MIDI keyboard

The MIDI keyboard works only when you have a MIDI keyboard connected to a sound board on Linux/FreeBSD. If you have not such a configuration but you want to use the virtual piano keyboard, please, read the following lines.

Keyboard entry mode

This mode permits to enter music elements without time constraints.

It is activated when the virtual piano is displayed.

Pressing a key generates a note. The note length depends on the pressing duration, as if the tempo was 60 beats/mn, i.e. pressing a key for 1 second gives a crotchet.

The lowest keys have special meanings:

C
Generate a rest.
C#
Generate a bar (note length doesn't matter).

Recording mode

This mode is activated from the graphical interface or by the key r.

Effective recording starts on the first MIDI event. At the end of recording, the MIDI events are translated to ABC and inserted in the current tune.

Virtual piano keyboard

The virtual piano keyboard offers 4 octaves and its behaviour is the same as the MIDI keyboard.

It also accepts events from the computer keyboard. Each keyboard row gives different octave: the upper row (digits) gives the higher pitches. On a row, each key is a half-tone distance from the next one. For example, with a US keyboard, 'A' gives the middle C, and 'K' is G, and the lowest notes ('Z' and 'X') generate a rest and a bar.

There may be problems while key repeat is enabled. On X window systems, it's safe to disable it with the command xset r off.

To remove the virtual keyboard, just press Escape.


Jean-François Moine
Kemm diwezhañ: 8 a viz C'hwevrer 2003