Accessing Zynthian from your computer

Zynthian offers additional ways to access the system from your computer using either an ethernet or wifi connection. The Zynthian Web Configuration Tool is a web interface to view and configure settings e.g. midi devices, preset libraries etc. Graphical user interfaces for synth engines and the pedalboard style LV2 plugin patch MOD-UI are also accessible from your web browser.

1 Network Connection

The easiest way to connect your Zynthian is to use the Ethernet RJ45 connector with a CAT-5 cable to connect your unit to your local network (DHCP) or directly to your computer (Ethernet to Ethernet, aka link-local). Your zynthian box uses link-local name, depending on your system:

zynthian.local

or

zynthian.lan

If the link-local address is not found, make sure that the link-local feature is enabled in your system. Sometimes it's disabled and link-local names are not recognized (windows specially). If you can't manage to get link-local names to work, you can use the zynthian's IP address. The zynthian's IP address can be found int the UI's "Admin->Network Info" menu, and it's also printed on the zynthian's error screen. See: Finding your IP address

1.1 Wifi Configuration

All wifi management is done from the zynthian-ui admin menu. You can configure your wifi networks from there.

1.2 Wifi Hotspot

You can connect to your zynthian using the built-in Wifi Hotspot mode. This is less convenient than using Ethernet or an existing wifi network, and is mostly useful to configure connections to other wifi networks.

Open the Admin screen on your zynthian.
Select the "Wifi Hotspot" option. This could take up to 30 seconds to complete.
Connect to the "zynthian" network with another device.
In the Admin screen on your zynthian, select "Network Info".
Connect to the displayed IP address with the browser on your other device.

Note that the wifi network created in hotspot mode allows anyone to connect. If using the wifi hotspot in a public place, ensure you've changed your password.

1.3 Accessing the terminal with SSH / Accessing the file system with SFTP

You can also login with ssh to access the Linux console. see Command_Line_User_Guide (use PuTTY for Windows). The username and default password is:

user: root
password: opensynth

The zynthian's filesystem can be accessed with sftp and scp. If you are using Windows, you could use winscp, a free software to communicate using this internet protocol.

Note:

For legacy SD-images before Oram Bookworm the password is raspberry

1.4 Accessing the Web Configuration Tool

You can access the web configuration tool using the web browser from your computer:

Connect your Zynthian to your local network using the ethernet connector (RJ45) or directly to your computer (Ethernet to Ethernet)
Open the browser in your computer and type in the address bar:

http://zynthian.local

or

http://zynthian.lan

or

the IP address of your Zynthian

Note:

If the local name doesn't work, see Finding your IP address. If you can't access the webconf with your browser. See command line configuration.

The web config tool will load and ask for the admin password. The default password is "opensynth".

Here are the details on using the Web configuration tool: Zynthian Web Configuration Tool User Guide

1.5 Viewing Zynthian UI and Synth Engine Native GUIs on your Computer

Some engines have a native GUI that can be accessed from your desktop/laptop computer. Zynthian provides a VNC viewer for a desktop that allows access to these native GUI. By default VNC is disabled and it is recommended to disable for performance (as it has a small overhead which is best saved for your audio). To enable VNC and access the desktop and engines' native GUI:

Connect via web browser to webconf
Navigate to INTERFACE->UI Options
Assert Enable VNC Server option and press Save
Reload webconf and navigate to INTERFACE->UI-Engines
Enter the Zynthian password (default: raspberry)

Note: There is also an option to access the Zynthian main UI by navigating to INTERFACE-VNC UI. This is a mirror of the main UI and may be driven from VNC and/or the physical interface.

The VNC views may be accessed directly via the URLs:

http://zynthian.local:6080/vnc.html (Main UI)
http://zynthian.local:6081/vnc.html (Engines desktop)

or with a VNC client by connecting to ports:

5900 (Main UI)
5901 (Engines desktop)software can be launched, like qjackctl or a virtual MIDI keyboard for testing.

Tip: You can automatically connnect and login to web-based VNC by appending parameters to the URL, e.g. http://zynthian.local:6080/vnc.html?autoconnect=true&password=raspberry

1.5.1 Supported Engines with Native GUI

Many LV2 plugins (NoizeMaker, OBX-d, Surge, DragonFly Reverbs, ...) and some of the standalone engines (ZynAddSubFX, Aeolus, Pianoteq and PureData) have support for remotely displaying their native GUIs. If VNC is enabled, the engine's GUI will be launched automatically when added to a chain.

Note:

Using an ethernet-to-ethernet (cable) connection will reduce remote GUI latency and improve usability.

2 Uploading your presets & soundfonts to Zynthian

The easiest way of getting your presets & soundfonts inside your zynthian is by using the webconf's preset manager:

 http://zynthian.local/lib-presets

From there you manage your preset & soundfont libraries: renaming, deleting, and uploading, including automatic conversion from some native formats:

DX7 SysEX files
OBXd FXB files
synthv1 native format
padthv1 native format

If if this doesn't work for you, or you prefer to do it by hand, you can copy your presets/soundfonts/pedalboards into the next folder:

/zynthian/zynthian-my-data

This is the subfolder structure:

+ presets
 + zynaddsubfx
 + puredata
 + pianoteq
 + lv2
 + mod-ui
+ soundfonts
 + sf2
   + bank-1.sf2
   + ...
   + bank-n.sf2
 + sfz
   + bank-1
     + sfz-bundle1
     + ...
     + sfz-bundle2
   + ...
   + bank-n
 + gig
   + bank-1
     + instrument-1.gig
     + ...
     + instrument-n.gig
   + ...
   + bank-n
+ snapshots
+ capture

SFZ and GIG soundfonts are used with LinuxSampler. SF2 soundfonts are used with FluidSynth. SFZ and GIG soundfonts must be organized in 'bank' subfolders. SF2 files are considered "banks" by itself.

If you have doubts of how to store your data, take a look in this directory:

/zynthian/zynthian-data

Here you will find the same folder structure, and could help you to understand.

Also it's interesting:

/zynthian/config

If you are really interested, you could, for instance, edit the setBfree configuration, and change the CC assignments, etc.

WARNING!!

If you add or change something inside the zynthian-data folder, your changes will be lost on the next update, or, in a worst case scenario, you could break the update system.

2.1 Accessing the MOD-UI web interface

You can access the MOD-UI web interface using the web browser from your computer:

Create a Special Layer with a "MOD-UI" engine from the Zynthian's UI
Connect your Zynthian to your local network using the ethernet connector (RJ45) or directly to your computer (ethernet to ethernet)
Open the browser in your computer and navigate to:

http://zynthian.local:8888

or

http://zynthian.lan:8888

The MOD-UI webpage should appear. When a MOD-UI chain does exist, this link is also accessible from the webconf's software menu (reload webconf after creating the chain).

If the link-local address (zynthian.local or zynthian.lan) is not found, test that the link-local feature is enabled in your system. Sometimes is disabled and local names are not recognized.

If nothing works, you could try using the zynthian's IP address instead. See Finding your IP address.

3 OSC (Open Sound Control)

Open Sound Control (OSC) is a protocol for networking sound synthesizers, computers, and other multimedia devices for purposes such as musical performance or show control. Zynthian implements OSC in various ways.

For more information about the protocol see Open Sound Control at Wikipedia and this explanatory video.

3.1 CUIA: Callable User Interface Actions

The CUIA is an unidirectional remote API that can be used to send simple control messages to zynthian UI. The CUIA can be accessed in several ways, as described in the user's guide and this section explains how to access the CUIA using OSC on port UDP 1370.

The OSC base path for CUIA messages is:

/cuia

Example:

/cuia/restart_ui

Note that CUIA paths are case insensitive, e.g.

/cuia/reboot

is interpreted the same as

/CUIA/REBOOT

Some examples using the command line tool "send_osc":

# send_osc 1370 /CUIA/SCREEN_MENU
# send_osc 1370 /CUIA/LAYER_CONTROL 2

An example Python script to select chain 2:

import liblo
liblo.send(('zynthian.local', 1370), "/CUIA/CHAIN_CONTROL", ('i', 2))

And finally, the full list of CUIAs:


CUIA Name	Parameters	Description
ACTION_MIDI_UNLEARN
ALL_NOTES_OFF
ALL_SOUNDS_OFF
ARROW_DOWN
ARROW_LEFT
ARROW_NEXT
ARROW_PREV
ARROW_RIGHT
ARROW_UP
AUDIO_FILE_LIST
BACK
BANK_PRESET
CHAIN_CONTROL	%i	Set active layer to %i and show control screen. Defaults to current chain.
CHAIN_OPTIONS	%i	Show options for chain %i. Defaults to current chain.
CLEAN_ALL
ENTER_MIDI_LEARN
EXIT_MIDI_LEARN
EXIT_UI
HIDE_BUTTONBAR
HIDE_SIDEBAR
HIDE_TOPBAR
LAST_STATE_ACTION
LAYER_CONTROL	%i	Alias of CHAIN_CONTROL. DEPRECATED!!
LAYER_OPTIONS	%i	Alias of CHAIN_OPTIONS. DEPRECATED!!
MENU
MIDI_LEARN_CONTROL	%i	Learn control knob %i
MIDI_LEARN_CONTROL_OPTIONS	%	Learn control options for knob %i
MIDI_UNLEARN_CHAIN
MIDI_UNLEARN_CONTROL	%i	Unlearn control knob %i
MIDI_UNLEARN_MIXER
MIDI_UNLEARN_NODE
POWER_OFF
PRESET
PRESET_FAV
PROGRAM_CHANGE
REBOOT
RELOAD_KEY_BINDING
RELOAD_MIDI_CONFIG
RELOAD_WIRING_LAYOUT
RESTART_UI
SCREEN_ADMIN
SCREEN_ALSA_MIXER
SCREEN_ARRANGER
SCREEN_AUDIO_MIXER
SCREEN_BANK
SCREEN_CALIBRATE
SCREEN_CONTROL
SCREEN_MAIN_MENU
SCREEN_MIDI_RECORDER
SCREEN_PATTERN_EDITOR
SCREEN_PRESET
SCREEN_SNAPSHOT
SCREEN_ZS3
SCREEN_ZYNPAD
SELECT	%i	Highlight element %i in the list
SET_TEMPO	%t	Set tempo BPM
SHOW_BUTTONBAR
SHOW_SCREEN
SHOW_SIDEBAR
SHOW_TOPBAR
START_AUDIO_PLAY
START_AUDIO_RECORD
START_MIDI_PLAY
START_MIDI_RECORD
STOP
STOP_AUDIO_PLAY
STOP_AUDIO_RECORD
STOP_MIDI_PLAY
STOP_MIDI_RECORD
TAP_TEMPO
TEMPO
TEMPO_DOWN
TEMPO_UP
TEST_MODE
TOGGLE_ALT_MODE
TOGGLE_AUDIO_PLAY
TOGGLE_AUDIO_RECORD
TOGGLE_MIDI_LEARN
TOGGLE_MIDI_PLAY
TOGGLE_MIDI_RECORD
TOGGLE_PLAY
TOGGLE_RECORD
TOGGLE_SCREEN
V5_ZYNPOT_SWITCH	%i, %t	Simulates V5 rotary-switch %i action of type %t (Push ,Short, Bold, Long)
Z2_ZYNPOT_TOUCH	%i, %s	Simulates Z2 capacitive touch-switch %i
ZYNAPTIK_CVIN_SET_NOTE0	%n	Set base note for CV/Gate input
ZYNAPTIK_CVIN_SET_VOLTS_OCTAVE	%f	Set scale for CV/Gate input
ZYNAPTIK_CVOUT_SET_NOTE0	%n	Set base note for CV/Gate output
ZYNAPTIK_CVOUT_SET_VOLTS_OCTAVE	%f	Set scale for CV/Gate output
ZYNPOT	%i, %s	Simulates rotary %i tick of size %s
ZYNSWITCH	%i, %t	Simulates button %i action of type %t (Push, Short, Bold, Long)

You can see the details in the Zynthian UI's source code.

3.2 TouchOSC

The TouchOSC protocol is supported if the option is enabled in the Zynthian admin menu. This accepts OSC on port 12101 using UDP datagrams and includes raw MIDI data interpretation on OSC path

/midi

This path accepts an OSC MIDI type message. An example Python script to send MIDI note on / off messages:

import liblo
import time

cmdNoteOn = 0x90
cmdNoteOff = 0x80
note = 60
vel = 100

liblo.send(('zynthian.local', 12101), "/midi", ('m', (vel,note,cmdNoteOn,0)))
time.sleep(1)
liblo.send(('zynthian.local', 12101), "/midi", ('m', (0,note,cmdNoteOff,0)))

Accessing Zynthian from your computer

Contents

1 Network Connection

1.1 Wifi Configuration

1.2 Wifi Hotspot

1.3 Accessing the terminal with SSH / Accessing the file system with SFTP

1.4 Accessing the Web Configuration Tool

1.5 Viewing Zynthian UI and Synth Engine Native GUIs on your Computer

1.5.1 Supported Engines with Native GUI

2 Uploading your presets & soundfonts to Zynthian

2.1 Accessing the MOD-UI web interface

3 OSC (Open Sound Control)

3.1 CUIA: Callable User Interface Actions

3.2 TouchOSC

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