---
layout: default
title: MIDI on Linux
---                        

The right approach for using MIDI on Linux depends on which version of
JACK you use. The world divides into:

<dl>
<dt>Systems using JACK 1, versions 0.124 or later</dt>
<dd>On these systems, just start JACK with 
 the <code>-X alsa_midi</code> server argument. To support legacy control
 applications, you can also use the -X seq argument to the ALSA
 backend of JACK and get the exact same results.</dd>
<dt>All others</dt>
<dd>Use a2jmidid to act as a bridge between ALSA MIDI and JACK. Do
  not use the -X seq or -X raw arguments - the timing and performance
  of these options is not acceptable.
</dd>
</dl>
  
<h2>a2jmidid</h2>
<p>
  <dfn>a2jmidid</dfn> is an application that bridges between the system
  <abbr title="Musical Instrument Digital Interface">MIDI</abbr> ports and
  <abbr title="JACK Audio Connection Kit">JACK</abbr>.
</p>
<p>
  First you should make sure that there is no ALSA sequencer support enabled
  in JACK. To do that open QJackCtl's <kbd class="menu">Setup</kbd> window.
</p>
<p>
  Set <kbd class="menu">Settings &gt; MIDI Driver</kbd> to <kbd
  class="input">none</kbd>.
  Then uncheck the <kbd class="optoff">Misc &gt; Enable ALSA Sequencer
  support</kbd> option.<br />
  Now it's time to restart your jack server before going on.
</p>

<h3>Check for a2jmidid availability</h3>
<p>
  First, check whether a2jmidid is already installed in your system. After
  starting your JACK server, go to the command line and type
</p>
<kbd class="cmd lin">a2jmidid -e</kbd>
<p>
  If a2jmidid does not exist, install it with the software manager of your
  Linux distribution and try again.
</p>


<h2>Check available MIDI ports</h2>
<p>
  If you have correctly configured JACK for MIDI, then your MIDI ports should appear in
  qjackctl under <kbd class="menu">Connections &gt; MIDI </kbd>.
</p>

<h3>Making it automatic</h3>
<p>
Once you've verified that the ports appear in JACK as expected, you
can make this happen whenever you start JACK.
</p>

<p>If you use a newer version of JACK 1, just make sure the -X
alsa_midi or -X seq options are enabled for whatever technique you use
to start JACK.
</p>

<p>
For other versions of JACK,
add <kbd class="input">a2jmidid -e &amp;</kbd> as an "after start-up" script
in the <kbd class="menu">Setup &gt; Options</kbd> tab of QJackCtl, so
that it is started automatically whenever you start JACK.
</p>