MIDI handling in (k)Ubuntu 8.04

taken from http://www.funnestra.org/ubuntu/hardy/

WildMidi

WildMidi is a much faster sequencer than TiMidity.

1. Install WildMidi:

   sudo apt-get install wildmidi freepats  
   

2. You can now play a MIDI file as follows:

   wildmidi <span class="arg">$MIDI_FILE</span>  
   

3. (recommended) Install high-quality sound fonts:

   wget -c -P /tmp/ http://www.fbriere.net/debian/dists/stable/misc/deb/eawpatches_12-1~fbriere.4_all.deb
   sudo dpkg -i /tmp/eawpatches_12-1~fbriere.4_all.deb
   sudo cp /etc/wildmidi/wildmidi.cfg /etc/wildmidi/wildmidi.cfg.backup
   echo "dir /usr/share/midi/eawpatches" | sudo tee /etc/wildmidi/wildmidi.cfg
   cat /etc/timidity/eawpatches/gravis.cfg /etc/timidity/eawpatches/gsdrums.cfg /etc/timidity/eawpatches/gssfx.cfg /etc/timidity/eawpatches/xgmap2.cfg | sudo tee -a /etc/wildmidi/wildmidi.cfg  
   

TiMidity++

TiMidity++ is a software MIDI synthesizer. See also the MIDI Software Synthesis How-To.

1. Install Timidity++:

   sudo apt-get install timidity freepats  
   

2. Start Timidity++ as a MIDI server:

   timidity -iA -B2,8 -Os1l -s 44100
   

   Play MIDI on an available port:

   aplaymidi -p <span class="arg">$MIDI_PORT</span> <span class="arg">$MIDI_FILE</span>
   

   You can see the list of available MIDI ports as follows:

   aplaymidi -l  
   

3. (recommended) Install high quality sound fonts:

   wget -c -P /tmp/ http://www.fbriere.net/debian/dists/stable/misc/deb/eawpatches_12-1~fbriere.4_all.deb
   sudo dpkg -i /tmp/eawpatches_12-1~fbriere.4_all.deb
   sudo gedit /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
   

   Change:

   source /etc/timidity/freepats.cfg
   

   to:

   source /etc/timidity/eawpatches.cfg  
   

4. (optional) Reduce Timidity++'s CPU usage:

   sudo gedit /etc/timidity/timidity.cfg
   

   Add:

   opt EFresamp=d          #disable resampling (or "opt EFresamp=l" for linear resampling)
   opt EFvlpf=d            #disable VLPF
   opt EFreverb=d          #disable reverb
   opt EFchorus=d          #disable chorus
   opt EFdelay=d           #disable delay
   

   Save and close the file.