rpi-synth

Raspberry pi with midi synthesizer. Instrument changes by the push of a physical button. Inspired by https://lucidbeaming.com/blog/running-fluidsynth-on-a-raspberry-pi-zero-w/ though opted out for usage of a screen.

os and basics

• install headless linux
• sudo apt-get update | sudo apt-get upgrade
• sudo apt-get install python3-smbus python3-dev python3-rpi.gpio python3-pip libopenjp2-7 libtiff5 #python script
• sudo apt-get install mpg321 #audio player used during boot
• copy over files
  • fluidsynth.sh, script to fluidsynth and its prerequisites
  • input.txt, content of the fluidsynth sound bank (specific per loaded file) for usage in python script
  • main.py, python script for button changing instrument
  • confix.txt, fluidsynth config file (to get specific list: echo "inst 1" | fluidsynth /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2)

install (newer) fluidsynth

• https://github.com/albedozero/fluidpatcher/wiki/Programs
  • git clone https://github.com/FluidSynth/fluidsynth.git
  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt build-dep fluidsynth --no-install-recommends
  • mkdir fluidsynth/build
  • cd fluidsynth/build
  • cmake ..
  • make
  • sudo make install
  • sudo ldconfig
• sudo apt-get install fluid-soundfont-gm # soundbank of instruments, you can use different one

audio tweaks

• nano /boot/config.txt -> comment out #dtparam=audio=on
• increase responsiveness
  • sudo usermod -a -G audio pi
  • sudo nano /etc/security/limits.d/audio.conf

       @audio - memlock unlimited```
    

• set usb audio to default
• sudo nano /etc/asound.conf

      type hw card Device
                }
      ctl.!default {
      type hw card Device
      }```
  

• test audio
  • sudo reboot
  • aplay -l
  • lsusb -t
  • speaker-test -c2 -twav

fluidsynth boot script

• sudo chmod a+x fluidsynth.sh
• sudo nano .bash_profile -> add ./fluidsynth.sh