mark wrote:

I'm using some software called power tabs which plays back MIDI on my PC.
It sounds like crap, what peice of hardware do I need to get better midi
sounds, a sound module?

When I faced this issue, I got myself some Roland modules. Here's why:

Basically, I was happily using an SB Live until I was offered a cheap
Roland M-VS1, which I bought on account of its superb mellotron patches.
Next to that, the SBLive even with soundfonts appeared thin and
unimpressive, so I purchased a JV1010, which was at the time the lowest
end Roland box capable of taking an expansion card.
I later installed the orchestral card, and since then I have never used the
internal MIDI capabilities on any of my soundcards.

There were some MP3 demos of the expansion cards floating around.
The JV1010 has 'Session' built in, and the M-VS1 is basically 'Vintage Keys'
in a standalone box.
The demos are what influenced my decision, and this should influence yours
too, whether you go with a Roland, a Korg or anything else. Pick a
synthesizer or brand and find some demos of it to see if it will give the
sounds you want before buying.

(Bal Sagoth use the Roland XP50/XP80.. they use the orchestral card
extensively. Since I was listening to them at the time, that's what
gave me the idea of checking out Roland equipment.)

Hope this is useful.

--
JP Morris - aka DOUG the Eagle (Dragon) -=UDIC=-
Fun things to do with the Ultima games http://www.it-he.org
Reign of the Just - An Ultima clone http://rotj.it-he.org
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uA--- nC+ nR---- nH+++ nP++ nI nPT nS nT wM- wC- y a(YEAR - 1976)