7.8 KiB
MilkDrop3 on Linux with Wine - Setup Guide
This guide will help you run MilkDrop3 on Linux using Wine.
Prerequisites
- Linux distribution (tested on Manjaro with Wine 10.13 Staging)
- Wine (10.13 or later recommended, Wine Staging preferred)
- winetricks
- Basic terminal knowledge
System Requirements
- Wine version: 10.13 or later (Wine Staging recommended)
- Architecture: 64-bit system with wow64 support
- Graphics: OpenGL-capable GPU with decent 3D support
Installation Steps
1. Install Required Packages
On Arch/Manjaro:
sudo pacman -S wine winetricks
On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt install wine winetricks
On Fedora:
sudo dnf install wine winetricks
2. Download MilkDrop3
Download the official MilkDrop3 installer:
wget -O MilkDrop3.exe "https://github.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/releases/download/MilkDrop3/MilkDrop3.exe"
3. Set Up Wine Environment
Install necessary Windows dependencies:
winetricks -q d3dx9 vcrun2019
This will install:
- DirectX 9 libraries (d3dx9)
- Visual C++ 2019 Redistributables
Note: This process may take 5-10 minutes depending on your internet connection.
4. Install MilkDrop3
Run the installer with Wine:
wine MilkDrop3.exe
Follow the on-screen installation prompts. The default installation location will be:
~/.wine/drive_c/users/YOUR_USERNAME/Desktop/MilkDrop 3.31/
5. Replace with Linux-Compatible Executable
MilkDrop3 requires a special Linux-compatible build. Replace the standard executable:
# Download the Linux-compatible version
wget -O "MilkDrop 3 linux.exe" "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/main/linux/MilkDrop%203%20linux.exe"
# Replace the executable (adjust path if needed)
cd ~/.wine/drive_c/users/$USER/Desktop/"MilkDrop 3.31"/
rm "MilkDrop 3.exe"
mv /path/to/downloaded/"MilkDrop 3 linux.exe" "MilkDrop 3.exe"
6. Run MilkDrop3
Navigate to the installation directory and run:
cd ~/.wine/drive_c/users/$USER/Desktop/"MilkDrop 3.31"/
wine "MilkDrop 3.exe"
Using the Launcher Script
A convenient launcher script is included in the repository. Use it to easily start MilkDrop3:
# Download the launcher script from the repository
wget -O milkdrop3-launcher.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/main/milkdrop3-launcher.sh"
# Make it executable
chmod +x milkdrop3-launcher.sh
# Run MilkDrop3
./milkdrop3-launcher.sh
The launcher script automatically:
- Sets optimal Wine environment variables for performance
- Verifies installation paths
- Displays helpful keyboard shortcuts
- Suppresses unnecessary debug output
Known Issues and Workarounds
Text Rendering Issues
As mentioned in the original README, menu text (F1 help, L/M menus) may appear glitchy. This is a known issue with the Wine rendering layer.
Workaround: The visualization itself works perfectly; you can navigate menus by memorizing keyboard shortcuts.
D3D Texture Warnings
You may see numerous warnings like:
err:d3d:wined3d_texture_invalidate_location Sub-resource X does not have any up to date location
These are harmless Wine warnings related to texture management and don't affect functionality.
GLSL Shader Warnings
Warnings about uninitialized shader variables are cosmetic and don't impact the visualizations.
Performance Issues
If you experience performance issues:
- Use Wine Staging: It has better DirectX support
- Enable CSMT: Run with
STAGING_SHARED_MEMORY=1 - Try different Wine versions: Sometimes newer/older versions work better
- Check your GPU drivers: Ensure you have the latest drivers installed
Audio Configuration
MilkDrop3 needs an audio source to visualize. Options include:
-
System Audio:
- Use PulseAudio/PipeWire loopback to route system audio to MilkDrop3
- Install
pavucontrolto manage audio routing
-
Music Players:
- MilkDrop3 can capture audio from Spotify, YouTube, VLC, etc.
- Make sure audio is playing before starting visualizations
-
Configure in Wine:
winecfgGo to the Audio tab and ensure PulseAudio is selected.
Keyboard Shortcuts (Essential for Linux)
Since menu text may be glitchy, here are the essential shortcuts:
- F1: Help menu (toggle)
- F2: Toggle FPS (60/90/120 fps)
- F3: Change auto-transition time
- F7: Toggle always on top / borderless mode
- F8: Beat detection mode
- F9: Double-preset mode
- L: Load preset
- M: Mash-up presets
- Spacebar: Next transition
- A: Random preset
- Shift+A: Previous preset
- C: Randomize colors
- Escape: Exit
Troubleshooting
Application Won't Start
# Check Wine is working
wine --version
# Reinstall dependencies
winetricks -q --force d3dx9 vcrun2019
# Try running with more verbose output
WINEDEBUG=+d3d wine "MilkDrop 3.exe"
Crashes on Startup
- Ensure you're using the Linux-compatible executable
- Check that DirectX 9 libraries are installed
- Try running with a 32-bit Wine prefix:
WINEARCH=win32 WINEPREFIX=~/.wine32 winetricks d3dx9 vcrun2019
No Visualizations Appearing
- Ensure audio is playing
- Check audio input in Windows sound settings (via
winecfg) - Try running a music player first, then launch MilkDrop3
Performance Optimization
Environment Variables
# Enable Wine Staging shared memory (better performance)
export STAGING_SHARED_MEMORY=1
# Force OpenGL version
export MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=4.5
# Run MilkDrop3
wine "MilkDrop 3.exe"
Graphics Settings
In MilkDrop3:
- Lower resolution if needed (in settings.ini)
- Reduce FPS with F2 if experiencing lag
- Disable complex effects if GPU struggles
Advanced: Desktop Entry (Optional)
Create a desktop launcher at ~/.local/share/applications/milkdrop3.desktop:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=MilkDrop3
Comment=Music Visualization
Exec=bash -c 'cd ~/.wine/drive_c/users/$USER/Desktop/"MilkDrop 3.31/" && wine "MilkDrop 3.exe"'
Icon=applications-multimedia
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=AudioVideo;Audio;
Additional Resources
- Official Repository: https://github.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3
- Preset Collections: Located in
Milkdrop3/presets/ - Creating Presets: Press F9 then Spacebar for double-presets
- WineHQ: https://www.winehq.org/ for Wine documentation
Credits
- MilkDrop3: Created by MilkDrop2077
- Original MilkDrop: Ryan Geiss
- BeatDrop: Maxim Volskiy
Support the Project
If you enjoy MilkDrop3, consider supporting the developer:
- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MilkDrop3
- Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MilkDrop2077/
Quick Start Summary
# 1. Install Wine and winetricks
sudo pacman -S wine winetricks # Adjust command for your distro
# 2. Install Windows dependencies (takes 5-10 minutes)
winetricks -q d3dx9 vcrun2019
# 3. Download and install MilkDrop3
wget -O MilkDrop3.exe "https://github.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/releases/download/MilkDrop3/MilkDrop3.exe"
wine MilkDrop3.exe
# 4. Replace with Linux-compatible executable
cd ~/.wine/drive_c/users/$USER/Desktop/"MilkDrop 3.31"/
wget -O "MilkDrop 3.exe" "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/main/linux/MilkDrop%203%20linux.exe"
# 5. Download and run the launcher script
cd ~
wget -O milkdrop3-launcher.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/milkdrop2077/MilkDrop3/main/linux/milkdrop3-launcher.sh"
chmod +x milkdrop3-launcher.sh
./milkdrop3-launcher.sh
Enjoy the visualizations! 🎵🎨