Zynthian Users Guide

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Revision as of 20:02, 27 August 2017 by Gmeader (Talk | contribs) (UI with only a touch screen and no encoders)

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Here's a list of the things Zynthian can do: Zynthian Features

The Zynthian has 4 user interfaces:

1. Command Line User Guide If you need to manually setup/configure.

2. Configuration Users Guide (web browser configuration tool)

2. MOD Users Guide (web browser UI for LV2 plugin host)

4. The device UI (the hardware itself)

Device User Interface

The Zynthian device User Interface is displayed on a TFT display and controlled by 4 rotary-encoders with push switches. The encoders/switch knobs are used to navigate between the different screens/menus, select options and change the instrument parameters, acting as MIDI/OSC controllers.

Zynthian ui legend.png

Currently there are two screen layouts:

  1. Selector Screen: a list of items that you can scroll and select with the SELECT(4) knob

And there are 3 types of clicks (push) that can be performed, depending on how long you hold down the knob:

  • short: less than 0.3 seconds
  • bold: between 0.3 and 2 seconds
  • long: more than 2 seconds

Actions for each knob and click type are context dependent. Generally, the SELECT knob and a short click is used to navigate and select items on a "Selector Screen". On a "Controller Screen", short clicks can be used to rotate between channels (CH) or between controller maps (SELECT). "Bold" clicks are intended as shortcuts for jumping to some specific screens. Clicking the BACK knob generally jumps to the previous screen in the sequence.

Loading and Saving: You have to push the LS (Load/Save) knob (3). If you click once, you get the Load menu, another click and you are in the Save menu. Normal click opens the engine's LS menu, that lists the current engine's snapshots, but if you bold-click LS when an engine is active, then you get the global LS menu, that lists the snapshots for all the engines.

For a detailed description, see the next flowcharts:

Zynthian ui workflow 1.png

Zynthian ui workflow 2.png

Admin menu

Pressing the Back knob, when you are in the Layer List screen, brings you to the Admin menu. The last item is how you safely power off the Zynthian without corrupting data files.


Layer List

This is the first screen you see when you power on. Choose New Layer to get started. A layer is a stored configuration of one synth engine and all its parameters.


Engine List

Once you have chosen/created a Layer, you see the list of synth engines to choose from. The waveform image on the right is animated while software is loading.


MIDI Channel selection

This screen appears after you have chosen a synth engine. Choose the MIDI channel the synth will respond to.


Bank selection

Presets (instruments or sound designs or patches) for a synth engine are grouped/organized into banks. Choose a bank to see the list of presets you can pick from in that bank.


Here we choose the Organ bank.


Preset selection

This screen appears after you have chosen the Organ bank. Choose a Preset to select the instrument/sound you want.


Controller screen

This screen appears after you have chosen a Preset. Your instrument is now playable.

Turning each of the 4 knobs change the values of the synth parameters displayed in the squares at the sides of the screen. The Controller list in the center of the screen allows you to choose sets of parameters to view and alter.

Press the Back knob to return to previous screens.


UI with only a touch screen and no encoders


You can "emulate" the switches by tapping the controller widgets (squares in the 4 corners of a Controller screen). There are short, bold and long actions. Exactly the same workflow as with hardware knobs. When the "back" widget is not available, you can go back by tapping the top bar.

You can change the values of the controllers by "sliding" over the widgets. This is the same as turning the knob.


Help improve this documentation


- Main sequence: zynthian_ui_workflow_1
- Aux. Sequences: zynthian_ui_workflow_2