portname with midi-channels > 16

[yukulele]

When i start FluidSynth with:

fluidsynth ./sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

FluidSynth create a midi port with a name like Synth input port (75216:0) but the number change on each run.
So I use --portname to force a fixed name:

fluidsynth --portname "my midi synth" ./sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

I get my midi synth as port name

Now I want more than 16 channels so i use --midi-channels.
If I use it without port name:

fluidsynth --midi-channels 32 ./sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

I get two distinct random port name like:

Synth input port (75216:0)
Synth input port (75216:1)

If I add --portname:

fluidsynth --midi-channels 32 --portname 'my midi synth' ./sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2

I get two identical port name:

my midi synth
my midi synth

how can I get several midi ports with static distinct port name ?

[derselbst]

how can I get several midi ports with static distinct port name ?

Currently, you can't. If a custom portname is given, it will be used for all ALSA ports.

fluidsynth/src/drivers/fluid_alsa.c

Lines 1119 to 1126 in 8eaa91b

	if(!portname)
	{
	snd_seq_port_info_set_name(port_info, fluid_alsa_seq_full_name(id, i, full_name, 64));
	}
	else
	{
	snd_seq_port_info_set_name(port_info, portname);
	}

Changing it should be straight forward. Provided that you don't need the ability to customize the "distinctiveness" of the portnames.

I would suggest to simply use:

my midi synth (12345:0)
my midi synth (12345:1)

Let me know your preference. I think I'll have time for that over Christmas holidays.

[yukulele]

I would suggest to simply use:

my midi synth (12345:0)
my midi synth (12345:1)

This would be perfect, but the port name shouldn't have any randomness, as this would mean reconfiguring the software's midi outputs each time it's launched.

Something like this would be preferable:

my midi synth (0)
my midi synth (1)

[derselbst]

The fact that it took you 2 years and 10 months to reply makes me consider this issue as an absolute low-priority topic.

[yukulele]

Sorry, I had totally missed your answer. 😭

Actually, I still occasionally face this problem when working on projects requiring more than 16 channels.