101 lines
3.4 KiB
HTML
101 lines
3.4 KiB
HTML
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<figure class="right">
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<img src="/images/virtual_keyboard.png" alt="The Virtual Keyboard window">
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<figcaption class="center">
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The Virtual Keyboard window
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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The <dfn>Virtual Keyboard</dfn> is a software MIDI instrument, similar to
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<a href="https://vmpk.sourceforge.io/">VMPK</a> that can be used like an
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hardware musical keyboard would, to emit MIDI events.
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</p>
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<p>
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It can be used to test or record MIDI notes or events, as the computer
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keyboard can be (and is, by default) mapped to the virtual MIDI keyboard.
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The keyboard layout can be chosen in the
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<a href="@@preferences#preferences-midi">MIDI Preferences</a>.
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</p>
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<p>
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The lower part of the window is a piano keyboard. The current keyboard
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mapping is overlaid on the notes, as are the different <em>C</em> notes,
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indicating what octaves are shown.
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</p>
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<p>
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The upper part comprises (from left to right):
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>
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A channel selector to choose on which MIDI channel the events are generated
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</li>
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<li>
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A pitch bend that can bend ±2 semtones up or down. The controls are:
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<ul>
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<li>Mousewheel up/down : persistent bend up/down</li>
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<li>Mouse-drag up/down (by <kbd class="mouse">left</kbd>-clicking
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anywhere in the slider) : sprung-mode bend up/down (returns to
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+0 semitone when the mouse button is released)</li>
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<li><kbd>F1</kbd> : abruptly −2 semitones</li>
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<li><kbd>F2</kbd> : abruptly −1 semitone</li>
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<li><kbd>F3</kbd> : abruptly +1 semitone</li>
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<li><kbd>F4</kbd> : abruptly +2 semitones</li>
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<li><kbd>↓</kbd> : ramps to −2 semitones</li>
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<li><kbd>↑</kbd> : ramps to +2 semitones.</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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A modulator, with a modulation depth between 0 and 127, 127 being
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a modulation of ± 1 semitone, so 2 semtones peak-to-peak.
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</li>
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<li>
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Four assignable knobs. By default, they are:
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<ul>
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<li>CC-7 (Channel Volume)</li>
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<li>CC-8 (Balance)</li>
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<li>CC-91 (Reverb)</li>
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<li>CC-7 (Chorus)</li>
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</ul>
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These controls can be assigned as needed by clicking the button under
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each knob and selecting a different Control Number.
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</li>
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<li>
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<em>Octave</em> : a selector to choose where on the keyboard (on which
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octave) the keyboard view is. The chosen octave will be the second one
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displayed, i.e. if "Octave" is set to 3, the leftmost displayed octave
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will be 2.<br>
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The selected octave is also where the keyboard mapping is set, so
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if the octave is set to 3, in a QWERTY setup, the leftmost (lowest) note,
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<kbd>Z</kbd>, is mapped to C3.<br>
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The controls are:
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<ul>
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<li><kbd>←</kbd> : decrease Octave by one (i.e., scroll the view to the left)</li>
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<li><kbd>→</kbd> : increase Octave by one (i.e., scroll the view to the right)</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li>
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<em>Range</em> determines how many octaves are displayed.
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</li>
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<li>
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<em>Velocity</em> sets the intensity of the note, which contributes
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to its audio volume, and can, depending on the virtual instrument,
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play a role in the sample selection.<br>
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Although the drop down menu only lists a few values, scrolling the mouse
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over the control, as with the other selectors, allows to change its
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value with a finer in/decrement.
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</li>
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<li>
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A <em>Transpose</em> selector, that shifts the notes played by its value
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in semitones, either up or down, effectively tuning the whole keyboard.
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</li>
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<li>
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A <em>Panic</em> button, to immediately stop all MIDI sound.
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</li>
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</ul>
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