ZynAddSubFX music synthesizer

English Multimedia
#1

**Am a happy NON-Technical 12.1 user…

One of my grandchildren wanted something installed so he can create/edit/play some music, a quick zypper search found ZynAddSubFX was included with 12.1

Installed, no apparent errors.

Opened, looked around at it, tried load and play some sounds.

So far not heard any sounds, (now need some sleep) whilst wondering if have NOT done something I need do {:slight_smile:


linux-nnsi:~ # zypper se ZynAddSubFX
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...

S | Name        | Summary                                    | Type   
--+-------------+--------------------------------------------+--------
  | ZynAddSubFX | A Real-Time Software Synthesizer for Linux | package
linux-nnsi:~ # zypper info ZynAddSubFX
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...


Information for package ZynAddSubFX:

Repository: openSUSE-12.1-Oss
Name: ZynAddSubFX
Version: 2.4.1-7.1.2
Arch: x86_64
Vendor: openSUSE
Installed: No
Status: not installed
Installed Size: 2.6 MiB
Summary: A Real-Time Software Synthesizer for Linux
Description: 
ZynAddSubFX is a many-featured real-time software synthesizer for
Linux.    Features include polyphony and multitimbrel and microtonal
capabilities. It includes randomness of some parameters, which can make
warm sounds, like analog synthesizers.    This program has system and
insertion effects, too.
Authors:
--------
    Nasca Octavian Paul

**

#2

  1. There is no need to change everything into bold. Thus the significance of using of bold is completley lost.

  2. Did you follow this http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/multimedia/452884-multimedia-one-click.html or similar?

#3

I suggest “hydrogen - A Real-Time Drum Machine and Sequencer”. I found it very easy to use.

#4

My earlie post about heving installed multi-media is in fact based on the question: do you have sound at all (playing MP3s and such) and is it only this application that makes no sound?

#5

AFAIK the package is a module used by other music programs. Hydrogen indeed is a good choice, LMMS is nice as well and has a nice interface.

#6

Ooops re the Bold !

Searched for music related applications, found also ZynAddSubFX and Hydrogen in quick search with with site:forums.opensuse.org then zypper showed them both :slight_smile:

Everything appeared to install fine for ZynAddSubFX as was first try, late in night.

Can play mp3 musical track fine, though not in ZynAddSubFX, clearly need read more as confused still on where everything kept, and how can generate a sound…

Wondered if ZynAddSubFX needed other things loaded/operating or was a package on its own.

Accept advice :wink:

Need be elsewhere for several hours :frowning: when return will try installing Hydrogen and see what happens.

Thanks, the collective brain here always thinks faster than mine :slight_smile:

#7

Did you try Sugar?
and that Sugar is of the children, by the children, for the children

Index of /repositories/X11:/Sugar/openSUSE_12.1
Index of /repositories/X11:/Sugar/openSUSE_12.2

#8

BTW am NON-Technical, or as in new-speak; Technically-Challenged…

Installed Hydrogen immediately able to play some of the included example music, make changes and save.

Need read and learn some more about setting up so can use more of what available, and show young explorer {:open_mouth:

As soon as shown to young one he was trying it out.

**Sugar **


linux-xfp4:~ # zypper se sugar
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
No packages found.
linux-xfp4:~ #

Viewed the page Index of /repositories/X11:/Sugar/openSUSE_12.1

Need a text file explaining what sugar was.

Found reference (12-Feb-2009) to sugar https://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/applications/407589-olpc-sugar.html

Found reference (2012/9/6) to sugar http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/OpenSUSE

Interesting as links Sugar to the openSUSE-Edu Li-f-e project.

Added the repository set Priority=105 as worried about installations which may clash with other applications.


linux-xfp4:~ # zypper info sugar
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...


Information for package sugar:

Repository: openSUSE_12.1
Name: sugar
Version: 0.96.3-2.1
Arch: i586
Vendor: obs://build.opensuse.org/X11
Installed: No
Status: not installed
Installed Size: 3.2 MiB
Summary: Sugar window manager
Description: 
This package contains the base modules for Sugar.
Sugar is a graphical user interface aimed at children which promotes sharing
and collaborative learning. It was introduced on the One Laptop Per Child
(OLPC) XO laptop but is useful on other devices as well.
linux-xfp4:~ #

My installing usually done using zypper occasionally with YaST, for adding other things need re-learn figure out how to install and remove later, before decided to install.

As can install and uninstall, what to do next, the list when zypper se sugar is long… need read some more…

As need go now, running late… always lose track of time when enjoying myself here…

#9

i would suggest using patterns in YaST to install sugar
Refer:- https://paste.opensuse.org/98716851
Also you need to remember that after installing sugar you need to log out from KDE/GNOME and login into “sugar desktop”
Sugar is a bit bugger. Clicking on the application twice or thrice usually starts the applications :slight_smile:

#10

in 12.2 for ZynAddSubFX i start in console with

>padsp zynaddsubfx

could possibly need to start the same way in 12.1? if you click in the empty box above the Key Shift box it will bring up the instrument banks. the vK button opens the virtual keyboard.

i think Zyn is awesome in conjunction with hydrogen, ardour and jack.

#11

ZynAddSubFX uses OSS (Open Sound System) not ALSA, ALSA is the default sound system on OpenSuSE. The OSS module is not loaded at start-up so to have sound in ZynAddSubFX you can emulate OSS in two different ways; if you use pulseaudio you can start it as sodsm_live suggested: padsp zynaddsubfx, otherwise you can use ALSA-OSS: aoss zynaddsubfx. (type the commands into a terminal)

Another approach, the best option in my opinion, however, is to load the OSS module; emulation causes bad response, at least with ALSA-OSS. To load the module type in as root: modprobe snd-pcm-oss, close terminal and start ZynAddSubFX as normal user.

You can of course also run ZynAddSubFX as a JACK client. The easiest way is then to install QJackCtl, start JACK through QJackCtl and then start ZynAddSubFX; ZynAddSubFX will detect that JACK is running and start up in JACK mode (you will have to connect Zyn … manually: QJackCtl > Connect [tab]).

QSynth and Bristol might also be worth trying.

#12

Another approach, the best option in my opinion, however, is to load the OSS module; emulation causes bad response, at least with ALSA-OSS. To load the module type in as root: modprobe snd-pcm-oss, close terminal and start ZynAddSubFX as normal user.

I should add that loading the OSS module this way does not make any permanent changes to your system, reboot and the system is reset to default state. Apps using OSS might prevent other apps from accessing the sound device, so as long as e.g. ZynAddSubFX is running you might experience this, I don’t know how PulseAudio behaves in this respect though.

#13

Thanks for posting padsp workaround :slight_smile: