BASSMIDI SoundFont Compatible MIDI Synthesizer Driver for WinXP/Vista/7

[RichNagel]

Hiya Folks, Long time lurker, first time poster

In response to the message thread Best Softsynth Solution (which was my reason for finally registering here in the Quest Studios forum and posting this message):

There's a relatively new SoundFont compatible software synthesizer available now, the "BASSMIDI SoundFont Compatible MIDI Synthesizer Driver". The driver was coded by "MudLord" and "Kode54", and works (and sounds better) than most any of the other alternatives (Timidity, etc...), and is much easier to use than the alternatives (as it acts as a standard MIDI device within Windows).


Cut 'n' pastes from the authors announcement over at another message forum on the Internet:

This is a new SoundFont-based usermode MIDI system driver for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. It uses the BASSMIDI library by Ian Luck, as the synthesiser.

Features:

* Dynamic sample caching
* Unlimited polyphony
* SoundFont chaining/stacking
* Works on Windows Vista and Windows 7, including 64-bit versions.
* Support for the following controllers & events:

MIDI note events.
MIDI program events.
Channel pressure.
Pitch wheel.
Bank change MSB. (CC#0)
Modulation. (CC#1)
Portamento. (CC#65 / CC#84 / CC#5)
Volume. (CC#7)
Panning. (CC#10)
Expression. (CC#11)
Sustain pedal. (CC#64)
Soft pedal. (CC#67)
Low-pass filter resonance. (CC#71 or NRPN 121h)
Release time. (CC#72 or NRPN 166h)
Attack time. (CC#73 or NRPN 163h)
Low-pass filter cut-off. (CC#74 or NRPN 120h)
Reverb send level. (CC#91)
Chorus send level. (CC#93)
Stop all sounds. (CC#120)
Reset all controllers. (CC#121)
Release all keys. (CC#123)
Mono/poly mode. (CC#126 and CC#127, respectively.)
Pitch wheel range. (RPN 0)
Fine tuning. (RPN 1)
Coarse tuning. (RPN 2)

And presumably if GS/GM2 mode is activated:
Drum key low-pass filter cut-off. (NRPN 14knh)
Drum key low-pass filter resonance. (NRPN 15knh)
Drum key coarse tune. (NRPN 18knh)
Drum key fine tune. (NRPN 19knh)
Drum key volume level. (NRPN 1Aknh)
Drum key panning. (NRPN 1Cknh)
Drum key reverb send level. (NRPN 1Dknh)
Drum key chorus send level. (NRPN 1Eknh)

It also supports GM, GS, and XG reset System Exclusive messages, and the drum channel enabling features of GS and XG when switched into those modes. It also supports GS and possibly XG reverb preset control messages for adjusting reverb time, delay, low-pass cut-off, high-pass cut-off, and level. And chrorus delay, depth, rate, feedback, level, and chorus to reverb send level. It also supports the master volume level message.

Kode54 should be thanked for making this possible. I wrote the installer and configuration app.

Anyhow, I'm not the author of the BASSMIDI Driver, but a while back I created a few info and help web pages for it (as well as Ian Luck's freeware media player "XMPlay" and XMPlay MIDI Plugin, as the BASSMIDI Driver is loosely related to them):

http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/XMPlay.htm#bassmididriver
http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_MIDI_Implementation_Chart.htm
http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm

BTW, on the "Installation and Configuration" web page are links to various SoundFonts (my own custom GM compatible one as well, "¥Weeds¥ General MIDI SoundFont v3.0"), including one that simulates an SC-55 fairly well


Anyways, hope y'all find this useful


(edit) P.S. The Cakewalk Pro v3.01 install ZIP over at the "Utilities" section of the Quest Studios' MT-32 Resource Center prompted me to add an info blurb about it over at my web site at http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#cakewalk late last year

[andrew603]

BASSMIDI is cool!  I actually got it and the App version of the MT-32 emulator (via MIDIYoke) all working on my laptop.  So when I'm not at the home studio with the real gear I can still get some decent sounds now on the go..   On the off chance I don't have my SC-8820 or PMA-5 with me that is

It was a bit tricky getting it all to work on Win7 64Bit I have to say.

Cool stuff!

[RichNagel]

BASSMIDI is cool!

Agreed 100%!

I myself have a Sound Blaster Live, and have had numerous AWE32s throughout the decade(s); so's I really never had a use for something like this for myself; but... I had ALWAYS been looking for some way that folks could 'hear what I hear' when it came to my own compositions.

The BASSMIDI driver was the answer to this.

Heh, in actuality, Ian Luck's "XMPlay" media player (with his XMPlay MIDI Plugin installed) along with a decent SoundFont will essentially do the same thing. But, I had been nagging Ian for EONS that he should create a 'global' kernel driver for Windows based upon the MIDI Plugin.

The BASSMIDI Driver uses Ian's BASSMIDI Audio Libraries, which is what Ian's XMPlay MIDI Plugin uses, so's it's exactly what I was wishing for


@All,

BTW, for anyone interested (I'm *SURE* for folks who have an interest in running the Yamaha S-YXG50 (VST) softsynth under Vista or 7) -> http://www.vgmusic.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=14162... a driver for WinDoZe that will use ANY VSTi DLL and make it a 'global' kernel driver; NO MIDI 'loopback' or virtual patch cable utility needed!

[theMidiTamer]

Hey guys,

I already wrote about this on another forum, maybe here could get some replies: have you got any problem with latency? I'm not able to use it within my sequencer (Cubase) because of that slight delay.

[RichNagel]

have you got any problem with latency? I'm not able to use it within my sequencer (Cubase) because of that slight delay.

Yep yep, the newer versions of the BASSMIDID Driver has a bit of latency. The older versions do NOT suffer from this problem though, it's almost negligible.

Have a look at the two pics on this web page -> http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/XMPlay.htm#bassmididriverscreenshots ; the "BASSMIDI Driver v1.06 Low Latency" and "BASSMIDI Driver v2.0 Latency" pics. As you can see, the older version 1.06 of the driver has almost NO latency at all.

The reason for the latency is that the authors rewrote the core driver to interface with DirectMusic.

Anyhow, you can download and install the older version (v1.06 -> BASSMIDI_Driver_v1.06_Setup.exe) of the BASSMIDI Driver from here if you wish -> http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/BASSMIDI_Driver/ . Note that I'm not sure what problems (or mess) may happen when trying to do this; but to minimize any potential problems, uninstall the newer version first before installing the older version.


P.S. A message thread over at the Synthesia forums talking about the BASSMIDI Driver (as well as the latency problem with the newer versions) -> https://www.synthesiagame.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2955 .

[endre1952]

I got it working. Nice, but the available MT-32 emulation is actually more accurate now. Which soundfont sounds closest to the SC-55?

[RichNagel]

I got it working. Nice, but the available MT-32 emulation is actually more accurate now. Which soundfont sounds closest to the SC-55?

There's one listed on my page at http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/XMPlay/BASSMIDI_Driver_Installation_and_Configuration.htm , but I don't know how close it sounds to the real thing though

[RichNagel]

Hiya Folks,

Long time, no type. Just a few heads-ups:

MudLord finally created a PERMANENT home for the BASSMIDI Driver at http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv .

FYI, the driver has went through quite a bit of changes, and the latest release version is 3.1. One of the MOST EXCELLENT features of this new version is the SUPER LOW LATENCY that could be seen in v1.06 of the driver (in other words, perfect for realtime performance and sequencing)! Also, this new version supports packed/compressed SoundFonts, and includes a SoundFont packer utility

Anyhow, surf here: http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv

...and the direct download is here:

http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe

P.S. Directly from the BASSMIDI Driver readme:

Installation
------------
First-Time Installation:

1) Download the latest released version of the BASSMIDI Driver from http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe .

2) Run the installer (BASSMIDIDrv.exe). The installer will register the BASSMIDI Driver with the system.

3) Configure the desired SoundFont usage using the included BASSMIDI Driver Configuration Utility (BASSMIDIDrvcfg.exe).

Upgrade Installation:

1) Download the newly released version of the BASSMIDI Driver from http://www.mudlord.info/bassmididrv/bassmididrv.exe .

2) Run the new installer (BASSMIDIDrv.exe). You will be prompted to uninstall the previous version of the BASSMIDI Driver.

3) Run the new installer again (BASSMIDIDrv.exe), and follow the instructions for the "First-Time Installation" section above.

[RichNagel]

BTW, on the topic of the BASSMIDI Driver and SoundFonts in general, a little something that I uploaded a few weeks ago:

You know how so many web sites that sell (or have free) SoundFonts always seem to have a page of: "Listen to an MP3 of our product HERE" / "Listen to the original MIDI with YOUR hardware HERE"? Well, here's a nice one that does just that

The original MIDI is "SYMPHONY.MID" that shipped with damned near EVERY Creative Labs' sound card since the dawn of time LOL. Originally sequenced in 1993-1994 by "Dr. Chew" (I think?), I've always thought that MIDI was 'way ahead of it's time' hardware-wise <grin>.

Anyhow, I've optimized it a bit for the BASSMIDI Driver, and also recorded an MP3 of it in action (along with my WeedsGM3.sf2 SoundFont)... the MP3 in all of it's glory really shows them both off IMHO

Hehe, the reason for the "_BM" in the filenames? Heh, just like Yamaha XG optimized MIDIs that always seem to include an "XG" in the filename... "_BM" for BASSMIDI


http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Symphony_BM.mid

http://jasonwilliams400com.startlogic.com/snor/weeds/SoundFonts/Symphony_BM.mp3