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Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 11:28 pm
by parakul
Hi I am new with LMMS, I followed some tutorials to start, I am also new to music in general so I am reading some books on music theory and listening to some podcasts that tell me what I have to learn, plus I do some exercises with the midi just to train my fingers.

Well, I like LMMS, it has to be stated that I have no comparative means and this is my first music software.

I tried to use the zynaddsubfx, because online people told me it was good, problem is that I hear a very low volume, even if I put master volume to max level.

I was thinking maybe my sound drivers aren't updated, so I did an update. Didn't work. Zynaddsubfx is still low volume.

I noticed there's a reddit thread from 2019, another user says he hears ultra low volume using zynaddsubfx, there are no answers there.

I am using current version of LMMS I downloaded from the LMMS website.

Re: Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 3:13 am
by Monospace
Put a few amplifiers on the FX Chain. Alternatively, open the GUI and increase the master volume there.
Requesting you to show a video of what you mean?

Re: Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 10:15 am
by parakul
Do you think a video could help solve the issue? Should I capture my screen while I use the zynaddsubfx?

I don't know how this could be helpful, but if it's useful I can do it.

Today I tried to install LMMS on an old PC from 2013, the sound that comes out of the zynaddsubfx is barely noticeable only if I press some of the keys otherwise I hear nothing or close to nothing.

I tried to raise volume in the master volume, increased volume of PC to maximum level, increased volume in the zynaddsubfx control, and I can barely hear it.

It appears I am not the only one with this issue, because I found others discussing it, but nobody has an answer.

I was thinking this was a problem tied to sound drivers, or maybe I don't have a good hardware, I will try to install one old Asus soundcard to see if something changes.

I have no clue. I don't even know where to start to find a solution. It's sad because zynaddsubfx was catching my attention, I have heard many good songs made with it.

Re: Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 10:32 am
by Monospace
Add the LADSPA Amplifier effect. Dial it up to max. If it's not enough, add more. If it's too much, adjust as needed.
The video would help to clarify your problem a bit better, but your description is helpful enough.
This doesn't happen with other instruments, correct? Then the first suggestion of adding amplifiers (volume boosters) should help.

ZASFX by default has a relatively low volume, but I can still hear it, it's not that soft.

Re: Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sun May 22, 2022 2:37 pm
by musikbear
parakul wrote:
Sat May 21, 2022 11:28 pm
Hi I am new with LMMS,
Hi, Welcome to the Forum parakul !
Here are all important links:
http://lmms.io/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4740
-A few rules and useful forum instructions
If you like to introduce yourself, to the community, go here:
http://lmms.io/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4480
I like LMMS, it has to be stated that I have no comparative means and this is my first music software.
Perhaps my LMMS rookie-guide can interest you? Link

I tried to use the zynaddsubfx, because online people told me it was good, problem is that I hear a very low volume, even if I put master volume to max level.
I was thinking maybe my sound drivers aren't updated, so I did an update. Didn't work. Zynaddsubfx is still low volume.
Here i am in doubt.
Do you have a zynaddsubfx preset loaded, OR
do you only have default zynaddsubfx?
Default zynaddsubfx only play a very low sine-signal, but you are supposed to load presets, and they produces very versatile and variated output!
Try and drag the presets from sidebar
https://docs.lmms.io/user-manual/3-navi ... my-presets
into zynaddsubfx.
However all are not loud, but that can be changed!
Here

i show how to edit zynaddsubfx settings so the output is loud and has a lot of presence
Editing zynaddsubfx can be a bit challenging, but follow the steps in the video, then you should be good to go, maybe watch some of the less advanced zynaddsubfx-videos first :)


Oh ya..
Easy music-theory:

Re: Having trouble with zynaddsubfx

Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 6:25 pm
by Mampfwurm
parakul wrote:
Sat May 21, 2022 11:28 pm
Hi I am new with LMMS, I followed some tutorials to start, I am also new to music in general so I am reading some books on music theory and listening to some podcasts that tell me what I have to learn, plus I do some exercises with the midi just to train my fingers.
Cool! I don't know how familiar you are with all the music stuff (I for example played piano long before I got interested in prodcution, so had a pretty solid starting-off point in that department) but just from personal experience I can recommend starting to work on something, whatever it may be. Learning by doing. But everyone has their own approach.
parakul wrote:
Sat May 21, 2022 11:28 pm
I tried to use the zynaddsubfx, because online people told me it was good, problem is that I hear a very low volume, even if I put master volume to max level.
I quite like it as well and it's rather powerful once you've mastered it (I haven't yet), it's probably the most powerful synth in LMMS. It is pretty quiet in general compared to other instruments like Nescaline (which will blow you away if unfiltered) but like musicbear says, this is not helped by its default settings:
musikbear wrote:
Sun May 22, 2022 2:37 pm
Here i am in doubt.
Do you have a zynaddsubfx preset loaded, OR
do you only have default zynaddsubfx?
Default zynaddsubfx only play a very low sine-signal, but you are supposed to load presets, and they produces very versatile and variated output!
So just try going into the GUI ("Show Gui" button), and get to the ADSynth voice parameters ("Edit instrument" -> "Edit" underneath AdSynth -> "Show voice parameters") and try some other wave forms ("Change" in the bottom right corner of the voice paramters window and then use the "Base F." options underneath the waveform on the right - something like "Power"). Using more voices will increase volume a bit as well.

Or, just for testing purposes, load one of many presets. It's not terribly intuitive, you click the empty box next to the "Enabled" tick box underneath the effects windows (the big blue one which will read "no effect") and boom, there's the preset menu. Use the empty box in the upper left to select a bank, then click on an instrument.