SBLive 5.1 and Soundfonts distortion

F G Harrison · Dec 13, 2002, 05:41 PM

I currently have three SBLive 1024 soundcards running very satisfactorily in different computers. I recently tried to buy another, but discovered Creative had replaced the SBLive 1024 with the SBLive 5.1 card - so I bought one and installed it in the same way as I had my other Live soundcards, on a PC with Windows 98 Second Edition operating system.
Everything seemed fine, (i.e. it played the Microsoft chime, audio CD's and general midi files, and loaded soundfonts, all apparently satisfactorily) until I tried to play some of my organ music midi files which were sequenced using the JEUX soundfont. Some patches seemed OK, but others were distorted (e.g. Viola 4').
I tried upgrading my operating system to Windows XP Professional and downloaded the Creative drivers update - but still no joy - some of my soundfont patches remain distorted.
Evidently there was a similar problem in the early days of the original SBLive, but Creative overcame it with Liveware 2.0.
However, because my soundcard is an OEM version (SB 0100) - and presumably because I am not into gaming and MP3 ripping - Creative don't want to talk to me.
Would I get more success using the kX Project drivers with this card?
AND - would I be able to use Vienna 2.3 to edit/produce soundfonts? I see from your FAQs that kX drivers do not support Vienna - is this still the case?

**Eugene Gavrilov** · Dec 13, 2002, 06:43 PM

well, Vienna support is being added...
you could try kX anyway, because it might have the Creative issue fixed. but please review 'known issues' before installing

/Eugene

strangeloop · Jan 22, 2003, 11:00 AM

What kind of mainboard do you own? I experienced the same problems with a mainboard with VIA686B and VIAKT133. That has been a big issue 'in the early days of the original SBLive', as you are saying.
It might still be a problem because they couldn't get Liveware to fix all of this problems.

In the meantime I've got a new mainboard so I can't tell you if the kX drivers will or won't fix this problem.

F G Harrison · Jan 22, 2003, 02:37 PM

I have since discovered that the problem was due to invalid or incomplete loop points in the soundfont. I have corrected these and the soundfonts now play OK.

midigoon · Nov 4, 2003, 06:57 AM

I, too use the Jeux soundfont. It is the basis of a midi organ built out of an old console. In effect it is 4 midi keyboards (1 pedal, 2 manuals, 1 stop rail) powered by Building Blocks. See PCOrgan by Mick Berg for details on this.

My problem is:

Jeux is fairly small, however it has a second bank imbedded. When I load it via Creative's drivers, it shows Bank 1 as "Jeux" and Bank 2 as "used by bank 1" and I have access to the second bank. On KX, Bank 1 loads without a problem, the second set of patches is nowhere that I can find.

Short of splitting the sound font into two, any suggestions?

Don