MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol that allows electronic musical instruments, computers, and other devices to communicate and control each other. MIDI editors are software applications that allow you to create and edit MIDI files. If you are using Linux and want to make MIDI editors play MIDI files without an external musical device, this article will guide you through the process.
Step 1: Install Timidity++
Timidity++ is a software synthesizer that can play MIDI files on your Linux system. To install Timidity++, open a terminal and enter the following command:
sudo apt-get install timidity
Enter your password when prompted, and the installation will begin. Wait for the installation to complete.
Step 2: Configure Timidity++
Once Timidity++ is installed, you need to configure it to use the software synthesizer. Open a terminal and enter the following command to open the Timidity++ configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
In the configuration file, find the line that starts with "source" and change it to:
source /etc/timidity/freepats.cfg
Press Ctrl+X to exit, then press Y to save the changes, and finally press Enter to confirm the filename.
Step 3: Download SoundFont
SoundFont is a file format that contains samples of musical instruments. You need to download a SoundFont file to use with Timidity++. There are several SoundFont files available online, both free and paid. For this tutorial, we will use the FluidR3_GM SoundFont, which is a popular and widely used SoundFont.
Open a web browser and search for "FluidR3_GM SoundFont." Download the SoundFont file (usually in .sf2 format) to your computer.
Step 4: Configure Timidity++ with SoundFont
Now that you have downloaded the SoundFont file, you need to configure Timidity++ to use it. Open a terminal and enter the following command:
sudo nano /etc/timidity/freepats.cfg
In the configuration file, find the line that starts with "dir" and change it to:
dir /path/to/your/soundfont/directory
Replace "/path/to/your/soundfont/directory" with the actual path to the directory where you saved the SoundFont file. For example, if you saved the SoundFont file in your Downloads folder, the line should look like this:
dir /home/yourusername/Downloads
Press Ctrl+X to exit, then press Y to save the changes, and finally press Enter to confirm the filename.
Step 5: Test Timidity++
Now it's time to test if Timidity++ is working correctly. Open a terminal and enter the following command:
timidity /path/to/your/midi/file.mid
Replace "/path/to/your/midi/file.mid" with the actual path to the MIDI file you want to play. For example, if you saved the MIDI file in your Documents folder and it's called "mysong.mid," the command should look like this:
timidity /home/yourusername/Documents/mysong.mid
If everything is set up correctly, Timidity++ should start playing the MIDI file. You can adjust the volume using your system's volume controls.
Step 6: Automate Timidity++
If you want to make Timidity++ the default MIDI player on your Linux system, you can automate it by creating a desktop file. Open a terminal and enter the following command:
nano ~/.local/share/applications/timidity.desktop
In the text editor, paste the following content:
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=Timidity
Comment=Play MIDI files with Timidity++
Exec=timidity %F
Icon=multimedia-player
Terminal=false
Categories=Audio;Music;
MimeType=audio/midi;
Press Ctrl+X to exit, then press Y to save the changes, and finally press Enter to confirm the filename.
Now, when you double-click a MIDI file, it should open and play with Timidity++ by default.
By following these steps, you can make MIDI editors play MIDI files on Linux without the need for an external musical device. Timidity++ and a SoundFont file provide the necessary software synthesizer capabilities to reproduce the sounds of different musical instruments. Enjoy creating and editing MIDI files on your Linux system!
References
| Reference | Link |
|---|---|
| Timidity++ | https://sourceforge.net/projects/timidity/ |
| FluidR3_GM SoundFont | https://packages.debian.org/sid/sound/fluid-soundfont-gm |