Relevant descriptions and links for downloading are on the Netscape Plugins Page. A link to this page is provided in the MusicStream Resources . The powerful Beatnik Plug-in also presents its own controller. Click here for details on Microsoft's music software. As we noted earlier, the chief disadvantage of MIDI on the Web is the lack of standard playback devices.
Sound quality varies among soundcards and playback software.
A rich violin on one user's card may be reduced to a nasal buzz on another's software synthesizer. Due to MIDI's extremely attractive bandwidth, there is ongoing pressure to solve the problem of unpredictable sounds. In fact, MIDI files placed on the Web now should benefit from improved sounds without having to be rewritten. Users will be able to hear exactly what composers intend, including sound effects as well as instrumental and synthesized sounds. See the Microsoft music section of this Guide.