No sound VMPK and KDE Neon (Ubuntu 18.04)

[globetrotterdk]

I am trying to wade my way back into Linux after having spent some time with Win 7 and 8. On Windows, I use a program called Midiculous for practicing piano / keyboard without the need for starting a full DAW every time that I want to use a MIDI keyboard. The closest thing that I have found in the Linux world is VMPK. I have been able to configure the Win version, but the Linux version eludes me. A combination of Qsynth (plus soundfont), Jack and VMPK make thee Linux version's configuration a bit more challenging. I have tried all of the permutations of connections in VMPK and Jack that I can think of, without getting any audio output, however the little MIDI signal light blinks in Qsynth when a MIDI signal is received. Audio output works with Spotify and my Vivaldi browser. VMPK doesn't appear in the KDE volume control under "applications", so I am hoping that someone will have an idea what to do about this problem.

I am using KDE Neon User Edition 5.14 (Ubuntu 18.04)

[sysrqer]

What are you using to manage jack? I thought that perhaps it is trying to use alsa or pulseaudio and that those are not bridged to jack but you said that you've tried all variations of the output config. If it says that it is outputting to jack, and assuming other hosts/programs work with jack, then I might be worth contacting the developers.

I would try to replicate the problem but I don't see an easy way to install it without building (not sure what an appimage is) and I can't be bothered to do that. How did you install it?

[globetrotterdk]

Thanks for the reply. VMPK is in the repository and Jack, QjackCtl (which I am using), Qsynth plus soundfont get installed as dependencies.

[globetrotterdk]

I removed the version of VMPK that Ubuntu ships with and downloaded the newest version, that now is distributed as an AppImage file, on the developer's suggestion:

"Yes, the key is between the parentheses. Ubuntu and Debian derived Linux
distros ship ancient and obsolete versions of many programs, like vmpk.
Version 0.4.0 (you can find the version number in the About box) was
released 8 years ago. Current version 0.7.1 was released last month. Sorry
but I don't provide support for obsolete versions. Please do:

1. Remove the 0.4.0 version from your computer.
2. Download the AppImage of a recent release from:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/vmpk/files/
The latest 0.7.1 is for 64 bits only. If your system is 32 bits, get the
0.7.0
3. Go to the Downloads folder and check the "executable" property for the
AppImage file.
4. Optionally move the AppImage to your Applications folder.
5. Run the AppImage by clicking (or double clicking) its icon.

If the procedure works and you can hear sound, then you should complain
loudly to Ubuntu. Maybe you should also install another distribution, this
time choosing wisely: https://repology.org/metapackage/vmpk/versions

If there is somebody listening from Debian and/or Ubuntu: please stop
shipping obsolete releases of my programs, thanks!"

[rghvdberg]

If you have a midi controller you can leave out vmpk
You have sound from Vivaldi and Spotify, they probably use pulseaudio. So pulse seems to be running ..
Let's leave pulse running, don't use jack for now.

Open Setup

Selectie_047.png (18.73 KiB) Viewed 1209 times

Make sure Qsynth has loaded the soundfonts

QsynthSetup1.png (22.04 KiB) Viewed 1209 times

Use pulseaudio as output

QsynthSetup2.png (30.97 KiB) Viewed 1209 times

QSynth shows up in pavucontrol
(can't add screenshots anymore ???)
You can use patchage or qjackctrl (no need to start jack) to attach the output of a midi controller to Qsynth, there might be other applications

I you decide to use jack then things become more complicated quickly because you'll need to bridge hardware midi controllers to jack and you probably want to bridge pulse to jack and so fort. Cadence makes this very easy btw, so maybe it's not complicated ...

[globetrotterdk]

If you have a midi controller you can leave out vmpk

Cool. Thanks for that. QjackCtl worked well for linking my Korg microKEY 61 to Qsynth.

Screenshot_20190119_204716.png (73.1 KiB) Viewed 1202 times

It was also nice that you reminded me about pavucontrol, which I installed.