Audio setup old

Things and Stuff Wiki - An organically evolving personal wiki knowledge base. An on-the-fly taxonomy containing a patchwork trail of topic outlines, descriptions, notes, stubs and breadcrumbs, with links to sites, systems, software, manuals, organisations, people, articles, guides, slides, papers, books, comments, videos, screencasts, webcasts, scratchpads and more. Content is orientated towards mostly free/libre/open, mostly Linux. Quality and age varies drastically. Sometimes old things are first, sometimes last. Use the Table of Contents menu to navigate long pages. Zoom in if text is too small. Dead link? Wayback Machine. I probably need to fix the theme CSS after an update. See also libreav.org. Chat to msg me (not checking tho atm). e

Hardware

MIDI hardware
- Yamaha DJX
- Korg Nanokontrol 2
- Numark DJ2GO
- MIDI to USB adapter for DJX
- (QWERTY keyboard via midikb)

Software

Session management
- Cadence
- Non Session Manager
- JACKPatch - NSM tool to save JACK patch connections
- i3 - dynamic tiling window manager with i3 layout saving features, automatic session save with i3session

Audio systems, routing and hosts
- ALSA
- Pulsesaudio - sending PA app outputs to jack sinks
- JACK - jackd 2, multiprocess, gui config via dbus. to try jackd 1 for speed later.
- alsa_in/alsa_out - for adding to JACK additional input and output devices beyond the primary sound device.
- Patchage - JACK/ALSA patchbay.
- Carla - plugin host (LV2, LASDSPA, DSSI, Linux/Windows VST). MIDI automation CC per parameter.
- (Ingen - plugin host (LV2) and patcher. MIDI learn.)

MIDI routing
- a2jmidid - via Cadence, as jackd 2 doesn't do the Metadata API yet.
- mididings - filtering, scripting, switching via 'scenes' and MIDI program change messages. m_mididings.py
- jack_midi_dump - MIDI monitor, prints to terminal stdout.
- midifilter.lv2: ScaleCC - scale CC range sent to delay down for easier time sync length selection
- midifilter.lv2: MIDI Note to CC - note to CC
- midifilter.lv2: MIDI Duplicate Blocker - for live vs. seq64 notes
- Piz: midiProgramChange - from the above to mididings for scene changes
- Piz: midiCCToggle - momentary to toggle

MIDI sequencing
- sequencer64 - no MIDI record control (in dev) or MIDI learn. check for wip branches where these are/will be implemented.
- harmonySEQ - no recording. sequences and LFOs with multiple patterns, MIDI learn for: sequence toggle/one-shot, note/chord/octave change, pattern change, tempo and sequence sync.
- CCStepper - 64 steps max, no recording. Windows VST.

Session

To do

update this page
- i tried using Ardour channels for hosting, but it doesn't recieve tempo changes from other Jack transport masters. back to Carla.

Setup commands

cadence
  # start jack with

#todo - non-gui start
# cadence-pulse2jack
# pacmd set-default-source jack_in && pacmd set-default-sink jack_out

non-session-manager -- --session-root path_to/NSM_projects_root
  # i.e. non-session-manager -- --session-root ~/audio/NSM
  # same session root for all projects
  # i alias the command "nsm" for this, starting in a terminal for output/error messages

NSM entries

Connections

jackpatch
  # nsm specific util to save and restore jack connections
  # can occasionally bug out and lose settings on some systems

nsm-proxy a2jmidid -eu
  # because cadence never managed to autostart this and misses -u arg anyway

nsm-proxy patchage -A
  # gui connection manager. ctrl-g, ctrl-f to sort connections.
  # via nsm-proxy for the -A argument to not load ALSA

From the commandline, in the project directory

aj-snapshot projectname.aj.bak
  # backup JACK connection snapshot, as JACKPatch loses it's memory on a bad crash or accidental NSM entry removal

Routing

nsm-proxy mididings -f path/to/m_control.py [1]
  # docs: MIDI routing

nsm-proxy livedings -l 56801 -p 56800 -T -f "Sans 22 bold" -F "Sans 22 bold" -w 50 -n "control"

nsm-proxy mididings -f path/to/m_drums.py [2]
  # drum selection. to redo.

nsm-proxy livedings -T -f "Sans 22 bold" -F "Sans 22 bold"

nsm-proxy xterm -e jack_midi_dump
  # MIDI monitoring

Sequencing

nsm-proxy nsm-seq64
  # via nsm-proxy, requires an empty midi file
  # make sure set to jack transport master

Hosts

carla
  # plugin host

( optional modular sound synthesis
 nsm-proxy nsm-ingen
   # via nsm-proxy, hack of sequencer64 script above, copies in a blank project, starts ingen modular host engine and gui
   # ingen -eg project.ingen
)

Other

radium_compressor
  # for the master out

Additional ins/outs

 nsm-proxy alsa_out -j "USB Out 1" -d hw:5 -q 1 2>&1 1> /dev/null &
 nsm-proxy alsa_out -j "USB Out 2" -d hw:6 -q 1 2>&1 1> /dev/null &
   # additional 2 stereo outputs, USB soundcards for DJ main and headphone

TODO:

mapping computer keyboard to MIDI keyboard for more than just seq64 use - midikb

MIDI sequencing

Sequencer64

seq64 - beta features
- variset feature (commandline flag) - allows larger set sizes/dimensions
- indep mainwids feature - allows viewing three sets at a time

seq64 - part/pattern progression layout and switching process
- follows a mostly vertical direction
  - how is set play meant to work? move up/down in column feature request? manual.

seq64 - MIDI hardware mapping to seq64 MIDI control - see Audio#sequencer64
- start -
- stop - nano stop - cc42
- pause (stop/start toggle) - nano play - cc41
- screen-set up - nano marker > - cc 62
- screen-set down - nano marker < - cc 61
- screen-set play - nano marker set - cc 60
- bpm page down - dj2go left jog - cc#25 - value 127
- bpm page up - dj2go left jog - cc#25 - value 1
- mod thru toggle/on/off -
- mod record -
- mod queue - b4
- mod solo toggle/on/off
- mod replace - c5
- mod snapshot - c#5
- mod group learn - d5
- mod group mute select - d#5
- pattern toggle - 0-31 in sequencer64 - c2 (32)-g4

Key for configuration syntax:

[OPR INV STAT D1 D2min D2max] (toggle / enable / disable), where;

OPR=on/off
INV=inverse
STAT=MIDI status byte(channel ignored)
D1=data1
D2min=data2 min
D2max=data2 max

to redo:

# bpm up:
64 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  24   0   2] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# bpm down:
65 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  24   3 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# screen set up:
66 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  62   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# screen set down:
67 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  61   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# mod replace:
68 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# mod snapshot:
69 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# mod queue:
70 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# mod gmute:
71 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# mod glearn:
72 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# screen set play:
73 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  60   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# Extended MIDI controls:
# start playback (pause, start, stop):
74 [1 0 176  41   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# performance record:
75 [1 0 176  45   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# solo (toggle, on, off):
76 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# MIDI THRU (toggle, on, off):
77 [1 0 176  44   1 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# bpm page up:
78 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  25   0   2] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# bpm page down:
79 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [1 0 176  25   3 127] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# reserved for expansion:
80 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# reserved for expansion:
81 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# reserved for expansion:
82 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]
# reserved for expansion:
83 [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0] [0 0   0   0   0   0]

seq64 pattern GUI layout:
Kick 1	Snare 1	Hi-hat 1	Perc. 1	Bass 1	Phrase A 1	Phrase B 1	Phrase C 1
Kick 2	Snare 2	Hi-hat 2	Perc. 2	Bass 2	Phrase A 2	Phrase B 2	Phrase C 2
Kick FX 1	Snare FX 1	Hi-hat FX 1	Perc. FX 1	Bass FX 1	Phrase A FX 1	Phrase B FX 1	Phrase C FX 1
Kick FX 2	Snare FX 2	Hi-hat FX 2	Perc. FX 2	Bass FX 2	Phrase A FX 2	Phrase B FX 2	Phrase C FX 2

Channel and output conventions:

Drums: output 1, channel 10
Bass: output 2
Pad: output 3
Lead: output 4

MIDI routing

toggle between sequencer64 controls and playing notes/chords - e5?
mididings scene mod between toggle and on and off?

MIDI controlled MIDI routing/switching using mididings scenes
- find a better workflow
- use cc toggle more? (overtone nanokontrol 2 config?)
- need "if note held, this, else"?
- scenes for
  - nano control of seq64 horizontal column level selection?
  - delay sends - function key select scene, nano buttons to send, nano rotary for feedback? nano cycle to toggle momentary or toggled send
  - gate/lfo sends - function key select scene, nano buttons to send, nano rotary for level, nano cycle to toggle momentary or toggled send
  - drum midi receive select, allows one/some/all.
    - mididings outputs for ersdrums, drum kit sf, drmr - scenes: ersdrums, kit, drmr, ersdrums+drmr, ersdrums+kit, ersdrums+kit+drmr
- harmonic control
  - set the key - kick/bass/synth
  - play various kinds of chord progressions - synth

MIDI generation

MIDI generator, related to fractions of bpm
- either momentary or toggled.
- passing beats between parts

harmonyseq can be used to map MIDI events to one shot or repeating notes/chords/patterns, hard to send the tempo float over osc to....

MIDI generation tools
- Eckel - euclidean
- Hyperion/HyperCube
- Skunk
- Populus
- Machina
- S-Midi-Random
- Midiball
- BoxySeq
- Políssonos
- https://github.com/x37v/pdlv2

MIDI automation
- arpage
- QMidiArp
- Hypercyclic
- BlueARP - Win VST
- RandARP - Win VST
- arp4midi - Win VST
- Malt
- MIDI Shape Shifter

MIDI tools

MIDI key/scale/tonic alteration
- midiForceToKey - no GUI
- midiTranspose - no GUI
- MIDI Chromatic Transpose
- MIDI Keys Transpose
- MIDI Enforce Scale
- Cales - need to apply changes and use presets
- AutoTonic Player - Windows app not VST. no.
- midiScaleChanger - no GUI
- midiBlackKeyFilter
- tonespace

MIDI chords
- MIDI Chord
- tonespace
- Chordz
- Chordit

MIDI groove
- Circuit
- Phase Seq

MIDI other
- MIDI Velocity Adjust
- midiAlias
- midiDelay
- midiNoteGroups
- midiProbability
- midiSimpleLFO
- midiStrum
- midiSwing
- midiVelocityScaler
- AuioToCC

Sample synthesis

Sample slicing
- shuriken - file based beat slicer, MIDI controllable, soundfont generator. no MP3.
- freecycle - file based beat slicer

Samplers
- samplv1 - old-school polyphonic sampler
- drumkv1 - file based drum kit sampler

Soundfont hosts
- Carla - sf2/sfz/gig host (compiled in fluidsynth backend)
- DrMr - Hydrogen kit based sampler, 16 voices - LV2
- DrumGizmo - drumgizmo format
- avldrums.lv2 - self-contained soundfonts; Red Zeppelin stereo, Red Zeppelin multi-out, Black Pearl stereo, Black Pearl multi-out - LV2
- konfyt - additional soundfont and performance management, uses Carla (fluidsynth) as backend
- SFZero - untested

Drum synthesis

Metronome
- Bleep - synth, seq64 clicktrack

Single drum synth
- KickMaker - kick drum, 4 osc+envelope plus output envelope - Win VST
- TW-Opkicker - kick drum, Win VST
- TW-Percussion1 - 2.5 osc, various presets - Win VST

Mixed drum synth
- ErsDrums - drum machine, phat, track mono/stereo and stereo out options - Win VST
- KMT2 - 8 voices, individual outs, sensitive controls - Win VST
- Stegosaurus - hard to use, kick: c4, snare: d4, closed hat: e4, open hat: f4 - LV2
- DrumSynth - Linux VST

General synthesis

Synths
- ZynAddSubFX - good, no host temp sync yet - LV2
- ObXd - nice. Oberheim OB-X
- Dexed - Yamaha DX7
- Tyrell N6
- setBfree - A DSP Tonewheel Organ emulator
- Wollo Drone - pad - Win VST

Synths w/ host tempo sync
- TAL Noizemak3r - nice - LV2
- triceratops - LV2
- Infamous Cellular Automaton Synth - LV2
- synthv1 - standalone, LV2
- PHASEX - standalone
- basic65 - chip tune - Win VST
- Crystal - pad - Win VST
- Diodow - atmospheric - Win VST
- dlM entropy - Win VST
- TheBlooo, TheScrooo - Win VST

Audio routing

Audio mixing
- MixerStereoEight - 16 ins and outs, 8 stereo channel control
  - AVL Drums Multi out control
- m_mixer_S4toS32 [3] - lv2, 4 stereo to 8 stereo sends each - for fx sends
- AMS Stereo Mixer 8 channels (alsa modular) - lv2, 8 mono to l/r stereo
- AMS Stereo Mixer 2 channels (alsa modular) - lv2, 2 mono to l/r stereo mixdown

Used: MixerStereoEight to AMS Stereo Mixer 2 channel

Audio routing hardware control
- nano2 faders / solos
- dj2go master vol - master vol out
- QWERTY keyboards (main for seq64 and secondary via midikb)

Mechanism with hotkeys for general mute (+volume?) groups
- drums
- synths
- effects

Mechanism with hotkeys for effect send trigger/application
- Seq64 patterns for effect automation
- audio level fade change cc pattern

Visualisation
- x42 Stereo/Frequency Scope

Ardour channels as hosts has bugs, see section below

Effects

todo:

box off an fx plugin rack
- delay - cc range filter/alter for fine synced delay time control - tal dub - better plugin for delay time sync (options as spectrum of length, not grouped)?
- gate -
- eq - dj hi/low pass? - dj2go three faders for low mid hi. eq over master out?
- filter -
- autopanner -
- fuck shit up plugin - anarchy rhythms?

Metronome - seq64 will have one soon
- JVMetro - visual
- something for extended section length

Reverb
- mverb - lv2
- Tal-Reverb-III - all plate reverbs

EQ
- x42-eq - LV2
- Lv2fil - Stereo and mono LV2 plugins, four-band parametric equalisers
- HiLoFilter - vst

Gate
- mda Dynamics - lv2, vst
- GT10QM / GT10QS - lv2

Gates with host tempo sync:
- SuperCutSequencer - carla doesn't load? - LV2
- dfx skidder - fun but tempo sync doesn't work properly - Win VST
- dlM moot - Win VST
- StormGate1 - Win VST
- dlM gator - meh? - Win VST
- gate3 - meh? - Win VST

Delays with host tempo sync:
- TAL-Dub-3 - LV2
- Anarchy Rhythms - Win VST
- Calf Vintage Delay, Calf Reverse Delay, ZamDelay (mono), Della (mono), Leet Delay 2 (Win VST), TigerDelay (Win VST), Spaceship Delay (Win VST), PPD Echobox (Win VST), Tapatiki (Win VST), Delazi (Win VST), Rubbadub (Win VST), KR-Delay FS, SoundHack +delay (Win VST)

Filters
- TAL-Filter-2 (filter) - LV2
- ams-lv2, avw.lv2, Fomp, BLOP
- mda: Re-Psycho! - Drum loop pitch changer, RezFilter - Resonant filter with LFO and envelope follower, Round Panner - 3D panner
- Channelswap, MAutopan, Spectral Autopan
- MFlanger, MFreqShifter, Ducka (side-chain envelope), ndcTrem+ (tremelo), dlM bent (desync), Masha (beat grinder), dfx buffer override (stutter), dlM thrummaschine (distortion) Kitchen Sync (complex LFO), The Modulator 2 (amplitude/ring/frequency modulation), dlM sfilter (sequenced filter), dlM pfilter (probabalistic filter), dlM manic (glitch sampler), Livecut (glitch), Muchacho (stutter), Phase Seq (glitch), dlM truc/2 (multi), Frakture (multi), Hysteresis (multi)

Distortion
- mod-distortion
- gx_vobtb.lv2 - fuzzbox
- deteriorate-lv2
- Deathcrush
- bitfilter.lv2
- bitrot

Granular
- Argotlunar - tempo sync, multiplatform VST
- grANALiser - Windows VST
- 23_words - Host-synced randomised sample player/modulator. Windows VST
- Muchacha - Applies David Haupt's granulator to clock-synced probability sequencer. Windows VST

Looping
- SuperBeatRepeater - Carla doesn't see?
- beatslash-lv2
- InstaLooper - vst
- Tempo Sync Reverser
- SooperLooper - larger, proper

Compression
- Radium Compressor - over master out
- New Visual Compressor - LV2

Structures

ABAC, etc. with length and intensity as a varying state.

AB either harmonic relation or on/off.

Kick

4/4 - variations of
Swung / offbeat
Matching bass

Bass

8 beats one tone, 8 another
64 beats one tone, 64 another

Bugs

(and nitpicks)

Cannot yet do/use/is annoying
- Session management
  - NSM - undeveloped UI, can't delete/move/rename sessions, no delete confirmation, new session/client button confusion, nsm-proxy doesn't save label first time. no jackpatch connection state file save/argument, loses states on bad crash. mostly does its job though..
  - i3 - working towards a sound layout save and restore process..
  - Carla - plugin state has to be manually loaded, plugin windows need to be manually opened (nsm?) [4]
  - Carla - takes a while to close [5]
  - Carla - no NSM portability yet [6]
- Routing
  - jack2 - lacks Metadata API so no pretty device port names [7]
  - Patchage - doesn't auto-refresh when a client changes input/output ports.
  - Carla - crashes after a plugin is renamed [8]
  - Carla - has a max plugin instantiation limit of 10s, ErsDrums loads only 50% of the time depending on load
  - Carla - cannot reorder/group plugins in rack [9]
- MIDI
  - MIDI controlled MIDI looping - no software good enough enough yet, would allow live loop of mute and effect changes. seq64 is closest.
  - sequencer64 - no MIDI start/stop/arm just yet [10].
  - sequencer64 - can't change BPM whilst running yet [11].
  - sequencer64 - can't see if text field is active or button is selected (accidental space) in editor window
  - Giada - audio/midi looping - problems between nanoKONTROL2s no button off note off CC and parameter scales [12]. fiddly midi control; learn but no 'mod' like sequencer64, i.e., no MIDI 'channel' (sample/sequence) select or channel groups - every item requires unique MIDI CCs and learns for each of it's functions.
- External interactive tempo changes
  - klick doesn't do JACK transport and OSC mode (from gtklick) at same time [13]
  - Jack Director only has set bpm presets triggerable by midi
  - InConcert doesn't take external input or display bpm, crashes often
- DAW
  - LMMS - no LinuxVST or LV2 [14]
  - Qtractor - doesn't see some VSTs linked by Airwave..
  - Qtractor - plugin MIDI ports are exposed through jack "system" block?! name is unuseful "midi_playback_13"
  - Qtractor - clicking on a bus option bus not changing it, then clicking another bus prompts to save (no) change
  - Qtractor - ERSDrums - on a MIDI track and no audio outs, on a Audio track and no MIDI ins?
  - Ardour - can't undo various tasks
  - Ardour - "Add New Subgroup Buss" doesn't work
  - Ardour - can't create busses in routing page
  - Ardour - plugin output channel numbering reversed/whack! (ERSDrums at least)?
  - Ardour - no virtual piano to plugin MIDI input for testing
  - Ardour - metronome is a fixed pattern, faster would enable quicker beatmatching with external source [15]
  - Ardour - no VST tempo sync? :( [16]
  - Ardour - no Jack tempo sync! [17] also no MIDI Clock sync [18]
  - Ardour or sequencer64 - with seq64 as Jack Transport Masteer, Ardour starts but doesn't use the correct tempo
- Synthesis
  - ZynAddSubFX / Yoshimi - no host tempo sync for lfo/etc. [19] [20]
- Samples
  - petri-foo - broken, always starts from 0 :(
  - Shuriken - no mp3 at least until the end of 2017 due to patents [21] [22]
  - Shuriken - playback line position becomes incorrect after change to/from Zoom Original scale [23]
  - Shuriken - cannot zoom in after enabling or disabling Slice [24]
  - Shuriken - sometimes crashes when rearranging samples [25]
  - Shuriken - major problems with Export As... feature [26]