MIDI Debugging

Debugging

# Check the USB to MIDI device is detected as connected:
$ dmesg -T
[So Nov 26 16:20:34 2023] usb 5-1.4: new full-speed USB device number 43 using xhci_hcd
[So Nov 26 16:20:34 2023] usb 5-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=0582, idProduct=0122, bcdDevice= 1.00
[So Nov 26 16:20:34 2023] usb 5-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[So Nov 26 16:20:34 2023] usb 5-1.4: Product: Roland Digital Piano
[So Nov 26 16:20:34 2023] usb 5-1.4: Manufacturer: Roland

# Check the if the MIDI device is recognised
$ amidi -l
Dir Device    Name
IO  hw:3,0,0  Roland Digital Piano MIDI 1

# Install fluidsynth and a SongFont
$ sudo apt-get install fluidsynth --no-install-recommends
$ wget https://keymusician01.s3.amazonaws.com/FluidR3_GM.zip
$ unzip FluidR3_GM.zip

# Play an existing MIDI file using the SongFont
$ fluidsynth FluidR3_GM.sf2 armeniansong.mid

# Use the MIDI device to play notes using the SongFont
# "-o midi.autoconnect=1" is required to connnect to the MIDI device.
# -q 1 is option to increase the gain, otherwise the device might be too quite to hear
# -d shows us the key presses are detected (just in case we can't hear anything)
#
$ fluidsynth -o midi.autoconnect=1 -q 1 -a pulseaudio -d FluidR3_GM.sf2 
FluidSynth runtime version 2.2.5
Copyright (C) 2000-2022 Peter Hanappe and others.
Distributed under the LGPL license.
SoundFont(R) is a registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd.

fluidsynth: Connection of Midi Through Port-0 succeeded
fluidsynth: Connection of Roland Digital Piano MIDI 1 succeeded
fluidsynth: Using PulseAudio driver
Type 'help' for help topics.

fluidsynth: warning: Failed to set thread to high priority
fluidsynth: warning: Failed to set thread to high priority

event_pre_noteon 0 33 43
event_post_noteon 0 33 43
event_pre_noteon 0 35 34
event_post_noteon 0 35 34

 

We can set synth.verbose to True to get more details key press information:

$ fluidsynth -o midi.autoconnect=1 -o synth.verbose=1
fluidsynth: prog	0	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	1	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	2	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	3	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	4	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	5	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	6	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	7	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	8	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	9	128	0
fluidsynth: prog	10	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	11	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	12	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	13	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	14	0	0
fluidsynth: prog	15	0	0
fluidsynth: Connection of Midi Through Port-0 succeeded
fluidsynth: Connection of Roland Digital Piano MIDI 1 succeeded
Type 'help' for help topics.

fluidsynth: warning: Failed to set thread to high priority
> fluidsynth: warning: Failed to set thread to high priority
fluidsynth: noteon	0	48	87	00000	3.438	3.416	0.000	0
fluidsynth: noteoff	0	48	0	00000	3.586	1
fluidsynth: noteon	0	48	97	00001	3.705	3.682	0.000	1
fluidsynth: noteoff	0	48	0	00001	3.844	2

 

Here we can view the settings of fluidsynth:

$ fluidsynth -q 
Type 'help' for help topics.

# Enter "settings" to see all settings

> get audio.driver
alsa
> get midi.driver
alsa_seq
> get synth.sample-rate
44100.000
> get synth.gain
0.200
> get synth.default-soundfont
/usr/share/sounds/sf3/default-GM.sf3

# ^ There is a default SongFont meaning we can start fluidsynth without specifying one

 

Fluidsynth now shows as an additionally connected MIDI device:

$ aconnect -l
client 0: 'System' [type=Kernel]
    0 'Timer           '
    1 'Announce        '
	verbunden zu: 128:0
client 14: 'Midi Through' [type=Kernel]
    0 'Midi Through Port-0'
	verbunden zu: 128:0
client 28: 'Roland Digital Piano' [type=Kernel,card=3]
    0 'Roland Digital Piano MIDI 1'
	verbunden zu: 128:0
client 128: 'FLUID Synth (25480)' [type=User,pid=25480]
    0 'Synth input port (25480:0)'
	verbunden von: 0:1, 14:0, 28:0

 

Fluidsynth

Run it:

$ fluidsynth -o midi.autoconnect=1 -g 1 -a pulseaudio -m alsa_seq -r 48000

 

---