not built-in.
It's high time (read: long overdue!) that PG itself updates their decades old choice of built-in sounds. People are vastly underrating the midi styles as it is, just because those sound sources (which is what newcomers hear in their demos!) make them sound so crappy.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
It's high time (read: long overdue!) that PG itself updates their decades old choice of built-in sounds. People are vastly underrating the midi styles as it is, just because those sound sources (which is what newcomers hear in their demos!) make them sound so crappy.
I agree!
+1
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
++++a million. Svenne..in the interim as your in europe check out computer music magazine instrument plug ins on you tube. its well the worth buying once a year for 20 pounds to get a slew of free plug ins you can plug into different traks...in a daw like realband or reaper or whatever. google "you tube computer music mag plug ins". slew of demos on you tube.
happiness. om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 01/26/2204:57 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
As Jim Fogle says, PGM include VSTSynthFont64 in their package, though they include only the default sound font, which seems a shame. They also don't use it by default, which also seems a shame. There are several good free soundfonts available.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
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