Re: [fluid-dev] Issue with modulation

[Mark de Roussier]

Hello Jean-Jacques,

perhaps it will help if I describe how I can create the problem.

Environment :
=============
Current Raspian distro, fluidsynth 1.1.6

I'm using an RPi 2 with an external Behringer USB DAC and a Roland UM-ONE
USB Midi adaptor - I don't believe the specific hardware is relevant.

Steps to reproduce :
====================

Run fluidsynth as follows :

schedtool -R -p 49 -e fluidsynth -a alsa -o audio.alsa.device=front:CODEC,0
-m alsa_raw -o midi.alsa.device=hw:1,0,0 -g 0.5 -C no -R no -l

Load the standard GM font :

    load /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

Sound a note from this font :

    noteon 0 60 80
    noteoff 0 60
    
This makes the correct noise - GM Acoustic Grand.

Load a Hammond Organ font :

    load /home/pi/Music/Hammondsf2/05.sf2
    
This has blown away our channel mapping, so remap :

    select 0 1 0 0
    select 1 2 0 0 
    
Sound the same GM note as before :

    noteon 0 60 80
    noteoff 0 60    
    
This makes the correct noise - GM Acoustic Grand.

Sound a note from the Hammond font :

    noteon 1 60 80
    noteoff 1 60
    
This makes the correct noise - Hammond.

Sound a note from the GM font again :

    noteon 0 60 80
    noteoff 0 60    
    
This makes the correct noise - GM Acoustic Grand

Now play a note on channel 2 on a midi keyboard - this makes the correct
noise ( Hammond ).

Now play a note on channel 1 on a midi keyboard. This makes the WRONG
noise, its a horribly distorted Acoustic Piano.

It might just be a mix of Hammond and Acoustic Piano, but to me it sounds
more like the Acoustic Piano with the vibrato from the Hammond. 

Issue the command 

    cc 0 121 0
    
Play the keyboard again ( channel 1 ) - now this makes the correct noise (
Acoustic Grand ).

Unfortunately the Hammond soundfont is commercial, so I can't just share it
:(. I used a tool ( Swami ) to look at this font. When I look at notes in
the instrument section, and select the 'Misc. Controls' tab, I see a non
zero value ( 8.176 ) for the frequency setting of the Modulation LFO. 

So my initial hypothesis is that when a note is played ( via MIDI ), then
this modulation is applied to all MIDI channels, even if they are mapped to
an entirely different font.

Cheers,
Mark

On Wed, 20 Jul 2016 09:56:14 +0200, you wrote:

>Hi, Mark
>
>>the modulation characteristics of a Hammond font mapped to one midi
>>channel end up being applied to everything...
>
>Can you explain what you mean by "..the modulation caracteristics of a Hammond 
>font.." ?
>If you feel that there is something wrong, please don't hesitate to explain 
>what you have found.
>
> >I've looked at sourceforge, but it wasn't clear how I should raise a 
>ticket.
>
>1) You must create an account on Sourceforge.
>2) Once logged from your account, the Ticket tab enables menus to create and 
>edit your ticket.
>
>>Is this an appropriate place to discuss the problem ? If so I'll
>>supply more details.
>
>I you read through the tickets you will find that usually tickets are used to:
>1) raise "Bugs"  or offer "patches".
>2) but they are used also for "technical suggestions"about fluidsynth actual 
>behavior
>and possible enhancements to remain compliant with SoundFonts and MIDI.
>
>Regards
>
>
>Le 20/07/2016 02:30, Mark de Roussier a écrit :
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I'm attempting to use fluidsynth as the basis for a headless soundfont
>> synth based on an RPi. The particular requirement is that it should have
>> some good Hammond organ sounds, and also support standard GM. So I'm trying
>> to configure fluidsynth with some commercial Hammond fonts plus the
>> standard fluidsynth GM font.
>>
>> I think I've found a problem in the course of trying to make this work. The
>> gist of the matter is that there appear to be some circumstances in which
>> the modulation characteristics of a Hammond font mapped to one midi channel
>> end up being applied to everything, regardless of font or channel.
>>
>> I've looked at sourceforge, but it wasn't clear how I should raise a
>> ticket. Is this an appropriate place to discuss the problem ? If so I'll
>> supply more details.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mark
>>
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