how to have a different soundfont on digital piano?

Question

I'm new to all this MIDI stuff. I have a Yamaha YDP-160 digital piano. I would like to try different piano sounds from the ones on the unit. With the little bit of research I have done, so far I've figured out that I need:

1. My digital piano.
2. A software synthesizer.
3. A soundfont to go to that software synthesizer.
4. MIDI to USB cable (from my piano to the pc)

Now my questions:

1. Don't I need a program (a midi client?) that will redirect or use my digital piano as the output source?

2. Any recommendations on the software synths or other software I would need?

3. I have some soundfonts in NCW file format. Don't most softsynths use the sf2 format?

I dont know much about this stuff.

Thx in advance

Answer 1

Hi,

1. A software synthesizer is a plug-in. Meaning it must run on a professional recording software acting as the host. You can use Cubase or the free Reaper application.

However, your midi connection interface might need a special driver (unless it's a standard one supported by windows).

2. The MIDI out will go by a MIDI cable to your interface's MIDI in. Then the Host software (i.e. Cubase, Reaper) will route the MIDI to a soft synth (which you should select and route or it won't make a peep). Then the audio output will play the soft synth sound. However, there might be a very long delay until the sound comes out. It's called "latency". It will be impossible to play like this. The only solution is a professional sound card with ASIO drivers (which can work with low latency because normal windows drivers were not designed with this in mind...).



Regarding your SF question, i don't know. I'm also used to SF2 files.

Answer 2

You cannot change the sounds in ROM on the piano, if you want a different sample set, you'll need to use the piano as a MIDI controller. Then on your computer install something like Ivory II.



Unless you have a fast computer and external (not integrated) sound card, expect intolerable latency (delay) between your playing and the sound generation.

Answer 3

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