Zynthian Features

This is just a beginning of a list of features:

• Zynthian_Supported_Synth_Engines

• X-Y touch-controller screen

• Multi-layer & multi-engine: You can create sound layers with any engine, in any MIDI channel. You can lay several instruments in the same MIDI channel, or create true multi-timbric setups, mixing different engines. The first screen is "Layer List". From here you can create new layers, select the current layer in the GUI, change layer options (bold select) or remove one or all layers.

• Controllers: The controllers show the real values, including decimals (this is relevant in MOD-UI, and will be in the incoming "linuxsampler's effect's chain"). Also, when the controller is assigned to a MIDI CC, it's shown in the bottom of the controller frame with a tiny number.

• Zynthian is a “MIDI class compliant USB host”. It works with any “MIDI class compliant USB device/peripheral” connected to any of the 4 USB host-ports. These are the popular & inexpensive MIDI keyboards and controllers found at any musical instrument store.

• MIDI learning: Currently, it's working only in the MOD-UI engine, but will be implemented in all the engines very soon. For using the MIDI learning feature you need the touch interface. From the control screen, slide left-to-right over the desired controller frame and move the desired external controller. The captured MIDI-CC will be shown in the bottom of the control frame. For unlearning, slide right-to left.

• WIFI support: See Configuration_Users_Guide

• TouchOSC Bridge: You can use OSC control surfaces that support this popular protocol. Tested with mobile phone and the MyOSC App from the PlayStore, but you can try with other Apps and share your experiences. Also, it's a good idea to make a point to point WIFI connection between the tablet/phone and your zynthian ("WIFI zone" feature, in Android). I've done and the latency is quite good!!

• Audio to MIDI: For those having a Zynthian Box with Audio Input, now you can have tons of fun with this crazy feature. It uses the aubionotes tool (from the aubio suite) for converting audio to MIDI. The current conversion parameters are very experimental and the result is not the best, but you are free of trying to improve the result by tweaking with it!!

• Session Recording: And finally, the session recording utility, that will allow to easily record your sessions with Zynthian without the need of other computer or recorder device. The utility will detect if there is an USB flash pendrive plugged in the Zynthian Box and will use it for storing the audio files. If not present, it will save the audio files in the internal storage, in the "/zynthian/zynthian-my-data/capture" directory. WARNING! Using the internal storage for saving the recorded audio files is dangerous and you can end with a corrupted SD card. I recommend to ALWAYS use an USB drive.

• Global Fine Tuning: You can adjust the “middle A” frequency using the web configuration tool. Pitchbending messages are used for doing the trick, so it only work with ZynAddSubFX, FluidSynth and LinuxSampler. For setBfree and MOD-UI engines i’ve to find another way

• Transpose: You can transpose layers. Well, in fact what is transposed is the whole MIDI channel, so all the layers in the same MIDI channel get transposed. You can access the “tranpose” feature from the “layer options” menu. You know, in the layer list, “bold click” on the layer you want to transpose. Currently this doesn’t work for MOD-UI engine.

• MIDI auto-connection layout have changed. Your MIDI keyboards/controllers are not connected directly to synth engines anymore. All the MIDI messages are routed thru the zyncoder, that implements the midi filtering engine. AFAIK, no extra latency is added. Everything is done in the same jack processing frame

• “Preset Manager” tab in the Webconf tool.
• “WIFI network list” when adding a new network.
• OSC controllers in ZynAddSubFX