Zynthian FAQ - Revision history

Riban: Adds monocle emoji FAQ

2026-01-11T17:16:40Z

Adds monocle emoji FAQ

Jawn: /* Despite having a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hangs */Improve text

2025-06-28T07:36:09Z

Despite having a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hangs: Improve text

Jawn: /* Where can I buy a Zynthian Kit? */Fix typo

2025-06-28T07:34:48Z

Where can I buy a Zynthian Kit?: Fix typo

Jawn: /* Loading engines or soundfonts are slow */Fix grammar

2025-06-28T07:34:21Z

Loading engines or soundfonts are slow: Fix grammar

Jawn: /* I have a license for Pianoteq, what would be the process to enter the license key ? */Improve grammar.

2025-06-28T07:32:59Z

I have a license for Pianoteq, what would be the process to enter the license key ?: Improve grammar.

Jofemodo: /* How good can the latency be ? */

2023-06-25T23:43:25Z

How good can the latency be ?

Jofemodo: /* How good can the Latency be ? */

2023-06-25T23:43:15Z

How good can the Latency be ?

Jofemodo: /* I’m primarily a guitarist and thus, I’m interested in the MOD UI... */

2023-06-25T23:42:59Z

I’m primarily a guitarist and thus, I’m interested in the MOD UI...

Jofemodo: /* About Zynthian Security */

2023-06-25T23:30:38Z

About Zynthian Security

Jofemodo at 16:21, 16 July 2021

2021-07-16T16:21:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:16, 11 January 2026
Line 79:		Line 79:
	=== How good can the latency be? ===		=== How good can the latency be? ===
	[https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/latency-on-the-new-hifiberry-stage-dac/5627/2?u=wyleu A forum post on Latency.]		[https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/latency-on-the-new-hifiberry-stage-dac/5627/2?u=wyleu A forum post on Latency.]
		+
		+	=== What does the 🧐 monocle emoji mean in the forum? ===
		+
		+	The forum is full of helpful users, willing and able to provide assistance, drawing on a wealth of experience. This is done with good humour, good intent and without the epectation of reward. There is a kind of unwritten expectation of good manners for recipients of this help to provide a token of their appreciation, usually in the form of some audio created with their zynthian. If you see the 🧐 monocle emoji then you are being prompted to spend a few moments creating such a bit of art. It doesn't have to be substantial or even good! We just love to hear what you all do with your devices.

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 Also, if you're running ZynthianOs on a RBPi3, consider upgrading to RBPi4.
-=== Despite I have a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hangs ===
+=== Despite having a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hangs ===
 Maybe you have let the VNC server running while playing. Forwarding the sound engines native gui over the network is resource consuming. You should consider disabling the VNC server.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 If you want to use a different computing board model, you have to build your own SD image using the setup scripts. You can start from [https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-sys/blob/master/scripts/setup_system_rbpi_raspbian_lite_buster.sh here] on top of minimal Debian Buster install. This script and the [https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-sys/blob/master/scripts/zynthian_envars.sh environment variables] should be adapted to match your board.
-===Where can i buy a Zynthian Kit?===
+===Where can I buy a Zynthian Kit?===
 You can buy official kits in the '''[https://shop.zynthian.org Zynthian Shop]'''.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 You are suffering from underpower. You need a reliable Power Supply Unit and a strong USB cable. The official RaspberryPi PSU bundle is the one that works perfectly. And it's available in the [https://shop.zynthian.org/shop/product/raspberry-pi-15-3w-usb-c-power-supply-389 Zynthian shop].
-=== Loading engines or soundfonts is slow ===
+=== Loading engines or soundfonts are slow ===
 Be sure that you're using a high quality SD card.

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === I have a license for Pianoteq, what would be the process to enter the license key ? ===
-You have to access the webconf tool and follow ''carefully'' the instructions from the "Software->Pianoteq" section.
+You have to access the webconf tool and ''carefully'' follow the instructions from the "Software->Pianoteq" section.
 === I see a red lightning on the display, I hear cracks when playing ===

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ## Not so Easy Way: Use HTTPS and ask for the password. We should modify MOD-UI source code
-=== How good can the latency be ? ===
+=== How good can the latency be? ===
 [https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/latency-on-the-new-hifiberry-stage-dac/5627/2?u=wyleu A forum post on Latency.]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Currently, all official Zynthian Bundle-All Kits include "audio input". The new official sound card is the [https://blog.zynthian.org/2021/05/zynadac-v1-0-an-open-hardware-soundcard-for-zynthian/ ZynADAC].
-Zynthia UI allows to create up to 16 processing audio-FX-chains and you can also use the fantastic MOD-UI.
+Zynthia UI allows to create up to 16 FX-chains for audio processing and, of course, you can also use the fantastic MOD-UI from [https://mod.audio/ MOD Devices].
 === Do you think Zynthian is for me? ===

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 You also have to understand that:
-* Although the Webconf Tool ask for the password, it doesn’t use HTTPS, so your password could be sniffed by bad actors connected to the local network. That is especially true if you are using an ethernet cable or the old WEP Wifi protocol. If you are using WPA2 Wifi protocol on your 2 devices (Zynthian and your “computer”), then you should be protected against sniffers.
+* Although the Webconf Tool ask for the password, it doesn’t use HTTPS ''by default'', so your password could be sniffed by bad actors connected to the local network. That is especially true if you are using an ethernet cable or the old WEP Wifi protocol. If you are using WPA2 Wifi protocol on your 2 devices (Zynthian and your “computer”), then you should be protected against sniffers.
 * When a MOD-UI layer is created on zynthian, the MOD-UI server run completely open for everybody in the local network.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 [[Understanding LINUX Audio]] Helps understand the acronyms mentioned in this Wiki
-===Which RaspberryPi does Zynthian support?===
+===Which compute boards does Zynthian support?===
 The currently supported computing boards are:
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 RBPi2 is not longer supported by official zynthian SD images.
-RBPi3 is supported but may be not powerfull enough if you plan to use many sound engines in the same time.
+RBPi3 is supported but may be not powerfull enough if you plan to use many sound engines at the same time.
 RBPi4 is the best choice.
 === I want to run Zynthian OS on another Single Board Computer ===
-It's doable for advanced users !
+Not an easy task, but it's doable for advanced users.
 If you want to use a different computing board model, you have to build your own SD image using the setup scripts. You can start from [https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-sys/blob/master/scripts/setup_system_rbpi_raspbian_lite_buster.sh here] on top of minimal Debian Buster install. This script and the [https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-sys/blob/master/scripts/zynthian_envars.sh environment variables] should be adapted to match your board.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 You need to be able to login into the Wiki. Registering in the wiki is currently disabled for security reasons, but you can ask on the forum to get access.
-=== I have a license for Pianoteq 6, what would be the process to enter the license key ? ===
+=== I have a license for Pianoteq, what would be the process to enter the license key ? ===
 You have to access the webconf tool and follow ''carefully'' the instructions from the "Software->Pianoteq" section.
 === I see a red lightning on the display, I hear cracks when playing ===
@@ Line 37: / Line 35: @@
 You are suffering from underpower. You need a reliable Power Supply Unit and a strong USB cable. The official RaspberryPi PSU bundle is the one that works perfectly. And it's available in the [https://shop.zynthian.org/shop/product/raspberry-pi-15-3w-usb-c-power-supply-389 Zynthian shop].
-=== Loading engines or soundfonts is really slow ===
+=== Loading engines or soundfonts is slow ===
 Be sure that you're using a high quality SD card.
-Also, don't expect too much if you're running ZynthianOs on a RBPi3.
+Also, if you're running ZynthianOs on a RBPi3, consider upgrading to RBPi4.
-=== Despite I have a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hang ===
+=== Despite I have a good PSU, a good SD card and a RBPi4, my Zynthian hangs ===
-Maybe you have let the VNC server running while playing. Forwarding the sound engines native gui over the network is ressource consuming. You should consider disabling the VNC server.
+Maybe you have let the VNC server running while playing. Forwarding the sound engines native gui over the network is resource consuming. You should consider disabling the VNC server.
 === Does the pre-built kit come with a Raspberry Pi ? ===
-[https://shop.zynthian.org/shop/product/zynthian-kit-v4-2-358?category=13 In the shop], you can choose to buy the kit without or with a Raspberry Pi 4.
+[https://shop.zynthian.org/shop/product/zynthian-kit-v4-2-358?category=13 In the shop], you can choose to buy the kit with or without a Raspberry Pi 4.
 === I’m primarily a guitarist and thus, I’m interested in the MOD UI... ===
-Currently, all official Zynthian Bundle-All Kits include "audio input". The new official sound card is the [https://www.hifiberry.com/docs/data-sheets/datasheet-dac-adc HifiBerry DAC+ ADC].
+Currently, all official Zynthian Bundle-All Kits include "audio input". The new official sound card is the [https://blog.zynthian.org/2021/05/zynadac-v1-0-an-open-hardware-soundcard-for-zynthian/ ZynADAC].
 Zynthia UI allows to create up to 16 processing audio-FX-chains and you can also use the fantastic MOD-UI.
@@ Line 62: / Line 60: @@
 === About Zynthian Security===
-FYI, everything in Zynthian is executed as root user. The Pi user in the new PiOS images have sudo rights, so i don’t see a big security difference between the Gorgona and the PiOS images. PiOS is about automation and evolution, but currently it doesn’t improve security AFAIK.
+FYI, everything in Zynthian is executed as root user.
-Anybody who wants to connect their Zynthians to a “not secure” network (any network not controlled by oneself should be considered “not secure”) ) '''SHOULD CHANGE the default zynthian password'''. You can do that from the webconf tool.
+Anybody who wants to connect their Zynthians to a “not secure” network (any network not controlled by oneself should be considered “not secure”) '''SHOULD CHANGE the default zynthian password'''. You can do that from the webconf tool.
 You also have to understand that:
@@ Line 74: / Line 72: @@
 IMHO, these 2 are the main security holes in Zynthian. For solving it, we have to:
-# Use HTTPS for webconf tool.
+# Use HTTPS for webconf tool. This is already implemented with a self-signed certificate.
 # Secure the MOD-UI server:
 ## Fast and Easy Way: Set a flag for “secure” networks, so MOD-UI will be “open” in that networks only
 ## Not so Easy Way: Use HTTPS and ask for the password. We should modify MOD-UI source code
 === How good can the Latency be ? ===
 [https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/latency-on-the-new-hifiberry-stage-dac/5627/2?u=wyleu A forum post on Latency.]