Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

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HarryR
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Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by HarryR »

Hello again,

I desperately try to configure qsynth to make nice noises.

The midi part of configuration is well done,
what is not okay is the audio part ...
As we can see in the screenshot everything seems to be fine,
but : channel has no preset means there's nothing to hear.
bild3.png
bild3.png (128.09 KiB) Viewed 1403 times
I admit, I configured a lot and this seems to have mixed up everything :(

I configured qsynth1 and what I see is this (which seems not to be okay):
qs1.png
qs1.png (52.93 KiB) Viewed 1403 times
On the other hand, my qsynth2 seems to be well:
qs2.png
qs2.png (67.79 KiB) Viewed 1403 times
What makes me crazy is, I can't delete qsynth1 and so I can't start it from the scratch.
So I need a way to get it configured like qsynth2, but how do I do this ?

After all theses problems will be fixed, there's one thing I can't find out.

I always have "grand piano", I never get another instrument like "vibraphone" working,
how is this done ?

Best regards
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Linuxmusician01
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by Linuxmusician01 »

Instead of commenting on your post I'm gonna tell how I get it to work.

First of all I start Qsynth. I don't use it often (read: almost never). It appears to be a front end (read: nice fancy schmancy GUI) to Fluidsynth. Fluidsysnth is a soundfont player. I don't know if a soundfont is the same as wavetable.

One has to connect a Midi keyboard to Qsynth (for instance with Jack/Qjackctl). A Midi keyboard sends it's output signal (read: notes) on a so-called Midi Channel. Usually Channel 1. How you can change which Midi Channel your keyboard is on should be explained in it's (paper) manual.

I start Qsynth and by some black magic that also starts Jack Audio and Fluidsynth. My Alsa-Midi connections tab in Qjackctl looks like this:
Image
As you can see: I connected the Midi OUTput port (= port number 1) of my Midi keyboard (Korg Monologue) to Fluidsynth's Midi INput port.

One also needs to tell Fluidsynth/Qsynth what soundfont (.sf2 file)to use and what instrument (piano, Rhodes electric piano, etc.) in that sf2 file to use. You can choose an instrument for each Midi Channel (remember: your Midi keyboard is probably on channel 1). For the sf2 soundfont that I chose the instruments look like this (in Qsynth click on "Channels"):
Image

You choose a soundfont for Qsynth/Fluidsynth to use by clicking on "Setup" (see picture below). You will have to know where your soundfont is on hard disk (or download one).
Image

Summarizing:
  1. Determine Midi Channel of your Midi keyboard.
  2. Start Qsynth.
  3. Select soundfont (click "Setup").
  4. Connect Midi keyboard to Qsynth/Fluidsynth in Qjackctl
  5. In the "Audio" tab of Qjackctl make sure Qsynt's audio OUT is connected to your soundcards audio OUT (usually called "playback").
  6. Play notes on keyboard.
Good luck! :)

P.S. Wanna delete a synth from Qsynth? Use the right mouse button and choose "delete".
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Linuxmusician01
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by Linuxmusician01 »

HarryR wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 8:46 am [...]
I always have "grand piano", I never get another instrument like "vibraphone" working,
how is this done ?
The Midi Channel of your keyboard appears to be Channel 1 then. In Qsynths "Channels" window choose a different instrument for channel 1 by double clicking on "Grand piano" and choose a different instrument and save your new preset.
j_e_f_f_g
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by j_e_f_f_g »

Or try my new LV2 instrument plugins. They have a custom sample player built into them. So there's a lot less setup than with instruments that require discrete components to be "connected" a certain way.

Author of BackupBand at https://sourceforge.net/projects/backupband/files/
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noedig
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by noedig »

You can also try Konfyt which allows you to create patches with layers of soundfonts (sf2) and SFZ instruments.
http://www.noedig.co.za/konfyt/
Source: https://github.com/noedigcode/konfyt
Releases (deb file built for Linux Mint / Ubuntu 20.04): https://github.com/noedigcode/konfyt/releases

This will allow you to use SFZ instruments in addition to soundfonts, for which j_e_f_f_g has made several good ones, like the No Budget Band and No Budget Orchestra.
The audio output can be routed to an effects host like Carla.
Konfyt also supports MIDI output layers, so you could even mix the SFZ and soundfont layers with sounds of external apps or plugins.
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by HarryR »

noedig wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 5:48 am You can also try Konfyt which allows you to create patches with layers of soundfonts (sf2) and SFZ instruments.
http://www.noedig.co.za/konfyt/
Source: https://github.com/noedigcode/konfyt
Releases (deb file built for Linux Mint / Ubuntu 20.04): https://github.com/noedigcode/konfyt/releases

This will allow you to use SFZ instruments in addition to soundfonts, for which j_e_f_f_g has made several good ones, like the No Budget Band and No Budget Orchestra.
The audio output can be routed to an effects host like Carla.
Konfyt also supports MIDI output layers, so you could even mix the SFZ and soundfont layers with sounds of external apps or plugins.
I'm more than impressed :D
Konfyt seems to be able to do everything I want in ONE program !!!!
I'll test it as soon as I am able

Thanks for that post !!!!
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Re: Configuring qsynth: channel has no preset

Post by Kirtai »

noedig wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 5:48 am Konfyt also supports MIDI output layers, so you could even mix the SFZ and soundfont layers with sounds of external apps or plugins.
Konfyt is great.

I keep meaning to try using it with softsynths to replace my piano's internal samples. e.g. pianoteq for piano, setbfree for organs etc.
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