> This is a dumb question, no doubt, but is there any way to "improve" the quality
> of MIDI instruments? They always sound so fake and computery. Is there a way to
> make them sound more like real violins, timpani, pianos, etc.? Or do all MIDI
> playbacks sound the same? Would it entail a new sound card? I don't think
> there's anything "wrong" with my sound card, insofar as it being unable to
> effectively score music; it doesn't sound distorted, but I thought maybe there
> was a way to get it to sound more like a real orchestra. I dunno. Pipe dream?

You could use WinGroove to play your MIDIs, it uses its own sound library rather than the one of your sound card/operating system.

WinGroove