Introduction to ZynAddSubFX</tile> <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css" type="text/css" /> </head> <body> <div align="center"> <h2>Electronic music creation - Introduction to ZynAddSubFX</h2> </div> <div id="ci"> <p>In this chapter you will learn the basics regarding to the use of ZynAddSubFx, a Software Synthesizer for GNU/Linux </p> <br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <div id="cont"> <div class= "intercol"> </div> <h1>Creating, playing, saving and recording instruments</h1> <h3>Connecting Jack Server</h3> <img class= "nob" align= "left" title="jack_server" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/jack_server.jpg" alt="jack_server" /> A) Click on the Jack Control Server. (Applications-Multimedia- Jack Server). Before to do this, remember deactivate any other application that could be in use by the sound system, including web browsers and multimedia players. Although is not strictly necessary to connect Jack Server in order to use ZynAddSubFX program, it will be required for Ardour and others. So, it's better look at Jack as your friend. For instance, if you need to use simultaneously ZynAddSubFX, Rezound and Ardour, you will need to connect Jack Server in the first place. <h3>Opening and checking the V(irtual)K(eyboard)</h3> <img align="top" title="kb" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/kb.jpg" alt="kb" /> <br /> 1.Open ZynAddSubFX (Applications-Multimedia-ZynAddSubFX). 2.In the Misc Menu, Switch to the User Interface Mode if it is not already set. 3.Click on VK tab. The Virtual Keyboard appears. 4.Pulse some keys on your computer keyboard. You should hear some kind of sounds; they are not very nice, but indicate that the program is working fine. <strong>Troubleshooting:</strong> If no sound brings up from your keyboard, you may: check that no macro is active (for instance, you may have set a keyboard macro like, say, Ctrl+Alt+K for change your keyboard language, etc.). Alternatively, you can restart your computer and start again the process. Close any application or browser BEFORE to begin. <div> <h3>Creating your Instruments</h3> Now, we are going to create a piano. That is, we are going to create a customized instrument. Note, however, that you have a very complete <strong>bank of predefined instruments </strong>ready for use, you will find this bank clicking on the empty tab next to the "Enable" checkbox on the main ZynAddSubFX screen; then, choose your instrument from the drop-down menu that appears. 1.Click on Edit instrument tab. Below ADDsynth, uncheck the Enabled tab. Below PADsynth menu, check Enabled tab and click Edit. <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-143" title="Zyn_Params" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/Zyn_Params.jpg" alt="Zyn_Params" /> 2.Set Gauss as Base Type, Div1 as AmpMode, 12.6 cents as BandWidth, G-4 as base, 2 and 5 as smp/oct no oct., and 128k as Sample Size. Later, you can adjust this settings for fine-tune your instrument. <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-124" title="ZynAddSubFX2" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/ZynAddSubFX2.jpg" alt="ZynAddSubFX2" /> 3.Now, click on Change Tab. The Harmonic Content Editor appears. Set Linear as Mag.Type, None and 31 for Waveshaping function, Pulse as Base.F.., and -14 as Par. <img class="alignleft" title="ZynAddSubFX1" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/ZynAddSubFX1.jpg" alt="ZynAddSubFX1" /> 4.Slide down the bars and create a descending scale from 1 to 4, then slide down the 7 bar. See graphic. 5.Click Apply. Go to the Virtual Keyboard (so you can control what you do) and pulse some keys on your keyboard. You should listen a sound like a kind of piano. If you aren't fully satisfied with the sound, go back to the settings and do some little experiments. After all, is my piano and it can not fully fit your needs. Probably, you will have to change many times your instruments working in a multi-instruments environment. Remember: this is a lot of work, a lot of funny work. This is not intended for coward people. Are you lazy? Me too. Lazy people are welcome. Open and free your mind, inspire, expire, try not to die at the first round, and do. </div> <h3>Saving your instrument</h3> 1.Now is time for saving your created instrument. The first time you will be faced, probably, with the fact that the program seems not to allow you save anything. This happens because you must first specify directories that you will use as workplaces. Go to the File menu, Settings, Bank root dirs, Add root directory... and select or create directories for your work. Now come back to the main menu and right click on the empty tab (to the right of Enabled check box), type a name for your instrument and click OK. Now, click on your Instrument name. A new pop-up menu appears: <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-148" title="save_bank_and_instrument" src="http://www.emc20.com.ar/save_bank_and_instrument.jpg" alt="save_bank_and_instrument" width="60%" height="60%" /> Click on New Bank... tab and type a name for your Bank. Click on the WRITE tab (next to a red square), now select any empty row and click it. The name of your instrument now appears and you later can select it as you need. <h3>How to play instruments on the computer keyboard.</h3> If you do some tests on your computer keyboard, you will find that the notes are arranged in ascendant scales from left to right. If you need to change up or down octaves, change the Oct. tab value (on the Virtual Keyboard), which by default is 2. Playing melodies on the computer keyboard requires some manual skills from you that will be quickly acquire with some regular practice. The z, x, c, v, b keys become do, re, mi, fa, sol, and so on. The best part of this is that, if you can manage yourself for playing melodies on the computer keyboard, you will be invincible when playing a true synthesizer. Additionally, using your computer keyboard for playing music is a very good exercise for relieving your fingers and prevents some known problems related to the exhaustive use of a mouse. <h3>Recording your melodies.</h3> When ready for recording your melody, go to the Record menu, Choose WAV File and type a name for your file. Yes, I know: you are prompted to save a file <em>before</em> you've played a single note, but one day you will realize that it's a good thing. Once you've saved your file, an empty WAV file will be created (if you try to play it, you'll get an error, because it's empty). Saved your WAV file, the red Rec. button becomes active, and anytime you click it on, the recording process begins. Whenever you click the Stop button, the recording process ends, but if you click the Pause button, you may restart the recording process, without missing your recorded part, clicking on the red Rec. button again. <strong>Tips with recorded WAV files.</strong> Sometimes, the system (or the multimedia player) seems unable to play your WAV file; you may need to refresh the file list and try to play it again. <p><strong>If you recorder WAV file crashed, don''t worry, <a href="http://www.emc20.com.ar/Quick-Solutions-to-Big-Common-Problems.php#wavcrash">still there is a hope to recover it</a></strong></p> </div> <div id="cd"> <h2>Related content</h2> <h2><a href="http://www.emc20.com.ar/The-Tools.php">The Tools</a></h2> </div> <div id="pie"><a href="http://www.emc20.com.ar/">Home</a><br /> <br /> </body> </html>