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Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:01 am
by Smeefer
Exploring linux softsynths one day and I found Minicomputer v1.41 - "a standalone industrial grade softwaresynthesizer for Linux". I downloaded it here -
http://minicomputer.sourceforge.net/
I installed it and the GUI works just fine. I can connect my Axiom 49 to the "miniEditor7770" port in the ALSA section of the Jack connections panel. I haven't yet been able to hear the synth yet because I haven't found a Minicomputer port to connect to my system outputs. This is what happens when I start it in the terminal:
Code: Select all
~$ minicomputer
minieditor version 1.41
loading /home/1234567/.miniComputer/minicomputerMemory.txt
osc port 7770
minicomputer
minicomputer version 1.41
osc port 7770
OSC port 7770...that must be the "midiEditor7770" that I connect my keyboard to. Does anyone have an idea how to get sound output from this softsynth? I'm very interested in trying it. The developer's e-mail address is posted in the "about" section of the Minicomputer GUI. I've tried to e-mail them several times, but I haven't got a response over the past 5 months. Any help would be great. Has anyone tried it yet? How does it sound? Thanks in advance!
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:51 am
by StudioDave
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:25 am
by Smeefer
Thanks Dave. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. But I did get some good info from that article: I found that the author had started the Minicomputer engine and then started the synth editor gui in a seperate terminal. Maybe this is what I need to do. I just need to find the command that starts the engine....
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:05 am
by Smeefer
Anyone have "Minicomputer" softsynth working? I swear if I ever get it working, I'm going to spend time figuring it out and then I'll make a tutorial and put it on youtube. I'm surprised this synth isn't used. The samples sound awesome.
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:32 am
by studio32
Maybe try to contact the author: Malte Steiner
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:54 pm
by studio32
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:51 am
by Smeefer
I've tried to contact Malte Steiner through e-mail a few times. No response. The first e-mail that I sent was about 6 months ago, so i'm guess they don't use that e-mail address anymore. You know if they use any forums?
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:16 am
by autostatic
I think Malte dropped the whole Linux audio thing altogether.
Check his blog for another e-mail address:
http://elektronengehirn.blogspot.com/
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:50 pm
by StudioDave
Greetings,
After some code investigation I got sound from Minicomputer today.
How I did it on an Arch 64 system and Ubuntu 12.04 (KXStudio) :
Made a directory for the source code at $HOME/src/MinicomputerV1.41 [*]
Downloaded and unpacked source for v1.41 into new directory ($HOME/src/MinicomputerV1.41)
Uncommented #include for unistd.h in editor/Memory.h
Uncommented '#define _MIDIBLOCK 1' in common.h
Built with 'scons 64bit=1 k8=1' (Arch box) and plain 'scons' (Ubuntu).
Installed it, started it with 'minicomputer' at a terminal prompt, got the familiar GUI.
Hooked up VMPK to Minicomputer in QJackCtl, connected Minicomputer to the system audio.
Dialed in and loaded the Zombie Movie preset single sound, raised its volume (the 'id vol' control), played the keyboard, and voila, there came a mighty noise. Well, a pretty strange sound anyway. I tested other presets, they work fine, as does the demo 8-part Multi.
So there you go, folks. I think that's all I did to get sound from Minicomputer. Let me know if the procedure works or not for you.
Best,
dp
[*] That's right, the package doesn't create a new directory. Grrr....
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:00 pm
by studio32
Good job Dave!
AutoStatic wrote:I think Malte dropped the whole Linux audio thing altogether.
Too many macbooks on LAC Utrecht?
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 4:39 pm
by StudioDave
Incidentally, Jeremy Salwen put together an LV2 port of Minicomputer :
https://github.com/jeremysalwen/Minicomputer-LV2
Alas, it doesn't work in either A3 or QTractor. But it's a great idea, Minicomputer would be a welcome addition to the LV2 synth armory.
Best,
dp
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:05 pm
by autostatic
Good to see he did some more work on it! I'd love to see it finished one day, Minicomputer has some great sounds.
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:13 pm
by Smeefer
StudioDave,
Uncommented #include for unistd.h in editor/Memory.h
Uncommented '#define _MIDIBLOCK 1' in common.h
Does this mean you removed the "#"? I'm going to give that a try now and scons install for my 32bit AV Linux.
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:43 pm
by Smeefer
StudioDave wrote:...connected Minicomputer to the system audio.
In qjackctl, right?
I just don't have minicomputer output ports yet. I tried what you did, but I still don't have outputs. How does minicomputer show up in your qjackctl? "minicomputer" in the qjackctl Audio Output Ports? That's all I need is some outputs.
StudioDave, what are your Jack settings?
This is my "scons install" results:
Code: Select all
MinicomputerV1.41$ sudo scons install
scons: Reading SConscript files ...
Minicomputer--------------
- 1/2:configuring
Checking for C library jack... (cached) yes
Checking for C library lo... (cached) yes
Checking for C library asound... (cached) yes
Checking for C library pthread... (cached) yes
- checking dependencies for the editor:
Checking for C library lo... (cached) yes
Checking for C++ library fltk... (cached) yes
Checking for C library asound... (cached) yes
Checking for C library pthread... (cached) yes
- 2/2:compiling
- building the engine:
- building the editor:
scons: done reading SConscript files.
scons: Building targets ...
g++ -o editor/main.o -c -O3 -Wall -fmessage-length=0 editor/main.cpp
editor/main.cpp: In function 'int main(int, char**)':
editor/main.cpp:284:6: warning: unused variable 'err' [-Wunused-variable]
editor/syntheditor.h: At global scope:
editor/syntheditor.h:121:22: warning: 'idata_miniMini' defined but not used [-Wunused-variable]
g++ -o editor/Memory.o -c -O3 -Wall -fmessage-length=0 editor/Memory.cpp
g++ -o editor/syntheditor.o -c -O3 -Wall -fmessage-length=0 editor/syntheditor.cxx
editor/syntheditor.cxx: In function 'void storemulti(Fl_Widget*, void*)':
editor/syntheditor.cxx:1265:11: warning: comparison between signed and unsigned integer expressions [-Wsign-compare]
g++ -o minicomputer editor/main.o editor/Memory.o editor/syntheditor.o -llo -lfltk -lasound -lpthread
Install file: "minicomputer" as "/usr/local/bin/minicomputer"
gcc -o cpu/main.o -c -g -O3 -msse -fwhole-program -ftree-vectorize -ffast-math -funit-at-a-time -fpeel-loops -ftracer -funswitch-loops -fprefetch-loop-arrays -mfpmath=sse cpu/main.c
cpu/main.c: In function 'main':
cpu/main.c:1285:2: warning: 'jack_client_new' is deprecated (declared at /usr/include/jack/jack.h:97) [-Wdeprecated-declarations]
gcc -o minicomputerCPU cpu/main.o -ljack -llo -lasound -lpthread
Install file: "minicomputerCPU" as "/usr/local/bin/minicomputerCPU"
scons: done building targets.
The "'jack_client_new' is deprecated" part worries me. Maybe that needs to be fixed.
Re: Minicomputer v1.41 (softsynth - not working yet)
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:23 am
by StudioDave
Smeefer wrote:StudioDave,
Uncommented #include for unistd.h in editor/Memory.h
Uncommented '#define _MIDIBLOCK 1' in common.h
Does this mean you removed the "#"? I'm going to give that a try now and scons install for my 32bit AV Linux.
No, I changed this:
// disable this when you experience sluggish midi reaction
//#define _MIDIBLOCK 1
to this:
// disable this when you experience sluggish midi reaction
#define _MIDIBLOCK 1
Best,
dp