This ticket describes how we don’t have an optimal default snapshot loaded by default in the vangelis image. We really want to showcase zynthian’s features to new users by presenting a snaphsot that shows off many of zynthian’s features, sounds, etc. We tried to use one of the factory defaults but this was suboptimal on some hardware so I thought it would be good to have a selection of snapshots that each suit a particular hardware. This is where you come in…
You have a chance to become a star within the zynthian world by contributing a snapshot that is loaded by default in a new image installation. I want a snapshot for each of these hardware platforms:
V5.1 (Raspberry Pi 5)
V5/V4 (Raspberry Pi 4)
V3 (Raspberry Pi 3)
I would like the snapshots to push the hardware towards the limit but not over, i.e. no xruns. Each snapshot should have the following elements:
Several chains demonstrating a selection of synth engines.
Some audio and MIDI effects.
Effect send and return via mixbus chains. (Pin the returns to the right.)
Sequences with phrase automation to play a composition.
Some CC automation would be good.
Some ZS3 with MIDI PC binding.
No dependency on other hardware, i.e. the snaphost works on a standard build device.
This is not a competition. The only prize is a sense of reward from a job well-done and your composition in front of each new zynthian user. If we get these three snapshots then we can automate the default selection based on hardware detection. I think it may be benefical for volunteers to identify themselves here to avoid duplicate effort, so please speak up if you want to contribute a snapshot that meets the above criteria. Let me know which of the three hardware platforms you wish to target. If we have more than one, we may decide to keep them and either randomise the auto selection or combine them into a single snapshot. We may also tweak any snapshot if we see a benefit, e.g. to better demonstrate a zynthian feature.
Well, it seems this call is not getting traction, and we really need some good demo snapshots for vangelis! The release is really close now!!
Sprammagamma is fantastic, but it’s too massive and too focused in a single engine. Also it’s too heavy for RPI4 and RPI3.
Indeed we don’t need new snapshots from scratch. We could, for instance, adapt and improve some of the current demo snapshots. These 4 would be the best candidates, IMHO:
They need some rework, like replacing the old rhodes soundfont that has been superseded by a better one (jRhodes), or review the FX chains to ensure routing is OK. Then, duplicate the patterns as needed to build the phrase structure to play the full song, as created for the first Zynthian Context.
Ideally, the original authors would be the perfect candidates to do this task, but perhaps they are busy in other affairs. Don’t feel obligated. Others could do the task too
Anyway, as @riban said above, this is a very good opportunity to contribute to Zynthian project without writing code nor documenting. Also, it would serve as a test-of-force for Vangelis, allowing you to learn the new features and probably, helping us to find the (hopefully) latest bugs.
I remember when I first loaded Zynthian I had a hard time finding built-in snapshots for what I was looking for: just using it as a MIDI sound module for playing keyboards for live and studio use. The snapshots had all sorts of strange and wonderful things, but except for say piano, no “bread and butter” for the typical cover pand keyboard player.
(Note: I’m not a typical cover band keyboard player, though I have played one on TV.)
Please provide input on whatever else you’d like to see on that. I haven’t yet experimented with ZS3s, though, so this is just a 14-chain snapshot where I pick the instrument by MIDI channel or clicking on the channel.
You can find two versions (one with and one without use of zPianoRes) in my share folder:
You’ll also need the following packages. Some may be installed by default:
jRhodes3d (default? I don’t recall)
Zynthian Salamander Grand
Stevie Clavinet
jSteelDrum
Terkelsen Marimba
I hope to add drums and bass. I haven’t really found a good upright bass or P-bass yet.
As mentioned in the thread, I’m hoping to make a Youtube demo of using Zynthian as a sound module for keyboard players, just showing off a bunch of my favorite sounds, and not going into all the other features Zynthian can do. But first I need to learn how to record and edit a demo!
I also hope to make a SetBFree demo, since there just isn’t one I can find anywhere on the web.
