Hello everyone:

I have just got a new PC with XP (upgraded from 98SE). I had been playing MIDI files on my old system using Yamaha S-YXG100 SoftSynth, out over USB to my external Waveterminal U2A audio box - everything worked fine.

XP on my new box comes with its own SW synth - Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth. When I try using it with my external USB audio box, nothing happens. Everything works fine using media players over the USB device, but not MIDI files that need the SW Synth.

I see in my system devices, that the properties for the Reatek AC'97 audio device (integrated on my motherboard) include 'MIDI Devices and Instruments', but I don't see the MIDI properties in my USB device. So if I disable the Realtek, then I dsiable MIDI as well.

I am unable to install my Y-SXG100, as it is so old that it does not recognize XP!

Can anyone help? How do I get a vanilla XP install to play MIDI over a USB audio device? Or are there other SW Synth's I should look into?

Thanks a lot.

Hey there,

Good thing I read the forums today, or I might not have noticed this thread.

I have exactly the same issue with my FireWire card.

To play MIDI with the synth, simply use WinAmp and go to Preferences, Plugins, input, then the MIDI player. Hit configure and change to DirectMusic/Microsoft synth (output)- it should be the very bottom one.

MIDI should play, although I recommend changing from 22 to 44 kHz and enabling reverb and chorus (under directmusic after you've enabled this driver).


BTW, the "Microsoft GS Synth" is a software version of the hardware synthesizer, the Roland Sound Canvas 55 (or Roland SC-55). It will handle all GM and most GS MIDI files without issue, however it won't playback XG files, you'll need something like the synth you mentioned earlier.


If you can figure out how to get the reverb/chorus working with a MIDI editing program, let me know!

Regards,
- Spike

Thanks for that. I don't use WinAMP, but I found a foo_midi dll on http://kode54.foobar2000.org/ and installed it. It now works well for playing MIDI back when I open a MIDI file directly.

However, PowerTAB (and perhaps other SW that I haven't tried yet) doesn't work. The 'MIDI Output Device' is set to 'Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth'.

I don't understand why the SW doesn't automatically use my USB audio device for output every time. In the Control Panel's 'Sounds and Audio Devices' Audio tab, I have my 'Sound Playback' set to 'AudioDevice on USB Bus' - which should be all I have to do to get it working. Any idea what I am missing???????

Oh yeah - it doesn't work when I try testing Sound/Audio midi from dxdiag either

I think it's because the MIDI software is PC-based, not external sound card based. Since 'internal' PCI sound cards rely on PC software, the ycan use the Direct Music stuff easier- at least, that's my non-techie understanding.

I love WinAmp for this because it uses the reverb and chorus- not only will it play the MIDI, but it will sound almost as good as the real sound module. I just wish I could get my MIDI editor to do the same.

- Spike