FluidSynth(1)

NAME
FluidSynth - a SoundFont synthesizer

SYNOPSIS
fluidsynth [options] [ SoundFonts ] [ midifiles ]

DESCRIPTION
FluidSynth is a real-time MIDI synthesizer based on the SoundFont(R) 2 specifications. It can be used to render MIDI input or MIDI files to audio. The MIDI events are read from a MIDI device. The sound is rendered in real-time to the sound output device.

The easiest way to start the synthesizer is to give it a SoundFont on the command line: 'fluidsynth soundfont.sf2'. fluidsynth will load the SoundFont and read MIDI events from the default MIDI device using the default MIDI driver. Once FluidSynth is running, it reads commands from the stdin. There are commands to send MIDI events manually, to load or unload SoundFonts, and so forth. All the available commands are discussed below.

FluidSynth can also be used to play a list of MIDI files. Simply run FluidSynth with the SoundFont and the list of MIDI files to play. In this case you might not want to open the MIDI device to read external events. Use the -n option to deactivate MIDI input. If you also want to deactivate the use of the shell, start FluidSynth with the -i option: 'fluidsynth -ni soundfont.sf2 midifile1.mid midifile2.mid'.

Run fluidsynth with the --help option to check for changes in the list of options.

OPTIONS
fluidsynth accepts the following options:

-a, --audio-driver=[label]
    The audio driver to use. "-a help" to list valid options

-c, --audio-bufcount=[count]
    Number of audio buffers

-C, --chorus
    Turn the chorus on or off [0|1|yes|no, default = on]

-d, --dump
    Dump incoming and outgoing MIDI events to stdout

-E, --audio-file-endian
    Audio file endian for fast rendering or aufile driver ("-E help" for list)

-f, --load-config
    Load command configuration file (shell commands)

-F, --fast-render=[file]
    Render MIDI file to raw audio data and store in [file]

-g, --gain
    Set the master gain [0 < gain < 10, default = 0.2]

-G, --audio-groups
    Defines the number of LADSPA audio nodes

-h, --help
    Print out this help summary

-i, --no-shell
    Don't read commands from the shell [default = yes]

-j, --connect-jack-outputs
    Attempt to connect the jack outputs to the physical ports

-K, --midi-channels=[num]
    The number of midi channels [default = 16]

-l, --disable-lash
    Don't connect to LASH server

-L, --audio-channels=[num]
    The number of stereo audio channels [default = 1]

-m, --midi-driver=[label]
    The name of the midi driver to use. "-m help" to list valid options.

-n, --no-midi-in
    Don't create a midi driver to read MIDI input events [default = yes]

-o  Define a setting, -o name=value ("-o help" to dump current values)

-O, --audio-file-format
    Audio file format for fast rendering or aufile driver ("-O help" for list)

-p, --portname=[label]
    Set MIDI port name (alsa_seq, coremidi drivers)

-r, --sample-rate
    Set the sample rate

-R, --reverb
    Turn the reverb on or off [0|1|yes|no, default = on]

-s, --server
    Start FluidSynth as a server process

-T, --audio-file-type
    Audio file type for fast rendering or aufile driver ("T help" for list)

-v, --verbose
    Print out verbose messages about midi events

-V, --version
    Show version of program

-z, --audio-bufsize=[size]
    Size of each audio buffer

SETTINGS
All settings are non-realtime (have no effect if set after startup), except for those indicated as realtime.

SYNTHESIZER

synth.audio-channels INT [min=1, max=128, def=1]
    Number of audio channels (DOCME!).

synth.audio-groups INT [min=1, max=128, def=1]
    Number of audio groups (DOCME!).

synth.chorus.active BOOL [def=True]
    Chorus effect enable toggle.

synth.cpu-cores INT [min=1, max=256, def=1]
    Number of CPU cores to use for multi-core support.

synth.device-id INT [min=0, max=126, def=0] REALTIME
    Device ID to use for accepting incoming SYSEX messages.

synth.dump BOOL [def=False]
    No effect currently.

synth.effects-channels INT [min=2, max=2, def=2]
    No effect currently.

synth.gain FLOAT [min=0.000, max=10.000, def=0.200] REALTIME
    Master synthesizer gain.

synth.ladspa.active BOOL [def=False]
    LADSPA subsystem enable toggle.

synth.midi-channels INT [min=16, max=256, def=16]
    Total MIDI channel count (must be multiple of 16).

synth.midi-bank-select STR [def='gs' vals:'gm', 'gs', 'xg', 'mma']
    MIDI Bank Select message style.

synth.min-note-length INT [min=0, max=65535, def=10]
    Minimum duration for note events (work around for very short percussion notes).

synth.overflow.age FLOAT [min=-10000, max=10000, def=1000]
    Weigthing (on overflow) for a voice's duration.

synth.overflow.percussion FLOAT [min=-10000, max=10000, def=4000]
    Weighting (on overflow) for a voice being on the drum channel.

synth.overflow.released FLOAT [min=-10000, max=10000, def=-2000]
    Weighting (on overflow) for a voice that has been released, i e note off and no sustain pedal.

synth.overflow.sustained FLOAT [min=-10000, max=10000, def=-1000]
    Weighting (on overflow) for a voice that has been sustained, i e note off, but sustain pedal held down.

synth.overflow.volume FLOAT [min=-10000, max=10000, def=500]
    Weighting (on overflow) for a voice's volume.

synth.parallel-render BOOL [def=True]
    Enables low-latency audio rendering response, even if synth is otherwise busy. Should always to be true for usage by fluidsynth executable.

synth.polyphony INT [min=1, max=65535, def=256] REALTIME
    Voice polyphony count (number of simultaneous voices allowed).

synth.reverb.active BOOL [def=True]
    Reverb effect enable toggle.

synth.sample-rate FLOAT [min=22050.000, max=96000.000, def=44100.000]
    Synthesizer sample rate.

synth.threadsafe-api BOOL [def=True]
    Serializes access to the synth API. Must always to be true for usage by fluidsynth executable.

synth.verbose BOOL [def=False]
    Print received MIDI events to stdout.

GENERAL AUDIO

audio.driver STR
    Audio driver to use. Default and valid options depend on available drivers.

audio.input-channels INT [min=0, max=2, def=0]
    Not used currently? (DOCME).

audio.output-channels INT [min=2, max=32, def=2]
    DOCME

audio.period-size INT [min=64, max=8192, def=64]
    Period size for audio buffers. Used by many audio drivers.

audio.periods INT [min=2, max=64, def=16]
    Count of audio buffers. Used by many audio drivers.

audio.realtime-prio INT [min=0, max=99, def=60]
    Realtime priority to assign to audio thread or 0 to disable high priority scheduling. Only used by some audio drivers (currently 'alsa' and 'oss').

audio.sample-format STR [def='16bits' vals:'16bits','float']
    Audio output format, to select format for those drivers which support 16 bit or floating point.

AUDIO DRIVER SPECIFIC

audio.alsa.device STR [def='default']
    ALSA audio driver output device.

audio.coreaudio.device STR [def='default']
    CoreAudio driver output device. Valid options depend on system.

audio.dart.device STR [def='default']
    OS/2 Dart audio driver device.

audio.dsound.device STR [def='default']
    Device to use for DirectSound driver. Valid options depend on system.

audio.file.endian STR [def='auto' vals:'auto','big','cpu','little']
    File renderer or file driver byte order selection. 'auto' selects the default for the selected file type. 'cpu' uses the CPU byte order. Limited to 'cpu' if no libsndfile support.

audio.file.format STR [def='s16' vals:'double','float','s16','s24','s32','s8','u8']
    File renderer or file driver audio format. Limited to 's16' if no libsndfile support.

audio.file.name STR [def='fluidsynth.wav']
    Output file name for file renderer or file driver.

audio.file.type STR [def='auto' vals:'aiff','au','auto','flac','oga','raw','wav']
    Output file type for file renderer or file driver. 'auto' attempts to determine type from file extension in audio.file.name. Limited to 'raw' if no libsndfile support. Actual options will vary depending on libsndfile library.

audio.jack.autoconnect BOOL [def=False]
    If enabled, then FluidSynth is automatically connected to Jack system audio output ports.

audio.jack.id STR [def='fluidsynth']
    Client ID to use when connecting to Jack.

audio.jack.multi BOOL [def=False]
    TRUE to enable multi-channel output.

audio.jack.server STR [def='']
    Jack server name. Blank for default.

audio.oss.device STR [def='/dev/dsp']
    OSS driver output device.

audio.portaudio.device STR [def='PortAudio Default']
    PortAudio driver output device. Available options depends on system.

audio.pulseaudio.adjust-latency BOOL [def=True]
    If TRUE initializes the maximum length of the audio buffer to the highest supported value and increases the latency dynamically if PulseAudio suggests so. Else uses a buffer with length of audio.period-size.

audio.pulseaudio.device STR [def='default']
    PulseAudio driver output device.

audio.pulseaudio.media-role STR [def='music']
    PulseAudio media role information.

audio.pulseaudio.server STR [def='default']
    PulseAudio driver server.

GENERAL MIDI

midi.driver STR
    MIDI driver to use. Default and valid options depend on available drivers.

midi.realtime-prio INT [min=0, max=99, def=50]
    Realtime priority to assign to MIDI thread or 0 to disable high priority scheduling. Only used by some MIDI drivers (currently 'alsa_seq', 'alsa_raw' and 'oss').

MIDI DRIVER SPECIFIC

midi.alsa.device STR [def='default']
    ALSA raw MIDI driver device.

midi.alsa_seq.device STR [def='default']
    ALSA sequencer MIDI driver device.

midi.alsa_seq.id STR [def='pid']
    ALSA sequencer client ID. 'pid' will use process ID as part of the client name.

midi.coremidi.id STR [def='pid']
    Client ID to use for CoreMIDI driver. 'pid' will use process ID as port of the client name.

midi.jack.id STR [def='fluidsynth-midi']
    Jack MIDI driver client ID.

midi.jack.server STR [def='']
    Jack MIDI driver server. Blank to use default.

midi.oss.device STR [def='/dev/midi']
    OSS MIDI driver device.

midi.portname STR [def='']
    Port name used for CoreAudio and ALSA sequencer drivers.

midi.winmidi.device STR [def='default']
    Device for Windows MIDI driver.

MISCELLANEOUS

player.reset-synth BOOL [def=True]
    TRUE to reset synthesizer MIDI state between MIDI songs.

player.timing-source STR [def='sample' vals:'sample','system']
    Selects timing source for MIDI sequencer. 'system' uses the system timer. 'sample' uses the sample clock (amount of audio output, events synchronized with audio).

shell.port INT [min=1, max=65535, def=9800]
    Shell command server TCP/IP port number to use.

shell.prompt STR [def='']
    Shell prompt string.

SHELL COMMANDS

GENERAL

help
    Prints out list of help topics (type "help <topic>")

quit
    Quit the synthesizer

SOUNDFONTS

load filename
    Load a SoundFont

unload number
    Unload a SoundFont. The number is the index of the SoundFont on the stack.

fonts
    Lists the current SoundFonts on the stack

inst number
    Print out the available instruments for the SoundFont.

MIDI MESSAGES

noteon channel key velocity
    Send a note-on event

noteoff channel key
    Send a note-off event

cc channel ctrl value
    Send a control change event

prog chan num
    Send program-change message

select chan sfont bank prog
    Combination of bank-select and program-change

channels
    Print out the presets of all channels.

AUDIO SYNTHESIS

gain value
    Set the master gain (0 < gain < 5)

interp num
    Choose interpolation method for all channels

interpc chan num
    Choose interpolation method for one channel

REVERB

reverb [0|1|on|off]
    Turn the reverb on or off

rev_preset num
    Load preset num into the reverb unit

rev_setroomsize num
    Change reverb room size

rev_setdamp num
    Change reverb damping

rev_setwidth num
    Change reverb width

rev_setlevel num
    Change reverb level

CHORUS

chorus [0|1|on|off]
    Turn the chorus on or off

cho_set_nr n
    Use n delay lines (default 3)

cho_set_level num
    Set output level of each chorus line to num

cho_set_speed num
    Set mod speed of chorus to num (Hz)

cho_set_depth num
    Set chorus modulation depth to num (ms)

MIDI ROUTER

router_default
    Reloads the default MIDI routing rules (input channels are mapped 1:1 to the synth)

router_clear
    Deletes all MIDI routing rules.

router_begin [note|cc|prog|pbend|cpress|kpress]
    Starts a new routing rule for events of the given type

router_chan min max mul add
    Limits the rule for events on min <= chan <= max. If the channel falls into the window, it is multiplied by 'mul', then 'add' is added.

router_par1 min max mul add
    Limits parameter 1 (for example note number in a note events). Similar to router_chan.

router_par2 min max mul add
    Limits parameter 2 (for example velocity in a note event). Similar to router_chan

router_end
    Finishes the current rule and adds it to the router.

Router examples

router_clear

router_begin note

router_chan 0 7 0 15

router_end

Will accept only note events from the lower 8 MIDI
    channels. Regardless of the channel, the synthesizer plays the note on ch 15 (synthchannel=midichannel*0+15)

router_begin cc

router_chan 0 7 0 15

router_par1 1 1 0 64

router_add
    Configures the modulation wheel to act as sustain pedal (transforms CC 1 to CC 64 on the lower 8 MIDI channels, routes to ch 15)

AUTHORS
Peter Hanappe <hanappe@fluid-synth.org>
Markus Nentwig <nentwig@users.sourceforge.net>
Antoine Schmitt <as@gratin.org>
Josh Green <jgreen@users.sourceforge.net>
Stephane Letz <letz@grame.fr> Please check the AUTHORS and THANKS files for all credits

DISCLAIMER
SoundFont(R) is a registered trademark of E-mu Systems, Inc.