Ubuntu – How to choose soundfonts in Qsynth

OK I figured out the smallest number of steps to get this midi keyboard working:

1. Install qsynth , Jack Control (called qjackctl) , and download Claudio_Piano.rar from here, unpack and save in a handy place.

2. Launch Jack Control (Applications > Sound and Video > JACK Control on older Ubuntu versions, or search for it in the Dash in newer Ubuntu versions)

3. Click the settings button on the right side of the Jack Control panel, in the settings switch on midi input by going into the MIDI Driver drop down near the bottom of the window and selecting seq (alsa sequencer) and click OK.

4. Load Qsynth, go into the setup, check Enable MIDI Input and turn the midi driver to alsa_seq, in the audio tab ensure the Audio Driver is set to jack, in the sound fonts tab open your downloaded sound font from above. Click ok and reset the server when it asks.

5. If Qsynth freezes, unfreeze by stopping the jack server and then starting it again.

6. Go back into the JACK Audio Connection Kit window and click Connect, here we are going to make sure in the Audio tab that qsynth is connected to the system output (drag handles).

   

   In the Alsa tab we are going to connect our midi device to qsynth.

   

7. Back in Qsynth Click on the Channels button and watch carefully all the little lights beside each of the midi channels. Press keys on your keyboard and see which one lights up. Click on that row and set the name to Piano (or whatever your musical instrument is)

8. Play keyboard with sound output.

First of all, VMPK does not pass MIDI data through it. That means that if you use it to play notes it will output them, but if you'll provide it with MIDI input it will highlight the pressed notes, but will not output them. To enable passing MIDI to the output, go to menu Edit->Connections, select "Enable MIDI Thru on MIDI output", and confirm by pressing OK. This will get your MIDI connection to work as on the picture you provided, and QSynth will recieve the MIDI input from your external controller.

I am not sure how did you set up QSynth, as it cannot be deducted from these screenshots you have provided (silly QSynth!). However, there are some things you should make sure to get it to work:

• Use a soundfont, as QSynth will not make any sound without some. Click on the 'Setup' button, then in tab Soundfonts use the Open button to select a sf2 file (if you don't have one, install package fluid-soundfont-gm or fluid-soundfont-gs, or look for them on the web, as thousands of soundfonts are available for free). After that change QSynth will ask you to restart it's engine, allow him to, by answering 'Yes'.
• Afterwards, make sure the ALSA connections are as they should be (QSynth will reset it's when restarting the engine). Also, remember to connect it's audio output to system output in JACK's audio connections window.

I hope it will help you. Ask in case of any further problems :)