FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: What Is A Synthesizer

Question:
I was running the dxdiag directx tool, and when I was testing the Music section a port called Microsoft Synthesizer gave much better music than my normal midi. I have an ESS Technologies es1869 plug and play audiodrive. The only two devices I have under midi are esfm.drv (terrible fm sythesized midi) and esmpu.drv (for an external midi device). What is this microsoft synthesizer? Is it midi? How can I get my midi to play through it all the time? I notice that it is the only device listed that supports dls files. The only dls file I have is gm.dls (a general midi instrument file that came with windows). How can I get my sound card to use this dls file? Can anybody help me? Also, the drivers that I got from ESS Tech are listed as not certified. Are there certified drivers for my sound card? I know I have asked a lot of questions, but if you can help me on any of them, your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer:
As I recall, it is a version of the Roland Virtual Sound Canvas--Roland and MS are sleeping partners.