USB Midi interfaces
Forum: Multimedia
Topic: USB Midi interfaces
started by: blip
Posted by blip on May 09 2007,11:33
Hi everyone. My first post!DSL is great. I was really impressed....although DSL-N worked on my Dell laptop, DSL didn't.....anyway I digress.........
Is there any way to get USB Midi working with DSL? I want to run DSL with Steem and an Atari program...it all works a treat but I can't get any midi output on my M-Audio Midisport 2x2. It's a shame as there's no other way to get midi in or out.
Just for reference, in another Distro I own ( Studio to Go) my usb midi device in Steem works when it's known as midi/01 in the devs list.
I can use Studio 2 Go, but you can't install it to USB.
I want something I can install to USB ( distro).
I'm not experienced in the ways of Linux and compiling code...I did install Alsa and all the bits in DSL-N but my USB midi interface isn't working
(Any advice anyone? Should I just abandon mission now?
DSL-N is very fast on my P4 256MB Laptop......the best of the bunch.
Thanks everyone
Posted by Juanito on May 09 2007,13:25
Just to be sure - are you using DSL or DSL-N?| Quote |
| I'm not experienced in the ways of Linux and compiling code...I did install Alsa and all the bits in DSL-N but my USB midi interface isn't working |
Did you use a myDSL extension to load alsa or did you compile alsa from source? The reason I ask is that I'm not sure that the myDSL extension has everything in it to run midi from a USB device. In aditition to this, if you are using DSL-N, some (all?) alsa drivers are already included.
Posted by blip on May 09 2007,14:53
Thank you for your reply and help.I am using DSL-N and tried installing all the alsa utilities.
I can't run DSL on my Dell...it trips up a the beginning.
Any advice anyone? I am desperate to try to get it working, I'd love to use Linux in the music studio I rehearse....(DSL)...
Posted by blip on May 09 2007,14:55
PS Can anyone explain ( if it won't take too long!) how I can add the other alsa drivers I need. Sorry I'm such a newbie!
Posted by Juanito on May 09 2007,15:02
| Quote |
| I am using DSL-N and tried installing all the alsa utilities. |
| Quote |
| Can anyone explain ( if it won't take too long!) how I can add the other alsa drivers I need |
| Code Sample |
| # lsmod # lsusb |
Posted by blip on May 09 2007,16:25
Sorry for not making that clearer.You know when you go to the DSL-N Control Panel.....you can install extra bits of software by downloading things...
So I downloaded the Alsa Apps.....in fact everything with 'Alsa' on screen! You can tell I'm a newbie!
I will do that probe when I get back from work and let you know.
Thanks again - I appreciate it.
Posted by blip on May 10 2007,21:39
Hi Juanito.I did as you asked me to (lsmod) and lsusb - i cant seem to copy/paste from the terminal window! Arrghh!
For now, I can see in LSUSB that Midiman Midisport 2x2 is on Bus 001 Device 004: ID 9763:1001
if that makes any sense!
Sorry for my lack of basic knowledge...I thought CTRL C AND CTRL V would work to paste up the info....
Posted by Juanito on May 11 2007,05:49
You copy by highlighting the text in the terminal window and then paste by clicking the middle mouse button - if you don't have a middle mouse button, press the left and right buttons together.An alternative method is:
| Code Sample |
| $ script text $ lsmod $ lsusb <ctrl-d> $ beaver text |
This will open a text file with the output of lsmod and lsusb in it that you can cut and paste with <ctrl-c> and <ctrl-v>
Posted by blip on May 11 2007,07:56
This is going to test your patience Juanito!I did try but I can't get it going...when I do beaver text it says 'command not found' in bash...
I'll report back later when I get back from work.
Thank you for all your patience.
Posted by Juanito on May 11 2007,11:27
...Sorry - I forgot you were using DSL-N (and this thread is in the wrong section of the forum 
). That should read:| Code Sample |
| $ script text $ lsmod $ lsusb <ctrl-d> $ leafpad text |
BTW, according to the < alsa site sound card section > the M-audio/Midiman Midisport 2x2 is supported by the usb-audio driver which is included with DSL-N.
Try this and see what happens:
| Code Sample |
| $ modprobe usb-audio $ lsmod |
Posted by blip on May 11 2007,12:51
Sorry I'm in the wrong forum...no wonder I don't have the program beaver!I'll do that probe when I get back and report the results.
I did run /install the Alsa utilities and set up my soundcard...but there's no lights on the M audio Midisport.
At least it is supported....that's great news.
Posted by blip on May 11 2007,13:01
Slightly off topic Juanito, but I wanted some kind of thing where I can just switch on a laptop, linux boots with the usb midi thing working, and then I can play piano using something like timidity and soundfonts....imagine where you don't have a display...that's the goal....I do appreciate there are other music distros around...but they all run from CD...I want to build a silent PC running from a USB stick...that's why I'm trying to get this going...so if anyone has any advice about this ( or getting soundfonts to work with DSL or DSL-N) I'd appreciate any advice............Thank you
Posted by blip on May 11 2007,20:15
Ok finally getting somewhere.Here's the result:
Script started on Thu Aug 9 09:41:27 2001
dsl@dslbox:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
snd_intel8x0 30528 0
snd_ac97_codec 72312 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss 47264 0
snd_pcm 77316 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 23556 1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11268 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mixer_oss 18304 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd 46820 6 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mixer_oss
af_packet 24328 0
i810_audio 36116 0
ac97_codec 20236 1 i810_audio
soundcore 11104 2 snd,i810_audio
3c59x 42024 0
mii 8320 1 3c59x
intel_agp 22300 1
agpgart 31440 1 intel_agp
hw_random 8468 0
i2c_i801 11404 0
i2c_core 20992 1 i2c_i801
parport_pc 38724 0
parport 33480 1 parport_pc
8250 42844 0
serial_core 21120 1 8250
usbhid 42464 0
pcmcia 23696 2
yenta_socket 22152 1
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 43268 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
video 18308 0
thermal 14984 0
processor 24520 1 thermal
fan 7300 0
container 7296 0
button 9104 0
battery 12420 0
ac 7556 0
genrtc 12060 0
unionfs 63000 1
cloop 29984 1
sbp2 24584 0
ohci1394 33460 0
ieee1394 297432 2 sbp2,ohci1394
usb_storage 68544 0
ohci_hcd 21764 0
uhci_hcd 31632 0
ehci_hcd 32136 0
usbcore 102492 6 usbhid,usb_storage,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
dsl@dslbox:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0930:6533 Toshiba Corp. 512M USB Stick
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 099a:5321 Zippy Technology Corp.
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0763:1001 Midiman Midisport 2x2
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 05e3:0605 Genesys Logic, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
dsl@dslbox:~$
Script done on Thu Aug 9 09:41:41 2001
When I do a modprobe usb-audio it says it can't find anything......
Thanks!
Posted by Juanito on May 12 2007,06:04
The modules we're interested in are:Module Size Used by
snd_intel8x0 30528 0
snd_ac97_codec 72312 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss 47264 0
snd_pcm 77316 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 23556 1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11268 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mixer_oss 18304 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd 46820 6 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mixer_oss
i810_audio 36116 0
ac97_codec 20236 1 i810_audio
soundcore 11104 2 snd,i810_audio
Looking at the list, it seems as though your machine has some kind of Intel sound device integrated on the motherboard (like my laptop). It also looks like DSL-N has loaded both the OSS and the ALSA drivers for the Intel sound device - or maybe you loaded the alsa extension and then chose the right-click menu item to load alsa?
I think the first thing to do is to unload the OSS drivers:
| Code Sample |
| # rmmod -f i810_audio # rmmod -f ac97_codec |
Does your machine play music (i.e. is there any sound) if you try something like this?
| Code Sample |
| # mplayer -ao alsa /path-to-file/music.mp3 |
Posted by blip on May 12 2007,08:27
Hi againYou were correct - I do have a laptop with onobard intel and I did install Alsa...sorry if this confused you even more. I've removed the OSS drivers and when I try to play an mp3 with alsa I get this: (It doesn't play):
Script started on Thu Aug 9 21:52:33 2001
dsl@dslbox:~$ mplayer -ao alsa/http://www.archive.org./details/timkaufmanntestmp3
MPlayer dev-CVS--3.3.5 © 2000-2005 MPlayer Team
CPU: Intel Pentium 4/Celeron 4 Northwood; Pentium 4 EE/Xeon Prestonia,Gallatin (Family: 15, Stepping: 7)
Detected cache-line size is 64 bytes
CPUflags: MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled for Debian
This codecs.conf is too old and incompatible with this MPlayer release! at line 6
Usage: mplayer [options] [url|path/]filename
Basic options: (complete list in the man page)
-vo <drv[:dev]> select video output driver & device ('-vo help' for a list)
-ao <drv[:dev]> select audio output driver & device ('-ao help' for a list)
vcd://<trackno> play (S)VCD (Super Video CD) track (raw device, no mount)
dvd://<titleno> play DVD title from device instead of plain file
-alang/-slang select DVD audio/subtitle language (by 2-char country code)
-ss <timepos> seek to given (seconds or hh:mm:ss) position
-nosound do not play sound
-fs fullscreen playback (or -vm, -zoom, details in the man page)
-x <x> -y <y> set display resolution (for use with -vm or -zoom)
-sub <file> specify subtitle file to use (also see -subfps, -subdelay)
-playlist <file> specify playlist file
-vid x -aid y select video (x) and audio (y) stream to play
-fps x -srate y change video (x fps) and audio (y Hz) rate
-pp <quality> enable postprocessing filter (details in the man page)
-framedrop enable frame dropping (for slow machines)
Basic keys: (complete list in the man page, also check input.conf)
<- or -> seek backward/forward 10 seconds
down or up seek backward/forward 1 minute
pgdown or pgup seek backward/forward 10 minutes
< or > step backward/forward in playlist
p or SPACE pause movie (press any key to continue)
q or ESC stop playing and quit program
+ or - adjust audio delay by +/- 0.1 second
o cycle OSD mode: none / seekbar / seekbar + timer
* or / increase or decrease PCM volume
x or z adjust subtitle delay by +/- 0.1 second
r or t adjust subtitle position up/down, also see -vf expand
* * * SEE THE MAN PAGE FOR DETAILS, FURTHER (ADVANCED) OPTIONS AND KEYS * * *
dsl@dslbox:~$
Script done on Thu Aug 9 21:52:42 2001
Posted by Juanito on May 12 2007,09:45
| Quote |
| dsl@dslbox:~$ mplayer -ao alsa/http://www.archive.org./details/timkaufmanntestmp3 |
Hmm... I'm not sure if playing from a web address would neccessarily work and I think there needs to be a space after "alsa". Could you try this again with an mp3 file on your local hd?
One other thing to try would be to check if the mixer controls are muted, i.e.
| Code Sample |
| # alsamixer |
Posted by blip on May 13 2007,12:28
Hi JuanitoSorry I didn't get back to you yesterday about this....
I've repeated all the steps so far in this post below. I don't seem to be able to uninstall oss ( or it can't find something to uninstall). I can't bring up the alsa mixer. I have installed Alsa (from the MyDSL control panel) and run it ( it detects my intel soundcard)...there's no mention of usb midi though....is that normal? It can see the usb device in lsusb but how on earth can one activate it?
Thanks again, I'm almost ready to give up but there's part of me that wants to solve this ! It could be useful for all sort of people wanting to run midi and laptops on DSL-N...maybe I'm the only one!
PS When I try to play an mp3 from hard drive see my output below....
Module Size Used by
snd_intel8x0 30528 0
snd_ac97_codec 72312 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss 47264 0
snd_pcm 77316 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 23556 1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11268 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mixer_oss 18304 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd 46820 6 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mixer_oss
af_packet 24328 0
i810_audio 36116 0
ac97_codec 20236 1 i810_audio
soundcore 11104 2 snd,i810_audio
3c59x 42024 0
mii 8320 1 3c59x
intel_agp 22300 1
agpgart 31440 1 intel_agp
hw_random 8468 0
i2c_i801 11404 0
i2c_core 20992 1 i2c_i801
parport_pc 38724 0
parport 33480 1 parport_pc
8250 42844 0
serial_core 21120 1 8250
usbhid 42464 0
pcmcia 23696 2
yenta_socket 22152 1
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 43268 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
video 18308 0
thermal 14984 0
processor 24520 1 thermal
fan 7300 0
container 7296 0
button 9104 0
battery 12420 0
ac 7556 0
genrtc 12060 0
unionfs 63000 1
cloop 29984 1
sbp2 24584 0
ohci1394 33460 0
ieee1394 297432 2 sbp2,ohci1394
usb_storage 68544 0
ohci_hcd 21764 0
uhci_hcd 31632 0
ehci_hcd 32136 0
usbcore 102492 6 usbhid,usb_storage,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
dsl@dslbox:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0763:1001 Midiman Midisport 2x2
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0605 Genesys Logic, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
dsl@dslbox:~$ modprobe usb-audio
FATAL: Module usb_audio not found.
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f i810_audio
ERROR: Removing 'i810_audio': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f ac97_codec
ERROR: RemovinModule Size Used by
snd_intel8x0 30528 0
snd_ac97_codec 72312 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss 47264 0
snd_pcm 77316 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 23556 1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11268 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mixer_oss 18304 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd 46820 6 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mixer_oss
af_packet 24328 0
i810_audio 36116 0
ac97_codec 20236 1 i810_audio
soundcore 11104 2 snd,i810_audio
3c59x 42024 0
mii 8320 1 3c59x
intel_agp 22300 1
agpgart 31440 1 intel_agp
hw_random 8468 0
i2c_i801 11404 0
i2c_core 20992 1 i2c_i801
parport_pc 38724 0
parport 33480 1 parport_pc
8250 42844 0
serial_core 21120 1 8250
usbhid 42464 0
pcmcia 23696 2
yenta_socket 22152 1
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 43268 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
video 18308 0
thermal 14984 0
processor 24520 1 thermal
fan 7300 0
container 7296 0
button 9104 0
battery 12420 0
ac 7556 0
genrtc 12060 0
unionfs 63000 1
cloop 29984 1
sbp2 24584 0
ohci1394 33460 0
ieee1394 297432 2 sbp2,ohci1394
usb_storage 68544 0
ohci_hcd 21764 0
uhci_hcd 31632 0
ehci_hcd 32136 0
usbcore 102492 6 usbhid,usb_storage,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
dsl@dslbox:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0763:1001 Midiman Midisport 2x2
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0605 Genesys Logic, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
dsl@dslbox:~$ modprobe usb-audio
FATAL: Module usb_audio not found.
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f i810_audio
ERROR: Removing 'i810_audio': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f ac97_codec
ERROR: Removing 'ac97_codec': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ alsamixer
alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device
dsl@dslbox:~$
g 'ac97_codec': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ alsamixer
alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device
dsl@dslbox:~$
Posted by blip on May 13 2007,12:30
Sorry it seems to miss a bit out last post - here's the info again. I got a 3 button mouse - life is a lot easier lol!I would love to run my old Atari St midi stuff......you are my last hope Obi One!
af_packet 24328 0
i810_audio 36116 0
ac97_codec 20236 1 i810_audio
soundcore 11104 2 snd,i810_audio
3c59x 42024 0
mii 8320 1 3c59x
intel_agp 22300 1
agpgart 31440 1 intel_agp
hw_random 8468 0
i2c_i801 11404 0
i2c_core 20992 1 i2c_i801
parport_pc 38724 0
parport 33480 1 parport_pc
8250 42844 0
serial_core 21120 1 8250
usbhid 42464 0
pcmcia 23696 2
yenta_socket 22152 1
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core 43268 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
video 18308 0
thermal 14984 0
processor 24520 1 thermal
fan 7300 0
container 7296 0
button 9104 0
battery 12420 0
ac 7556 0
genrtc 12060 0
unionfs 63000 1
cloop 29984 1
sbp2 24584 0
ohci1394 33460 0
ieee1394 297432 2 sbp2,ohci1394
usb_storage 68544 0
ohci_hcd 21764 0
uhci_hcd 31632 0
ehci_hcd 32136 0
usbcore 102492 6 usbhid,usb_storage,ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
dsl@dslbox:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0763:1001 Midiman Midisport 2x2
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0605 Genesys Logic, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
dsl@dslbox:~$ modprobe usb-audio
FATAL: Module usb_audio not found.
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f i810_audio
ERROR: Removing 'i810_audio': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ rmmod -f ac97_codec
ERROR: Removing 'ac97_codec': Operation not permitted
dsl@dslbox:~$ alsamixer
alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device
dsl@dslbox:~$ mplayer -ao alsa //ramdisk/dsl/test.mp3
MPlayer dev-CVS--3.3.5 © 2000-2005 MPlayer Team
CPU: Intel Pentium 4/Celeron 4 Northwood; Pentium 4 EE/Xeon Prestonia,Gallatin (Family: 15, Stepping: 7)
Detected cache-line size is 64 bytes
CPUflags: MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled for Debian
This codecs.conf is too old and incompatible with this MPlayer release! at line 6
Linux RTC init error in ioctl (rtc_irqp_set 1024): Invalid argument
Try adding "echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq" to your system startup scripts.
Opening joystick device /dev/input/js0
Can't open joystick device /dev/input/js0 : Permission denied
Can't init input joystick
Setting up LIRC support...
mplayer: could not connect to socket
mplayer: No such file or directory
Failed to open LIRC support.
You will not be able to use your remote control.
Playing //ramdisk/dsl/test.mp3.
File not found: '//ramdisk/dsl/test.mp3'
Failed to open //ramdisk/dsl/test.mp3
Exiting... (End of file)
dsl@dslbox:~$ mplayer -ao alsa //ramdisk/home/dsl/test.mp3
MPlayer dev-CVS--3.3.5 © 2000-2005 MPlayer Team
CPU: Intel Pentium 4/Celeron 4 Northwood; Pentium 4 EE/Xeon Prestonia,Gallatin (Family: 15, Stepping: 7)
Detected cache-line size is 64 bytes
CPUflags: MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled for Debian
This codecs.conf is too old and incompatible with this MPlayer release! at line 6
Linux RTC init error in ioctl (rtc_irqp_set 1024): Invalid argument
Try adding "echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq" to your system startup scripts.
Opening joystick device /dev/input/js0
Can't open joystick device /dev/input/js0 : Permission denied
Can't init input joystick
Setting up LIRC support...
mplayer: could not connect to socket
mplayer: No such file or directory
Failed to open LIRC support.
You will not be able to use your remote control.
Playing //ramdisk/home/dsl/test.mp3.
Audio file file format detected.
Clip info:
Title: EVE Poly by Liqih (no external
Artist: Liqih
Album: www.DASHsignature.com
Year: 2003
Comment: 3 EVE instances, no external F
Genre: Easy Listening
==========================================================================
Opening audio decoder: [mp3lib] MPEG layer-2, layer-3
AUDIO: 44100 Hz, 2 ch, s16le, 160.0 kbit/11.34% (ratio: 20000->176400)
Selected audio codec: [mp3] afm: mp3lib (mp3lib MPEG layer-2, layer-3)
==========================================================================
Building audio filter chain for 44100Hz/2ch/s16le -> 0Hz/0ch/??...
alsa-init: no soundcards found: Success
Could not open/initialize audio device -> no sound.
Audio: no sound
Video: no video
Posted by Juanito on May 13 2007,14:00
A couple of things you could try:1. For the commands "rmmod" and "modprobe" you may need to be the root user - you will see a # prompt rather than a $ prompt if you open an x terminal as root or you could type "sudo rmmod -f i810_audio" and also "sudo modprobe usb-audio" in the window you are using now.
2. When you install the alsa extension, there should be a menu item ("install alsa" or something like that) that appears that you have to click on to initialise the alsa /dev devices and then load the alsa modules - did you use this?
3. I seem to remember that alsamixer, aplay and aplaymidi may not be in the alsa extension - I will check, and could maybe e-mail you a modified extension I made with them included.
Posted by blip on May 13 2007,14:45
OK Juanito....it's difficult for me to understand why I can't just type something in to get the midi usb thing working when linux can see it on the usb devices list! When I install Alsa....it get's to the point and says 'Ok, sound driver is configured. ASLA CONFIGURATOR will prepare the card for playing now.
Now I'll run alsasound init script, then I'll ise amixer to rasie the default volumes. You can change the volume later via a mixer.
It runs the update modules ok.....
When I try to type "sudo modprobe usb-audio" it says 'FATAL: usb_audio not found'.
You've spent a long time with me now trying to sort this out...I don't mind if you want to give up now....it must be just as frustrating for you.....
I don't mind not having audio coming out for now....so the alsa mixer I'm not worried about it working....just to try and get midi out of the laptop.......
Posted by Juanito on May 14 2007,04:46
| Quote |
| When I try to type "sudo modprobe usb-audio" it says 'FATAL: usb_audio not found'. |
Oops - I just realsied that should probably have been:
| Code Sample |
| # modprobe snd-usb-audio or $ sudo modprobe snd-usb-audio |
Note that there is a section of the alsa wiki that mentions your midi device < here >- it looks like you need to load some firmware (oh good...) to get things working
Posted by blip on May 14 2007,10:29
Thanks alot.To be honest, it's a bit too advanced for me ( loading firmware ). Looks like I'll have to leave this one.........until my linux get's a bit better..........compiling code.....not for the faint hearted!
Thanks though
Posted by blip on May 17 2007,12:58
I've just seen that you can buy a cheap midi cable with in/outs that does not need a firmware upgrade/installation - this should be easier for people trying to get Alsa and midi over USB on linux.
Posted by blip on June 09 2007,14:05
Good news.Finally made some progress!
I had midi playing out of my Yamaha DJX keyboard today using DSL-N and alsa. Hoorah! Unforunately Steem ( Atari emulator) crashes almost straight away. But at least I know that can be done. I
To get things going I suggest buying an Edirol UM-1ex midi interface - the M audio midisport was too much hassle.
Install gnu utils first then all the Alsa extensions.
Then in your application send the midi out to the device midi00.
Now all I have to do is get fluidsynth working! If anyone out there who knows their linux can try to install fluidsynth or get it working I would be so obliged....if you're a newbie you can spend a whole weekend getting nowhere....but at least we've made some positive steps!
Now I need to try to get midi in working....if I do get this all working you could see a very interesting new keyboard design from me soon....something future proof with good sounds.
I tested a Yamaha digital piano the other day (CP33) - it was nice - but I wasn't overly impressed with the sound.......if I could get fluidsynth working I could build a little silent PC housed in a keyboard.....running a stable OS. Please help me to achieve my dream lol!
Posted by Juanito on June 09 2007,14:47
Well done.The debian package fluidsynth exists in oldstable and depends on ladcca2, libc6 & libfluidsynth1. Once you get sources.list pointed at old stable, the following should work:
| Code Sample |
| # apt-get update # apt-get install fluidsynth |
Posted by blip on June 11 2007,12:01
OK I'm not at home so can't give you all the screenshots...but when I tried to run fluidsynth with a soundfont alot of errors spewed up and it said it was disabling LDACC or something like that....I tried so many things to get fluidsynth to play. It's definitely installed so we are on the home run 
May I ask: how can you test alsa is working properly ? I do type 'dsl alsa' at the beginning....it seems fluidsynth can't play back sound through alsa......at least that's what the error suggested.....
Also a bit off topic but is it possible to get jack running and jack rack? I wanted to add some eq to the soundfont. I do appreciate I'm pushing DSL to it's limits....I just want to be able to run some music stuff off USB stick not installed to hard drive.
Posted by Juanito on June 11 2007,12:32
| Quote |
| May I ask: how can you test alsa is working properly ? |
1. Can you play an mp3 through your PC soundcard Y/N?
2. If Y, then can you play/record a midi file through your midi box Y/N?
If you can post the answers to these and similar questions it will enable others to help.
| Quote |
| Also a bit off topic but is it possible to get jack running and jack rack? |
You may need to start playing around with an .asoundrc (alsa configuration) file to get the sort of functionality you are looking for.
Posted by blip on June 17 2007,10:13
Arrrgh talk about frustrating........I got eveything working....I switched off my pc last night.
Started it up today and it booted into Fluxbox...mmm..I was in JVM last night.............so something went wrong on the usb stick ...
So I've started from scratch today. Re-installed Alsa. Ran GNUtils..........
Do you think I can get alsa to see my Edirol UM-1EX?! Arrgh!
When I look in proc/cards only my Soundblaster is listed there. I've done a modprobe snd-usb-audio . I'm still running DSL 3.3
I wonder what's not working. I'm doing dsl alsa mydsl=sda1 at the start and alsa is loading............
Posted by blip on June 17 2007,10:44
I can't be sure of this ( I don't want to confuse others reading my post who are having same problems) but I've got it working again. I think I am right in saying I pointed to the older repositories and then re-installed Alsa from scratch and now things are working again with the midi interface. I'm trying to work out why this might be..............
Posted by blip on June 17 2007,12:42
To add to this the reason why my Edirol Um-1ex usb midi interface did not show up was down to the fact I have to typemodprobe snd-usb-audio
for it to appear.
Does anyone know how to restart alsa from terminal please? Fluidsynth is reporting that another audio device is using the soundsystem but I don't have any other apps open that are using sound....
Posted by blip on June 18 2007,11:27
Just to add to this long post! I've installed Qsynth to ( a front end to fluidsynth ) to make loading soundfonts easier. It installs ok but says 'cannot use alsa'..mmmm..alsa is working ok ....I am still persevering with it all, I haven't got fluidsynth to play a soundfont yet over usb midi!
Posted by Juanito on June 18 2007,16:13
To restart alsa from a terminal window, type "/opt/alsaconf" - however I am not sure that this will load snd-usb-audio for you, I have a feeling it might remove all (most) of the snd* modules, including snd-usb-audio, and start again.The modified alsa extension (alsa_mod) is posted in the DSL-N repository - I checked and it contains a couple of files named jack, so you might be in luck with this.
Do you have a drop-down box in fluidsynth or muse where you can type the name of the alsa device you would like to use or do they only let you choose from a list?
Posted by blip on June 22 2007,10:31
Hi Juanitor. That's useful! I don't mind doing modprobe....No Fluidsynth is a gui only thing. To date i've no sound coming out of fluidsynth. I can see though midi is going in via the USB interface.
There's a front end to fluidsynth called Qsynth which I installed..it all works but it's saying Alsa is not running. Muse is a bit funny - locks when I select Alsa. It did work this morning using Alsa....something clearly isn't quite right. Maybe it's me installing bits from old libraries......I did find re-installing Alsa made Muse work with Alsa today...
It's a pity I can't get it all working. I'm almost ready to give u lol!
Posted by Juanito on June 22 2007,11:16
Are you still using DSL-N? If so, you could use the alsa-mod extension I posted in the DSL-N repository - the alsa extensions in the DSL repository contain alsa modules that could conflict with those already in DSL-N
Posted by blip on June 22 2007,15:40
I've been using DSL as I wasn't quite sure about running DSL-N and running apt-get (it looks different / I couldn't find stuff in DSL-N like DSL).I did get alsamixer running in DSL from that mod you sent.
Posted by blip on June 23 2007,07:37
Hi JuanitoI went back to DSL-N last night ( until 3am) but couldn't really get on with it...that's having no beaver for you at 3am!
Mainly the problem was that I couldn't apt-get anything so I couldn't set up Muse or fluidsynth and I couldn't use firefox.
That alsa extension...I take it you can't use it with DSL? If you compile a program with deb2dsl can you then use it in DSL-N? I see DSL uses kernel 2.4 and DSL uses kernel 2.6. I did install jack into DSL and it seemed to install but I didn't get sound through it......
Posted by Juanito on June 23 2007,08:09
| Quote |
| That alsa extension...I take it you can't use it with DSL? |
That's correct, it does not have the alsa modules (eg snd-usb-audio) so it will not work with DSL.
| Quote |
| If you compile a program with deb2dsl can you then use it in DSL-N? |
Sometimes, but not always, I believe - you could try. If you work with the deb files rather than apt-get, then it will work in DSL-N for sure.
Posted by blip on June 29 2007,00:01
Well good news. I've got Muse working in DSL-N. I just made a DSL using deb2dsl and so far it loads fine.The only problem is that alsa is not showing to be on in Muse. Yet when the PC boots up I can see it does the Alsa=autodetect thing.
I've even got fluidsynth installed as a DSL but still need to test this.
I've got to work out if Alsa is properly working...so I will report back. It's all looking positive tonight..............