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--- electronic_music:toward_a_linux_softsynth_performance_setup [2023/07/21 01:54] – [JACK and controlling it] mithat
+++ electronic_music:toward_a_linux_softsynth_performance_setup [2023/07/22 23:41] (current) – [Plugin hosts] mithat
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Toward a Linux Softsynth Performance Setup ======
+<WRAP center round important 60%>
+This is a work in progress.
+</WRAP>
 Our goal here is to create a Linux setup that will host LV2 and possibly VST3 plugins (softsynth and effects) for use in live performance. We don't care about and don't want DAW functionality.
-Things you'll need:
+To get this done, we will need:
   * An application that will host the plugin(s).
@@ Line 9: / Line 14: @@
   * Plugins for one or more softsynths and possibly some effect plugins.
-I'm assuming you have a MIDI controller you want to use. If not, you'll one of those too. It will need to speak [[https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2019/03/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-usb-midi/|MIDI over USB]].
+I'm assuming you have a MIDI controller you want to use. If not, you'll one of those too. If MIDI over USB is new to you, you might want to [[https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2019/03/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-usb-midi/|get educated]].
 ===== Plugin hosts =====
-Rather than use a standalone software synth like [[https://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.io/|zynaddsubfx]], we will create an environment where we can experiment with various synths and effects that are packaged as LV2 and possibly VST3 plugins. So, we need something to host those plugins. Most DAWs will host plugins, but for our purposes that is way heavier and potentially more confusing and/or less convenient than using something that serves primarily as just a plugin host.
+Rather than use a standalone software synth, I want an environment where I can experiment with various synths and effects that are packaged as LV2 and possibly VST3 plugins. So, we need something to host those plugins. Most DAWs will host plugins, but for our purposes that's way heavier and potentially more confusing and/or less convenient than using something that serves primarily as just a plugin host.
 The credible options I've found are summarized below. I found many of these at [[https://wiki.linuxaudio.org/apps/categories/lv2|this list]] at linuxaudio.org. The descriptive text for most of these is derived from the web pages that are linked to.
   * [[http://www.bipscript.org/|Bipscript]] is a scripting language for interactive music. Features include APIs for audio plugin hosting, MIDI sequencing and OSC control.
   * [[https://kx.studio/Applications:Carla|Carla]] is a fully-featured modular audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats.
+  * [[https://github.com/kushview/element|Element]] is a modular AU/LV2/VST/VST3 audio plugin host. It appears to be in active development.
   * [[https://guitarix.org/|Guitarix]] is a guitar-centric hosting platform. I'm not sure if it can host MIDI instruments.
-  * [[https://github.com/brummer10/jalv_select|jalv.select]] is a little app to select lv2 plugins for run with [[http://drobilla.net/software/jalv.html|jalv]], a simple but fully featured LV2 host for JACK.
+  * [[http://drobilla.net/software/jalv.html|jalv]], a simple but fully featured LV2 host for JACK. See also [[https://github.com/brummer10/jalv_select|jalv.select]], a little app to select lv2 plugins for jalv. Jalv appears to be in active development.
   * [[https://github.com/moddevices/mod-host|mod-host]] is an LV2 host for Jack controllable via socket or command line. May be guitar-centric.
-  * [[https://github.com/nedko/zynjacku|zynjacku]] is JACK based, GTK (2.x) host for LV2 synths.
+  * <del>[[https://github.com/nedko/zynjacku|zynjacku]] is JACK based, GTK (2.x) host for LV2 synths.</del> Active development seems to have stopped around 2011.
-  * Curiously enough, [[https://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.io/|zynaddsubfx]], the standalone softsynth mentioned above, is also a DSSI/LV2/VST host. It's unclear whether this is limited to just effects or whether it can also host softsynths.
 ===== JACK and controlling it =====
@@ Line 51: / Line 54: @@
 ====== Attempt 1: The KVStudio stack ======
-In this attempt, I'll add the KVStudio repositories to a Debian or Ubuntu Studio install and use Carla and the Dexed plugin.
+In this attempt, I'll add the KVStudio repositories to a Debian or Ubuntu Studio install and use Carla to host the the Dexed plugin. [[https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/|Dexed]] is a 6op emulator officially only available for macOS and Windows. However, there seem to be Linux-compatible ports:
-[[https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/|Dexed]] is a 6op emulator "officially" only available for macOS and Windows. However, there seem to be Linux-compatible ports:
   * KXStudio has both [[https://kx.studio/Repositories:Plugins#dexed-lv2|LV2]] and [[https://kx.studio/Repositories:Plugins#dexed-vst|VST3]] versions in their repositories (and directly downloadable). The release version format doesn't align with the official releases though and suggests it trails the official Dexed repository.
   * [[https://www.kvraudio.com/product/dexed-by-digital-suburban|KVR Audio]] offers a VST3 version for Linux.
-LinuxSyths.com has some additional [[http://linuxsynths.com/DexedPatchesDemos/dexed.html|info on and resources]] for Dexed
+LinuxSyths.com has some additional [[http://linuxsynths.com/DexedPatchesDemos/dexed.html|info on and resources]] for Dexed.
+[to be continued]