Using a Thummer key layout in Linux

 

The Thummer is a musical instrument / MIDI controller.

 

You can simulate one in Linux:

 

1. Install "vkeybd" and timidity. Under Debian/Ubuntu: "apt-get install vkeybd timidity freepats".
2. Cut and paste the following keyboard layout into a file called "vkeybd-thummer".
3. Start Timidity as a MIDI server. On my system, I edited /etc/default/timidity and uncommented "TIM_ALSAEQ=true" and then ran "/etc/init.d/timidity restart".
4. Start vkeybd: "vkeybd --keymap vkeybd-thummer".
5. Hook 'em up: "cat /proc/asound/seq/clients", look for "TiMidity" and "Virtual Keyboard" in the list and then run "aconnect" with the right arguments. On my system, timidity is client #130 and timidity is client #128, so I run "aconnect 130:0 128:0".
6. Play away!

 

Here is the text you need in "vkeybd-thummer":

 

 

global keymap

set keymap {

    {z 0}

    {x 2}

    {c 4}

    {v 6}

    {b 8}

    {n 10}

    {m 12}

    {comma 14}

    {period 16}

    {slash 18}

    {a 5}

    {s 7}

    {d 9}

    {f 11}

    {g 13}

    {h 15}

    {j 17}

    {k 19}

    {l 21}

    {semicolon 23}

    {apostrophe 25}

    {q 10}

    {w 12}

    {e 14}

    {r 16}

    {t 18}

    {y 20}

    {u 22}

    {i 24}

    {o 26}

    {p 28}

    {bracketleft 30}

    {bracketright 32}

    {1 15}

    {2 17}

    {3 19}

    {4 21}

    {5 23}

    {6 25}

    {7 27}

    {8 29}

    {9 31}

    {0 33}

    {minus 35}

}