Windows 10

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It looks like that not even Microsoft's Media Player can play MIDI files on Windows 10 when only the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth is installed. Meanwhile Microsoft shifted the bug report around and around in various forums but other than that, there is no single response. Such business behavior is simply unacceptable.

Therefore, I decided to start the planning and implementation of an own internal software synth solution for a new version 3.0.3. We will call this new software synth "Notation Software Synth". The concept will be as such that we will distribute a basic soundfont .sf2 file as part of the installation. This soundfont file will become the standard software synth similar to the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth as of today. That new "Notation Software Synth" will be visible in the device manager in addition to all the other existing software synths. Furthermore we will implement a new feature that everybody can load his/her most favorite soundfont directly to that Notation Software Synth.

In our lab we have a prototype of this Notation Software Synth running on all Windows platforms (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10) and with Wine on a Mac. With this concept we can further launch version 3.0.3 on Linux. With Wine we have the prototype running on Linux Ubuntu 14.04 and Linux OpenSuse 13.1.

Version 3.0.3 will only contain this new feature in order to have a solution available for Windows 10 as soon as possible. Those who won't switch to Windows 10 do not need to update. For version 3 customers this update is free, of course.

My current view is that I hope to have this solution available by end of October this year (2015) but without guarantee. So, there is still plenty of time to do the free upgrade to Windows 10 which Microsoft offers in the first year for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 installations.

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[Reinhold H.]

This is a screen shot of the Composer 3 prototype with the new Notation Software Synth on Windows 10. The new synth will be fully integrated and will come with a basic soundfont package. Better soundfonts can be loaded and selected.

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[Reinhold H.]

The "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth" is still not working in the latest Windows 10 Build 10162 from today (July 10th, 2015).

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As part of the internal synth solutiuon I plan to incorporate the realtime low latency ASIO driver as part of the standard package. Today we received the licensing approval from Steinberg Media Technologies who owns the ASIO driver. The CEO of Steinberg Andreas Stelling signed the license agreement that we can use the ASIO SDK in the Notation Software products.

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[Reinhold H.]

Today as of July, 29th 2015 Microsoft launches Windows 10. The bug in Windows 10 which blocks playing audio sounds and which we have reported on Dec, 2nd 2014 has not been corrected in the latest Windows 10 preview version from 3 days ago. From a Notation Software perspective we do not recommend to switch to Windows 10 NOW.

Our alternative solution of an integrated "Notation Software Synth" has made tremendous progress in the last weeks and we are very optimistic to release it in the next few weeks, ultimately by end of October 2015 as part of version 3 (the actual release will be version 3.0.3).

Version 3.0.3 will contain the following features:

• Windows 10 compatibility
• Notation Software Synth
• ASIO realtime driver integrated for Musician and Composer
• Standard soundfont package for Musician and Composer
• Flexible loading of additional soundfonts sets (.sf2 file format) by Composer
• Export of audio Wave files by Composer

Beta versions of Musician and Composer 3.0.3 are in tests and we work hard to get it ready.
Our plans are also to release a Player based on version 3.0.3 in English and Spanish language. However, these plans are second priority.

We will inform everybody with an email when 3.0.3 will be available.

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[Reinhold H.]

We have Player 3 running (and playing ) on Windows 10 with the new Notation Software Synth.

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On Sept. 7th, we have started the external beta trials of version 3.0.3 which contains the internal "Notation Software Synth". The feedback has been very positive so far and we are on track for an October release of version 3.0.3.

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