Lee, I clicked on the link you provided, so I assume I signed up under you? How would we know? I tried........

Hi Rocky

If you signed up through that link I posted then you should have me as one of your contacts (I think)

I think they are swizzing me ...cause there can't be that many people getting it wrong...grrrr!


Lee

Thanks for trying both you and Weezard

Well, I don't see any contacts, so I guess that it didn't work correctly. I did click on your link and signed up, so not sure why it didn't work......sorry!

you're forgiven

I'm thinking you have to actually email people the links for it to work. Not sure the link you posted here will work.

Hi Rocky

I haven't emailed any out yet...but, I have 6 so far?

I wonder why it works for some and not others?

I still reckon it could be a swizz!

I've emailed them to find out why some do and some don't (I'll let you know if they reply)


Lee

BTW rocky when I said it was "absolutely flippin' fantastic" I was talking about your latest recording of HOME just incase you thought I was referring to box.net

edit

I wonder whether it is the "https" rather than "http" in my link? so I've changed it because I've just had an email invite from Euan with just http in it???

Ive got 8 now (Euan joined through my link )

Only 2 more to go

BTW Euan did you just click on the link?

http://www.box.net/signup/invitation/lee.holt@btinternet.com


regards


Lee

I highlighted the link and then right-click and 'open in new window'.

Glad it worked!
Its a cool site - will need to record some stuff and post them!

Thanks Euan

Thats way kool I'd never have thought of doing that

BTW I got a reply from Box.net

which said

which probably means some of you must have very dodgy email addresses


Lee

Hey Seaside,

Which Voice on your MOTIF did you use to record that song above?

Hi WW

I used the "concert grand 1" voice on both of them.

regards


Lee

Thanks

Now, I'm not trying to match Mr S-H's record of posting the same song (seven times?), but have a listen to this! This Steinway sample really blows my socks off, and it was free!!

http://www.savefile.com/files/6516204

Dreamy, stephenc.

That's such a pretty song. Very peaceful. The you ended it very beautifully - very strong.

Thanks for listening Sharon, your comments are always well received! I'm really looking forward to the next recital with this new soundfont to record with, it will be a very dreamy piece too!

Hi Stephen

Simply gorgeous playing as always...love the way you play

And I have to agree that Steinway sample is fantastic...and you say it was free!!...wow!!

tell us more (ie where d'ya get it from? and how did you use it? etc etc )


C'mon dish the dirt


Lee

Hey Lee,

Its a fairly simple setup if you have the right gear. In addition to a PC with a good bit of ram (i have 512mb) and a decent CPU ( i think mine is running at 2.3 or 2.4 Ghz) You need a soundcard that allows you to load soundfont files (SF2 files) onto the memory bank where the standard general midi sounds are located. On my Audigy 2 card, I can access this facility through the 'Soundfont Bank Manager'.

I found the soundfont at www.sf2midi.com, it is called 'GPO Concert Steinway ver2' (a 40mb download). You just need to sign up with an email etc to get free access to hundreds of fonts for all instruments.

After loading the font, you simply connect your digital or midi piano/keyboard to the PC and select this as the midi in instrument, open your soundfont bank manager or other midi program, and play away. I send the signal from the PC to the digital via the line out on PC to line in on digital to capitalise on the big speaker setup on my digital.

And the outcome is really something with this font! I tried many from the site, but this topped the lot by far IMO, i adjust the treble and bass etc to get it how i like for each piece.

BTW, I posted a rendition of Edgewater on box.net in the Edgewater thread recorded with the font, so have a listen to that for a more complete sample of the font.

Stephen

Erm...thanks

Hmmm?...I don't understand most of what you are telling me there so I probably don't have the right gear

But, I am for the most part "inner-computer-thingy-ma-jiggy" illiterate (maybe I shouldn't have asked?

I shall listen to your piece right away


regards


Lee

Oh my gosh!!

I just listened to that piece!... how good is that???!

Are you sure you are not Jim Brickman in disguise?


yes that sound font sounds most excellent ...now if I could just work out what I'm supposed to have and do...hmmmm?


Lee

Hey Lee,

You could probably disregard the PC requirements (RAM and CPU) cos if your pc is somewhat modern, those requiremnts are very standard these days (and thats not to say it wouldnt work on a PC with less RAM etc than mine, but it works great on mine, with nothing else running at the same time).

What soundcard do you have? If you dont know, its probably a standard install meaning you would need an upgrade to, for example, an Audigy 2 (which these days are probably dirt cheap), http://www3.shopping.com/xGS-audigy_2
Yep, they are, the one on the far right I have.

Again if you PC is somewhat modern, the card should just slot into a spare PCI slot, and the software and drivers are a piece of cake to load with the installation CD. The soundfont bank manager program i mentioned is a standard utility installed with the software, and is very, very easy to use.

Hi Stephen

I have 2 soundcards

1. a soundblaster

the other (because I wanted to get my midi files already recorded by me sounding a lot better and this was recommended on the digital piano forum but, I have never been able to figure out how to do it...grrr!)

2. M Audio audiophile 2496

which I know should do the trick?

I also have a gig of ram and steinberg cubase SX3 installed (its like a minefield to be honest and it just sits there waiting for the one day when I can just figure it out...LOL)


You are probably best not going there with me...cause if it aint just plug and play then it usually a bridge too far!!


regards


Lee

I don't think your M Audio card supports SF2 files. However, from what i've read, the soundblaster may well depending on what kind it is?? the soundblaster live definetely does
http://www.myriad-online.com/en/sharedxp/sfonts/enindex.htm

if yours is the sblive, check out that site for info on how to load fonts using your audio headquarters.

Hi Stephen

this is probably a very dumb question but, where does it tell me what my soundcard is? (whithout taking the lid off and looking in of course cause that is like waaay scary! )


Lee

go to Start Button and then "Programs" folder.
click "Accessories" then select "System Information" (in "System Tools" in XP) folder.
In "System Information" folder hit the "+" symbol corresponding to "Components".
Click "Sound Device" or sometimes "Multimedia" and then "Sound Device" and the info should show up!

You could also see if you've got the audioheadquarters utility in your audio hardware settings in control panel.

BTW, you said you've got some midi recordings?? Send a few down if you like and i'll record with the font.

Maybe we should start a new thread on this ...cause this may go on forever!! LOL

Okee-do-kee

I have done as instructed

and it is telling me I have (well I see the words)

"ctaud2K"

and suddenly "audigy2" rings a bell


Yeah that would be quite cool to send the midi files...of course I can just record the midis through my rack but, to be honest it can be a little long winded

ie

record out of the optical connection into a CD recorder

then place the CD into my computer and then use nero to convert the CD audio files into MP3 files


being able to just convert midi into audio in my computer would be fab

PM me your email and I'll gladly send a couple to you.


thanks


Lee

I've always been curious as to what these sound-font things were. It seems like a pretty cool getup.

Hey Lee, just wanted to chime in on the recording thing:

Looking at the back of the Motif Rack, there are several audio outputs. Can you just pass the MIDI file from the computer to the Motif, then plug a cable from one of the audio outs on the Motif to the "line-in" port on your sound-card? Then, you could just use audacity to record the sounds coming in on "line-in".

That's how I do it with My P70 currently. Seems like recording it to CD first is an extra step?

I agree withh ww Lee, it's smuch simpler. I play midi files on my computer via midi out to my piano, and the piano out goes into the line in on the computer (well actually I use 2 computers, one with midi software the other for the audio recording, but I guess you could do both on the same computer).
The cd recording step can then be left out. (I sometimes use iTunes to convert midi files to mp3 directly), of course I can't use other instruments than those defined by the iTunes conversion in that case)

Hmmm I wonder if I could?

I'm sure I could?

the rack has what look like 1/4" jacks L & R out and my m audio soundcard has standard phonos L & R in (ya know red and white thingies)

would that work?


That "CD first" extra step kinda drives me nutz to be honest and as I am like the worlds laziest guy, most times I just can't be bothered setting everything up...so I am building a huge stockpile of midi files that will never be transformed into audio files in my lifetime!


I could do with a "for dummies" guide

regards


Lee

It should be fine. Let us know how it goes?