Synth Midi File Player?

[munchkin]

Is there a VSTi synth that can load and play midi song files I've bought with the correct general midi sounds assigned to each channel/track? Or a midi song player that can render the file to audio tracks?

I've got Sampletank and Kontakt but if I load the midi songs into Reaper I don't know which sounds to assign to each track. It would be much easier to have a synth that does this automatically but I can't find one so far.

[Xenobt]

Hey munchkin,

I don't work in Reaper, but in each general midi track you import there should be a midi program change number. You may need to change your track view to see it, but it will be at the very head of the track.

That number matches the 128 instruments in the GM sound set. It's the second table down.

http://www.midi.org/techspecs/gm1sound.php

Since you own Sampletank, the OmniSynth 2 Xpansion Tank is a GM based set with all instrument names featuring a patch name corresponding to their GM patch number.

IK is running a special right now for facebook users that makes the price VERY attractive. If you're not a FB fan, PM me and I'll give you the promo code.

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

[munchkin]

Hey munchkin,

I don't work in Reaper, but in each general midi track you import there should be a midi program change number. You may need to change your track view to see it, but it will be at the very head of the track.

That number matches the 128 instruments in the GM sound set. It's the second table down.

http://www.midi.org/techspecs/gm1sound.php

Since you own Sampletank, the OmniSynth 2 Xpansion Tank is a GM based set with all instrument names featuring a patch name corresponding to their GM patch number.

IK is running a special right now for facebook users that makes the price VERY attractive. If you're not a FB fan, PM me and I'll give you the promo code.

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

Thanks Xenobot for your advice. I already own Sampletank which is great but I was looking for something that could play midi song files without me needing to load each GM patch which I think I'd need to do with ST. Omnisphere is a bit out of my price range atm.

I've found one solution which is a bit expensive but does work. Purity by Luxonix automatically loads the right GM patches with each song. It comes with it's own sounds too which seem pretty good and are fully editable. The only downside is it's $99 (gulp!) Maybe some kind of GM soundfont player might work and be cheaper?

[Xenobt]

The soundfont option is probably a good bet, and almost certainly the cheapest! I know that Quicktime has GM playback features. However, you'd have less control over editing the sounds themselves. So if you're looking for midi jukebox/karaoke/live performance playback, ST may not be the way to go since you have to load sounds individually per song.

But I was talking about the OmniSYNTH expansion library for Sampletank, not Omnisphere, which is out of my price range too!

Here's a link:

http://www.esoundz.com/details.php?ProductID=4736

eSoundz.com is having a site-wide Memorial Day sale, (no facebook codes needed) so the the price is 25% off what's listed here. And once you register there, you'll immediately get a membership discount too, so register before you buy.

If you do decide to go that way, please refer a KVRer for epointz at checkout, here's the most recent list I could find. It's free and it always makes my whole day to get them!

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217796

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

[No_Use]

Some older GM VSTi's would be Native Instruments Bandstand (discontinued) and Hyper Canvas.

[dburns]

Munchkin,

If you own one of the Cakewalk products that come with the TTS-1, you can use that as a GM file player. Or, if you like, buy the original version, Edirol HyperCanvas HQ, but be prepared to insert the installation CD whenever it randomly requires you to do so.

It is surprising how rare software or hardware GM Midi file players are. Most solutions are like OmniSynth, requiring you to load each patch manually.

Music Creator 6 is only $20 until May 31.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/MusicC ... aspx/TTS-1

http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/Pro ... MC6.00-30E

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/MusicCreator/

[Xenobt]

Thanks for the reminder about older stuff, No_Use.

There's also a GM player in M-Audio's KeyRig software. Not great in terms of CPU usage, so full arrangements might need a well equipped machine. You can get some cycles back by turning off the other 3 modules in its rack though, and the sounds are quite nice.

Here's one on eBay, with free shipping!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-Audio-Key-Rig ... 6737wt_804

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

[munchkin]

My mistake! I already have OmniSynth 1. Version 2 looks very tempting but the problem is that if I load a new midi song I have to change GM sounds manually for each song as far as I'm aware. I don't think ST2 does this automatically. So far, Purity is the only synth I've found that can handle this.

[munchkin]

Munchkin,

If you own one of the Cakewalk products that come with the TTS-1, you can use that as a GM file player. Or, if you like, buy the original version, Edirol HyperCanvas HQ, but be prepared to insert the installation CD whenever it randomly requires you to do so.

It is surprising how rare software or hardware GM Midi file players are. Most solutions are like OmniSynth, requiring you to load each patch manually.

Music Creator 6 is only $20 until May 31.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/MusicC ... aspx/TTS-1

http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/Pro ... MC6.00-30E

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/MusicCreator/

Is it possible to use the TTS-1 in Reaper or only in Music Creator 6? If so then that looks like a winner.

[dburns]

TTS-1 is installed as a DXi on my system (Win7-64). I was able to insert it on a track in Reaper with no problem.

I don't know if there is a VST version in the Cakewalk install. I just use the DXi myself.