Virtual Piano

Popular programs in Music

What is Virtual Piano

Virtual Piano is a small application that provides a virtual piano keyboard and that can interface with an external synthesizer. The application was created to be a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) module that provides fast access to many different sounds and options. It is important to note that Virtual Piano was created over a decade ago. It was designed to run under Windows XP. The program does not come with any type of installer and is composed of a single file. The age of the program could make it difficult to use on the newest versions of Windows. It could also cause problems with modern MIDI drivers and devices.

The main Interface for Virtual Piano is a small window. Unfortunately, the window cannot be resized on the screen. The bottom of the window contains a complete virtual piano keyboard that includes black and white keys. The main part of the window contains a number of drop down and selection menus to control common options while playing. There are a few menus at the top that make it possible to control less common options that most people use rarely. Everything is easy to use although some of the terms might be unfamiliar to those who do not study music and sound.

Nearly every major function for producing MIDI music is available through Virtual Piano. The sound envelope can be controlled with options like attack and release. There are many other settings such as modulation, brightness and harmonics. The right side of the window allows the selection of reverb, chorus and variation. Users can select specific settings like the inside of a tunnel, a stage or overdrive in order to get more subtle effects when playing. The volume and pitch can be adjusted in real-time as needed.

One of the most impressive features of Virtual Piano is that it includes a full range of different instruments. It includes guitars, pipes, synths and reeds. Each major category is accompanied by sub-categories of instruments. It is possible to specifically choose an acoustic grand piano, a distortion guitar or an English horn. The drop-down menus make it easy to see all the options available and to switch between instruments fast. The program can produce music across any one of 16 different audio channels as needed.

Virtual Piano is not perfect. Only a handful of instruments including the various pianos have a realistic sound. Most others like guitars sound highly synthesized. The program does not have any way to record music. This needs to be done through an external device or another program. The virtual keyboard on the screen is hard to use unless an external synthesizer is attached to the computer. Playing the virtual keyboard is not possible for any length of time with a mouse. Despite some of the shortcomings, Virtual Piano is a practical program for learning about MIDI music and processes.

Pros

• Change any sound option
• Includes a complete set of instruments
• Small and simple application

Cons

• The virtual keyboard is impractical
• Some instruments sound fake
• A MIDI synthesizer is required