And a good G-MIDI synth has all 128 continuous controllers available so it can sound extremely expressive.

The only difference between a General MIDI synth and a non GM synth is that in GMidi the acoustic bass is always patch 33. In one of my non GM synths it's 42. The bass (or other) patch on a GM synth can be of cheesy quality, like the ones in most computer sound cards, or it can be of absolute stellar quality.

Consider the work done by most keyboard players since the Yamaha DX-7 was introduced in the early 80s. By the 90s even the keyboard greats of the time like Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson were playing new synths. And between the black and white keys and the sound generating part of virtually every digital keyboard is our old friend MIDI.

The fact that MIDI is still used today, reflects the foresight and flexibility of the engineers who wrote the specifications.

Don't want to carry around a 400+ pound B3 organ to the gig? There is a little MIDI synth that will do the job.

Don't want to hire a string section? There is a little MIDI synth that will do the job.

Don't want to hire an acoustic bass player? There is a little MIDI synth that will do the job.

In most cases, if the synth of good quality and is played well, most musicians will not be able to tell the difference. And the synth and player are good, the audience will not notice that it's a synth.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks