I found this little gem in elementary OS software store, called "Ensembles", made with Vala. It's actually quite good and very easy to use.
I'm looking for more apps like this. Do you have any recommendation?
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Is this Music Studio Software or what does this make?
Aye. But I haven't tested it with a midi-keyboard yet. That's what I'm going to buy.
A quick test video of it in action (~1.30).
Using apt list does not show it, so it must be offered only as a Flatpak.
I tried installing with Meson and the dependencies on LibAdwaita were a show stopper.
Not good, Because this looked like a great app; the kind I have been searching for since LMMS is cursed with a tiny windowed midiboard...
But the developer wants to be in full control and I left Microsoft for a Reason.
Ensemble is made with Vala specific for elementaryOS, so it's in elementary OS own flatpaks repo.
I'll report back when I find more apps like this.
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Sorry for being a thundercloud in your thread. It's a reaction based on how more and more lately, I am feeling as boxed in on GnuLinux as I felt on Microsoft Windows.
More and More I must weigh the cost: Being a rabbit in their cage...
Against the benefit: Being able to use an application I do not have time, know-how or inclination to develop on my own.
It is depressing.
Update: When you want something, you want it.
So, I tried installing flatpak and flatseal - to manage its permissions. That was a nightmare that I will not detail here.
Decided to stick with my usual routine of no flatpaks. But before nuking it from my machine...
I grabbed the mechanics of Ensemble App using the flatpak build tool and saved them.
I sliced out the LibAdwaita (Unnecessary!) dependency
Then repackaged it as a .deb package.
Then I nuked Flatpak, it's bulky runtimes, flatseal and the Flatpak Ensemble from my machine, leaving a sad smoking little crater.
I installed the repackaged .deb package of Ensembles, then launced terminal and ran
ensembles
Boom, baby, The boys are back in town.
Yeah, that's right. I themed it in Old Fashioned Azenis-Prime.
Makes me happy.
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Reminds me of my 90's electric piano keyboard. I haven't used it in so many years, I forgot the brand of it, but it had MIDI input/outputs. When I was younger, it was a lot of fun to play, but I never really improved on it, and I lost interest when my life changed after the loss of my mom. Now days we have fancy software tools like that program, but I can see how it would be tough to play a software keyboard using a 1-click mouse. Cool program though.
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Not the same, but for music production you could take a look at the following apps:
ZynAddSubFX: includes instrument banks and graphical keyboard and use your computer keyboard to play the keys.
Hydrogen: Drum machine sequencer, including Demo track provided by the late great drummer of TOTO, Jeffrey Porcaro from the Georgy Porgy track. Also offers different drumkit sets.
Alternatively you could play with Muse Score 3 and generate music from it's notation editor depending on which instrument/s you are writing for:
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Yes, the keys, knobs and such are not image files. Those are crafted using just .css, so I think that is some impressive coding.
I see that Ensembles is still under development:
Yes, the icon for it even bears the "Alpha" stage to let users know. I have been enjoying it a great deal, now that I have it installed as a non flatpak LOL
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A little more advanced I found Bitwig. Though it's commercial, but available also as flatpak. Full demo is available.
I'm considering buying the small package of Bitwig (as a starter), but first I need a keyboard to set up with my computer.
I assume you are referring to a musical keyboard. If so, I've been out of the music game for far too long, to be of any help to you. What I do know however, without a professional hardware soundboard that has MIDI inputs, that connects to a computer using USB, you will need a music keyboard that uses USB outputs instead.
Considering advancements in technology over the past 30-years, I'm sure they make keyboards which have USB. Again, my knowledge is well out of date, thats why my mind is thinking of my 90's keyboard with MIDI outputs. But thats how its been done in the professional world for decades. USB outputs came late in the music world.
If you need a computer keyboard, I could be much more use to you in that regard lol. I love my Keychron.
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Aye, it's properly an USB keyboard if avaiable, although it seems Midi is still standard, so I might get an audiocard as well.
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Can't get Ensembles in non-flatpak format. Probably not compatible with PCLOS Debian. Decided to install ZynAddSubFX and Hydrogen drum apps:
By coincidence I searched yesterday what synthesisers are in the software store.
Hooked by the Wallpaper of @Storm I googled and found this as well.
https://z-uo.medium.com/ensambles-on-linux-b2bdc344a7a0
Checking in here after a forum search - so Musescore works and is compatible with Linux ?
This is a big deciding factor for me as I'd need Musescore to work.
thanks