MIDI softsynth

[Jan Stary]

I don't use softsynths very often, but if I do, I use a midi thru box
(additional -M option to sndiod) to make it look like a midi device so
midish can use it. I record the softsynth output with "-mmon" option
of sndiod.

What soft synths do people use under OpenBSD 5.0?

There is audio/fluidsynth, which works pretty well,
but is a bit behind upstream, and the latency actually
makes it unsuitable for peforming.

Any recommendations?

Thank you

Jan

[Juha Erkkila]

Post by Jan Stary

I don't use softsynths very often, but if I do, I use a midi thru box
(additional -M option to sndiod) to make it look like a midi device so
midish can use it. I record the softsynth output with "-mmon" option
of sndiod.

What soft synths do people use under OpenBSD 5.0?
There is audio/fluidsynth, which works pretty well,
but is a bit behind upstream, and the latency actually
makes it unsuitable for peforming.
Any recommendations?

I sometimes use fluidsynth and I have tried lmms and IIRC it has
been okay with a midi keyboard (it has some more synth choices than
simple fluidsynth).

But in my experience latency with fluidsynth can be totally okay,
you just need to adjust buffer sizes for shorter latency. I run
aucat with "-b 440 -z 220" and fluidsynth with "-c 2 -z 128".
Keeping the machine not doing mostly anything else while playing
does help to achieve clean playback (you could also try nicing
fluidsynth to -20).

Juha

[Alexandre Ratchov]

Post by Jan Stary

I don't use softsynths very often, but if I do, I use a midi thru box
(additional -M option to sndiod) to make it look like a midi device so
midish can use it. I record the softsynth output with "-mmon" option
of sndiod.

What soft synths do people use under OpenBSD 5.0?

sometimes I use a home-made soft synth to get few specific sounds my
hardware synth can't do.

fluidsynth is supposed to work; zynaddsubfx used to work, but i don't
remember why it wasn't committed:

http://marc.info/?l=openbsd-ports&m=126247094401159&w=2

Post by Jan Stary
There is audio/fluidsynth, which works pretty well,
but is a bit behind upstream, and the latency actually
makes it unsuitable for peforming.

IIRC the latency problem could be solved by reducing the buffer size,
ex. "-r48000 -z240 -c2" used to work, you can try even smaller block
sizes. You'd also have to decrease sndiod latency if you're using
it. I currently use -r48000 -b240 -z120 on a p4 at 1.8GHz running
i386; optimal settings depend on the system, so you may find better
ones.

-- Alexandre

[Jan Stary]

Post by Juha Erkkila
But in my experience latency with fluidsynth can be totally okay,
you just need to adjust buffer sizes for shorter latency. I run
aucat with "-b 440 -z 220" and fluidsynth with "-c 2 -z 128".
Keeping the machine not doing mostly anything else while playing
does help to achieve clean playback (you could also try nicing
fluidsynth to -20).
IIRC the latency problem could be solved by reducing the buffer size,
ex. "-r48000 -z240 -c2" used to work, you can try even smaller block
sizes. You'd also have to decrease sndiod latency if you're using
it.

I find that when sndiod is not running, the latency of fluidsynth,
even without any bufsize options, is very tolerable. So it seems
it is the insertion of sndiod into the fluidsynth -> sndiod -> device
chain that introduces the latency.

But I do want to run sndiod, for other reasons.
And -r 48000 -z 200 makes it good. Thanks!

(However, the lowest recommended -z value of 400
makes the latency noticeable, so I will probably
need to tweak it some more for MTC synchronization.)

Post by Juha Erkkila
I currently use -r48000 -b240 -z120 on a p4 at 1.8GHz running
i386; optimal settings depend on the system, so you may find better
ones.

OpenBSD 5.0-current (GENERIC.MP) #0: Wed Jan 11 21:07:18 CET 2012
***@box.stare.cz:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC.MP
real mem = 1054593024 (1005MB)
cpu0 at mainbus0: apid 0 (boot processor)
cpu0: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D510 @ 1.66GHz, 1666.95 MHz
cpu0: 512KB 64b/line 8-way L2 cache
cpu0: apic clock running at 166MHz
cpu1 at mainbus0: apid 1 (application processor)
cpu1: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D510 @ 1.66GHz, 1666.69 MHz
cpu1: 512KB 64b/line 8-way L2 cache
cpu2 at mainbus0: apid 2 (application processor)
cpu2: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D510 @ 1.66GHz, 1666.69 MHz
cpu2: 512KB 64b/line 8-way L2 cache
cpu3 at mainbus0: apid 3 (application processor)
cpu3: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D510 @ 1.66GHz, 1666.69 MHz
cpu3: 512KB 64b/line 8-way L2 cache

Is my machine 'slow'? Or could I be better off
in this regard with the SP kernel?

Thank you for your time

Jan

[Alexandre Ratchov]

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[Jan Stary]

Post by Alexandre Ratchov
sometimes I use a home-made soft synth to get few specific sounds my
hardware synth can't do.

Given the quality of work you do in OpenBSD audio,
I am interested in this homemade softsynth of yours.

Could you please make it available? I will create
the port if I get it running. (Cheap: you do
build it as a port of course :-)

Jan

[Jan Stary]

Post by Alexandre Ratchov

Post by Jan Stary
What soft synths do people use under OpenBSD 5.0?

sometimes I use a home-made soft synth to get few specific sounds my
hardware synth can't do.

Knowing your other audio work, I am interested
in your "home-made soft synth". Is there a port please?

Jan