Thanks
If you note anything interesting about any of the different synths, point them out to me!
Sure!
* EP looks at OS you're currently using
There is one software-based synth that I highly recommend (and it's free) - the
Yamaha S-YXG50 Synthesizer.
Basically it is a compressed and slightly cut-down MU80, one of Yamaha's tone modules. But it also gives you XG support (even more adjustable parameters go!) and 676 patches (and 11 drumkits, 9 standard ones + 2 SFX) to play with! You can even use it in conjunction with other installed synths (tested with Sonar X1).
Drawback - it doesn't work in 64-bit Vista and 7 at all without a VST host (and you'd need the VSTi version, which is not free and is discontinued), and 32-bit versions require a workaround to get it to work under most programs.
I used to use this and the Yamaha AC-XG (a sound card used in early 2000s laptops) to learn composition and MIDI synthesis. Other softsynths I used to use before switching over to hardware include Roland VSC (discontinued commercial software - basically a software implementation of the SC-55, SC-88, and SC-88Pro - good drums, but it's not quite like the hardware it emulates), BASSMIDI (freeware) with a soundfont such as SGM, and WinGroove (shareware), and Edirol Hyper Canvas (a VSTi/DXi that approximates the Classic map of the SD-20/80/90 - also known as the Roland TTS-1).