FluidSynth is a real-time synthesizer built around sampled instruments stored in SoundFont files. Rather than modelling analogue oscillators, it responds to MIDI information by playing and shaping recordings of musical instruments.
It is particularly useful for rendering MIDI compositions, providing instrument sounds for notation and sequencing applications, and embedding a synthesis engine in other audio software. SoundFonts determine much of the available sonic character, ranging from general-purpose instrument collections to specialised samples.
FluidSynth can be used from a terminal or integrated as a library. It deliberately does not provide a full graphical sound-design environment; Qsynth supplies a separate graphical interface for users who prefer one.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Real-time rendering of incoming MIDI notes and controller messages to audio.
- Playback and rendering of standard MIDI files.
- SoundFont 2 and compressed SoundFont 3 instrument support.
- Bank, program and MIDI channel selection for multitimbral arrangements.
- Configurable reverb and chorus processing.
- Microtonal tuning and SoundFont modulation controls.
- Command-line shell for interactive configuration and playback.
- Low-level C API for embedding the engine in music software.
- Multiple MIDI and audio driver backends, including JACK and ALSA on Linux.
- Rendered audio output suitable for offline processing.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: www.fluidsynth.org
Support:
Developer: Tom Moebert and contributors
License: GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1
FluidSynth doesn’t have a graphical user interface, For an attractive GUI interface for FluidSynth, check out Qsynth. Here’s an image of Qsynth in action.
FluidSynth is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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|---|---|
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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