Question

I would like to assign a staff to a General MIDI instrument and then have it played back using the computer's MIDI synthesiser. I am on Windows. I have:

1. File - Preferences - Audio = Default

2. File - Preferences - MIDI IO - MIDI Output Port A = Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth

3. For a staff, Tools - Staff Settings - Instrument = External MIDI, MIDI Port A, Channel 1

This indeed plays the Piano on that staff, generated by the Wavetable Synth. How can I set it to some other GM instrument? In other score programs you get a list of the 128 GM instruments to choose from.

When I change to Channel 10 I get the GM percussion sounds (all other channels remain as piano). So I must be very close.

I should explain that for most staffs in the score I am using sampled Notion Instruments. I just want to add some extra GM sounds.

Sorry for the basic question, many thanks for any help!

richard

Answer 1

Hi Richard,

The problem is that you need to send program changes to switch banks of instruments in the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth.  Notion does not support the use of program changes.  I just looked at it myself and am getting the same exact results that you are.  In this day and age, we usually recommend using VST plug-ins and send keyswitches via rules to change patches.