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Installing and Configuring Puppitzer Beta01

Introduction

The installation and configuration of the Puppitzer Beta release is made up of three sections:
  1. Downloading and setting up Puppy Linux on your computer.
  2. Downloading and installing the Puppitzer Beta01 Puppy installtion file.
  3. Configuring your computer to run Puppitzer Beta01

For more information and other help on Puppy Linux please visit http://puppylinux.org/, http://www.puppylinux.ca/, or join the Puppy forum at http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/index.php.

Remember that this is still a TEST version so if you find that something is not working or sounds strange please let me know.

Puppitzer Beta01 includes the 1st Novemeber CVS version of the Linuxsampler suite.

Part 1a. Download and Setup Puppy 4.1.1

  1. Download the CD Image of Puppy 4.1.1 from ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/puppy-4.1.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso
  2. Then burn the CD image to disc (use an image burning software application like Nero [Windows] or K3B [Linux] to do this).
    Note: Do not write the .iso file straight to a CD as a data file. The .iso file is a single compressed file containing all the files needed to run Puppy 4.1.1. You must use the 'Burn image to disk' option. If you need help please email me at ggoode.sa (at) gmail.com.
  3. Boot your computer using the Puppy CD - you should see the Puppy boot screen giving you a bunch of options.
  4. Press Enter to boot immediately or wait the 5 seconds for it to move to the next stage of the boot sequence.
  5. Select your Mouse type (typically PS/2 or USB) 
  6. Select the US Keyboard option in the keyboard configuration screen.
  7. Select "Xvesa" on the Puppy Video Wizard screen Select you resolution (I recommend something like 1024x768x24)on the Xvesa Video Wizard window [IMPORTANT: Whatever resolution you choose MUST have the x24 at the end in order for Miditzer to work].
  8. Click on "Change" to activate the setting you have chosen.
  9. Once x-windows has reloaded click on "OK" to close the Xvesa Video Wizard.
  10. You should now hear the classic Puppy 'Bark', telling you that all is well :-) [if you don't hear the 'Bark', don't panic - your sound card might need a few added steps to get it setup right - See Configuring Your SoundCard in Puppy (still to be written)]

Part 1b. Create your Puppy 4.1.1 Installation

  • For installing Puppy to a USB memory stick, follow these directions: PuppyUSBInstall.htm
  • For a Frugal installation of Puppy - running from the CD with a saved file on your HardDrive (This co-exists with Windows or another version of Linux), follow these directions: PuppyFrugalInstall.htm
  • To install Puppy 4.1.1 to your harddrive, follow the Install Puppy to a local Harddrive how-to [still to be wirtten].

Part 2. Download and Install Puppitzer Beta01 on your Skinny Puppy Installation

  1. Download the Puppitzer Beta01installation file from http://www.puppylinux.ca/members/DAW/Puppitzer_Beta01.zip
  2. [If you have downloaded the pet file to a USB Memory stick, insert the USB memory stick now and wait for the USB memory drive icon to appear on the desktop. Click on the drive icon, this will load the USB memory stick and open the file navigator]
  3. Decompress the zipped file
  4. The MD5 checksum should be 9e6e2e18829d794d36aefce524e5ae0f | Puppitzer_Beta01.pet
  5. Click on Puppitzer_Beta01.pet
  6. Click on Install Package
  7. Wait a while... it's a fairly large installation containing Jack, WINE, Miditzer Style 216, Fluidsytn, Qsynth, LinuxSampler, and Qsampler all in one file.
  8. It will evetually tell you that it is doing various things like checking for dependencies.
  9. Finally, the Success screen will show, telling us that the installation has finished
  10. Click OK or close the Success screen by clicking on the X on the upper right corner.
  11. Reboot your computer [Menu -> Shutdown -> Reboot]

Part 3a. Configure WINE (Windows compatability layer)

  1. Click on Menu > Utility > Wine Config
  2. Select the Graphics tab
  3. De-select the "Allow the window manager to decorate the windows" option (if you don't do this then you won't have access to Miditzer's Configuration menu)
  4. Select the Audio tab
  5. Click OK on the warning
  6. Make sure that only the ALSA check box has been selected
  7. Click OK on the bottom of the Wine Config window

Part 3b. Configure Your Sound System

  1. If you heard the Puppy 'Bark' when you first installed Puppy 4.1.1 then continue with this section, otherwise complete the Configuring Your SoundCard in Puppy (still to be written) first. 
  2. Click on Menu -> Multimedia -> sGmixer
  3. Make sure that your main volume is not muted and the volume is set at a reasonable level
  4. Minimize sGmixer
  5. Click on Menu -> Multimedia -> QjackCtl 
  6. Click on the Setup button
  7. Select the "Misc" tab in the top menu bar
  8. Select the "Start Jack audio server on application startup" option
  9. Select the "Enable system tray icon" option
  10. Now select the "Settings" tab in the top menu bar
  11. Change the "Sample Rate" option to 44 100
  12. Change the "Audio" option to "Playback only"
  13. Change the "Timeout" option to "5000"
  14. Click on the SAVE button
  15. Click "OK" (this closes the SETUP window)
  16. Now click on the START button (the window should now indicate that Jack audio server has started)
  17. Minimize Qjackctl

Decision Time

At this point you have a decision to make. You can use LinuxSampler/Qsampler and the GIG sample sets or Fluidsynth/Qsynth with the soundfonts. If you have a modern computer with at least 1GIG of RAM I would recommend that you use the GIG samples with Qsampler.

If, however, you need to use soundfonts please continue by using the Qsynth and Miditzer How-To [still to be written]. Also see the Advanced Topics: Using Soundfonts and GIG Samples together with Miditzer [still to be written] and 600 note Polyphony with Qsampler and Miditzer [still to be written].

Part 3c. Configure Qsampler

  1. Download the required UGSF ranks and save them to the /TPO-Ranks folder.
  2. (For those who are new to Puppy Linux, click on the File icon and then click on the Green Up Arrow in the left top corner. Now click on /TPO-Ranks. Click on the File icon on the desktop for a second time - opening a second file navigator screen. Navigate to where you have downloaded the GIG files and drag-and-drop the GIG files from that folder into the other file navigator screen. Click on Move in the pop-up memu to move the GIG sample file. Repeat until all GIGs are in the /TPO-Ranks folder)
    Concert Flute ConcertFlute-Mono-Wurli-JoeHardy.gig
    Diaphonic Diapason DiaphDiapason-Mono-Wurli-(jh)JoeHardy.gig
    Harmonic Tuba TubaHorn-Mono-Wurli-(jh)JoeHardy.gig
    Viol D'Orchestra Gamba-Mono-Wurli-(jh)JoeHardy.gig
    Viol Celeste VDOCeleste-Mono-Wurli-JoeHardy.gig
    Vox Humana Vox-Mono-Wurli-JoeHardy.gig
    Tibia Clausa SoloTibia-Mono-Wurli-JoeHardy.gig
    Clarinet Clarinet-Mono-Unk-JoeHardy.gig
    Orchestral Oboe OrchOboe-Mono-Page-KentAllman.gig
    Traps TrapsToys-Stereo-Barton-JoeHardy.gig
    English Horn PostHorn-Mono-Wurli-(jh)JoeHardy.gig
    Harp/Marimba HarpMarimba-8-Stereo-Wurli2-JoeHardy2.gig
    Cathedral Chimes Chimes-Mono-Unk-JoeHardy.gig
    Xylophone Xylo-Mono-Barton-JoeHardy.gig
    Glockenspiel Glock-Mono-Unk-JoeHardy.gig
    Chrysoglott Chrysoglott-Mono-Wurli-(jh)JoeHardy.gig
    Sleigh Bells SleighBells-Stereo-Wurli2-JoeHardy.gig
  3. Make sure that QjackCtl has started JACK succesfully
  4. Start Qsampler [Menu -> Multimedia -> Qsampler],
  5. Make sure that the connection with the linuxsampler server was succesful (it should report the succesful connection at the end of it loading cycle - takes a few minutes)
  6. Open the QS_Miditzer216A.lscp file from /TPO-Ranks
  7. Make sure that all the GIG samples files have loaded correctly (this may take a few minutes too)
  8. There is a problem with the HarpMarimba that will be sorted out with the next release - for now this is the Workaround..
    1. Click on the Channel 11 button in the Qsampler rank list
    2. Click on Browse Button for the Filename dropdown
    3. Select the HarpMarimba-8-Stereo-Wurli2-JoeHardy2.gig
    4. Click on Open  
    5. Click OK
    6. Click on Save
  9. Then connect the audio output of LinuxSampler to the System audio in Qjackctl
    1. Maximize QjackCtl
    2. Click on the Connect button
    3. Select LinuxSampler on the left column and system on the right column of the Audio tab
    4. Click on the Connect button at the bottom of the Connections screen
    5. You should now see a line connecting them
    6. [These steps will be replaced by Persistent Connections - ones that will reconnect the audio each time Qsampler is loaded - once Beta01 has been tested by a few other people and we are happy with the performance of the system]

Part 3d. Configure Miditzer

  1. Start Miditzer Style 216 [Multimedia -> Miditzer Style 216]
  2. Once Miditzer had loaded, click on the yellow M icon on the top left corner of the window and select Miditzer Settings
  3. Configure your MIDI inputs and channels
  4. Click on the Output tab
  5. Select LinuxSampler - Port 0 in the Set all MIDI output devices: drop down 
    [IMAGE]
  6. Change the Sleigh Bells Rank to LinuxSampler - Port 1 and the MIDI channel 1
  7. Change the Tremolo method to Modulation controller
  8. Now click on the Expression tab
  9. Set the Swell Threshhold to 0
  10. Click OK

Part 3e. Add Convolution Reverb

  1. Click on Menu -> Multimedia -> Jconv Great Hall
  2. Then in QjackCtl connect LinuxSampler in the left column with jconv  in the right column (so that linuxsampler is connect to both the system audio and jconv)
  3. Now connect jconv in the left column with the system audio in the right column
  4. For a better stereo echo effect expand jconv in the left column and system audio in the right column and connect jconv -Out-1 to system - playback-2 and jconv - Out-2 to system - playback-1. This rounds out the sound of the C/C# effect of the Mono samples sets.

Part 3f Set Volume Levels

  1. Play a few notes in each rank and get a feel for the default volume levels, make a note of the rank that is the softest and then make a list of the ranks that need to have their volume levels reduced to properly play with the softest rank.
  2. Now click on the yellow M icon on the top left corner of the window and select Miditzer Settings
  3. Click on the Output tab 
  4. Change the Vol setting of the Ranks that need to be reduced to match the softest Rank on your system.