Hi guys,
I've wondered this for the four years that I've owned Anvil Studio by Willow Software. I can't seem to use GM2 with it! It seems to be GM2 compatible, but when I try to select an instrument like, let's say for the heck of it the Screaming sound, it only plays applause, not the screaming. Please help.
Are you sending the correct bank change messages?
Send bank msb 79h, then bank lsb 02h and then program change 7Eh.
It's also possible that you need to put your device into GM2 mode. Check your device manual for instructions.
Cheers
Eddie
Thank You! I will try that. I have been trying to switch the banks using MSB and LSB commands, but have had no luck. Could you tell me what numbers of midi command they are (for example, 0 is some sort of Bank/Program switch command)?
You don't say what sound module or virtual instrument you're trying to make work in GM2 mode. Perhaps it doesn't do GM2?
Many hardware units need the sysex command "GM2 on" embedded within the MIDI file near the beginning.
Then the MIDI cc#0 and cc#32 (bank select MSB and LSB) followed by the Program Change.
Just the same as Roland SC and Yamaha XG units often need their SysEx commands to turn on the appropriate sound set.
Haha 😀 , ok, didn't think of that one. So you're saying the solution is to actually turn ON the GM2? Wow. Oh, and I'm not using a virtual instrument (I don't think) Just an Acer computer with Roland GS installed or something like that. All I know is the Roland GS symbol pops up when I look for sound modules and crap like that in the computer settings.
That MS software synth is compatible with GM (and GS), but not GM2; the sample set is based on that of the SC-55.
It appears the MS software synth only has the capital sounds and none of the variations. When I play the same MIDI file on the MS softsynth, as opposed to my Roland SC-8850, the former only uses capital tones.
The MS software synth has all the variations that the SC-55 had.
(In the absence of an explicit standard, this is what "GS" means.)
The MS software synth has all the variations that the SC-55 had.
Clemens, for our edification, please link to Microsoft documentation that supports your assertion.
Cheers
Eddie
I never claimed that Microsoft has any good documentation.
Anyway, this is the list of melodic instruments, outside the GM bank, in GM.DLS:
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=0 Piano 1
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=0 Piano 1d
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=1 Piano 2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=2 Piano 3
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=3 Honky-tonk
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=4 Detuned EP 1
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=4 E.Piano 1v
CC0=24 CC32=0 PC=4 60's E.Piano
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=5 Detuned EP 2
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=5 E.Piano 2v
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=6 Coupled Hps.
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=6 Harpsichord
CC0=24 CC32=0 PC=6 Harpsi.o
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=11 Vibraphone
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=12 Marimba
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=14 Church Bell
CC0=9 CC32=0 PC=14 Carillon
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=16 Detuned Or.1
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=16 60's Organ 1
CC0=32 CC32=0 PC=16 Organ 4
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=17 Detuned Or.2
CC0=32 CC32=0 PC=17 Organ 5
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=19 Church Org.2
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=19 Church Org.3
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=21 Accordion It
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=24 Ukulele
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=24 Nylon Gt.o
CC0=32 CC32=0 PC=24 Nylon Gt.2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=25 12-str.Gt
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=25 Mandolin
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=26 Hawaiian Gt.
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=27 Chorus Gt.
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=28 Funk Gt.
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=28 Funk Gt.2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=30 Feedback Gt.
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=31 Gt. Feedback
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=38 SynthBass101
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=38 Synth Bass 3
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=39 Synth Bass 4
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=39 Rubber Bass
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=40 Slow Violin
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=48 Orchestra
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=50 Syn.Strings3
CC0=32 CC32=0 PC=52 Choir Aahs 2
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=57 Trombone 2
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=60 Fr.Horn 2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=61 Brass 2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=62 Synth Brass3
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=62 AnalogBrass1
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=63 Synth Brass4
CC0=16 CC32=0 PC=63 AnalogBrass2
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=80 Square
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=80 Sine Wave
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=81 Saw
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=81 Doctor Solo
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=98 Syn Mallet
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=102 Echo Bell
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=102 Echo Pan
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=104 Sitar 2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=107 Taisho Koto
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=115 Castanets
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=116 Concert BD
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=117 Melo. Tom 2
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=118 808 Tom
CC0=9 CC32=0 PC=118 Elec Perc.
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=120 Gt.Cut Noise
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=120 String Slap
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=121 Fl.Key Click
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=122 Rain
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=122 Thunder
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=122 Wind
CC0=4 CC32=0 PC=122 Stream
CC0=5 CC32=0 PC=122 Bubble
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=123 Dog
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=123 Horse-Gallop
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=123 Bird 2
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=124 Telephone 2
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=124 DoorCreaking
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=124 Door
CC0=4 CC32=0 PC=124 Scratch
CC0=5 CC32=0 PC=124 Wind Chimes
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=125 Car-Engine
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=125 Car-Stop
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=125 Car-Pass
CC0=4 CC32=0 PC=125 Car-Crash
CC0=5 CC32=0 PC=125 Siren
CC0=6 CC32=0 PC=125 Train
CC0=7 CC32=0 PC=125 Jetplane
CC0=8 CC32=0 PC=125 Starship
CC0=9 CC32=0 PC=125 Burst Noise
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=126 Laughing
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=126 Screaming
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=126 Punch
CC0=4 CC32=0 PC=126 Heart Beat
CC0=5 CC32=0 PC=126 Footsteps
CC0=1 CC32=0 PC=127 Machine Gun
CC0=2 CC32=0 PC=127 Lasergun
CC0=3 CC32=0 PC=127 Explosion
I never claimed that Microsoft has any good documentation.
I don't think anyone does, least of all developers like me. 😉
Thanks for the link and info. I am going to do some more testing on a larger pool of machines before letting Microsoft know that their softsynth appears to be ignoring bank select messages on Windows 10 with the Anniversary Update.
Cheers
Eddie
Wow, you guys are the best! Thank you for all of your hard work helping me with my problem!:) Does this mean I'm right in assuming I need a new sound card?
Also, please don't think I'm a weirdo, but: I think it would be cool to have that screaming in a song!:p
And Eddie, Do you have any GM2 .mid files I could test out with anvil? Does Windows media player play GM2?
Any MIDI player should pass through all messages to the synth. (In other words, your problem is likely that the messages you're sending are wrong, or that the synth is broken.)
Check one of the original Roland sample files: Candy Walk (you should hear footsteps).