[LAU] LinnStrument on Linux

[Thomas Poulsen]

Dear list,

I'm reviving this old thread, as there is some new development in terms 
of free synthesizers supporting the Linnstrument.

Roger Linn has released some really great sounding presets for the Surge 
XT free software synthesizer: https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

The presets can be downloaded from here: 
https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/support/ls-surge, and are demoed in this 
video: https://youtu.be/T-mKyShEvKg

Great that there is now more easy to use, high quality, free software 
options for playing the Linnstrument.

All the best,
Thomas

On 17/07/2016 17.33, Thomas Poulsen wrote:
> Dear list,
>
> I recently bought a LinnStrument from Roger Linn Design: 
> http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument.html
>
> It is a great isomorphic midi-controller, and as such it is 
> immediately recognized on Linux.
>
> The distinguishing feature of the LinnStrument is that it senses 3 
> degrees of freedom on each note: x-direction, y direction and 
> z-direction (pressure). The x-direction is mapped to pitch-bend, and 
> y-direction to CC74.
> A cool feature is the "slide", where the pitch-bend is used to slide 
> between all notes in a row.
>
> To allow individual pitch and CC74 values for each note, it sends each 
> note on a separate midi-channel ("MPE"): 
> http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/implementing-mpe.html
>
> Bitwig has added support for this, and there is 20 presets in version 
> 1.3.11, where this is used (tag: linnstrument). The LinnStrument 
> controller is not recognized automatically on Linux in version 1.3.11, 
> but it can be configured manually, and then it works fine. Note that 
> both midi-in and midi-out has to be configured, if not there is no 
> sound! It should look like this: https://ibin.co/2msBJVgpKtf9.png
>
> Now I would like to also use it with the free Linux synths.
>
> Here's what I have been able to make work this far.
>
> Synthv1:
> PME works reasonably well: I can play polyphonic in MPE mode, but it 
> tends to miss the "note off"s.
> I can get the slide to work, by setting
>  <param index="36" name="DEF1_PITCHBEND">2</param>
>  <param index="78" name="DEF2_PITCHBEND">2</param>
> is a preset.
>
> Zynaddsubfx:
> I can not get MPE to work.
> Sending only on one channel, and setting PWheelB.Rng to 2400 cents, I 
> cant get the sliding to work, but only when playing with one finger.
> If I enable MPE on the LinnStrument there is only an occasional sound, 
> when it happens to send on the channel, that Zyn is listening on.
>
> I'll love to hear if other LinnStrument users have been able to do 
> more with any of the free synths on Linux.
>
> All the best,
> Thomas