Changing sounds and soundfonts

[MASTON]

Hi guys

I've just plugged a midi controller keyboard into my soundblaster 1024 (using cakewalk 9) and much to my astonishment, it worked straight away, no fiddling or anything. I pressed a key on the keyboard and it made a piano sound.

So now how do I change the sounds to be anything other than piano1, and more importantly how do I get hold of some cool soundfonts and then make them work.
What I need is a great organic piano sound, and some nice string sounds. That's all.

Also, even with the vol slider on full it all seems a bit quiet. How do I raise the volume.

This' my first foray into midi so can you keep it simple please guys

cheers
Maston

 

[12Kevin]

Better Soundfonts

To change sounds here's a simple way:
1. Right click on a track in Cakewalk
2. Choose Track Properties,
3. Click the menu button next to Patch and choose any of 128 instruments.

Or,
1. Open the "Console" window in Cakewalk
2. Above each track is several buttons. One is "Patch"
3. Click and choose.

To increase volume, If your controller is touch sensitive you can hit the keys harder. You can also check your on-screen mixer to make sure the sliders are high enough on the midi and master volume sliders.

For quick answers, on how soundfonts work here's a good place to start:

http://www.soundfonts.com

This next one has some great (FREE) GM banks which sound much better than the ones that come with your sound card.

http://www.personalcopy.com/sfarkfonts.htm

There are other ways to add more instruments beyond the standard 128. But this will get you started.

Have fun.
Kev

 

[MASTON]

Cheers 12Kevin
I checked out those soundfont sites, just what I was looking for, and also got some great info on the intricacies of using soundfonts, so Iwon't have to bother you with that.
Bye and thanks

I do have another question though. What do you do if you're thinking of upgrading your card to a 20 or 24 bit card, and it, like, doesn't support soundfonts, like the SB live does.

Maston

 

[12Kevin]

SBLive! plus a better sound card

No problem, Maston,

You keep the SBLive! in place, and add whatever card you wish.

The main reason for a better card is to improve your live audio recording.

Cakewalk (and other recording/sequencing programs) will let you choose the SBLive as the source for midi/sounfont input; and at the same time let you choose your audio inputs from a separate card.

Also, there are already at least one software program that will allow Cakewalk to access soundfonts directly without a Live! card, but I think it requires Windows 2000 and Cakewalk's Sonar program. I'm behind the news on the details about this.

In any case, Soundfonts are well established and will only become better and more easily accessible.

Be warmed and filled...
Kev