arppegiator/INSTALL_WINDOWS.md

Windows Installation Guide

Quick Installation

If you're getting errors with the regular installation, use this Windows-specific installer:

python install_windows.py

This script will:

• Install core packages (PyQt5, numpy, pygame, mido)
• Try multiple MIDI library options
• Create fallbacks if MIDI libraries fail
• Still work in simulator mode even if MIDI fails

Manual Installation (if the script doesn't work)

1. Install Core Packages First

pip install PyQt5>=5.15.0
pip install numpy>=1.21.0
pip install pygame>=2.1.0
pip install mido>=1.2.10

2. Try MIDI Library Installation

Try these in order until one works:

Option A: Latest python-rtmidi

pip install python-rtmidi

Option B: Specific working version

pip install python-rtmidi==1.5.8

Option C: Alternative MIDI library

pip install rtmidi-python

Option D: Skip MIDI (simulator only) If all MIDI libraries fail, you can still use the application in simulator mode with built-in audio synthesis.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: Cython Compilation Error

Error compiling Cython file... Cannot assign type 'void (*)'...

Solution: Install Visual Studio Build Tools or use pre-compiled wheel:

pip install --only-binary=python-rtmidi python-rtmidi

Issue 2: No MIDI Devices Found

Solutions:

1. Use simulator mode (works without any MIDI hardware)
2. Check Windows MIDI device drivers
3. Try different USB ports for MIDI devices

Issue 3: Audio Not Working

Solutions:

1. Check Windows audio device settings
2. Try different audio buffer sizes in the app settings
3. Make sure no other applications are using audio exclusively

Verify Installation

Run this to test if everything works:

python -c "
try:
    import PyQt5; print('✓ PyQt5 OK')
    import numpy; print('✓ NumPy OK') 
    import pygame; print('✓ Pygame OK')
    import mido; print('✓ Mido OK')
    try:
        import rtmidi; print('✓ RTMIDI OK')
    except: print('⚠ RTMIDI failed - simulator mode only')
    print('Ready to run!')
except Exception as e:
    print(f'✗ Error: {e}')
"

Running the Application

Once installed, run:

python run.py

The application will start in simulator mode by default, which works without any MIDI hardware and provides:

• Internal audio synthesis
• Visual lighting simulation
• All arpeggiator functionality
• Complete GUI interface

For hardware MIDI, select "Hardware Mode" in the Output Controls tab.