non GM synths

[frockyton]

Is the real problem with non-General MIDI synths that they don't have the patches of sounds in standardized banks? I'll probably play all of mine live, but am (a little) interested in sequencing. I have a Roland D5, Kawai K1rack, and a Roland EP5...and two non MIDI (real piano, and a Yamaha SY1).

 

[AlChuck]

You got it, that's the issue... you have to keep track of which patches are stored at which patch number. Most computer-based sequencers allow you to store a instrument definition file of some sort that can save these mappings and make it easy to work with from the sequencer. Of course, if your sequence needs to be portable -- you want it to play with the same or very similar sounds as you have -- then you have a problem. That's the whole point of GM. But if your sequences are only used in your own setup, it's no big deal once you've worked out the instrument definitions.