Playing the piano with your computer: part 3
Last year I wrote a couple of posts containing interesting sites and applications to play a keyboard online.
The topic is very interesting semrpe, also because not all have access to a real piano at home!
A few days ago, casually, I stumbled upon another Flash web-app similar, and I took the opportunity to talk to both this, both the USB device I use to play my piano Yamaha P90 with Mac (seen here in a photo I did some time ago).
Regarding the first, is called Virtual Piano and is an application in Flash, working directly in your browser.
Once finished loading, you have available a real virtual plane, with amazing quality!
You can click on the individual buttons and listen to the sound, or play major chords by pressing keys 1 A 7 the numeric keypad (with Num Lock on), and minor chords with the letters A S D F G H J.
Through the KEY button you can change the pitch of the stairs…
For anything, on “lectern virtual” There is a manual that you can browse in doubt… not bad, not?!?
Now we come to something more “concrete”, that allows you to interface a REAL piano, as my Yamaha p90, and a computer, in this case my Apple iBook with Mac OSX.
All you need is a USB device, such as the Roland Edirol UM-1SX, I bought for just under 40 euro.
Works with both Windows and Mac OSX, and drivers are available for download at this address.
The computer side, connects via USB port, while the side piano connects to the MIDI IN – MIDI OUT.
in my case, using Mac OSX, I could choose to use the software Garageband, the iLife suite and that is pre-installed in virtually any Mac, or Logic Express, a program of Apple a little more evolved. The software will automatically recognize the device installed, and at that point, just press any key on the piano and… virtual buttons in software will act accordingly!
At that point you can choose one of the infinite timbres sound present in these software, and you can record your songs in MP3 format, editarle, add percussion or whatever else, expanding your possibilities whatever you want, perhaps with the VST (o Audio Units).