Sound Card Comparison 2005!

[Tom]

I thought that it was about time I updated my Sound Card Comparison page with the latest and greatest MIDI devices now available.  In order to do this, I need your help.  (After all these years, I still don't have every MIDI device available.)

This time around, I'm going to be using a song that really lets the listener hear the subtleties of the instruments.  (SierraLand, the last MIDI demo song I used, was too fast paced to really make a good evaluation.)  I have a few songs in mind for this time around.

I want to continue to include older MIDI devices, since they're still being sold on Ebay, and used by many.  I'll be able to provide digital samples for these devices:

 - Roland MT-32  (Which will serve as the standard.)
 - Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 (SCB-55 - GM/GS)
 - Roland Sound Canvas SC-8820 (SC-55 and ED modes)
 - Roland CM-500  (CM-32L & SC-55)
 - Roland ED VSC-88H Softsynth
 - Yamaha SW60XG
 - Yamaha WF192XG
 - Yamaha S-YXG50 Softsynth
 - Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE 32/64
 - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy
 - Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
 - Fortissimo II  (Forgot who makes that one.  It's in Dianne's PC.)

That's the extent of my MIDI access.  I'd like to get samples from many more devices; other Yamaha's, Roland's, Korg, anything!  I want to make the new comparison as extensive as possible.

Those willing to participate and contribute will have to have a means of playing the sample MIDI file through their MIDI device, and the ability to record it digitally as a MP3 file.  I would also appreciate (if possible) a small graphic image of the device, but it's not necessary.  Also, some information about the device.  (Polyphony and other capabilities, tone generation, total sounds, GM, GM2, XG, GS capable?, etc.)

There's some subtle differences, for example, between a Roland SC-88 and SC-88 Pro.  My SCB-55 is a bit warmer than my SC-55.  So, don't be afraid to participate if you have a MIDI device that's 'similar' to another.

I'll post the sample MIDI sometime this coming week.  If you're willing to help in this project, let me know!

Thanks!

[Alistair]

Excellent, I was going to propose a new one! Other than your devices listed, I've got:

Roland SC-8850 ED
Sound Blaster Live!
(Yamaha MU100R- still not arrived to my address yet, but if I do obtain it I'll contribute)

Not sure I have much else different, at that.

- Alistair

[Tom]

Those will all be great to include.  Not sure if the Live! is any different than the Audigy, MIDI-wise, but the Audigy does work with DLS banks, so I plan to include a sampling using the Roland/Microsoft DLS bank.

[HondaSiR]

I'll be looking forward to the new comparison page. But I don't think I'll be able to contribute anything new, Tom already has the equipment that I have (SCB-55/MT-32).

[Alistair]

I've got both an Audigy 2 (Platinum) and a Live! and they sound quite different.. apart from sound characteristics they run on different soundfonts I believe.

I haven't played with soundfonts for a while though.

- Alistair

[Zemus]

Both my Audigy 2 ZS and Live! came with the same set of soundfonts. 2mb, 4mb and 8mb banks. They had different banks set up as default though so maybe that's where the difference comes from.

[Fancia]

I can volunteer my SC-88ST Pro and Aureal Vortex II.

[achile464]

I have an Audigy 2 ZS with a big bank (310 mb)

I will be hard to compare them

[Tom]

Technically, doesn't every Sound Blaster model loaded with the same soundfont, sound the same?  Since there's so many soundfonts out there, I was going to stear away from comparing them all.  I want to just compare the 'default, power-on status' of these SB cards; and maybe one or two DLS banks, since SB's and many other cards now support them.  (Soundfonts are SB specific.)  

This is shaping up well.  I'm hoping someone will have a Roland RAP 10 and Turtle Beach Cancun daughterboard, too.

Thanks, everyone.

[Zemus]

Well, the newer ones got higher polyphony and better circuits that in turn gives a better sounding output. Then there's the Live and newer models where you control the external effects depth with EAX(if you got EAX turned off, then there'll be no reverb at all when you play a MIDI). So there are some differences. Just make sure you've loaded the biggest soundfont that came with the Audigy The smaller ones got lower quality samples.

[George Montemayor]

It's not a sound card but if I can find my CDs somewhere in the house and free enough diskspace, I can make WAVs from GigaStudio using Conexant's GM sound library.

[moturimi1]

Great idea to add a new Comparison page. Of course I want to help....

I have:

Roland SC-8850
Roland CM-500
Roland SC-55
Yamaha MU-10
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS
Terratec Maestro 32/96 4 MB Dream Wavetable

and maybe soon a EDIROL SD-90

[Tom]

Great ... a MU-10!  I was hoping one would pop up.  If I recall, these things have amazing percussion sounds.  And I'd sure love to hear a SD-90.

[moturimi1]

As far as I know the MU-10 is the external version of the DB50XG. So nothing special. But let's compare it in a few weeks...  
I'm still waiting for the SD-90 to be shipped from the UK to Germany. This may take 1 week.

[HondaSiR]

As far as I know the MU-10 is the external version of the DB50XG.

And as far as I know, the DB50XG sounds pretty much like the SW60XG...which Tom already has. But if there are big differences, I would welcome the samples. Some time ago I even considered purchasing the SW60XG from ebay (they come relatively cheap when they pop up) but since its an ISA card, the thought of upgrading to a newer motherboard keeps me from doing it. Oh well...

[Tom]

I'm probably thinking of the MU100, not '10'.  I heard a couple of demos a while back and was impressed...but I think that was before I got my SC8820 and I was comparing it to the MT-32 and SC-55.

[Alistair]

I've got the Utopia Live! soundfont, and some other really good ones.

Well, to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of that soundfont. Or many at all.

I always liked soundfont sounds until I got Roland devices.

Obviously you don't want to compare every soundfont, but some of the better ones. I don't think every SB model came with the same ones, either..

- Alistair

[Kaminari]

I think it would be interesting to include the Creative LiveSynth (not to be mistaken with the SoundFonts) and Microsoft SoftSynth, not because they sound great (they don't) but because:

1. They're both available in 90% of the PCs out there, even when people don't know about them being there. They represent a kind of universal reference from where nothing else can sound worse.

2. They provide a good laugh!

[Tom]

I don't think I've ever heard of these...which may be a good thing.  

[achile464]

I can test it with Titanic pure and Slighty modified by me