Audio setup old

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What do I like to do?

All controller and keyboard, no mouse interaction
Live recording and looping of MIDI patterns to a click track
Generation of MIDI patterns
Dynamic MIDI routing
MIDI velocity scale
MIDI key change
MIDI scale alteration/filtering
MIDI chord generation
MIDI gating
MIDI apreggiation
MIDI delay/loop
Soundfonts and sample bank synthesis
Drum, bass, pad and lead synthesis
Audio FX - gating, reverb, delay, distortion, filters, etc.
Synchronised audio loop capture and loop FX

Have a system that is expressive enough for both live and studio use
Have a system that is quick to navigate and configure a workflow in
Have a system with robust session management
Ideally touching no Win VST

MIDI control hardware

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

Audio setup

Audio systems
- ALSA
- PulseAudio - sending PA app outputs to jack sinks
- JACK - jackd 2, multiprocessor, D-Bus enabled
- Cadence - good JACK configuration utility, automatic ALSA/PulseAudio/MIDI bridging

cadence
  # JACK config and start/stop

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

Session management

Non Session Manager
- buggy but works.
- JACKPatch - NSM tool to save JACK patch connections - known to loose configuration when programs crash

- dynamic tiling window manager with i3 layout saving features, automatic session save with i3session

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

From the commandline, in the project directory

aj-snapshot projectname.aj.bak
  # backup JACK connection snapshot as JACKPatch can lose its memory on a bad crash or accidental NSM entry removal

Carla
- Can start/stop JACK engine
- Provisional JACK app launcher - buggy, not enough ports can be exposed.
- Catia

Hosts and routing

Carla - plugin host and graph patcher
- LV2, LASDSPA, DSSI, Linux/Win VST
- plugin tempo sync
- internal/external Patchbay - buggy, no grid
- MIDI automation CC per parameter but no MIDI learn
- no channel strips
Patchage - JACK/ALSA patchbay - same graph engine as Ingen
- Looks better than Catia, though Carla has an internal rack patchbay view
Ingen - modular host with internal units and inline LV2 plugins, MIDI learn
- no channel strips
- needs webkitgtk, which doesn't have an Arch binary package and takes more than a day to build
Qtractor - plugin host and channel routing
- SDI interface is hard to work with
Ardour - plugin host and channel routing
- very good channels/routing
- no tempo change on JACK Transport tempo change
Non Mixer - modular mixer with MIDI2OSC learn
- LV2 hosting with falktx fork
- mixer format so automatic channel strips
- interface is slow to work with
alsa_in/alsa_out - for adding to JACK additional input and output devices beyond the primary sound device

carla
  # plugin host

nsm-proxy patchage -A
  # GUI patch graph manager, less frustrating than that of Carla
  # via nsm-proxy for the -A argument to not load ALSA
  # Ctrl-g to sort, Ctrl-f to fit-to-screen zoom

( 
 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
)

(
 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
)

Live recording and looping of MIDI

Software options:

sequencer64 - no MIDI record control or MIDI learn
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.
Multi-Arp - ncurses MIDI looper, beta, TUI with typed commands
Giada - MIDI/audio looper, limited MIDI mapping

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

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	Kit	Perc	Bass	Pad	Phrase A 1	Phrase B 1	Phrase C 1
Kick	Kit	Perc	Bass	Pad	Phrase A 1	Phrase B 1	Phrase C 1
Kick	Kit	Perc	Bass	Pad	Phrase A 1	Phrase B 1	Phrase C 1
Kick	Kit	Perc	Bass	Pad	Phrase A 1	Phrase B 1	Phrase C 1

Channel and output conventions:

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

midifilter.lv2: MIDI Duplicate Blocker - for live vs. seq64 notes

Generation of MIDI patterns

MIDI generation tool options
- Euclidean Pattern Generator - Java
- MIDI Agent System - Java
- SoundHelix - Java
- Políssonos - Java
- https://github.com/x37v/pdlv2

Dynamic MIDI routing

a2jmidid - via Cadence, as jackd 2 doesn't do the Metadata API yet so hardware interface names are opaque.
mididings - filtering, scripting, switching via 'scenes' and MIDI program change messages. m_mididings.py
jack_midi_dump - MIDI monitor, prints to terminal stdout.

nsm-proxy a2jmidid -eu
  # because cadence misses -u arg

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

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

Piz: midiProgramChange - can be sent to mididings for scene changes

Midi velocity scale

MIDI key transpose

MIDI Keys Transpose
MIDI Chromatic Transpose
midiForceToKey - no GUI
midiTranspose - no GUI

MIDI scale alteration/filtering

MIDI Enforce Scale
Cales - need to apply changes and use presets
AutoTonic Player - Windows app not VST. no.
midiScaleChanger - no GUI
midiBlackKeyFilter
tonespace

MIDI chord generation

MIDI Chord / Harmonizer - midifilter.lv2
tonespace - standalone, VST
chordemux - Haskell

MIDI gating

Piz: midiCCToggle - momentary to toggle
SuperCutSequencer - Cut "On/Off" Sequencer (8 steps with smooth) synced to Midi-Clock Beats and Midi-Clock Start/Stop

MIDI apreggiation/automation

arpage - MIDI Arpeggiator w/ JACK Transport tempo dync

QMidiArp - an advanced MIDI arpeggiator, programmable step sequencer and LFO

Hypercyclic - no Jack Transport sync

MIDI delay/loop

MIDI Delayline

MIDI misc

MIDI filtering
- 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

MIDI to sort
- midiAlias
- midiDelay
- midiNoteGroups
- midiProbability
- midiSimpleLFO
- midiStrum
- midiSwing

AudioToCC

Soundfont and sample bank synthesis

For velocity layers: Hydrogen, DrumGizmo, Fabla2, avldrums

Sampler (live)
- Fabla2

Samplers (file based)
- samplv1 - one sample, various pitches. effects but no sample editing.
- drumkv1 - many samples, one pitch. effects but no sample editing.

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

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
- Hydrogen - multilayer

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

Bass, pad and lead 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

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

Audio FX

gating, reverb, delay, distortion, filters, etc.

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
- 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)
- kn0ck0ut-LV2 - an LV2 plugin to perform spectral subtraction. It can be used to achieve a wide variety of effects, most notably removing or extracting the center of a two channel audio file. As Kn0ck0ut is only a plugin, you will need a host for LV2 plugins in order to use it, such as Ardour, Qtractor, Ingen, jalv, lv2_jack_host, or lv2file.
- ArtyFX
- rkrlv2

Pitch shifting:
- talentedhack
- x42-autotune (fat1.lv2)
- TAL-Vocoder
- VocProc
- mod-pitchshifter
- lv2vocoder

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
- Luppp - Ardour-like

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

Synchronised audio loop capture/FX

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]