Program Pauses Playing MIDI File with GS Wavetable Synthesizer

ID: Q191080

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When a Musical Instrument Device Interface (MIDI) sound is played using the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth playback device during a video sequence, the video (and the rest of the program) may pause.

CAUSE

Certain programs open and close the MIDI port repeatedly. Windows 98 includes a high-quality software-based synthesizer that opens a large file of instrument sounds (Gm.dls). This can take a few moments, and if done repeatedly can cause delays in program flow.

This is a problem because the 3.4-megabyte Gm.dls file (which houses all the MIDI samples for the GS Wavetable Synth device) is opened and closed each time.

RESOLUTION

Change the MIDI device in the Multimedia tool in Control Panel to another device (such as the FM Synth or MPU-401 device). For information about changing MIDI devices, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type MIDI, and then double-click the "MIDI instruments" topic.

Additional query words: swmidi.sys


Keywords          : kbenv kbsound winmidi win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 13, 1999