To compose or edit MIDIs:

- Rosegarden: to edit music scores

- Fluidsynth: to generate sounds from the scores; we could use TiMidity++ too:
  http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions#how_do_i_use_an_alsa_soft_synth_such_as_fluidsynth_or_timidity

- Jack: sound daemon requested by Rosegarden

- fluid-soundfont-gs fluid-soundfont-gm musescore-soundfont-gm: sound
  fonts, used by Fluidsynth to reproduce different instruments (150MB)


# To install under Debian GNU/Linux:

aptitude install rosegarden jackd fluidsynth \
  fluid-soundfont-gs fluid-soundfont-gm musescore-soundfont-gm

# You can also use graphical interfaces to start Fluidsynth and Jackd:

aptitude install qsynth qjackctl


# To run:

sudo modprobe snd_seq
jackd -d alsa  # optional? Rosegarden complains but still plays
fluidsynth -m alsa_seq /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2
rosegarden myscore.rg

# Notes:
- If you get "JackAudioDriver::ProcessAsync: read error, skip cycle", use -P:
  jackd -d alsa -P
- You may need to connect fluidsynth to the system playback in qjackctl
- Fluidsynth may be off-pitch if it complains like:
  fluidsynth: warning: Jack sample rate mismatch, expect tuning issues (synth.sample-rate=44100, jackd=48000)
  In which case, you can run jackd with the recommended rate:
  jackd -d alsa -P -r 44100
- Alternative: use TiMIDity+freepats instead of Fluidsynth:
  timidity -iA -B2,8 -Oj -EFreverb=0 -s 44100


# To save the data as a .wav, run fluidsynth differently:

fluidsynth -m alsa_seq /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2 \
  -a file -o audio.file.name=myfile.raw

# Then you can import the .raw file in Audacity through:
# "File > Import > Raw Data"
# and using settings:
# "Signed 16 bit PCM / Little-endian / Stereo / 44100Hz"
# You may need to strip the silences, using:
# "Effects > Truncate Silence..."


# To test playing a MIDI file:
fluidsynth -a alsa -l -i /usr/share/sounds/sf2/TimGM6mb.sf2 /usr/share/games/dink/dink/Sound/dance.mid