That’s strange. Even if your Windows Media Player lacked the codecs (assuming it’s Version 6.4 or later — the only reason it wouldn’t be is if you have an old Windows 95 and have never used Windows Update to upgrade the Windows Media Player for free — Windows 98 came with 6.4, Windows 98SE with 7.0, and I do believe Windows Me comes with 7.1), it should automatically download them the first time you try to play something over the Internet that requires them (only 6.4 or later will do this).

On XG vs. GS — since every Yamaha Level 1 or better XG device also includes Level 1 (equivalent to the original Sound Canvas or SC-55) GS (though they can’t legally call it that — in the ads and docs they call it “TG300B Emulation Mode” , you don’t have to choose. Yamaha’s soft synth will play all three (GM1, GS1, and XG1), while Roland’s will only play GM1 and GS1, not XG at any level.

XG is superior on a technical level, too. It is much more flexible in terms of effects, of what can be done with the sounds, and also in terms of backwards compatibility with GM. GS made some mistakes in this regard, and the designers of XG had the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and being able to learn from Roland’s mistakes. And, unlike GS (which only claimed to be an open standard: Roland never actually allowed anyone else to use the GS trademark, which is why Yamaha has to use that “TG300B” euphemism — in fact, this is the whole reason there is even any such thing as XG! Yamaha was very happy to use GS, flaws and all, in their own TG300B tone generator, but Roland reneged on their promise to let Yamaha or anyone else use the GS name and logo on any sufficiently compatible device), XG is truly an open standard. Yamaha has licensed the XG name and trademark to other manufacturers, including Korg and Ensoniq (the latter for use in PC sound cards using Ensoniq Mæstro II chips instead of Yamaha YMF chips [though these lack VL]) and I believe others as well.