I did my testing on a variety of MIDI music, which I had collected over the past several years including 6 original compositions by the "Keyboard Wizard", one of the best MIDI musicians on the Internet. I listened each song many times using the Sound Blaster Live using the 2 MB, 4 MB and 8 MB soundfonts that ship with the Live! and of course also used the Utopia Live! soundfont. In addition, I listened to those same files on a variety of different sound cards including the Yamaha XG based cards, Vortex 2 based cards as well as the Turtle Beach Cancun FX (which I will describe in more detail in a separate feature).

To my untrained MIDI ear, using General Midi (and not XG MIDI) the Sound Blaster Live combined with the Utopia Live! soundfont clearly offered the best overall quality and it was by no small margin. Next best was the Voyetra Turtle Beach Cancun FX board, which can be used with any sound card with a standard wavetable header. The Sound Blaster Live 8 MB soundfont was next in line with the Live with the 4 and 2 MB soundfonts, the Yamaha XG cards and the Vortex 2 all closely grouped behind (in no particular order).

Focussing on the Utopia Live! soundfont, it offers great instrument quality with no discernable sample looping on extending notes. The balance as noted is fantastic. The stereo percussion has to be heard in order to be believed and natural panning of instruments such as the piano is superb. Overall, the Utopia Live! soundfont combined with the Sound Blaster Live offers great depth of sound and great imaging. When listening to quality MIDI music, I felt like I was right on stage with the musicians with instruments playing all around me. Utopia Live! can be ordered for only 20 USD (23 USD when paying by credit card) which will give you the option to download the soundfont or to receive it on a CD (no additional shipping costs !). If you are a MIDI fan, the Utopia Live! soundfont is clearly worth the small investment that it will take to significantly enhance your listening experience.  To my ears, the Utopia Live easily earns or 3DsoundSurge Surge of Approval and also picks up our Gold Medal of Excellence.

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