TuxGuitar with Better Sound in Ubuntu
TuxGuitar is amazing, and its open source! However, in Ubuntu the default soundbank doesn't sound as good as what is available out there. Let's make it sound better with more realistic sound (a.k.a. Real Sound Engine)...
In a terminal window, use these two commands to install the Fluid Soundfonts:
sudo apt-get install fluid-soundfont-gm sudo apt-get install fluid-soundfont-gs
If these terminal commands don't work, then you can use the Synaptic Package Manager to install them.
Next, we need to open the timidity config file (use 'ubuntu software center' to install 'Timidity++ Midi sequencer' if you haven't already):
sudo vim /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
Comment out this line by placing a # at the front of the line, like so:
#source /etc/timidity/freepats.cfg
Then uncomment (or add this new line) to the timidity config file:
source /etc/timidity/fluidr3_gm.cfg
Save the changes to the config file, then restart timidity with this terminal command:
sudo /etc/init.d/timidity restart
Next up, let's setup the TuxGuitar Sound...
- Open TuxGuitar
- Go to "Tools -> Settings -> Sounds"
- Select "TuxGuitar Sequencer" for the "MIDI Sequencer"
- Select "TiMidity port 0 [128:0]" for the "MIDI Port"
- Click "OK"
- Click "Yes" to apply the changes now
With TuxGuitar still open, let's setup the new sound font to be used...
- Go to "Tools -> Plugins"
- Highlight "Java Sound Api plugin"
- Click "Configure"
- Select "Use custom soundbank"
- Click the Folder icon to locate the .sf2 file (e.g. /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2)
- Click "OK"
- Restart TuxGuitar
- Rock and Roll!
If all goes well, the sound will be considerably better. If not, you may throw your instrument and/or keyboard against the wall.
Comments
Vishal (not verified)
Mon, 08/25/2014 - 02:31
Permalink
Hey,
Hey,
After putting sudo vim /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
I m getting sudo :vim: command not found.
Can you help ?
tyler
Mon, 08/25/2014 - 08:22
Permalink
That just means you don't
That just means you don't have VIM (a simple text editor) installed. You should be able to install it with this terminal command:
Then you can re-run:
Or you can probably just use VI, which is most likely already installed:
Ed (not verified)
Fri, 01/30/2015 - 21:38
Permalink
<p>Try:</p><p>sudo nano /etc
Try:
Use ctrl + o to save
Use ctrl + x to exit
Baffled (not verified)
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 04:41
Permalink
Hi there, when I get to this
Hi there, when I get to this point: TiMidity port 0 [128:0]" for the "MIDI Port"
I only have the option for Gervill, nothing else. Any hints? :)
tyler
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 07:30
Permalink
Use the Synaptic Package
Use the Synaptic Package Manager (or Ubuntu Software Center) to install: Timidity++ Midi Sequencer
Ben (not verified)
Wed, 02/15/2017 - 15:19
Permalink
Hey Tyler, this comment was
Hey Tyler, this comment was quite old, but i know followed your instructions and have the same problem, or say i can select Gervill or "Midi Through Port-0 [14:0]"
Also, for the Java Sound Api Plugin, in my folder user/local/share/sounds there is nothing there.
I don't know if they updated Timidity++ e.g., but maybe you can figure out what the problem is. That would be super great.
Thanks alot in advance!
tyler
Fri, 02/17/2017 - 14:28
Permalink
This tutorial didn't work for
This tutorial didn't work for me anymore either, so I actually broke down and just bought a refurbished macbook air to do music stuff, and it just works. Best of luck on your Ubuntu music ventures!
Aldeon (not verified)
Thu, 11/27/2014 - 19:04
Permalink
Hey,
Hey,
that was really good, the sound is som uch better but there's a problem:
I just hear the sound through right part of the headphone, the other is mute.
the headphone is fine, it works fine in other apps.
any help would be appreciated :)
tyler
Fri, 11/28/2014 - 11:37
Permalink
I'm guessing it is some
I'm guessing it is some setting in TuxGuitar that is forcing the sound to be fed to only one channel. Not entirely sure though, it's been a long time since I've had time to pretend to be a rock star ;)
poulet (not verified)
Mon, 12/29/2014 - 14:05
Permalink
just go to the show mixer,
just go to the show mixer, turn the balance control to the left end and you hear the sound through the right and the left speaker.
Jairo (not verified)
Mon, 01/19/2015 - 19:30
Permalink
Thanks, it worked for me
Thanks, it worked for me except for one think that i don't understand. From mmy point of view the "Java Sound Api plugin" configuration has nothing to do with timidity, in fact using any custom sf2 sound font does not change the sound i dont know why. But just changing from freepats to fluidr3_GM is enough for improving the sound quality.
tyler
Mon, 01/19/2015 - 19:42
Permalink
That is definitely possible.
That is definitely possible. I don't have a firm understanding of the whole process, and some steps may be optional and having nothing to do with one another ;) Either way, I'm glad it worked for you, rock onward!
Feri Tri Ariyatmoko (not verified)
Sun, 07/12/2015 - 00:53
Permalink
VLC,Banshee and other media
VLC,Banshee and other media player cannot play song when tuxguitar opened with custom soundfont.
Can you help me fix this?
tyler
Sun, 07/12/2015 - 15:31
Permalink
Nope, I am not able to fix
Nope, I am not able to fix something of that nature. I've had similar problems and just deal with it as a limitation of the technologies, or better yet my knowledge :P
AnhaytAnanun (not verified)
Mon, 11/14/2016 - 11:22
Permalink
Hi, I was going through your
Hi, I was going through your tutorial, and got stuck here:
Answers with
I have googled a bit, but at the moment cannot find the clue. Any ideas?
Thank you in advance.
tyler
Tue, 11/22/2016 - 21:40
Permalink
It means that timidity is
It means that timidity is either not installed, or not located in /etc/init.d, try using "locate timidity" to verify the program is on your system, if it's not consult their documentation, because I really know very little about timidity.
kp (not verified)
Wed, 02/08/2017 - 17:48
Permalink
Hi there !I got through all
Hi there !
I got through all the terminal steps with no problem but when I got to MIDI Port in tuxguitar, even though I've installed timidity, I can't see it :/
tyler
Wed, 02/08/2017 - 17:54
Permalink
Yes, last time I tried this
Yes, last time I tried this myself with ubuntu 14.04 it didn't work for me either. This was originally written for 12.04 I think, so perhaps times have changed. I still love Ubuntu for development, but I went ahead and got a refurbished Macbook Air for music creation stuff (guitar pro 6, addictive drums). I would've liked to see TuxGuitar evolve, but I believe the project is in limbo.