Zynthian UI User's Guide - Vangelis - Revision history

Riban: /* UI Actions */

2026-03-10T08:14:53Z

UI Actions

Riban: Update descriptions of mixer view controls

2026-03-10T07:12:08Z

Update descriptions of mixer view controls

Riban: Undo revision 15933 by Riban (talk)

2026-03-06T08:08:36Z

Undo revision 15933 by Riban (talk)

Riban: /* MIDI input */

2026-03-06T08:05:17Z

MIDI input

Riban: /* MIDI input */

2026-03-06T08:04:32Z

MIDI input

Riban: /* Quick Start */

2026-03-06T07:53:27Z

Quick Start

Riban: /* Quick Start */

2026-03-06T07:48:17Z

Quick Start

Riban: Fixes bullet list

2026-03-06T07:47:06Z

Fixes bullet list

Riban: /* Quick Start */

2026-03-06T07:32:35Z

Quick Start

Riban: Adds bullet point quick start.

2026-03-06T07:25:04Z

Adds bullet point quick start.

@@ Line 692: / Line 692: @@
 ! Touch zone!! Action !! Behaviour
 |-
-| Title || [[File:Ui push short icon.png|35px|Short press]] || Show menu
+| Title || [[File:Ui push short icon.png|35px|Short press]] || Show chain manager view
 |-
-| Title || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || ZynPad view
+| Title || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || Toggle mixer / launcher view
 |-
 | Title || [[File:Ui push long icon.png|35px|Long press]] || Admin menu
@@ Line 700: / Line 700: @@
 | Topbar back button || [[File:Ui push short icon.png|35px|Short press]] || Previous view
 |-
-| Topbar back button || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || Show mixer view
+| Topbar back button || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || Show mixer / launcher view
 |-
 | Status Area || [[File:Ui push short icon.png|35px|Short press]] || Tempo view + Transport control

@@ Line 719: / Line 719: @@
 The mixer view is a significant view in zynthian. It can be considered the ''Home'' view. It's composed of vertical strips associated with chains. Initially it will be empty, showing the main strip alone. For each chain you create, a new strip is added to the mixer. (There can be more mixer strips than can be displayed. They will scroll left / right if you select a strip that is off screen.) Each strip is an interactive widget that can be manipulated in several ways and it shows status info about the associated chain. From top to bottom:
-* '''solo:''' Solo flag. Push to toggle. This is a non-exclusive solo mode. When a chain has ''solo'' enabled, all other chains without solo enabled will be muted, allowing auditioning of one or more chains. The **main** solo will disable all chain solos.
+* '''solo:''' Solo flag. Push to toggle. This is a non-exclusive solo mode. When a chain has ''solo'' enabled, all other chains without solo enabled will be muted, allowing auditioning of one or more chains. The '''main''' solo will disable all chain solos.
 * '''mute:''' Mute flag. Push to toggle. When a chain is muted (it has "mute" enabled), it will remain silent.
@@ Line 748: / Line 748: @@
 * '''knob#3'''
 ** '''''rotate''''' to change the '''main volume'''.
-** '''''short-push''''' or '''''bold-push''''' to open the mixer's '''MIDI-learning menu'''.
+** '''''short-push''''' to add a chain.
 * '''knob#4'''
 ** '''''rotate''''' to '''change the active chain'''.
@@ Line 771: / Line 771: @@
 ** '''''rotate''''' to change the '''balance''' of the active chain.
 ** '''''short-push''''' to '''mute''' the active chain.
-** '''''bold-push''''' to open the '''zynpad view''' => This breaks global rule but improves sequencer workflow!!
+** '''''bold-push''''' to toggle '''mixer view''' and '''launcher view'''
 * '''learn/shot'''
 ** '''''rotate''''' to change the '''main volume'''.
-** '''''short-push''''' to open the mixer's '''MIDI-learning menu'''.
+** '''''short-push''''' to add a chain.
 * '''select'''
 ** '''''rotate''''' to '''change the active chain'''.
 ** '''''short-push''''' to open the '''chain control''' view for the active chain.
-** '''''bold-push''''' to open the '''chain options''' for the active chain.
+** '''''bold-push''''' to open the '''chain manager view'''.
 </div>
@@ Line 792: / Line 792: @@
 | Chain Legend || [[File:Ui push short icon.png|35px|Short press]] || Show chain control view
 |-
-| Chain Legend || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || Show chain options
+| Chain Legend || [[File:Ui push bold icon.png|35px|Bold press]] || Show chain manager view
 |-
 | Chain Fader || Drag up / down || Adjust chain volume

@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 * Active MIDI channel '''Disabled''' => Only the active chain receives data from the MIDI input in active mode. This is the default setting.
 * Active MIDI channel '''Enabled''' => All chains with the same MIDI channel as the active chain receive data from the MIDI input in active mode. This is very useful for layering sounds without any extra routing. You simply create several synth chains with the same MIDI channel and they will play in unison. You can also create keyboard splits by adjusting note range and transpose for each chain.
 ====Multitimbral mode====
 When a MIDI input is configured in multitimbral mode, only those chains matching the input's MIDI channel will receive data from this MIDI input. No MIDI channel translation is performed. Multitimbral mode allows receiving and managing each MIDI channel individually. Each MIDI input selects the chains it drives using the MIDI channel. If you are using an external sequencer or a MIDI controller that can sequence multiple tracks (Beatstep Pro, Keystep Pro, Novation Circuit, etc.), you may want to use multitimbral mode.
 <br><br>

@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 * Active MIDI channel '''Disabled''' => Only the active chain receives data from the MIDI input in active mode. This is the default setting.
 * Active MIDI channel '''Enabled''' => All chains with the same MIDI channel as the active chain receive data from the MIDI input in active mode. This is very useful for layering sounds without any extra routing. You simply create several synth chains with the same MIDI channel and they will play in unison. You can also create keyboard splits by adjusting note range and transpose for each chain.
 ====Multitimbral mode====
 When a MIDI input is configured in multitimbral mode, only those chains matching the input's MIDI channel will receive data from this MIDI input. No MIDI channel translation is performed. Multitimbral mode allows receiving and managing each MIDI channel individually. Each MIDI input selects the chains it drives using the MIDI channel. If you are using an external sequencer or a MIDI controller that can sequence multiple tracks (Beatstep Pro, Keystep Pro, Novation Circuit, etc.), you may want to use multitimbral mode.
 <br><br>

@@ Line 121: / Line 121: @@
 ===MIDI input===
-Chains receive MIDI data from a set of MIDI inputs. These MIDI inputs could be external MIDI devices connected to MIDI DIN-5 or USB MIDI  (sequencers, keyboards and other MIDI controllers) or other MIDI sources (MIDI network services, etc.) and they can be configured for each chain separately. Each MIDI input can work in 2 different modes:
+Chains receive MIDI data from a set of MIDI inputs. These MIDI inputs could be external MIDI devices connected to MIDI DIN-5 or USB MIDI  (sequencers, keyboards and other MIDI controllers) or other MIDI sources (MIDI network services, internal sources like the built-in sequencer, etc.) and they can be configured for each chain separately. Each MIDI input can work in 2 different modes:
 ====Active mode====

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 Near the bottom of the guide are links to '''[[Zynthian UI User's Guide - Vangelis#Learning Pills|Learning Pills]]''': short video tutorials that show and describe various workflows. These are short, easily digestible snippets of information that can get you started quickly.
-As said above, you really should read section 2 to understand basic principals but here is a quick guide to get some sound out of zynthian.
+As said above, you really should read [[#Basic concepts|section 2 on basic concepts]] to understand basic principals but here is a quick guide to get some sound out of zynthian.
 '''Setup'''

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 * Select "Insert new chain"
 * Select "Instrument"
-* <span class="show_only_v5">Use left/right arrow buttons to select an instrument category.</span>
+* <span class="show_only_v5">Use left/right arrow buttons to select an instrument category.</span><span class="show_only_v4">Use encoder 3 to select an instrument category.</span><span class="show_only_touch">Swipe left/right to select an instrument category.</span>
 * Select an instrument from the list.
 * Select a MIDI channel

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 As said above, you really should read section 2 to understand basic principals but here is a quick guide to get some sound out of zynthian.
 * Plug audio outputs to amplification / headphones.
 * Plug in audio / MIDI inputs. This may include USB MIDI devices.
 * Connect power - zynthian should start up and after about 10 seconds, show the mixer view.
 * Zynthian remembers its last state and there may be no chains (instruments, audio paths, etc.) shown.
-* (Optional) Clear the state to start with an empty mixer:
-<div class="show_only_v5">** Press OPT|ADMIN button to show Chain Manager view.
+'''(Optional) Clear the state to start with an empty mixer''':
-** Tap touch screen "Main" box (or use arrow and SEL|YES buttons) to show the main chain options menu.
+<div class="show_only_v5">
-** Use arrow and SEL|YES buttons to select "Remove All".</div>
+* Press OPT|ADMIN button to show Chain Manager view.
-<div class="show_only_v4">** Rotate encoder 4 to highlight "Main" chain.
+* Tap touch screen "Main" box (or use arrow and SEL|YES buttons) to show the main chain options menu.
-** Bold press (press then release after 1s) encoder 4 to show Chain Manager view.
+* Use arrow and SEL|YES buttons to select "Remove All".
-** Rotate encoder 3 to highlight "Main" box then short press (press the release within 0.5s) encoder 4 to show main chian options menu.
+* Confirm operation.
-** Rotate encoder 4 to highlight "Remove All" then short press encoder 4 to select the menu option.</div>
+</div>
-<div class="show_only_touch">** Tap topbar (left half of black title bar at top of screen) to show Chain Manager view
+<div class="show_only_v4">
-** Tap touch screen "Main" box to show the main chain options menu.
+* Rotate encoder 4 to highlight "Main" chain.
-** Tap "Remove All" option.</div>
+* Bold press (press then release after 1s) encoder 4 to show Chain Manager view.
-** Confirm operation.
+* Rotate encoder 3 to highlight "Main" box then short press (press the release within 0.5s) encoder 4 to show main chian options menu.
-* Add an instrument chain. In Chain Manager view:
+* Rotate encoder 4 to highlight "Remove All" then short press encoder 4 to select the menu option.
-** Show the main chain options menu.
+* Confirm operation.
-** Select "Insert new chain"
+</div>
-** Select "Instrument"
+<div class="show_only_touch">
-<div class="show_only_v5">** Use left/right arrow buttons to select an instrument category.</div>
+* Tap topbar (left half of black title bar at top of screen) to show Chain Manager view
-<div class="show_only_v4">** Use encoder 3 to select an instrument category.</div>
+* Tap touch screen "Main" box to show the main chain options menu.
-<div class="show_only_touch">** Swipe left/right to select an instrument category.</div>
+* Tap "Remove All" option.
-** Select an instrument from the list.
+* Confirm operation.
-** Select a MIDI channel
+</div>
-** Select a preset bank (some instruments do not have banks so will not show this menu)
-** Select a preset (some instruments do not have presets so will not show this menu)
+'''Add an instrument chain. In Chain Manager view'''
-** The "Control View" for the chain is shown.
+* Show the main chain options menu.
 * Play the sound from the MIDI controller connected.
-* For audio processing, follow a similar procedure but select "Audio Input" instead of "Instrument".
+For audio processing, follow a similar procedure but select "Audio Input" instead of "Instrument".
 === The Zynthian Project ===

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 === Quick Start ===
 Near the bottom of the guide are links to '''[[Zynthian UI User's Guide - Vangelis#Learning Pills|Learning Pills]]''': short video tutorials that show and describe various workflows. These are short, easily digestible snippets of information that can get you started quickly.
 === The Zynthian Project ===
@@ Line 104: / Line 149: @@
 <br clear=all>
-===Snapshots===
+===Snapshots===HiFiberry DAC Light only supports a single (stereo) DAC. You may find this works with Hifiberry DAC8X but maybe more likely with Zynaudio8X.
 [[File:snapshot_structure.png|400px|right]]