www.linuxsampler.org/api/draft-linuxsampler-protocol-14.txt



LinuxSampler Developers                                   C. Schoenebeck
Internet-Draft                           Interessengemeinschaft Software
Expires: July 5, 2005                                  Engineering e. V.
                                                                Jan 2005


                     LinuxSampler Control Protocol
                                lscp.txt

Status of this Memo

   This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with
   all provisions of Section 10 of RFC 2026.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that
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   This Internet-Draft will expire on July 5, 2005.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   The LinuxSampler Control Protocol (LSCP) is an application-level
   protocol primarily intended for local and remote controlling the
   LinuxSampler main application, which is a sophisticated console
   application essentially playing back audio samples and manipulating
   the samples in real time to certain extent.


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Table of Contents

   1.   Requirements notation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   2.   Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   3.   Focus of this protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   4.   Communication Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     4.1  Request/response communication method  . . . . . . . . . .   7
       4.1.1  Result format  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     4.2  Subscribe/notify communication method  . . . . . . . . . .   9
   5.   Description for control commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     5.1  Ignored lines and comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     5.2  Configuring audio drivers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       5.2.1  Getting all available audio output drivers . . . . . .  11
       5.2.2  Getting information about a specific audio output
              driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
       5.2.3  Getting information about specific audio output
              driver parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
       5.2.4  Creating an audio output device  . . . . . . . . . . .  15
       5.2.5  Destroying an audio output device  . . . . . . . . . .  16
       5.2.6  Getting all created audio output device count  . . . .  17
       5.2.7  Getting all created audio output device list . . . . .  17
       5.2.8  Getting current settings of an audio output device . .  17
       5.2.9  Changing settings of audio output devices  . . . . . .  18
       5.2.10   Getting information about an audio channel . . . . .  19
       5.2.11   Getting information about specific audio channel
                parameter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
       5.2.12   Changing settings of audio output channels . . . . .  22
     5.3  Configuring MIDI input drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
       5.3.1  Getting all available MIDI input drivers . . . . . . .  23
       5.3.2  Getting information about a specific MIDI input
              driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
       5.3.3  Getting information about specific MIDI input
              driver parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
       5.3.4  Creating a MIDI input device . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
       5.3.5  Destroying a MIDI input device . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
       5.3.6  Getting all created MIDI input device count  . . . . .  27
       5.3.7  Getting all created MIDI input device list . . . . . .  28
       5.3.8  Getting current settings of a MIDI input device  . . .  28
       5.3.9  Changing settings of audio output devices  . . . . . .  29
       5.3.10   Getting information about a MIDI port  . . . . . . .  30
       5.3.11   Getting information about specific MIDI port
                parameter  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
       5.3.12   Changing settings of MIDI input ports  . . . . . . .  32
     5.4  Configuring sampler channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
       5.4.1  Loading an instrument  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
       5.4.2  Loading a sampler engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
       5.4.3  Getting all created sampler channel count  . . . . . .  34
       5.4.4  Getting all created sampler channel list . . . . . . .  34


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       5.4.5  Adding a new sampler channel . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
       5.4.6  Removing a sampler channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
       5.4.7  Getting all available engines  . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
       5.4.8  Getting information about an engine  . . . . . . . . .  36
       5.4.9  Getting sampler channel information  . . . . . . . . .  37
       5.4.10   Current number of active voices  . . . . . . . . . .  39
       5.4.11   Current number of active disk streams  . . . . . . .  39
       5.4.12   Current fill state of disk stream buffers  . . . . .  39
       5.4.13   Setting audio output device  . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       5.4.14   Setting audio output type  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
       5.4.15   Setting audio output channel . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
       5.4.16   Setting MIDI input device  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
       5.4.17   Setting MIDI input type  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
       5.4.18   Setting MIDI input port  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
       5.4.19   Setting MIDI input channel . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
       5.4.20   Setting channel volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
       5.4.21   Resetting a sampler channel  . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
     5.5  Controlling connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
       5.5.1  Register front-end for receiving event messages  . . .  45
       5.5.2  Unregister front-end for not receiving event
              messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
       5.5.3  Enable or disable echo of commands . . . . . . . . . .  46
       5.5.4  Close client connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     5.6  Global commands  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
       5.6.1  Reset sampler  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
   6.   Command Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
   7.   Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     7.1  Number of sampler channels changed . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     7.2  Number of active voices changed  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     7.3  Number of active disk streams changed  . . . . . . . . . .  50
     7.4  Disk stream buffer fill state changed  . . . . . . . . . .  51
     7.5  Channel information changed  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
     7.6  Miscellaneous and debugging events . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
   8.   Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
   9.   Acknowledgments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
   10.  References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
        Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
        Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . .  55


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1.  Requirements notation

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].

   This protocol is always case-sensitive if not explicitly claimed the
   opposite.

   In examples, "C:" and "S:" indicate lines sent by the client
   (front-end) and server (LinuxSampler) respectively.  Lines in
   examples must be interpreted as every line being CRLF terminated
   (carriage return character followed by line feed character as defined
   in the ASCII standard), thus the following example:

      C: "some line"
         "another line"

   must actually be interpreted as client sending the following message:

      "some line<CR><LF>another line<CR><LF>"

   where <CR> symbolizes the carriage return character and <LF> the line
   feed character as defined in the ASCII standard.

   Due to technical reasons, messages can arbitrary be fragmented, means
   the following example:

      S: "abcd"

   could also happen to be sent in three messages like in the following
   sequence scenario:

   o  server sending message "a"
   o  followed by a delay (pause) with arbitrary duration
   o  followed by server sending message "bcd<CR>"
   o  again followed by a delay (pause) with arbitrary duration
   o  followed by server sending the message "<LF>"

   where again <CR> and <LF> symbolize the carriage return and line feed
   characters respectively.


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2.  Introduction

   LinuxSampler is a so called software sampler application capable to
   playback audio samples from a computer's Random Access Memory (RAM)
   as well as directly streaming it from disk.  LinuxSampler is designed
   to be modular.  It provides several so called "sampler engines" where
   each engine is specialized for a certain purpose.  LinuxSampler has
   virtual channels which will be referred in this document as "sampler
   channels".  The channels are in such way virtual as they can be
   connected to an arbitrary MIDI input method and arbitrary MIDI
   channel (e.g.  sampler channel 17 could be connected to an ALSA
   sequencer device 64:0 and listening to MIDI channel 1 there).  Each
   sampler engine will be assigned an own instance of one of the
   available sampler engines (e.g.  GigEngine, DLSEngine).  The audio
   output of each sampler channel can be routed to an arbitrary audio
   output method (ALSA / JACK) and an arbitrary audio output channel
   there.


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3.  Focus of this protocol

   Main focus of this protocol is to provide a way to configure a
   running LinuxSampler instance and to retrieve information about it.
   The focus of this protocol is not to provide a way to control
   synthesis parameters or even to trigger or release notes.  Or in
   other words; the focus are those functionalities which are not
   covered by MIDI or which may at most be handled via MIDI System
   Exclusive Messages.


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4.  Communication Overview

   There are two distinct methods of communication between a running
   instance of LinuxSampler and one or more control applications, so
   called "front-ends": a simple request/response communication method
   used by the clients to give commands to the server as well as to
   inquire about server's status and a subscribe/notify communication
   method used by the client to subscribe to and receive notifications
   of certain events as they happen on the server.  The latter needs
   more effort to be implemented in the front-end application.  The two
   communication methods will be described next.

4.1  Request/response communication method

   This simple communication method is based on TCP.  The front-end
   application establishes a TCP connection to the LinuxSampler instance
   on a certain host system.  Then the front-end application will send
   certain ASCII based commands as defined in this document (every
   command line must be CRLF terminated - see "Conventions used in this
   document" at the beginning of this document) and the LinuxSampler
   application will response after a certain process time with an
   appropriate ASCII based answer, also as defined in this document.  So
   this TCP communication is simply based on query and answer paradigm.
   That way LinuxSampler is only able to answer on queries from
   front-ends, but not able to automatically send messages to the client
   if it's not asked to.  The fronted should not reconnect to
   LinuxSampler for every single command, instead it should keep the
   connection established and simply resend message(s) for subsequent
   commands.  To keep information in the front-end up-to-date the
   front-end has to periodically send new requests to get the current
   information from the LinuxSampler instance.  This is often referred
   to as "polling".  While polling is simple to implement and may be OK
   to use in some cases, there may be disadvantages to polling such as
   network traffic overhead and information being out of date.  It is
   possible for a client or several clients to open more than one
   connection to the server at the same time.  It is also possible to
   send more than one request to the server at the same time but if
   those requests are sent over the same connection server MUST execute
   them sequentially.  Upon executing a request server will produce a
   result set and send it to the client.  Each and every request made by
   the client MUST result in a result set being sent back to the client.
   No other data other than a result set may be sent by a server to a
   client.  No result set may be sent to a client without the client
   sending request to the server first.  On any particular connection,
   result sets MUST be sent in their entirety without being interrupted
   by other result sets.  If several requests got queued up at the
   server they MUST be processed in the order they were received and
   result sets MUST be sent back in the same order.


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4.1.1  Result format

   Result set could be one of the following types:

   1.  Normal
   2.  Warning
   3.  Error

   Warning and Error result sets MUST be single line and have the
   following format:

   o  "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>"
   o  "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>"

   Where <warning-code> and <error-code> are numeric unique identifiers
   of the warning or error and <warning-message> and <error-message> are
   human readable descriptions of the warning or error respectively.

   Normal result sets could be:

   1.  Empty
   2.  Single line
   3.  Multi-line

   Empty result set is issued when the server only needed to acknowledge
   the fact that the request was received and it was processed
   successfully and no additional information is available.  This result
   set has the following format:

      "OK"

   Single line result sets are command specific.  One example of a
   single line result set is an empty line.  Multi-line result sets are
   command specific and may include one or more lines of information.
   They MUST always end with the following line:

      "."

   In addition to above mentioned formats, warnings and empty result
   sets MAY be indexed.  In this case, they have the following formats
   respectively:

   o  "WRN[<index>]:<warning-code>:<warning-message>"
   o  "OK[<index>]"

   where <index> is command specific and is used to indicate channel
   number that the result set was related to or other integer value.


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   Each line of the result set MUST end with <CRLF>.

4.2  Subscribe/notify communication method

   This more sophisticated communication method is actually only an
   extension of the simple request/response communication method.  The
   front-end still uses a TCP connection and sends the same commands on
   the TCP connection.  Two extra commands are SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE
   commands that allow a client to tell the server that it is interested
   in receiving notifications about certain events as they happen on the
   server.  The SUBSCRIBE command has the following syntax:

      SUBSCRIBE <event-id>

   where <event-id> will be replaced by the respective event that client
   wants to subscribe to.  Upon receiving such request, server SHOULD
   respond with OK and start sending EVENT notifications when a given
   even has occurred to the front-end when an event has occurred.  It
   MAY be possible certain events may be sent before OK response during
   real time nature of their generation.  Event messages have the
   following format:

      NOTIFY:<event-id>:<custom-event-data>

   where <event-id> uniquely identifies the event that has occurred and
   <custom-event-data> is event specific.

   Several rules must be followed by the server when generating events:

   1.  Events MUST NOT be sent to any client who has not issued an
       appropriate SUBSCRIBE command.
   2.  Events MUST only be sent using the same connection that was used
       to subscribe to them.
   3.  When response is being sent to the client, event MUST be inserted
       in the stream before or after the response, but NOT in the
       middle.  Same is true about the response.  It should never be
       inserted in the middle of the event message as well as any other
       response.

   If the client is not interested in a particular event anymore it MAY
   issue UNSUBSCRIBE command using the following syntax:

      UNSUBSCRIBE <event-id>

   where <event-id> will be replace by the respective event that client
   is no longer interested in receiving.  For a list of supported events
   see chapter 6.


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   Example: the fill states of disk stream buffers have changed on
   sampler channel 4 and the LinuxSampler instance will react by sending
   the following message to all clients who subscribed to this event:

      NOTIFY:CHANNEL_BUFFER_FILL:4 [35]62%,[33]80%,[37]98%

   Which means there are currently three active streams on sampler
   channel 4, where the stream with ID "35" is filled by 62%, stream
   with ID 33 is filled by 80% and stream with ID 37 is filled by 98%.

   Clients may choose to open more than one connection to the server and
   use some connections to receive notifications while using other
   connections to issue commands to the back-end.  This is entirely
   legal and up to the implementation.  This does not change the
   protocol in any way and no special restrictions exist on the server
   to allow or disallow this or to track what connections belong to what
   front-ends.  Server will listen on a single port, accept multiple
   connections and support protocol described in this specification in
   it's entirety on this single port on each connection that it
   accepted.

   Due to the fact that TCP is used for this communication, dead peers
   will be detected automatically by the OS TCP stack.  While it may
   take a while to detect dead peers if no traffic is being sent from
   server to client (TCP keep-alive timer is set to 2 hours on many
   OSes) it will not be an issue here as when notifications are sent by
   the server, dead client will be detected quickly.

   When connection is closed for any reason server MUST forget all
   subscriptions that were made on this connection.  If client
   reconnects it MUST resubscribe to all events that it wants to
   receive.


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5.  Description for control commands

   This chapter will describe the available control commands that can be
   sent on the TCP connection in detail.  Some certain commands (e.g.
   "GET CHANNEL INFO" or "GET ENGINE INFO") lead to multiple-line
   responses.  In this case LinuxSampler signals the end of the response
   by a "." (single dot) line.

5.1  Ignored lines and comments

   White lines, that is lines which only contain space and tabulator
   characters, and lines that start with a "#" character are ignored,
   thus it's possible for example to group commands and to place
   comments in a LSCP script file.

5.2  Configuring audio drivers

   Instances of drivers in LinuxSampler are called devices.  You can use
   multiple audio devices simultaneously, e.g.  to output the sound of
   one sampler channel using the ALSA audio output driver, and on
   another sampler channel you might want to use the JACK audio output
   driver.  For particular audio output systems it's also possible to
   create several devices of the same audio output driver, e.g.  two
   separate ALSA audio output devices for using two different sound
   cards at the same time.  This chapter describes all commands to
   configure LinuxSampler's audio output devices and their parameters.

   Instead of defining commands and parameters for each driver
   individually, all possible parameters, their meanings and possible
   values have to be obtained at runtime.  This makes the protocol a bit
   abstract, but has the advantage, that front-ends can be written
   independently of what drivers are currently implemented and what
   parameters these drivers are actually offering.  This means
   front-ends can even handle drivers which are implemented somewhere in
   future without modifying the front-end at all.

   Note: examples in this chapter showing particular parameters of
   drivers are not meant as specification of the drivers' parameters.
   Driver implementations in LinuxSampler might have complete different
   parameter names and meanings than shown in these examples or might
   change in future, so these examples are only meant for showing how to
   retrieve what parameters drivers are offering, how to retrieve their
   possible values, etc.

5.2.1  Getting all available audio output drivers

   Use the following command to list all audio output drivers currently
   available for the LinuxSampler instance:


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      GET AVAILABLE_AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVERS

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending comma separated character
      strings, each symbolizing an audio output driver.

   Example:

      C: "GET AVAILABLE_AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVERS"
      S: "ALSA,JACK"

5.2.2  Getting information about a specific audio output driver

   Use the following command to get detailed information about a
   specific audio output driver:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER INFO <audio-output-driver>

   Where <audio-output-driver> is the name of the audio output driver,
   returned by the "GET AVAILABLE_AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVERS" command.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:

         DESCRIPTION -
            character string describing the audio output driver
         VERSION -
            character string reflecting the driver's version
         PARAMETERS -
            comma separated list of all parameters available for the
            given audio output driver, at least parameters 'channels',
            'samplerate' and 'active' are offered by all audio output
            drivers
      The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER INFO ALSA"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture"
         "VERSION: 1.0"
         "PARAMETERS: DRIVER,CHANNELS,SAMPLERATE,ACTIVE,FRAGMENTS,
      FRAGMENTSIZE,CARD"


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         "."

5.2.3  Getting information about specific audio output driver parameter

   Use the following command to get detailed information about a
   specific audio output driver parameter:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO <audio> <prm> [<deplist>]

   Where <audio> is the name of the audio output driver as returned by
   the "GET AVAILABLE_AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVERS" command, <prm> a specific
   parameter name for which information should be obtained (as returned
   by the "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER INFO" command) and <deplist> is an
   optional list of parameters on which the sought parameter <prm>
   depends on, <deplist> is a list of key-value pairs in form of
   "key1=val1 key2=val2 ...", where character string values are
   encapsulated into apostrophes (').  Arguments given with <deplist>
   which are not dependency parameters of <prm> will be ignored, means
   the front-end application can simply put all parameters into
   <deplist> with the values already selected by the user.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a &lz;CRLF> separated list.
      Each answer line begins with the information category name
      followed by a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally
      the info character string to that info category.  There are
      information which is always returned, independently of the given
      driver parameter and there are optional information which is only
      shown dependently to given driver parameter.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:

      TYPE -
         either "BOOL" for boolean value(s) or "INT" for integer
         value(s) or "FLOAT" for dotted number(s) or "STRING" for
         character string(s) (always returned, no matter which driver
         parameter)
      DESCRIPTION -
         arbitrary text describing the purpose of the parameter (always
         returned, no matter which driver parameter)
      MANDATORY -
         either true or false, defines if this parameter must be given
         when the device is to be created with the 'CREATE
         AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE' command (always returned, no matter which
         driver parameter)
      FIX -
         either true or false, if false then this parameter can be
         changed at any time, once the device is created by the 'CREATE


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         AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE' command (always returned, no matter which
         driver parameter)
      MULTIPLICITY -
         either true or false, defines if this parameter allows only one
         value or a list of values, where true means multiple values and
         false only a single value allowed (always returned, no matter
         which driver parameter)
      DEPENDS -
         comma separated list of paramters this parameter depends on,
         means the values for fields 'DEFAULT', 'RANGE_MIN', 'RANGE_MAX'
         and 'POSSIBILITIES' might depend on these listed parameters,
         for example assuming that an audio driver (like the ALSA
         driver) offers parameters 'card' and 'samplerate' then
         parameter 'samplerate' would depend on 'card' because the
         possible values for 'samplerate' depends on the sound card
         which can be chosen by the 'card' parameter (optionally
         returned, dependent to driver parameter)
      DEFAULT -
         reflects the default value for this parameter which is used
         when the device is created and not explicitly given with the
         'CREATE AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE' command, in case of
         MULTIPLCITY=true, this is a comma separated list, that's why
         character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes (')
         (optionally returned, dependent to driver parameter)
      RANGE_MIN -
         defines lower limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,
         this parameter is often used in conjunction with RANGE_MAX, but
         may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver parameter)
      RANGE_MAX -
         defines upper limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,
         this parameter is often used in conjunction with RANGE_MIN, but
         may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver parameter)
      POSSIBILITES -
         comma separated list of possible values for this parameter,
         character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes (optionally
         returned, dependent to driver parameter)

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Examples:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO ALSA CARD"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: sound card to be used"


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         "TYPE: STRING"
         "MANDATORY: false"
         "FIX: true"
         "MULTIPLICITY: false"
         "DEFAULT: '0,0'"
         "POSSIBILITES: '0,0','1,0','2,0'"
         "."

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO ALSA SAMPLERATE"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: output sample rate in Hz"
         "TYPE: INT"
         "MANDATORY: false"
         "FIX: false"
         "MULTIPLICITY: false"
         "DEPENDS: card"
         "DEFAULT: 44100"
         "."

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO ALSA SAMPLERATE
      CARD='0,0'"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: output sample rate in Hz"
         "TYPE: INT"
         "MANDATORY: false"
         "FIX: false"
         "MULTIPLICITY: false"
         "DEPENDS: card"
         "DEFAULT: 44100"
         "RANGE_MIN: 22050"
         "RANGE_MAX: 96000"
         "."

5.2.4  Creating an audio output device

   Use the following command to create a new audio output device for
   the desired audio output system:

      CREATE AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE <audio-output-driver> [<param-list>]

   Where <audio-output-driver> should be replaced by the desired audio
   output system and <param-list> by an optional list of driver specific
   parameters in form of "key1=val1 key2=val2 ...", where character
   string values should be encapsulated into apostrophes (').  Note that
   there might be drivers which require parameter(s) to be given with
   this command.  Use the previously described commands in this chapter
   to get this information.

   Possible Answers:


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      "OK[<device-id>]" -
         in case the device was successfully created, where <device-id>
         is the numerical ID of the new device
      "WRN[<device-id>]:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the device was created successfully, where <device-id>
         is the numerical ID of the new device, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related (e.g.  sound card doesn't support given
         hardware parameters and the driver is using fall-back values),
         providing an appropriate warning code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:

      C: "CREATE AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE ALSA"
      S: "OK[0]"

      C: "CREATE AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE ALSA CARD='2,0' SAMPLERATE=96000"
      S: "OK[1]"

5.2.5  Destroying an audio output device

   Use the following command to destroy a created output device:

      DESTROY AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE <device-id>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by the numerical ID of the audio
   output device as given by the "CREATE AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE" or "GET
   AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES" command.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case the device was successfully destroyed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the device was destroyed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related (e.g.  an audio over ethernet
         driver was unloaded but the other host might not be informed
         about this situation), providing an appropriate warning code
         and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


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      C: "DESTROY AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE 0"
      S: "OK"

5.2.6  Getting all created audio output device count

   Use the following command to count all created audio output devices:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending the current number of all
      audio output devices.

   Example:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES"
      S: "4"

5.2.7  Getting all created audio output device list

   Use the following command to list all created audio output devices:

      LIST AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a comma separated list with
      the numerical IDs of all audio output devices.

   Example:

      C: "LIST AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES"
      S: "0,1,4,5"

5.2.8  Getting current settings of an audio output device

   Use the following command to get current settings of a specific,
   created audio output device:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE INFO <device-id>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by be numerical ID of the audio
   output device as e.g.  returned by the "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES"
   command.

   Possible Answers:


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   LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
   answer line begins with the information category name followed by a
   colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info character
   string to that info category.  As some parameters might allow
   multiple values, character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes
   (').  At the moment the following information categories are defined
   (independently of device):

      DRIVER -
         identifier of the used audio output driver, as also returned by
         the "GET AVAILABLE_AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVERS" command
      CHANNELS -
         amount of audio output channels this device currently offers
      SAMPLERATE -
         playback sample rate the device uses
      ACTIVE -
         either true or false, if false then the audio device is
         inactive and doesn't output any sound, nor do the sampler
         channels connected to this audio device render any audio

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.  The
   fields above are only those fields which are returned by all audio
   output devices.  Every audio output driver might have its own,
   additional driver specific parameters (see "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DRIVER
   INFO" command) which are also returned by this command.

   Example:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE INFO 0"
      S: "DRIVER: ALSA"
         "CHANNELS: 2"
         "SAMPLERATE: 44100"
         "ACTIVE: true"
         "FRAGMENTS: 2"
         "FRAGMENTSIZE: 128"
         "CARD: '0,0'"
         "."

5.2.9  Changing settings of audio output devices

   Use the following command to alter a specific setting of a created
   audio output device:

      SET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE_PARAMETER <device-id> <key>=<value>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by the numerical ID of the audio
   output device, <key> by the name of the parameter to change and
   <value> by the new value for this parameter.


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   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case setting was successfully changed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case setting was changed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning
         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:

      C: "SET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE_PARAMETER 0 FRAGMENTSIZE=128"
      S: "OK"

5.2.10  Getting information about an audio channel

   Use the following command to get information about an audio channel:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO <device-id> <audio-chan>

   Where <device-id> is the numerical ID of the audio output device and
   <audio-chan> the audio channel number.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:

         NAME -
            arbitrary character string naming the channel, which doesn't
            have to be unique (always returned by all audio channels)
         IS_MIX_CHANNEL -
            either true or false, a mix-channel is not a real,
            independent audio channel, but a virtual channel which is
            mixed to another real channel, this mechanism is needed for
            sampler engines which need more audio channels than the used
            audio system might be able to offer (always returned by all
            audio channels)
         MIX_CHANNEL_DESTINATION -
            reflects the real audio channel (of the same audio output
            device) this mix channel refers to, means where the audio
            signal actually will be routed / added to (only returned in


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            case the audio channel is mix channel)

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.  The
   fields above are only those fields which are generally returned for
   the described cases by all audio channels regardless of the audio
   driver.  Every audio channel might have its own, additional driver
   and channel specific parameters.

   Examples:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO 0 0"
      S: "NAME: studio monitor left"
         "IS_MIX_CHANNEL: false"
         "."

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO 0 1"
      S: "NAME: studio monitor right"
         "IS_MIX_CHANNEL: false"
         "."

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO 0 2"
      S: "NAME: studio monitor left"
         "IS_MIX_CHANNEL: true"
         "MIX_CHANNEL_DESTINATION: 1"
         "."

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO 1 0"
      S: "NAME: 'ardour (left)'"
         "IS_MIX_CHANNEL: false"
         "JACK_BINDINGS: 'ardour:0'"
         "."

5.2.11  Getting information about specific audio channel parameter

   Use the following command to get detailed information about specific
   audio channel parameter:

      GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL_PARAMETER INFO <dev-id> <chan> <param>

   Where <dev-id> is the numerical ID of the audio output device as
   returned by the "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICES" command, <chan> the audio
   channel number and <param> a specific channel parameter name for
   which information should be obtained (as returned by the "GET
   AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL INFO" command).

   Possible Answers:


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      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  There are information
      which is always returned, independently of the given channel
      parameter and there is optional information which is only shown
      dependently to the given audio channel.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:

         TYPE -
            either "BOOL" for boolean value(s) or "INT" for integer
            value(s) or "FLOAT" for dotted number(s) or "STRING" for
            character string(s) (always returned)
         DESCRIPTION -
            arbitrary text describing the purpose of the parameter
            (always returned)
         FIX -
            either true or false, if true then this parameter is read
            only, thus cannot be altered (always returned)
         MULTIPLICITY -
            either true or false, defines if this parameter allows only
            one value or a list of values, where true means multiple
            values and false only a single value allowed (always
            returned)
         RANGE_MIN -
            defines lower limit of the allowed value range for this
            parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted
            number, usually used in conjunction with 'RANGE_MAX', but
            may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
            driver and channel parameter)
         RANGE_MAX -
            defines upper limit of the allowed value range for this
            parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted
            number, usually used in conjunction with 'RANGE_MIN', but
            may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
            driver and channel parameter)
         POSSIBILITES -
            comma separated list of possible values for this parameter,
            character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes
            (optionally returned, dependent to driver and channel
            parameter)
      The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL_PARAMETER INFO 1 0 JACK_BINDINGS"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: bindings to other JACK clients"


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         "TYPE: STRING"
         "FIX: false"
         "MULTIPLICITY: true"
         "POSSIBILITES: 'PCM:0','PCM:1','ardour:0','ardour:1'"
         "."

5.2.12  Changing settings of audio output channels

   Use the following command to alter a specific setting of an audio
   output channel:

      SET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL_PARAMETER <dev-id> <chn> <key>=<value>

   Where <dev-id> should be replaced by the numerical ID of the audio
   device, <chn> by the audio channel number, <key> by the name of the
   parameter to change and <value> by the new value for this parameter.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case setting was successfully changed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case setting was changed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning
         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:

      C: "SET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL PARAMETER 0 0 JACK_BINDINGS='PCM:0'"
      S: "OK"

      C: "SET AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL PARAMETER 0 0 NAME='monitor left'"
      S: "OK"

5.3  Configuring MIDI input drivers

   Instances of drivers in LinuxSampler are called devices.  You can use
   multiple MIDI devices simultaneously, e.g.  to use MIDI over ethernet
   as MIDI input on one sampler channel and ALSA as MIDI input on
   another sampler channel.  For particular MIDI input systems it's also
   possible to create several devices of the same MIDI input type.  This
   chapter describes all commands to configure LinuxSampler's MIDI input
   devices and their parameters.

   Instead of defining commands and parameters for each driver


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   individually, all possible parameters, their meanings and possible
   values have to be obtained at runtime.  This makes the protocol a bit
   abstract, but has the advantage, that front-ends can be written
   independently of what drivers are currently implemented and what
   parameters these drivers are actually offering.  This means
   front-ends can even handle drivers which are implemented somewhere in
   future without modifying the front-end at all.

   Commands for configuring MIDI input devices are pretty much the same
   as the commands for configuring audio output drivers, already
   described in the last chapter.

   Note: examples in this chapter showing particular parameters of
   drivers are not meant as specification of the drivers' parameters.
   Driver implementations in LinuxSampler might have complete different
   parameter names and meanings than shown in these examples or might
   change in future, so these examples are only meant for showing how to
   retrieve what parameters drivers are offering, how to retrieve their
   possible values, etc.

5.3.1  Getting all available MIDI input drivers

   Use the following command to list all MIDI input drivers currently
   available for the LinuxSampler instance:

      GET AVAILABLE_MIDI_INPUT_DRIVERS

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending comma separated character
      strings, each symbolizing a MIDI input driver.

   Example:

      C: "GET AVAILABLE_MIDI_INPUT_DRIVERS"
      S: "ALSA,JACK"

5.3.2  Getting information about a specific MIDI input driver

   Use the following command to get detailed information about a
   specific MIDI input driver:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER INFO <midi-input-driver>

   Where <midi-input-driver> is the name of the MIDI input driver.

   Possible Answers:


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      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:

         DESCRIPTION -
            arbitrary description text about the MIDI input driver
         VERSION -
            arbitrary character string regarding the driver's version
         PARAMETERS -
            comma separated list of all parameters available for the
            given MIDI input driver
      The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER INFO ALSA"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture"
         "VERSION: 1.0"
         "PARAMETERS: DRIVER,ACTIVE"
         "."

5.3.3  Getting information about specific MIDI input driver parameter

   Use the following command to get detailed information about a
   specific parameter of a specific MIDI input driver:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO <midit> <param> [<deplist>]

   Where <midi-t> is the name of the MIDI input driver as returned by
   the "GET AVAILABLE_MIDI_INPUT_DRIVERS" command, <param> a specific
   parameter name for which information should be obtained (as returned
   by the "GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER INFO" command) and <deplist> is an
   optional list of parameters on which the sought parameter <param>
   depends on, <deplist> is a key-value pair list in form of "key1=val1
   key2=val2 ...", where character string values are encapsulated into
   apostrophes (').  Arguments given with <deplist> which are not
   dependency parameters of <param> will be ignored, means the front-end
   application can simply put all parameters in <deplist> with the
   values selected by the user.

   Possible Answers:

   LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
   answer line begins with the information category name followed by a
   colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info character
   string to that info category.  There is information which is always


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   returned, independent of the given driver parameter and there is
   optional information which is only shown dependent to given driver
   parameter.  At the moment the following information categories are
   defined:

      TYPE -
         either "BOOL" for boolean value(s) or "INT" for integer
         value(s) or "FLOAT" for dotted number(s) or "STRING" for
         character string(s) (always returned, no matter which driver
         parameter)
      DESCRIPTION -
         arbitrary text describing the purpose of the parameter (always
         returned, no matter which driver parameter)
      MANDATORY -
         either true or false, defines if this parameter must be given
         when the device is to be created with the 'CREATE
         MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE' command (always returned, no matter which
         driver parameter)
      FIX -
         either true or false, if false then this parameter can be
         changed at any time, once the device is created by the 'CREATE
         MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE' command (always returned, no matter which
         driver parameter)
      MULTIPLICITY -
         either true or false, defines if this parameter allows only one
         value or a list of values, where true means multiple values and
         false only a single value allowed (always returned, no matter
         which driver parameter)
      DEPENDS -
         comma separated list of paramters this parameter depends on,
         means the values for fields 'DEFAULT', 'RANGE_MIN', 'RANGE_MAX'
         and 'POSSIBILITIES' might depend on these listed parameters,
         for example assuming that an audio driver (like the ALSA
         driver) offers parameters 'card' and 'samplerate' then
         parameter 'samplerate' would depend on 'card' because the
         possible values for 'samplerate' depends on the sound card
         which can be chosen by the 'card' parameter (optionally
         returned, dependent to driver parameter)
      DEFAULT -
         reflects the default value for this parameter which is used
         when the device is created and not explicitly given with the
         'CREATE MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE' command, in case of
         MULTIPLCITY=true, this is a comma separated list, that's why
         character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes (')
         (optionally returned, dependent to driver parameter)
      RANGE_MIN -
         defines lower limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,


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         this parameter is often used in conjunction with RANGE_MAX, but
         may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver parameter)
      RANGE_MAX -
         defines upper limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,
         this parameter is often used in conjunction with RANGE_MIN, but
         may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver parameter)
      POSSIBILITES -
         comma separated list of possible values for this parameter,
         character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes (optionally
         returned, dependent to driver parameter)

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER_PARAMETER INFO ALSA ACTIVE"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: Whether device is enabled"
         "TYPE: BOOL"
         "MANDATORY: false"
         "FIX: false"
         "MULTIPLICITY: false"
         "DEFAULT: true"
         "."

5.3.4  Creating a MIDI input device

   Use the following command to create a new MIDI input device for  the
   desired MIDI input system:

      CREATE MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE <midi-input-driver> [<param-list>]

   Where <midi-input-driver> should be replaced by the desired MIDI
   input system and <param-list> by an optional list of driver specific
   parameters in form of "key1=val1 key2=val2 ...", where character
   string values should be encapsulated into apostrophes (').  Note that
   there might be drivers which require parameter(s) to be given with
   this command.  Use the previously described commands in this chapter
   to get that information.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK[<device-id>]" -
         in case the device was successfully created, where <device-id>
         is the numerical ID of the new device


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      "WRN[<device-id>]:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the driver was loaded successfully, where <device-id>
         is the numerical ID of the new device, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:

      C: "CREATE MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE ALSA"
      S: "OK[0]"

5.3.5  Destroying a MIDI input device

   Use the following command to destroy a created MIDI input device:

      DESTROY MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE <device-id>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by the device's numerical ID.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case the device was successfully destroyed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the device was destroyed, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:

      C: "DESTROY MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE 0"
      S: "OK"

5.3.6  Getting all created MIDI input device count

   Use the following command to count all created MIDI input devices:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES

   Possible Answers:


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      LinuxSampler will answer by sending the current number of all MIDI
      input devices.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES"
      S: "3"

5.3.7  Getting all created MIDI input device list

   Use the following command to list all created MIDI input devices:

      LIST MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a comma separated list with
      the numerical Ids of all created MIDI input devices.

   Examples:

      C: "LIST MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES"
      S: "0,1,2"

      C: "LIST MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES"
      S: "1,3"

5.3.8  Getting current settings of a MIDI input device

   Use the following command to get current settings of a specific,
   created MIDI input device:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE INFO <device-id>

   Where <device-id> is the numerical ID of the MIDI input device.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  As some parameters might
      allow multiple values, character strings are encapsulated into
      apostrophes (').  At the moment the following information
      categories are defined (independent of driver):

         DRIVER -


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            identifier of the used MIDI input driver, as e.g.  returned
            by the "GET AVAILABLE_MIDI_INPUT_DRIVERS" command
         ACTIVE -
            either true or false, if false then the MIDI device is
            inactive and doesn't listen to any incoming MIDI events and
            thus doesn't forward them to connected sampler channels

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.  The
   fields above are only those fields which are returned by all MIDI
   input devices.  Every MIDI input driver might have its own,
   additional driver specific parameters (see "GET MIDI_INPUT_DRIVER
   INFO" command) which are also returned by this command.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE INFO 0"
      S: "DRIVER: ALSA"
         "ACTIVE: true"
         "."

5.3.9  Changing settings of audio output devices

   Use the following command to alter a specific setting of a created
   MIDI input device:

      SET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE_PARAMETER <device-id> <key>=<value>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by the numerical ID of the MIDI
   input device, <key> by the name of the parameter to change and
   <value> by the new value for this parameter.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case setting was successfully changed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case setting was changed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning
         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:

      C: "SET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE PARAMETER 0 ACTIVE=false"
      S: "OK"


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5.3.10  Getting information about a MIDI port

   Use the following command to get information about a MIDI port:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_PORT INFO <device-id> <midi-port>

   Where <device-id> is the numerical ID of the MIDI input device and
   <midi-port> the MIDI input port number.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  At the moment the
      following information categories are defined:
      NAME -
         arbitrary character string naming the port

   The field above is only the one which is returned by all MIDI ports
   regardless of the MIDI driver and port.  Every MIDI port might have
   its own, additional driver and port specific parameters.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_PORT INFO 0 0"
      S: "NAME: 'Masterkeyboard'"
         "ALSA_SEQ_BINDINGS: '64:0'"
         "."

5.3.11  Getting information about specific MIDI port parameter

   Use the following command to get detailed information about specific
   MIDI port parameter:

      GET MIDI_INPUT_PORT_PARAMETER INFO <dev-id> <port> <param>

   Where <dev-id> is the numerical ID of the MIDI input device as
   returned by the "GET MIDI_INPUT_DEVICES" command, <port> the MIDI
   port number and <param> a specific port parameter name for which
   information should be obtained (as returned by the "GET
   MIDI_INPUT_PORT INFO" command).

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info


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      character string to that info category.  There is information
      which is always returned, independently of the given channel
      parameter and there is optional information which are only shown
      dependently to the given MIDI port.  At the moment the following
      information categories are defined:
      TYPE -
         either "BOOL" for boolean value(s) or "INT" for integer
         value(s) or "FLOAT" for dotted number(s) or "STRING" for
         character string(s) (always returned)
      DESCRIPTION -
         arbitrary text describing the purpose of the parameter (always
         returned)
      FIX -
         either true or false, if true then this parameter is read only,
         thus cannot be altered (always returned)
      MULTIPLICITY -
         either true or false, defines if this parameter allows only one
         value or a list of values, where true means multiple values and
         false only a single value allowed (always returned)
      RANGE_MIN -
         defines lower limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,
         this parameter is usually used in conjunction with 'RANGE_MAX'
         but may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver and port parameter)
      RANGE_MAX -
         defines upper limit of the allowed value range for this
         parameter, can be an integer value as well as a dotted number,
         this parameter is usually used in conjunction with 'RANGE_MIN'
         but may also appear without (optionally returned, dependent to
         driver and port parameter)
      POSSIBILITES -
         comma separated list of possible values for this parameter,
         character strings are encapsulated into apostrophes (optionally
         returned, dependent to device and port parameter)

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET MIDI_INPUT_PORT_PARAMETER INFO 0 0 ALSA_SEQ_BINDINGS"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: bindings to other ALSA sequencer clients"
         "TYPE: STRING"
         "FIX: false"
         "MULTIPLICITY: true"
         "POSSIBILITES: '64:0','68:0','68:1'"
         "."


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5.3.12  Changing settings of MIDI input ports

   Use the following command to alter a specific setting of a MIDI input
   port:

      SET MIDI_INPUT_PORT_PARAMETER <device-id> <port> <key>=<value>

   Where <device-id> should be replaced by the numerical ID of the MIDI
   device, <port> by the MIDI port number, <key> by the name of the
   parameter to change and <value> by the new value for this parameter.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case setting was successfully changed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case setting was changed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning
         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


5.4  Configuring sampler channels

   The following commands describe how to add and remove sampler
   channels, deploy sampler engines, load instruments and connect
   sampler channels to MIDI and audio devices.

5.4.1  Loading an instrument

   An instrument file can be loaded and assigned to a sampler channel by
   one of the following commands:

      LOAD INSTRUMENT [NON_MODAL] '<filename>' <instr-index>
      <sampler-channel>

   Where <filename> is the name of the instrument file on the
   LinuxSampler instance's host system, <instr-index> the index of the
   instrument in the instrument file and <sampler-channel> is the number
   of the sampler channel the instrument should be assigned to.  Each
   sampler channel can only have one instrument.

   The difference between regular and NON_MODAL versions of the command


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   is that the regular command returns OK only after the instrument has
   been fully loaded and the channel is ready to be used while NON_MODAL
   version returns immediately and a background process is launched to
   load the instrument on the channel.  GET CHANNEL INFO command can be
   used to obtain loading progress from INSTRUMENT_STATUS field.  LOAD
   command will perform sanity checks such as making sure that the file
   could be read and it is of a proper format and SHOULD return ERR and
   SHOULD not launch the background process should any errors be
   detected at that point.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case the instrument was successfully loaded
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the instrument was loaded successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related (e.g.  Engine doesn't support one
         or more patch parameters provided by the loaded instrument
         file), providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


5.4.2  Loading a sampler engine

   A sample engine can be deployed and assigned to a specific sampler
   channel by the following command:

      LOAD ENGINE <engine-name> <sampler-channel>

   Where <engine-name> is usually the C++ class name of the engine
   implementation and <sampler-channel> the sampler channel the deployed
   engine should be assigned to.  Even if the respective sampler channel
   has already a deployed engine with that engine name, a new engine
   instance will be assigned to the sampler channel.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case the engine was successfully deployed
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the engine was deployed successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning


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         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


5.4.3  Getting all created sampler channel count

   The number of sampler channels can change on runtime.  To get the
   current amount of sampler channels, the front-end can send the
   following command:

      GET CHANNELS

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by returning the current number of
      sampler channels.

   Example:

      C: "GET CHANNELS"
      S: "12"

5.4.4  Getting all created sampler channel list

   The number of sampler channels can change on runtime.  To get the
   current list of sampler channels, the front-end can send the
   following command:

      LIST CHANNELS

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by returning a comma separated list with
      all sampler channels numerical IDs.

   Example:

      C: "LIST CHANNELS"
      S: "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,15,20"

5.4.5  Adding a new sampler channel

   A new sampler channel can be added to the end of the sampler channel


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   list by sending the following command:

      ADD CHANNEL

   This will increment the sampler channel count by one and the new
   sampler channel will be appended to the end of the sampler channel
   list.  The front-end should send the respective, related commands
   right after to e.g.  load an engine, load an instrument and setting
   input, output method and eventually other commands to initialize the
   new channel.  The front-end should use the sampler channel returned
   by the answer of this command to perform the previously recommended
   commands, to avoid race conditions e.g.  with other front-ends that
   might also have sent an "ADD CHANNEL" command.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK[<sampler-channel>]" -
         in case a new sampler channel could be added, where
         <sampler-channel> reflects the channel number of the new
         created sampler channel which should the be used to set up the
         sampler channel by sending subsequent intialization commands
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case a new channel was added successfully, but there are
         noteworthy issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning
         code and warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


5.4.6  Removing a sampler channel

   A sampler channel can be removed by sending the following command:

      REMOVE CHANNEL <sampler-channel>

   This will decrement the sampler channel count by one and also
   decrement the channel numbers of all subsequent sampler channels by
   one.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         in case the given sampler channel could be removed


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      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         in case the given channel was removed, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Example:


5.4.7  Getting all available engines

   The front-end can ask for all available engines by sending the
   following command:

      GET AVAILABLE_ENGINES

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a comma separated character
      string of the engines' C++ class names.

   Example:

      C: "GET AVAILABLE_ENGINES"
      S: "GigEngine,AkaiEngine,DLSEngine,JoesCustomEngine"

5.4.8  Getting information about an engine

   The front-end can ask for information about a specific engine by
   sending the following command:

      GET ENGINE INFO <engine-name>

   Where <engine-name> is usually the C++ class name of the engine
   implementation.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending <> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the information category name followed by
      a colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that info category.  At the moment the
      following categories are defined:


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         DESCRIPTION -
            arbitrary description text about the engine
         VERSION -
            arbitrary character string regarding the engine's version

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET ENGINE INFO JoesCustomEngine"
      S: "DESCRIPTION: this is Joe's custom sampler engine"
         "VERSION: testing-1.0"
         "."

5.4.9  Getting sampler channel information

   The front-end can ask for the current settings of a sampler channel
   by sending the following command:

      GET CHANNEL INFO <sampler-channel>

   Where <sampler-channel> is the sampler channel number the front-end
   is interested in.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by sending a <CRLF> separated list.  Each
      answer line begins with the settings category name followed by a
      colon and then a space character <SP> and finally the info
      character string to that setting category.  At the moment the
      following categories are defined:

         ENGINE_NAME -
            name of the engine that is deployed on the sampler channel,
            "NONE" if there's no engine deployed yet for this sampler
            channel
         AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE -
            numerical ID of the audio output device which is currently
            connected to this sampler channel to output the audio
            signal, "NONE" if there's no device connected to this
            sampler channel
         AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNELS -
            number of output channels the sampler channel offers
            (dependent to used sampler engine and loaded instrument)
         AUDIO_OUTPUT_ROUTING -
            comma separated list which reflects to which audio channel
            of the selected audio output device each sampler output
            channel is routed to, e.g.  "0,3" would mean the engine's


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            output channel 0 is routed to channel 0 of the audio output
            device and the engine's output channel 1 is routed to the
            channel 3 of the audio output device
         INSTRUMENT_FILE -
            the file name of the loaded instrument, "NONE" if there's no
            instrument yet loaded for this sampler channel
         INSTRUMENT_NR -
            the instrument index number of the loaded instrument
         INSTRUMENT_STATUS -
            integer values 0 to 100 indicating loading progress
            percentage for the instrument.  Negative value indicates a
            loading exception.  Value of 100 indicates that the
            instrument is fully loaded.
         MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE -
            numerical ID of the MIDI input device which is currently
            connected to this sampler channel to deliver MIDI input
            commands, "NONE" if there's no device connected to this
            sampler channel
         MIDI_INPUT_PORT -
            port number of the MIDI input device
         MIDI_INPUT_CHANNEL -
            the MIDI input channel number this sampler channel should
            listen to or "ALL" to listen on all MIDI channels
         VOLUME -
            optionally dotted number for the channel volume factor
            (where a value < 1.0 means attenuation and a value > 1.0
            means amplification)

   The mentioned fields above don't have to be in particular order.

   Example:

      C: "GET CHANNEL INFO 34"
      S: "ENGINE_NAME: GigEngine"
         "VOLUME: 1.0"
         "AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE: 0"
         "AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNELS: 2"
         "AUDIO_OUTPUT_ROUTING: 0,1"
         "INSTRUMENT_FILE: /home/joe/FazioliPiano.gig"
         "INSTRUMENT_NR: 0"
         "INSTRUMENT_STATUS: 100"
         "MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE: 0"
         "MIDI_INPUT_PORT: 0"
         "MIDI_INPUT_CHANNEL: 5"
         "."


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5.4.10  Current number of active voices

   The front-end can ask for the current number of active voices on a
   sampler channel by sending the following command:

      GET CHANNEL VOICE_COUNT <sampler-channel>

   Where <sampler-channel> is the sampler channel number the front-end
   is interested in.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by returning the number of active voices
      on that channel.

   Example:


5.4.11  Current number of active disk streams

   The front-end can ask for the current number of active disk streams
   on a sampler channel by sending the following command:

      GET CHANNEL STREAM_COUNT <sampler-channel>

   Where <sampler-channel> is the sampler channel number the front-end
   is interested in.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will answer by returning the number of active disk
      streams on that channel in case the engine supports disk
      streaming, if the engine doesn't support disk streaming it will
      return "NA" for not available.

   Example:


5.4.12  Current fill state of disk stream buffers

   The front-end can ask for the current fill state of all disk streams
   on a sampler channel by sending the following command:

      GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL BYTES <sampler-channel>

   to get the fill state in bytes or


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      GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL PERCENTAGE <sampler-channel>

   to get the fill state in percent, where <sampler-channel> is the
   sampler channel number the front-end is interested in.

   Possible Answers:

      LinuxSampler will either answer by returning a comma separated
      string with the fill state of all disk stream buffers on that
      channel or an empty line if there are no active disk streams or
      "NA" for *not available* in case the engine which is deployed
      doesn't support disk streaming.  Each entry in the answer list
      will begin with the stream's ID in brackets followed by the
      numerical representation of the fill size (either in bytes or
      percentage).  Note: due to efficiency reasons the fill states in
      the response are not in particular order, thus the front-end has
      to sort them by itself if necessary.

   Examples:

      C: "GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL BYTES 4"
      S: "[115]420500,[116]510300,[75]110000,[120]230700"
      C: "GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL PERCENTAGE 4"
      S: "[115]90%,[116]98%,[75]40%,[120]62%"
      C: "GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL PERCENTAGE 4"
      S: ""

5.4.13  Setting audio output device

   The front-end can set the audio output device on a specific sampler
   channel by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL AUDIO_OUTPUT_DEVICE <sampler-channel>
      <audio-device-id>

   Where <audio-device-id> is the numerical ID of the audio output
   device and <sampler-channel> is the respective sampler channel
   number.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if audio output device was set, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message


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      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.14  Setting audio output type

   DEPRECATED: THIS COMMAND WILL DISAPPEAR SOON!

   The front-end can alter the audio output type on a specific sampler
   channel by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL AUDIO_OUTPUT_TYPE <sampler-channel>
      <audio-output-type>

   Where <audio-output-type> is currently either "ALSA" or "JACK" and
   <sampler-channel> is the respective sampler channel number.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if audio output type was set, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.15  Setting audio output channel

   The front-end can alter the audio output channel on a specific
   sampler channel by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL AUDIO_OUTPUT_CHANNEL <sampler-chan> <audio-out>
      <audio-in>

   Where <sampler-chan> is the sampler channel, <audio-out> is the
   sampler channel's audio output channel which should be rerouted and
   <audio-in> the audio channel of the selected audio output device


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   where <audio-out> should be routed to.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if audio output channel was set, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.16  Setting MIDI input device

   The front-end can set the MIDI input device on a specific sampler
   channel by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL MIDI_INPUT_DEVICE <sampler-channel> <midi-device-id>

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if MIDI input device was set, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.17  Setting MIDI input type

   DEPRECATED: THIS COMMAND WILL DISAPPEAR SOON!

   The front-end can alter the MIDI input type on a specific sampler
   channel by sending the following command:


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      SET CHANNEL MIDI_INPUT_TYPE <sampler-channel> <midi-input-type>

   Where <midi-input-type> is currently only "ALSA" and
   <sampler-channel> is the respective sampler channel number.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if MIDI input type was set, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.18  Setting MIDI input port

   The front-end can alter the input MIDI port on a specific sampler
   channel by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL MIDI_INPUT_PORT <sampler-channel> <midi-input-port>

   Where <midi-input-port> is a MIDI input port number of the MIDI input
   device connected to the sampler channel given by <sampler-channel>.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if MIDI input port was set, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error messag

   Examples:


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5.4.19  Setting MIDI input channel

   The front-end can alter the MIDI channel a sampler channel should
   listen to by sending the following command:

      SET CHANNEL MIDI_INPUT_CHANNEL <sampler-channel> <midi-input-chan>

   Where <midi-input-chan> is the new MIDI input channel where
   <sampler-channel> should listen to or "ALL" to listen on all 16 MIDI
   channels.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if MIDI input channel was set, but there are noteworthy
         issue(s) related, providing an appropriate warning code and
         warning message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.20  Setting channel volume

   The front-end can alter the volume of a sampler channel by sending
   the following command:

      SET CHANNEL VOLUME <sampler-channel> <volume>

   Where <volume> is an optionally dotted positive number (a value
   smaller than 1.0 means attenuation, whereas a value greater than 1.0
   means amplification) and <sampler-channel> defines the sampler
   channel where this volume factor should be set.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if channel volume was set, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message


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      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.4.21  Resetting a sampler channel

   The front-end can reset a particular sampler channel by sending the
   following command:

      RESET CHANNEL <sampler-channel>

   Where <sampler-channel> defines the sampler channel to be reset.
   This will cause the engine on that sampler channel, its voices and
   eventually disk streams and all control and status variables to be
   reset.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if channel was reset, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.5  Controlling connection

   The following commands are used to control the connection to
   LinuxSampler.

5.5.1  Register front-end for receiving event messages

   The front-end can register itself to the LinuxSampler application to
   be informed about noteworthy events by sending this command:

      SUBSCRIBE <event-id>


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   where <event-id> will be replaced by the respective event that client
   wants to subscribe to.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if registration succeeded, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.5.2  Unregister front-end for not receiving event messages

   The front-end can unregister itself if it doesn't want to receive
   event messages anymore by sending the following command:

      UNSUBSCRIBE <event-id>

   Where <event-id> will be replaced by the respective event that client
   doesn't want to receive anymore.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         on success
      "WRN:<warning-code>:<warning-message>" -
         if unregistration succeeded, but there are noteworthy issue(s)
         related, providing an appropriate warning code and warning
         message
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         in case it failed, providing an appropriate error code and
         error message

   Examples:


5.5.3  Enable or disable echo of commands

   To enable or disable back sending of commands to the client the


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   following command can be used:

      SET ECHO <value>

   Where <value> should be replaced either by "1" to enable echo mode or
   "0" to disable echo mode.  When echo mode is enabled, all commands
   send to LinuxSampler will be immediately send back and after this
   echo the actual response to the command will be returned.  Echo mode
   will only be altered for the client connection that issued the "SET
   ECHO" command, not globally for all client connections.

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         usually
      "ERR:<error-code>:<error-message>" -
         on syntax error, e.g.  non boolean value

   Examples:


5.5.4  Close client connection

   The client can close its network connection to LinuxSampler by
   sending the following command:

      QUIT

   This is probably more interesting for manual telnet connections to
   LinuxSampler than really useful for a front-end implementation.

5.6  Global commands

   The following commands have global impact on the sampler.

5.6.1  Reset sampler

   The front-end can reset the whole sampler by sending the following
   command:

      RESET

   Possible Answers:

      "OK" -
         always


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   Examples:


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6.  Command Syntax

   TODO: will soon automatically included from src/network/lscp.y,
   meanwhile have a look at that file to get the exact definition of the
   command syntax.


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7.  Events

   This chapter will describe all currently defined events supported by
   LinuxSampler.

7.1  Number of sampler channels changed

   Client may want to be notified when the total number of channels on
   the back-end changes by issuing the following command:

      SUBSCRIBE CHANNELS

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:CHANNELS:<channels>"

   where <channels> will be replaced by the new number of sampler
   channels.

7.2  Number of active voices changed

   Client may want to be notified when the number of voices on the
   back-end changes by issuing the following command:

      SUBSCRIBE VOICE_COUNT

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:VOICE_COUNT:<sampler-channel> <voices>>

   where <sampler-channel> will be replaced by the sampler channel the
   voice count change occurred and <voices>> by the new number of active
   voices on that channel.

7.3  Number of active disk streams changed

   Client may want to be notified when the number of streams on the
   back-end changes by issuing the following command: SUBSCRIBE
   STREAM_COUNT

      SUBSCRIBE STREAM_COUNT

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:STREAM_COUNT:<sampler-channel> <streams>"

   where <sampler-channel> will be replaced by the sampler channel the
   stream count change occurred and <streams> by the new number of


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   active disk streams on that channel.

7.4  Disk stream buffer fill state changed

   Client may want to be notified when the number of streams on the
   back-end changes by issuing the following command:

      SUBSCRIBE BUFFER_FILL

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:BUFFER_FILL:<sampler-channel> <fill-data>"

   where <sampler-channel> will be replaced by the sampler channel the
   buffer fill state change occurred and <fill-data> will be replaced by
   the buffer fill data for this channel as described in 4.4.12 as if
   the "GET CHANNEL BUFFER_FILL PERCENTAGE" was issued on this channel.

7.5  Channel information changed

   Client may want to be notified when changes were made to sampler
   channels on the back-end changes by issuing the following command:

      SUBSCRIBE INFO

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:INFO:<sampler-channel>"

   where <sampler-channel> will be replaced by the sampler channel the
   channel info change occurred.  The front-end will have to send the
   respective command to actually get the channel info.  Because these
   messages will be triggered by LSCP commands issued by other clients
   rather than real time events happening on the server, it is believed
   that an empty notification message is sufficient here.

7.6  Miscellaneous and debugging events

   Client may want to be notified of miscellaneous and debugging events
   occurring at the server by issuing the following command:

      SUBSCRIBE MISCELLANEOUS

   Server will start sending the following notification messages:

      "NOTIFY:MISCELLANEOUS:<string>"

   where <string> will be replaced by whatever data server wants to send


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   to the client.  Client MAY display this data to the user AS IS to
   facilitate debugging.


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8.  Security Considerations

   As there is so far no method of authentication and authorization
   defined and so not required for a client applications to succeed to
   connect, running LinuxSampler might be a security risk for the host
   system the LinuxSampler instance is running on.


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9.  Acknowledgments

   This document has benefited greatly from the comments of the
   following people, discussed on the LinuxSampler developer's mailing
   list:

      Rui Nuno Capela
      Vladimir Senkov
      Mark Knecht

10.  References

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.


Author's Address

   C. Schoenebeck
   Interessengemeinschaft Software Engineering e. V.
   Max-Planck-Str. 39
   74081 Heilbronn
   Germany

   Email: schoenebeck at software minus engineering dot org


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Intellectual Property Statement

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   HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
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