Accessing Zynthian from your computer

1 Basic Remote Network Connection

The easier way of connecting your Zynthian is using the ethernet RJ45 connector to connect your unit to your local network. You can access the Zynthian with sftp or scp (winscp, if you are using windows yet). Of course, you can login with ssh too. The login and password are the default for Raspbian:

user=pi
password=raspberry

Once you are in, you can configure the wifi in your Zynthian by editing the file:

/etc/wpa_suppplicant/wpa_supplicant.con

Note that this file is protected and you have to edit as root user (sudo).

After editing the WPA settings, you can restart the network interface using a command like this:

$ sudo ifdown wlan0
$ sudo ifup wlan0

2 Opening Synth Engine Natives GUIs in your Computer

For doing this, you need a XServer running on your computer. Linux is best tested, but i've tested with Mac and Windows too. You must follow this simple steps:

1. Login into zynthian using the "-Y" option or equivalent (tunnel X connections) 
  $ ssh -Y pi@zynthianip

2. Stop zynthian GUI: 
  $ sudo /etc/init.d/zynthian stop

3. Start zynthian GUI in remote GUI mode: 
  $ sudo /etc/init.d/zynthian startx

4. From Zynthian GUI, select the synth engine. Currently only ZynAddSubFX and Carla have supported native GUIs.

5. Enjoy!! ;-)

IMPORTANT: Try to use an ethernet (RJ45) connection as it will reduce latency and improve usability.

3 Copying your presets/soundfonts to Zynthian

You can copy your presets/soundfonts in the next forlder:

/home/pi/zynthian/zynthian-data

There are different subfolders for every type/synth-engine:

carla
dexed
lscp
midish
setbfree
soundfonts
zynbanks
zynconf

You can use SFZ soundfonts with LinuxSampler but GIG are not integrated yet. I will do it very soon. SF2 soundfonts can be used with FluidSynth.

Also, you can add your ZynAddSubFX instruments/banks, Carla patches, edit the setBfree configuration, etc.

IMPORTANT: after adding or changing something in zynthian-data, you can’t update the zynthian-library from the Admin menu nevermore. I have to implement the use of “zynthian-my-data” folder to avoid this problem and maintain separated the “official” library from user’s library. TODO!