Difference between revisions of "Quick Start"

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== How to make a Piano Snapshot ==
 
== How to make a Piano Snapshot ==
  
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This is a basic tutorial on using the Zynthian for the first time. We will set it up to play a piano sound.
  
A piano is a good starting sound.
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One of the "engines" in the Zynthian is the "Fluid synth". This synthesizer plays recorded samples, typically from real instruments.  We will use a Yamaha Grand Piano sample set called "GM1 Yamaha Grand".  
  
I tend to use the Fluid synth GM1 Yamaha Grand. Others prefer Pianoteq.
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First you want to save a snapshot. Snapshots are all about the upper right encoder, labelled '''Snapshot & LS''' in the Users Guide…
  
First you save a snapshot. Snapshots are all about the upper right encoder, labelled Snapshot & LS in the Users Guide…
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Pressing the upper right encoder for between 0.3 and 2 seconds should display the '''Load Snapshot''' screen. It needs to be at least a '''Bold''' press, otherwise you will end up in ''MIDI learn'' which is interesting but not what you want at the moment.
 
 
The basic idea is the length of the press on the Snapshot Encoder sets you into Load or Save. It needs to be at least a Bold Press otherwise you will end up in MIDI learn which is interesting but not what you want at the moment.
 
This will put you into Load Snapshot
 
  
 
[[File:LoadSnapshot.png]]
 
[[File:LoadSnapshot.png]]
  
and another Press
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another Press will display the Save Snapshot menu.
will put you into the Save Snapshot menu.
 
  
 
[[File:SaveSnapshot.png]]
 
[[File:SaveSnapshot.png]]
  
Here you can overwrite the default ( so that’s how you always start it up in Piano )
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Here you will overwrite the default startup snapshot (so you'll always start up in Piano)
  
You can also create a new snapshot with the New Snapshot menu item or overwrite existing snapshots…
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''(You can also create a new snapshot with the New Snapshot menu item or overwrite existing snapshots…)''
  
The one thing you can’t do from the GUI is rename the snapshot you create to something useful but that’s where the webconf interface comes into play ( I run it in it’s own screen on the triple header zynth)
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The one thing you can’t do with the Zynthian is rename the snapshot you create to something useful, but that’s where the webconf interface comes into play (I run a web browser on its own screen)
  
Selecting zynthian-nord.local ( the address of yours is in Admin /Network Info, use the ip address if on a naked windows browser)
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Open a web browser and give the address of your Zynthian. For example, I enter ''zynthian-nord.local'' (the address of yours is shown on the Admin/Network Info screen, or use the IP address instead of a name if you are using a Windows browser)
  
Choose Library/ Snapshot ( might be under the "hamburger" icon on the right)
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Choose Library/ Snapshot (might be under the "hamburger" icon on the right)
  
 
[[File:WebLibrarySnapshots.png]]
 
[[File:WebLibrarySnapshots.png]]
  
Here you can rename the snapshot you have just created and I suggest you do because otherwise you end up with a lot of numbers that you constantly have to preview to know what they are
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Here you can rename the snapshot you have just created and I suggest you do, because otherwise you end up with a lot of numbered snapshots that you constantly have to preview to know what they are.
  
Actually loading a sound is really about Engines on Layers…
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Back to the Zynthian box. Actually loading a sound is really about Engines on Layers…
  
Once you’ve got the select and back key presses worked out to move between Admin & the Layer List screen
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You use the '''select''' and '''back''' button presses to move between the Admin screen & the Layer List screen
  
 
[[File:LayerList.png]]
 
[[File:LayerList.png]]
  
You can add an engine …using New Synth Layer
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You can add an engine using '''New Synth Layer'''
  
And there are lot’s of them . . . .  ( this is officially a good thing !)
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And there are lot’s of them . . . .  (this is officially a good thing!)
  
 
[[File:Engine.png]]
 
[[File:Engine.png]]
  
Select Fluidsynth in this case althou’ you can obviously choose others … either way you will be presented with the MIDI screen . . . .
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Select Fluidsynth and you will be presented with the MIDI screen . . . .
  
Choose an available MIDI channel
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Choose an available MIDI channel - that your keyboard controller is sending on.
  
 
[[File:MIDIchannel.png]]
 
[[File:MIDIchannel.png]]
  
In Fluidsynth you choose from available presets of sounds (fluidsynth presets this time)
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In Fluidsynth you choose from the available presets of sounds.
  
So choose (in this case ) the GM ( General MIDI sound font) It will take a little time to load…
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So choose the GM (General MIDI sound font). It will take a little time to load…
  
 
[[File:1-FS.png]]
 
[[File:1-FS.png]]
  
and present you with an actual list of instruments…
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and will then present you with an actual list of instruments…
  
 
[[File:FluidR3_GM.png]]
 
[[File:FluidR3_GM.png]]
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[[File:YamahaGrandPiano.png]]
 
[[File:YamahaGrandPiano.png]]
  
and there is your controls for the Yamaha grand Fluidsynth Sound font available on the MIDI channel you selected and if that channel matches the MIDI channel of your Alesis Q49 then it should play.
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and now the controls for the Yamaha grand Fluidsynth Sound font are available on the MIDI channel you selected and if that channel matches the MIDI channel of your MIDI keyboard then it should play.
  
 
written by wyleu
 
written by wyleu

Latest revision as of 03:33, 28 February 2019

How to make a Piano Snapshot

This is a basic tutorial on using the Zynthian for the first time. We will set it up to play a piano sound.

One of the "engines" in the Zynthian is the "Fluid synth". This synthesizer plays recorded samples, typically from real instruments. We will use a Yamaha Grand Piano sample set called "GM1 Yamaha Grand".

First you want to save a snapshot. Snapshots are all about the upper right encoder, labelled Snapshot & LS in the Users Guide…

Pressing the upper right encoder for between 0.3 and 2 seconds should display the Load Snapshot screen. It needs to be at least a Bold press, otherwise you will end up in MIDI learn which is interesting but not what you want at the moment.

 

another Press will display the Save Snapshot menu.

 

Here you will overwrite the default startup snapshot (so you'll always start up in Piano)

(You can also create a new snapshot with the New Snapshot menu item or overwrite existing snapshots…)

The one thing you can’t do with the Zynthian is rename the snapshot you create to something useful, but that’s where the webconf interface comes into play (I run a web browser on its own screen)

Open a web browser and give the address of your Zynthian. For example, I enter zynthian-nord.local (the address of yours is shown on the Admin/Network Info screen, or use the IP address instead of a name if you are using a Windows browser)

Choose Library/ Snapshot (might be under the "hamburger" icon on the right)

 

Here you can rename the snapshot you have just created and I suggest you do, because otherwise you end up with a lot of numbered snapshots that you constantly have to preview to know what they are.

Back to the Zynthian box. Actually loading a sound is really about Engines on Layers…

You use the select and back button presses to move between the Admin screen & the Layer List screen

 

You can add an engine using New Synth Layer

And there are lot’s of them . . . . (this is officially a good thing!)

 

Select Fluidsynth and you will be presented with the MIDI screen . . . .

Choose an available MIDI channel - that your keyboard controller is sending on.

 

In Fluidsynth you choose from the available presets of sounds.

So choose the GM (General MIDI sound font). It will take a little time to load…

 

and will then present you with an actual list of instruments…

 

Select Yamaha Grand . . . .

 

and now the controls for the Yamaha grand Fluidsynth Sound font are available on the MIDI channel you selected and if that channel matches the MIDI channel of your MIDI keyboard then it should play.

written by wyleu