I've got a customer wanting to do some music and connect his midi keyboard to the computer to input sounds.  He has purchased a usb midi device to use, and I haven't seen it yet, but what is the best working with Linux?  He's using noteedit, rosegarden & tuxguitar right now.  Or rather I should say learning to use them.  He hasn't gotten much help from other mailing lists, so I thought I would ask here.

So, what is the better type midi device to hook up his keyboard to the computer that Linux likes and how should he proceed from a beginning point with programs.

TIA,
figment

I am also investigating midi devices under Linux.  So far, I have gotten a midi keyboard working through the "gameport" of a  SoundBlaster sound card via an adapter.  The SoundBlaster cards seem to be well-supported under Linux.

The keyboard is able to make actual sounds directly through Rosegarden, however there is a slight delay from when the key is pressed, to when the sound is actually produced.

Also, I have an E-mu Xmidi 1x1 midi interface which is reported to work well under Linux, although I haven't tried it yet.



Best of Luck,
Raphael

Ok, you peak my interest, because I had been thinking and telling him I thought he could use his Creative compatible cards gameport to input his sounds as well.  I haven't seen an adapter, can you direct me to something I can look at?  I might even be able to build him one, if I can find a schematic.

I'll do a search for both items.  Thanks for the heads up and keep me posted with your progress.

figment

The "zzounds" website sells an adapter like this: http://www.zzounds.com/item--MIMSCMA6 (searched for "midi adapter")

The cable is only four feet long, so if the keyboard is farther away, you will need a female-to-female MIDI adapter to attach the adapter cable to your regular MIDI cable.

There are also instructions online (somewhere) that will show you how to build one with only a few diodes, a sub connector and a midi connector.

Having issues with my computer right now, but I will let you know if I also have success with the USB-MIDI adapter.

EDIT: The USB adapter was instantly recognized and working with Hydrogen; truly "plug and play".  Here is where I found it: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=700698



Regards,
Raphael

Ok, found a schematic for the gameport model, but about everyone has discontinued selling them.  It's very iffy if you can find the parts to build one, but I may look, just out of curiosity.  I see no reason why the USB models shouldn't work as well, and it seems that the one you have does indeed.  Is Hydrogen available for Linux?  I'm not familiar with it, but have you tried it with any of the Linux programs?  I should think it would be equally as simple.

Anyway, thanks for the update and news!  The program that is taking the place of noteedit sounds like it will be outstanding.  That may end up being the answer to everyone's needs in doing midi/music!

figment

Yes, it is in the Zenwalk repos...  'netpkg hydrogen'.

"Playing MIDI instruments in Zenwalk, the Simple Way" 

1.  Search for 'Free SoundFont Download' and download some .sf2 files to try 

2.  Connect MIDI device to computer

3.  In first terminal, do 'netpkg fluidsynth' and then do 'fluidsynth', and within fluidsynth, do "load xxx.sf2"

4.  In second terminal, do 'aconnect -i' to see what port your MIDI device is connected to

5.  In second terminal, do 'aconnect -o' to see what port fluidsynth is connected to

6.  In second terminal, do 'aconnect x:0 y:0', where x in the input port to your MIDI instrument and y is the output port to fluidsynth.

This may end up in the Wiki if I feel motivated... 



yip yip
raphael

You can get some soundfont files here:
http://freepats.opensrc.org/sf2/

I used it when I was searching for patch files for TiMidity++

Thanks guys for additional info, this is great!  I think I may have to look at doing some of this myself.  Now if I can get this guy to switch to Zenwalk, we'll have him making music in no time! 

I had already bookmarked the sound fonts location from a previous discussion of TiMidity, so I'll have to pass that along, but I'm not sure the fluidsynth is available to him on Suse.  Just another argument I'll use to get him on Zenwalk.

Thanks again to everyone that has taken part in this discussion and to any others that have some input.

figment

Hi ethanay,

I was using a USB-MIDI interface for connection to my P70, and a cheap Behringer FCA202 on FireWire as audio interface. The FCA202 is rather inexpensive but works quite well, low latency, low noise. There are a lot of USB MIDI boxes and small interfaces, most of them dont work longer than some months, for any reason. So you should invest some more bucks at this point. This is a stable configuration and easy to handle.

Hello there.
I use my axon to record midi into my computer. I would like to hear if you recommand a speciel type of midi interface as the link between the axon and the computer. Or an interface from a special hardware producer, maybe?
regards Christian