# JACK midi input (using joy2midi) not working

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799>\
**Category:** Software\
**Created:** [June 18, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799 "2017-06-18T21:44:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/beckdac/32/519_2.png) [@beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/beckdac)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/1 "2017-06-18T21:44:55Z")

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I’m trying to use joy2midi (see at end of message).

When I run it, I can see it generating MIDI messages, but I don’t see them appearing with `aseqdump`. When I use `midisnoop` to monitor the `JACK` midi, I can see the messages, but they never make it to `ALSA` to get played. What don’t I understand about the `JACK` and `ALSA` configuration? And, how can I make MIDI messages sent to JACK play? Thanks!

> <https://github.com/jessecrossen/hautmidi/blob/master/joy2midi/README.md>

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**Author:** ![wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/wyleu/32/514_2.png) [@wyleu](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/wyleu)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/2 "2017-06-18T22:05:44Z")

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**This post should really be on Encoders via GPIO and/or via USB . . .**

Are we looking at an interface abstraction?  
4 controllers that respond to up & down & press?

Drive it from MIDI, USB , playstation, anything really . . .

I’d like to be able to use 4 knobs and the push buttons on a Nord Modular 2 control a zynthian over MIDI controllers. . .

 ![](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/1X/270bb933f0cca5eca31ce74b524492bb1b9a10e9.jpg)

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**Author:** ![beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/beckdac/32/519_2.png) [@beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/beckdac)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/3 "2017-06-19T15:46:39Z")

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I think I’m just trying to understand how the JACK and ALSA MIDI systems interact. More simply, how can I send MIDI messages to JACK and have them get handled.

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**Author:** ![lod](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@lod](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/lod)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/4 "2017-06-19T18:00:25Z")

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Mhhh maybe [this article](http://manual.ardour.org/setting-up-your-system/setting-up-midi/midi-on-linux/) descibes how to conenct JACK and Alsa MIDI.

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**Author:** ![beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/beckdac/32/519_2.png) [@beckdac](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/beckdac)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/5 "2017-06-20T03:10:45Z")

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Thanks!

OK, I’ve sussed it. This is probably obvious to MIDI fans out there, but you need to make connections between the MIDI ins and outs. Yeah, that’s how basic my question was. I know that Zynthian has its own MIDI auto connector, e.g. for USB, but it doesn’t auto connect the `joy2midi` devices. I’ll look into understanding why or maybe @jofemodo has an idea.

Anyway, in the end, I used `qjackctl` to connect my `joy2midi` out to whatever the synth engine I wanted to use in. See the image below. **Now I can play “air drums” using the accelerometers in my `wiimotes`! Fun!** The kids absolutely love this.

![](https://discourse.zynthian.org/uploads/default/original/1X/5a56b5afaaf8e9583393a0b007304e8a83e17db1.png)

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**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/jack-midi-input-using-joy2midi-not-working/799/6 "2017-06-26T12:42:06Z")

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A small video demo will be really nice 😉