3 <img src="/images/virtual_keyboard.png" alt="The Virtual Keyboard window">
4 <figcaption class="center">
5 The Virtual Keyboard window
10 The <dfn>Virtual Keyboard</dfn> is a software MIDI instrument, similar to
11 <a href="https://vmpk.sourceforge.io/">VMPK</a> that can be used like an
12 hardware musical keyboard would, to emit MIDI events.
16 It can be used to test or record MIDI notes or events, as the computer
17 keyboard can be (and is, by default) mapped to the virtual MIDI keyboard.
18 The keyboard layout can be chosen in the
19 <a href="@@preferences#preferences-midi">MIDI Preferences</a>.
23 The lower part of the window is a piano keyboard. The current keyboard
24 mapping is overlaid on the notes, as are the different <em>C</em> notes,
25 indicating what octaves are shown.
29 The upper part comprises (from left to right):
34 A channel selector to choose on which MIDI channel the events are generated
37 A pitch bend that can bend ±2 semtones up or down. The controls are:
39 <li>Mousewheel up/down : persistent bend up/down</li>
40 <li>Mouse-drag up/down (by <kbd class="mouse">left</kbd>-clicking
41 anywhere in the slider) : sprung-mode bend up/down (returns to
42 +0 semitone when the mouse button is released)</li>
43 <li><kbd>F1</kbd> : abruptly −2 semitones</li>
44 <li><kbd>F2</kbd> : abruptly −1 semitone</li>
45 <li><kbd>F3</kbd> : abruptly +1 semitone</li>
46 <li><kbd>F4</kbd> : abruptly +2 semitones</li>
47 <li><kbd>↓</kbd> : ramps to −2 semitones</li>
48 <li><kbd>↑</kbd> : ramps to +2 semitones.</li>
52 A modulator, with a modulation depth between 0 and 127, 127 being
53 a modulation of ± 1 semitone, so 2 semtones peak-to-peak.
56 Four assignable knobs. By default, they are:
58 <li>CC-7 (Channel Volume)</li>
59 <li>CC-8 (Balance)</li>
60 <li>CC-91 (Reverb)</li>
61 <li>CC-7 (Chorus)</li>
63 These controls can be assigned as needed by clicking the button under
64 each knob and selecting a different Control Number.
67 <em>Octave</em> : a selector to choose where on the keyboard (on which
68 octave) the keyboard view is. The chosen octave will be the second one
69 displayed, i.e. if "Octave" is set to 3, the leftmost displayed octave
71 The selected octave is also where the keyboard mapping is set, so
72 if the octave is set to 3, in a QWERTY setup, the leftmost (lowest) note,
73 <kbd>Z</kbd>, is mapped to C3.<br>
76 <li><kbd>←</kbd> : decrease Octave by one (i.e., scroll the view to the left)</li>
77 <li><kbd>→</kbd> : increase Octave by one (i.e., scroll the view to the right)</li>
81 <em>Range</em> determines how many octaves are displayed.
84 <em>Velocity</em> sets the intensity of the note, which contributes
85 to its audio volume, and can, depending on the virtual instrument,
86 play a role in the sample selection.<br>
87 Although the drop down menu only lists a few values, scrolling the mouse
88 over the control, as with the other selectors, allows to change its
89 value with a finer in/decrement.
92 A <em>Transpose</em> selector, that shifts the notes played by its value
93 in semitones, either up or down, effectively tuning the whole keyboard.
96 A <em>Panic</em> button, to immediately stop all MIDI sound.