What replaces TTS-1?

[tdehan]

I read here that TTS-1 is no longer be included in Bandlab Cakewalk.  When I open a MIDI file that I've purchased or have downloaded the default instruments are TTS-1.  Is there something better to replace it that will open by default?

Thanks

[reginaldStjohn]

Lots of discussion has already happened around this topic. Here is and example.

https://discuss.cakewalk.com/topic/81201-how-do-i-get-cakewalk-to-just-play-regular-gmgs-now-that-tts-1-is-gone/#comment-562408

[mettelus]

38 minutes ago, tdehan said:

Is there something better to replace it that will open by default?

TL/DR version... the "mapping by default" is internally hard-coded into Cakewalk to TTS-1 if no MIDI output is selected. Because that is hard-coded, you can only get this feature with TTS-1, but you can carry TTS-1 forward from any Cakewalk version that included it.

The solution (feature request) would be to have that coding mapped to a generic/free sampler, but getting agreement on "which one" may be more of a challenge.

[Steev]

2 hours ago, tdehan said:

I read here that TTS-1 is no longer be included in Bandlab Cakewalk.  When I open a MIDI file that I've purchased or have downloaded the default instruments are TTS-1.  Is there something better to replace it that will open by default?

Thanks

If you already have the TTS-1 installed on your computer included with previous versions of Cakewalk DAW's since Roland introduced and included it with Cakewalk SONAR 4 and up, then you already have it so it and doesn't need replacing and it will run in the latest release version of Cakewalk Sonar.

[tdehan]

Yes I do.  However, per a post here on this forum from the developers, they state that they don't know if TTS-1 will continue to work in the future.

[Steev]

2 hours ago, mettelus said:

TL/DR version... the "mapping by default" is internally hard-coded into Cakewalk to TTS-1 if no MIDI output is selected. Because that is hard-coded, you can only get this feature with TTS-1, but you can carry TTS-1 forward from any Cakewalk version that included it.

The solution (feature request) would be to have that coding mapped to a generic/free sampler, but getting agreement on "which one" may be more of a challenge.

You can still get a GM/GS replacement DOWNLOAD for the TTS-1 at Roland.com on their "Legacy" synth page. Last time I checked it cost about $100 (US) for the VSTi version which looks really "Spiffy", sounds "GR8TE"! But........ Doesn't really outperform the TTS-1 as far as the ears are concerned. 🤷‍♂️

The Cakewalk TTS-1 isn't a sampler nor does it support samples. It is a DXi version of Roland GM/GS synthesizer with a Cakewalk GUI with about a dozen version releases of Roland SoundCanvas™ synth engines, capable of supporting 16 MIDI tracks in configurable to output audio to 2 tracks, 4 stereo tracks, or 8 mono tracks outputs to Cakewalk's mixer.

Don't let it's cheesy looking DXi GUI fool you, combined with the Cakewalk MIDI sequencer, it's just as powerful and had a much easier and faster workflow with instant access to about a dozen versions Roland's highly acclaimed hardware Fantom™ synth/workstations, and being that the sounds/voices never leave the digital domain, it needs no audio or MIDI cables to hook/patch in, so typically sound's BETTER than a very pricy hardware Roland Fantom's audio stereo outputs only do having to be recorded in audio with 1 stereo, or 2 mono tracks at a time, and the sound quality will ONLY be as GOOD as your computer's soundcard/chip/audio interface. 

[Steev]

13 hours ago, tdehan said:

Yes I do.  However, per a post here on this forum from the developers, they state that they don't know if TTS-1 will continue to work in the future.

Yes well, "All Things Must Pass". Our future is and has always been uncertain. And in this case of the TTS-1, I'm pretty sure Roland is as shocked as I am that it lasted so long, and as a result, they politely 'asked' Bandlab to not include it in future CS releases and Bandlab politely 'agreed'.

The TTS-1 certainly outlasted my $1600+ Roland Fantom X which simply died from lack of use when it's memory backup battery died.  I'm sure I could dig it out of the basement, replace the battery and give it a 'Firmware' flash update, and it'll breathe new life into it, but it won't recover any of my music compositions. But that's OK because they have all been moved into Cakewalk and the TTS-1 which has a duplicate SoundCanvas version, and concerning their future, all have been saved into duplicate libraries, on hard drives, CD's, DVD's, Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, and some even published to BANDLAB.COM. 😁

And if for some reason my TTS-1 breaks, That would most likely be because the Windows Direct X Runtime Components it runs on got corrupted which is easier to fix then the old Fantom by

#1 By registering an inquisition here on the BEST User Forum I've ever been to in over 30+ years, or...

#2 Do a Google search to find out how to Quickly Resolve DirectX Installation Errors on Your Windows PC with These Simple Steps all by yourself and take the future of your destiny into your own hands.

#3 Be CAREFUL and MAKE SURE you READ thru and FOLLOW all of THESE INSTRUCTIONS and follow ALL steps precisely, DO NOT Improvise, cut corners or take shortcuts, rely on any opinions or beliefs (not even your own) because if you screw it up, you will have nobody to blame but yourself.

 

[Sock Monkey]

Because the TTS-1 was DXi it is no longer supported. It can also crash Cakewalk if added to a project later on. Just happened to me last week. 

Cakewalk is one of the few daw's that no longer comes with a default midi instrument player. Most Daw's still have one. Even Cakewalks Next has GM instruments. 

 But GM is handy for those who like to mess around with download midi files. The https://www.synthfont.com/   is free. I also use Coyote. 

[Steev]

21 hours ago, Sock Monkey said:

 But GM is handy for those who like to mess around with download midi files. The https://www.synthfont.com/   is free. I also use Coyote. 

The TTS-1 hasn't been supported since before Roland sold Cakewalk to Gibson Brands. Nobody but Cakewalk really ever supported and developed DXi's because being they run off Windows Direct X Runtime components they weren't supported by Apple and couldn't run on an industry standard Mac/ProTools machine, and THAT'S where the BIG BOYS played and where the big MONEY was and free drinks & rides were for GIRLS.

Ever since I can remember, from early Cakewalk Pro Audio DAW's all they way up to present day, always "defaulted' to Microsoft SoundMapper unless I manually changed it or it was disabled in Windows "Device Manager" and it would default to my audio devices MIDI I/O. I never even thought of using the TTS-1 as a default device.

But I'm one of the 'ol schoolers who truly believes it's not really about what you use... It's how you use it... And the BEST DAW, and the BEST SYNTH out there are the ones you are most FAMILIAR WITH because then and only then do you know where all the sweet spots are and what you can or cannot do with it. If the TTS-1 crashes your DAW if added later on, than make sure you load it into the TOP of the rack from the beginning. You don't even have to use it, it's not going to hurt anything or slow you down if you don't, but it'll be there just in case you might and you will be prepared. And now that I think about it, I believe I've heard of it crashing a project being added late in the project decades ago. I believe the work around is to load the project again and then add the TTS-1 before doing anything else and you're good to go. It's more like a condition, which is not exactly a problem. Like using certain Native Instruments synths with certain Waves Synths and lock up ANY DAW and requires shutting the DAW down with Windows Task Manager then shutting down and restarting Windows again. I solved that condition by uninstalling all Native Instruments synths, Cubase, and Studio One from my computer with the Ashampoo Unstaller app, and ran the Ashampoo Registry Cleaner apps and only use CAKEWALK and REASON DAW's on my Windows computer, and only run ProTools DAW on my iMac. And the ONLY free software I'm interested in and use is CAKEWALK by BANDLAB. Which I still have problems wrapping my head around wondering WHY did Bandlab EVER give it to us for FREE in the 1st PLACE? I think, as far as some people's weird outstretched over exaggerated sense of "self-entitlements" is concerned, giving what was formally known as SONAR Platinum away for free might have done more harm than good, but not necessarily enough to RANT or complain about. 😆

GM is handy for EVERYTHING, like for laying down a sax track without having to deal with the unpredictable mood swings of a difficult sax player, not just messing around, particularly for SERIOUSLY getting down and involved in the creation of recording, sharing, and sequencing music composition and collaborating with 'other' people who don't know how to play these or any other musical instruments to download and mess around with in another room and  or place in another time zone, as in on the other side of the planet.

 And as long as the music project stays in the GM realm, we can send a 30-40 track Cakewalk Project back and forth as a tiny little email attachment in less than 1 mb in size that will play and sound relatively the same in ANY DAW playing on ANY GM synth and retain the freedom to adjust the key of the project to accommodate the singer(s) range, and the tempo to accommodate the over all GROOVE.

Without a defined General MIDI specification your DAW wouldn't know what instrument or voice was assigned to what MIDI channel, nor would it know what MIDI channel to assign to what audio channel in what key, time sig. and what tempo.

All of Cakewalk Studio Instruments and as well as Studio Drummer 3 included with Sonar are GM compliant, they just don't have the full selection of instruments and voices as a standard GM synthesizer with the standard 128 instruments and voices.

Microsoft SoundMapper which Windows OS uses to play a good deal of the music to all of the music that magically comes out of your computer and web browsers is 100% free GM synth and can even still be set as the "Default" synth in CbB or Sonar.

Ever go to those MIDI DOWNLOAD websites and audition the .MID files? Well, if you are using a Windows computer, they are playing on Microsoft SoundMapper, as does all Windows system sounds, jingles and the music playing on 1000's of video games and such.

However, it doesn't have a GUI it'll still work with Sonar and can be routed & output to audio channels and the sounds and voices can be manipulated with audio FX. It's not as good or as flexible as TTS-1 but few GM synths at any price point can compete with Roland's GM/GS or Yamaha's GM/XG, or Korg synths for easily nailing today's modern sounds. 

And I think it's also important to note the free and or trial software you repeatedly install and uninstall again and again can really clutter up Windows Registry "junk" files that lead a plethora of paths to nowhere and back again searching for program files that have been deleted and or left behind by the uninstaller and wreak havoc on your computer's performance and DAW's stability over a relatively short period of time, you will have to spend money on registry cleaning software, professional grade UN installation software, or pay someone to do the dirty work maintenance, OR simply buy a new computer and start the process all over again.

And in the end, the result in the endless search for FREE ends up costing you MORE time and MONEY than it would have if you just dropped a couple of pesos on a good reliable synth in the 1st place and spend more time MAKING and or learning HOW to MAKE MUSIC.  🤣

GM (General MIDI) is a specification set of guidelines and rules that defines and assigns specific parameters for TRADITIONAL instruments to specific DEFINED program numbers (PG) and DEFINED control commands (CC) to specific defined control functions like velocity, modulation, envelopes, etc. It helps keep different voices and synths in their own defined places in sequence, so they play well 'together' and don't crash and burn each other down and take the DAW down with them.

[MARK WISMER]

I am a bit frustrated, I am hoping you all can help me.  In Windows 10 and 11, I use a primitive MIDI editor that just barely does what I want it to do.  I would like to have more control over tempo during live playback, etc.  It is also hard to see/edit non-note data in the channels.  I use it to play a pipe organ, which I do not have at home, where I do most of my editing.  I downloaded Cakewalk with all the add-ons that were automajically offered.  I managed to pull in a MIDI file I had and tried to play it back.  Nothing.  I then discovered that Cakewalk doesn't see the MS GS Wavetable Synth for output.  I agree this is a horrible synth with poor timing and poor quality.  It got the job I needed done, though.   I just need to hear the notes.  None of the stuff about the availability of TTS-1 seems to be true, I looked though the lists of plugins, but I can't even see what to do with them and TTS-1 is not present.  My question to people here who know things is this:  If I were to purchase the Roland VSTi module (which I cannot find on Roland's web site, anyway), would it solve my problem of playing and editing MIDI in Cakewalk.  Because of my physical MIDI output device, there are limitations.  I have to use one channel for each manual of the organ (channels 0,1 and 2).  I would dearly love to transpose only channel 2 down one octave when playing as that is what the organ does.  If anyone has suggestions, please advise.  In the meantime, I plan to explore editing MIDI in Cakewalk even though I can't hear it, to see if Cakewalk will functionally do the editing I am used to.  Thanks in advance for any advice you choose to offer.

[User 905133]

Are you interested in organ sounds or do you need the full slate of either GM/GS sounds? If your goal is simply to be able to hear organ sounds at home, I would think there might be other plug-ins which have organ sounds that might meet your needs. 

Edited December 9 by User 905133
reworded

[Kurre]

Quote

I use it to play a pipe organ, which I do not have at home, where I do most of my editing.

Download one of these, https://plugins4free.com/instruments/Organs/ , choose vst and win 64.

Then install it and scan for it. Make your midi edits and hear the results. Change the output to midi out and let your hardware play it.

[Bryan. Hill]

Yes, TTS-1 is no longer included in Bandlab Cakewalk as of the more recent updates. Instead, you can use other software instruments like Cakewalk's own NoteTrack, Cakewalk Sound Center, or third-party VST plugins for a wider range of sounds. These alternatives will provide a better and more versatile instrument selection by default when opening MIDI files.

[Promidi]

8 hours ago, Bryan. Hill said:

Yes, TTS-1 is no longer included in Bandlab Cakewalk as of the more recent updates. Instead, you can use other software instruments like Cakewalk's own NoteTrack, Cakewalk Sound Center, or third-party VST plugins for a wider range of sounds. These alternatives will provide a better and more versatile instrument selection by default when opening MIDI files.

The point of plugins like TTS-1 is that it will play back General MIDI files properly and correctly - as long as the files follow the GS/GM/ MIDI spec properly.  

TTS-1 will respond correctly to the patch changes and controllers. 

“NoteTrack, Cakewalk Sound Center, or third-party VST plugins ” will not have these patch mappings, and controllers.  With these, and other “replacements”,  be prepared to do a lot of editing of the files to make them sound right.  Most of these “replacements” that people mention are not even multi-timbrel.  You have to have a separate instance for each track the GM file contains (up to a max of 16 tracks)
 
Personally, I just use an old external sound playback device that will play back General MIDI files without having to edit the files at all - it responds correctly to the GS/GM/XG MIDI spec - multi-timbrel and all.  It even responds to polyphonic aftertouch.

I am hoping that Cakewalk will partner with a maker of a proper multi-timbrel replacement for TTS-1 that will let uses load GM files into Cakewalk and play them without having to fluff around trying to get them to sound right.