aseqnet

aseqnet [OPTIONS] [HOST [PORT]]

-s, --server
    Run aseqnet in server mode, listening for incoming client connections.

-p, --port=
    Specifies the local ALSA sequencer port to use for network communication (e.g., 20:0).

-q, --queue=
    Specifies the ALSA sequencer queue to be used.

-t, --timestamp
    Use the system timer for timestamps in MIDI messages.

-c, --connect=
    (Server mode only) Automatically connect to a remote host upon startup.

-l, --list
    (Server mode only) List all currently connected clients to the server.

-r, --remove=
    (Server mode only) Remove a specific client connection from the server.

-v, --verbose
    Enable verbose output messages, providing more detailed information during operation.

-d, --debug
    Enable debug output messages, showing highly detailed information for troubleshooting.

-V, --version
    Print the version number of the aseqnet utility.

-h, --help
    Display the help message and exit.

aseqnet is a crucial utility for the ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) sequencer, enabling MIDI communication over a network. It acts as a bridge, making your local ALSA sequencer ports available to a remote system, or connecting your system to a remote aseqnet server. This allows MIDI data to be seamlessly transmitted and received across different machines.

It supports two primary operational modes: client (default) and server. In client mode, aseqnet connects to a specified remote host and port, routing local ALSA MIDI events to and from the network. In server mode, it listens for incoming connections from other aseqnet clients, facilitating a central hub for distributed MIDI setups. This functionality is invaluable for scenarios like linking multiple Linux audio workstations, integrating software and hardware MIDI devices across a LAN, or collaborative music production where MIDI synchronization and data exchange are paramount. The default TCP port used is 12850.

Requires ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) to be properly installed and configured on the system.
The default TCP port 12850 must be open in any firewalls between the client and server machines for successful connections.
Network latency can significantly impact the real-time performance of MIDI data, potentially causing delays or timing issues.
MIDI data transferred via aseqnet is typically unencrypted, so it should be used on trusted networks to avoid security vulnerabilities.

aseqnet defaults to client mode, connecting to a remote server. When the -s (--server) option is used, it operates as a server. The meaning of the HOST and PORT arguments changes based on the mode:

• In client mode: HOST specifies the remote server's hostname or IP address, and PORT is its TCP port.
• In server mode: HOST specifies the local address to bind to (e.g., 0.0.0.0 to listen on all available network interfaces), and PORT is the listening TCP port.

aseqnet is an integral part of the ALSA Utilities package, which has evolved since the late 1990s as the successor to the earlier OSS (Open Sound System) in Linux. Its development is intertwined with ALSA's growth as the standard Linux audio infrastructure. By providing network connectivity for the ALSA sequencer, aseqnet has been crucial in enabling distributed MIDI environments, allowing Linux systems to be central to professional audio production and collaborative music projects.

aconnect(1), aplaymidi(1), arecordmidi(1), amidi(1)