Microsoft wanted that high-quality sound for the masses. The SoundFont included with Windows—often based on the or licensed samples from Roland—was a "consumer grade" version of this professional hardware.
| Aspect | Windows gm.dls | Standard SoundFont (.sf2) | |--------|----------------|----------------------------| | File format | DLS | SF2 (or SF3/SFZ) | | Maximum size | ~4 MB | 2 MB to 2 GB | | Sample quality | 22 kHz / 16-bit | Up to 192 kHz / 32-bit | | Velocity layers | None | Up to 127 layers | | Custom instruments | No | Full editing | | Reverb/chorus | No (software mixer adds) | Often built-in | | Bank/program changes | GM only | GM, GS, XG, custom | windows default soundfont
How to play MIDI files with Soundfont Midi Player by Falcosoft Microsoft wanted that high-quality sound for the masses
| Feature | Specification | | :--- | :--- | | | DLS (Downloadable Sounds) Level 1 / Microsoft GS Wavetable | | Size | Approx 3.9 MB (extracted gm.dls) | | Polyphony | 64 voices (software-limited) | | Instruments | 128 GM instruments + 9 drum kits (Standard, Room, Power, Electronic, Jazz, Brush, Orchestra, SFX, and a few extras) | | Effects | Reverb & Chorus (basic, non-editable) | | Sample Rate | 44.1 kHz (downsampled internally) | | Bit Depth | 16-bit linear PCM | | Legacy | Based on Roland Sound Canvas (circa 1994) | windows default soundfont