tdehan Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Playing the same MIDI files in BandLab Cakewalk compared to playing them in Cakewalk Sonar 3 the instruments in BandLab Cakewalk sound cheezy! The instruments sound richer, fuller, bigger and noticeably much better in Sonar. Why is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Matthew Sorrels Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 It all depends on what synth you are using. Cakewalk has no native MIDI players. I can't remember very well but I think Sonar 3 may have come with Roland's Sound Canvas for general MIDI files. But that version was a 32-bit DX only plugin that won't work in 64-bit Cakewalk. With CbB I think you get TTS-1 as the default GM synth. In theory if you load the same exact synth you were using in Sonar 3 into CbB you'll get the same sound. But only you can tell us what synth you were using and what you are using now. There aren't a lot of great General MIDI synths anymore but there are some choices much better than TTS-1. Sadly Sound Canvas is a subscription only product now I think (or is crazy expensive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 tdehan Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 I'm still using Sonar 3 as a result of the sound quality difference. I personally also have no idea what synth I am using, it is whatever is DEFAULT when I installed Sonar 3. How do I tell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 user 905133 Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Matthew Sorrels said: I can't remember very well but I think Sonar 3 may have come with Roland's Sound Canvas for general MIDI files. But that version was a 32-bit DX only plugin that won't work in 64-bit Cakewalk. With CbB I think you get TTS-1 as the default GM synth. Thanks, tdehan, for the question; it makes me want to try to install all my versions of Cakewalk/SONAR to compare my old midi tunes before I just start updating them in the new Cakewalk. And thanks, Matthew, for the comments on Roland's VSC. I have been wondering where mine is (and if it would work with the new Cakewalk), because if I recall correctly, there are some sounds my older tunes used that are not in TTS-1. Tdehan, just saw your reply to Matthew and wondered if Sonar 3 installs on Windows 10. If so, I might give it a try (gotta find my Roland VSC* for a few old tunes I did in the '90s for a few patches!). *Update: I just found a *.cwp file from a few years ago--evidently it was branded as "Edirol" not Roland. Edited September 7, 2019 by MusicMan11712 (aka Dr. Steve) To mention the VSC was branded as "Edirol" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 tdehan Posted September 7, 2019 Author Share Posted September 7, 2019 Sonar 3 does indeed install on Windows 10 and I use it daily! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mánibranðr Studios Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 On 9/7/2019 at 9:10 PM, Matthew Sorrels said: It all depends on what synth you are using. Cakewalk has no native MIDI players. I can't remember very well but I think Sonar 3 may have come with Roland's Sound Canvas for general MIDI files. But that version was a 32-bit DX only plugin that won't work in 64-bit Cakewalk. With CbB I think you get TTS-1 as the default GM synth. In theory if you load the same exact synth you were using in Sonar 3 into CbB you'll get the same sound. But only you can tell us what synth you were using and what you are using now. There aren't a lot of great General MIDI synths anymore but there are some choices much better than TTS-1. Sadly Sound Canvas is a subscription only product now I think (or is crazy expensive). Roland SCVA works well enough as a drop-in replacement, but it does cost $125. Here is a song that I composed using SCVA exclusively for tone generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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tdehan
Playing the same MIDI files in BandLab Cakewalk compared to playing them in Cakewalk Sonar 3 the instruments in BandLab Cakewalk sound cheezy! The instruments sound richer, fuller, bigger and noticeably much better in Sonar. Why is that?
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