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        MIDI-OX >> Scripting Questions >> Wanted:MidiKB as a PC-KB replacement.
        
(Message started by: fridemar on Nov 9^th, 2005, 7:36pm)

Title: Wanted:MidiKB as a PC-KB replacement.
Post by fridemar on Nov 9^th, 2005, 7:36pm

Does somebody know a script or specialized kb-driver, that allows inputting text and/or control keys via a midi-piano kb?

Benefits:
1) less clutter on the desktop
2) more piano kb-training while typing text.
3) faster text input with macros (e.g. the PowerPro freeware), using time-, and pressure sensitivity of chords. This would be a wonderful tool for composers of music and text.

All the best Walther
alias Fridemar

PS.: This posting is FURL'ed and Wikalong'ed to attract and link friendly and constructive people to
1) accelerate a solution to this problem.
2) make it easier accessible.

I have searched many hours in the Web, without a solution yet.

Is there a Midi DLL for XP (, similar to the MaxMidi DLL, which unfortunately only works for Win98 )?

Title: Re: Wanted:MidiKB as a PC-KB replacement.
Post by dayton on Nov 14^th, 2005, 4:10am

It would certainly be possible, and the messages about "keypress on MIDI-event" show the basic method. I have thought about such a thing, but never needed it. The truth is that, ergonomically speaking, the computer keyboard is a superior system to the piano keyboard, allowing faster access time to the 30-odd keys which are required. There have been various experiments in constructing pianos in this way as well in order to allow faster playing and less stretching to play certain chords, as well as a far greater ease in transposing. These experiments have been successful, but have inherent faults. One is the presupposition of music as a primarily tercio-harmonic construction, rendering a more chromatic approach to harmony difficult. The other is a lack of access to the wealth of pianistic material which derives its harmonic richness from the use of non-chordal tones; the proximity of keys one to another which have no relationship in a traditional harmonic sense, but can be used to create other (and idiomatically pianistic) constellations.

In effect, using a piano keyboard to enter text would be interesting because a piano keyboard is polyphonic, and a computer keyboard isn't. Because of this it would be possible to keep both hands over the same ten keys instead of moving them all the time. (As an example, a=c3, s=d3, d=e3, f=f3, g=g3, but e= combined c3/g3, r= d3/g3 etc.) This would require the programmer to do a bit of testing to see how often people overlap their keys while playing, but doesn't preclude such an approach. Then again, you could define various styles of text input, including Ragtime (with stride-bass) Impressionistic (using alot of 9th-chords and color-tones) Rhythmic (variations in the speed of input effect the output)...
I could do it, but, as I said; I haven't found a reason yet. Of course, with the right amount of start-capital... say, $20,000...