Best VST and application for playing GM MIDI files in a live performance/gig situation?

[mc314]

I have an old Roland SD-35 hardware MIDI player that I still like to use for playing MIDI files on the gig. However, as a backup, I'd like to set up my laptop to be able to play those files. I've been doing some reading and learning today and it seems I need a general midi VST plugin, and an application to play the files in. I like MIDI because it allows me to change the tempo, or key of the song.

I've seen that Roland makes a VST of their sound canvas (what the SD35 uses), however, it's part of their stupid cloud subscription service. I'd prefer either a one time purchase VST, or even a free one if there are good free ones available. For the playback, I have no interest in some complicated full blown DAW. As I mentioned, this will be for live performance so my needs are simple, play, stop, load another song, change tempo, change key. So this boils down to two questions really:

1) Which VST plugin for reliably playing MIDI files?
2) What simple (windows) application to play the MIDI files?

Thanks for any advice and suggestions!

[mc314]

Did I ask a really hard question, or really dumb question??

[PeterP_swe]

1) You need something like a ROM-pler VST with a decent general midi sound set. Maybe HALion Sonic, which is also available as a standalone application. There is a Free version of it that you can try.

2) You mention that you have no interest in a full blown DAW, but that is in fact what most people are using for their live performances. Ableton Live is a popular choice for that and the cheap/free Lite version should be enough. I guess you could look into Gig Performer, it might work better for you.

[surreal]

This thread feels like Deja Vu as I have already commented on a post with the same requierments from a different O/P

[mc314]

I've not heard the term ROM-pler, so I will look into that.

@surreal, do you have a link to that thread you mention so I can read it?

[surreal]

I am looking.. but my suggestion in the thread was Air Xpand2+ so look into that one so long

[mc314]

Thanks, Is that this? www.airmusictech.com/product/xpand2#.Ye2sJurMJaQ ?
I read the description, it does not say anything about GM compatible?

[surreal]

Try then Bandlab Cakewalk.. it will play midi files with the roland tts soundcanvas that is included.. the sound canvas is gm 1 and gm 2 compatible and its free

[Tj Shredder]

In theory the Roland Soundcanvas VST would be the ideal replacement for that Roland hardware. In practice I would not touch it especially for Live use. It will cause stress, as you need at least once per week to connect to the Roland servers. I would call it a spyware… Murphy’s law will let you run into that trap if you are on tour…
As host a fully blown DAW might be overkill. If you have a Mac, get Mainstage. On PC there are similar tools like Gig Performer from Plugin Alliance… (Don’t pay the full price, wait for a sale…)

[Mixel]

For playback of GM/GS/XG midis I use the MidiSoundSynth (https://www.goldmidisf2.com/midisoundsynth/) with the "MSSKetronSD1000XL-Soundfont" For the DAW I can recommend the "VSTSynthFont-64 Bit (http://www.synthfont.com/VSTSF_news.html).

[crankyoldyank]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

https://x42-plugins.com/x42/x42-gmsynth (https://x42-plugins.com/x42/x42-gmsynth)

pick yer OS poison...

haven't tried it, but sounds cool. (Win)

https://www.goldmidisf2.com/midisoundsynth/ (https://www.goldmidisf2.com/midisoundsynth/)

[crankyoldyank]

...also, if trying to repurpose an old laptop (I've used a 10+ year old), look into Linux w/QSynth. Standard install provides a decent .sf2.

[eLawnMust]

Wow...The talks remind me of Native Instruments BandStand...I think you might be 20 years too late...

[aideeamei]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

https://x42-plugins.com/x42/x42-gmsynth (https://x42-plugins.com/x42/x42-gmsynth)

pick yer OS poison...

haven't tried it, but sounds cool. (Win)

https://www.goldmidisf2.com/midisoundsynth/ (https://www.goldmidisf2.com/midisoundsynth/)

Beware, not having Ardour results in files not being extracted by the installer anywhere on Windows 64x.

[thePostman]

[quote=eLawnMust post_id=8623267 time=1677179558 user_id=603452]
Wow...The talks remind me of Native Instruments BandStand...I think you might be 20 years too late...
[/quote]

Still, in Kontakt you can make your own GM compatible instrument by using the instrument bank and the factory sounds. The factory sounds ar pretty good. You will get better sound than any soundfont (as far as I have tried).
It is a bit of work, but rewarding: Create an instrument bank and populate it with Kontakt factory sounds in GM order.

Mind that all sounds are loaded at the same time, so make sure to keep the number of samples within limits. (For instance, do not use the Violin Solo patch, because it will contain all the articulations you do not need. Instead use the Violin (sustain) patch.
Fortunately you can edit the factory instruments. So in other cases, just disable the key switching and remove all the samples you do not need and save it as a new patch.) Sometimes you can use the same instrument several times with some sound tweaking. This will also help to keep the sample memory low, because Kontakt will load the necessary samples only once.

Once you have created a GM instrumentbank, make a multi by loading the instrumentbank several times. It will not use more memory than one bank, since you load the same instrumentbank every time. Set the appropriate channel for each bank and you have yourself a high quality GM compatible Kontakt instrument.