KMid2

Click to enlarge

Simple Karaoke or getting the best from your Midi Synthesizer!

KMid 2 is in preparation. As part of Extragear it does not necessarily ship on the same date as KDE 4.4, but it is on track for release around that time. So what is the current status?

Currently implemented

Here are some major features implemented in KMid2:

• MIDI and Karaoke files are supported.
• Playback to external hardware MIDI devices.
• Allow to use software synths as well, like Timidity++ and QSynth/FluidSynth.
• Tempo and volume controls.
• Added a pitch (transpose) control.
• Rhythm view (visual metronome).
• Configurable character encoding, font and color for lyrics.
• Playlists (song collections).
• MIDI Mapper, translating General Midi events into other events understood by some synthesizers.
• Channel window, with solo/muting controls and instrument selectors.
• Piano player window, using VMPK artwork and technology.
• Runs in Linux, using the ALSA Sequencer.

What is not yet ready?

• Support for Windows and Mac OSX.
• Multiple MIDI output ports. Currently plays to a single output port.
• Documentation.
• Konqueror integration.

Notes for usage

• If you use Timidity++ as a software synthesizer, you may have to install GUS patches or sound fonts. You can find them at freepats
• In this case you will need to start Timidity++ with

$ timidity -iA

• There is an init script

$ /etc/init.d/timidity start

(in Debian, the package timidity-daemon)

• Fluidsynth is an alternative. It has a helpful gui called QSynth. For soundfonts, try GeneralUser.

Resources

• If you are interested in building for testing, please read the README
• The source code for testing is available from here

Note

This status report has been updated on 16th November 2009