Hardware Mixer/Mute/Solo Controls

[jazzjohn27]

A problem with playing on Jamulus is that changing levels, working buttons using a mouse or touchscreen is awkward while playing an instrument. It would be faster and easier to reach over and spin a knob or push a real button.

I have developed a hardware mini-panel with one knob and two buttons for each channel to control the on-screen slider along with the mute and solo buttons. It will control 4 channels, and it can be cascaded for up to 16 channels. The device puts out serial data containing levels and button states whenever the user makes an adjustment.

I am looking for advice or help tying in to the Jamulus code through a serial port. Basically, I need to control the Jamulus interface via a serial connection.

[ghost]

The serial port will be USB. Use a micro-controller with USB on your mini-panel. If your mini-panel and a mouse are used together, then the mouse pointer position can be saved for the GUI items (mixer controls etc) and your mini-panel can move the selected controls with the mouse pointer... for example.

[pljones]

I thought we had MIDI control over these now? --ctrlmidich takes a string consisting of a midi channel number and then fader and pan controllers numbers, each with a number of mixing desk channels. Support for solo and mute are waiting for someone to add them. The syntax is a bit mind-watering -- there's probably a discussion or issue or pull request at least with more details. [MIDI channel];f0*8;p16*8

[pljones]

note: only available for use with macOS and Linux

Ah, right. I'll stop trying :).

[ignotus666]

Ah, right. I'll stop trying :).

Oops, yes, it's been quite a lot of time since I wrote that section on midi and I entirely forgot about that!

[jazzjohn27]

OK, just ordered it. I'll report back. Thanks to all.

[WolfganP]

I remember I tested Jamulus' midi control (and Reaper as well) with this app https://xmmc.de/touchdaw/ , it worked well indeed.

[ignotus666]

I just tried out QmidiCtl (Linux) and QmidiNet (Android phone) and was pretty amazed at how well it works. Would be better on a tablet though, my 5" phone is too small to make it useful.

[jazzjohn27]

OK, I received the Behringer X Touch Mini but I need a little help. Which driver needs to be installed on the Pi? Thanks.

[ignotus666]

Just to understand where we are: are you using an audio interface? Do you have JACK, QjackCtl and a2jmidid installed? Do you have any experience using JACK and/or QjackCtl? Doing it all via the terminal is possible but since I always do it via the GUI it's not something I can tell you off the top of my head. If you're using VNC you could equally open and configure QjackCtl, couldn't you?

[jazzjohn27]

I installed qjackctl and can run it in the GUI. I see the Jack Audio Connection Kit window in the GUI.

[jazzjohn27]

I'll look for a tutorial. I do see the X touch Mini listed under connections. Thanks.

[ignotus666]

Well, now it's just a matter of connecting the X touch to Jamulus in the connections window then.

[jazzjohn27]

In Qjackctl, under Connect, in the MIDI tab there is no X Touch Mini. Under the ALSA tab, there is "28:X-TOUCH MINI MINI 1"

There is no Jamulus listed under those two tabs, but it is in the Audio tab.

[jazzjohn27]

[ignotus666]

That's what a2jmidid is for. If you've already installed it, in QjackCtl, click on Setup > Options tab. Check "Execute script after Startup:" and type in the field: a2jmidid -e &. Then check "Execute script on shutdown:" and type: killall a2jmidid (not sure if the latter is strictly necessary but it won't cause any harm).

This way, you won't have to remember to launch a2jmidid every time. Under the MIDI tab there'll be an "a2j" entry with a dropdown arrow and your X touch should be in there, available to connect to Jamulus.

[jazzjohn27]

Thank you. a2jmidid is now installed and the script commands placed in qjackctl. Restarted qjackctl but do not see the a2j entry in the midi tab.

Please repost the link where using midi with Jamulus is explained. I don't see it in your previous posts.

[ignotus666]

That's weird - what happens when you type a2jmidid in the terminal (with QjackCtl running)?
Here's the link (scroll down to the bottom).

[jazzjohn27]

Below is what happens when I run a2jmidid.
According to the link, it says "Jamulus must be launched with --ctrlmidich"
Here's the script that launches the Jambox version of Jamulus:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Jamulus Start
Type=Application
Comment=Online Jamming
Categories=Application
Path=/home/pi
Exec=/usr/local/bin/jamulus_start.sh
Terminal=true
Icon=jamulus
GenericName=Jamulus

How do I put in --ctrlmidich '1;f08;p168;s328;m488' in that script... right on the jamulus_start.sh line like this?
Exec=/usr/local/bin/jamulus_start.sh --ctrlmidich '1;f08;p168;s328;m488'

pi@jambox:~ $ a2jmidid
Directory "/home/pi/.log" does not exist. Creating...
Directory "/home/pi/.log/a2j" does not exist. Creating...
Directory "/home/pi/.config/a2j" does not exist. Creating...
JACK MIDI <-> ALSA sequencer MIDI bridge, version debian/9-2-0-gc600c10 built on Wed Dec 31 16:00:00 1969
Copyright 2006,2007 Dmitry S. Baikov
Copyright 2007,2008,2009,2011,2012 Nedko Arnaudov

Bridge starting...
Using JACK server 'default'
Hardware ports will not be exported.
Bridge started
Press ctrl-c to stop the bridge
port created: Midi Through [14] (capture): Midi Through Port-0
port created: Midi Through [14] (playback): Midi Through Port-0

[pljones]

/usr/local/bin/jamulus_start.sh

That's a script file, not Jamulus. You'll need to take a look at what it does.

[jazzjohn27]

right... Didn't notice that, Peter. Thanks.

[jazzjohn27]

Here's the script jamulus_start.sh

Script.txt

[rdica]

He's not using style so his asterisks are italicizing. Look at the first number 8.

[ignotus666]

You're right, hadn't noticed that.

[jazzjohn27]

I went to enter a jam session last night only to discover that I could not hear audio in my headphones. So after some tense moments, I was able to revert back to the original script (and update Jamulus to 3.8.1 during my panic.)

Is the main problem that X Touch does not show up in the Qjackctl MIDI tab?

[ignotus666]

You have several issues:

• Yes, you need the X Touch and Jamulus to be in the same tab so you can connect them together. A workaround is to use Midi Through Port as it appears in both tabs using a2j. That would be connecting F-3 and C-1.
• You need to establish what MIDI messages the X Touch is sending and edit them if necessary. They need to be CC messages. Once they have been established/edited, you can configure Jamulus to listen (react) to those messages. As long as there is a mismatch, it won't work.
• The --ctrlmidich command shouldn't have caused your audio to stop working - AFAIK it is unrelated. However:
• I hadn't done so before but now looking into Jambox it appears that JACK configuration is preferably done via separate config files and not through QjackCtl - changes in the latter seems to overwrite those config files which might be the reason why you lost audio. Since I have no idea how this distribution works your best bet is to head to the Jambox discussions page and explain your situation there. Sorry about not being able to help any further :( . I'm pretty sure you'll be able to figure it out in the end.

[jazzjohn27]

Thank you very much for your time. You gave it a good shot, and I learned a few things in the process.
I'll look for Jambox folks who might have experience with MIDI control.