From: Maurício Oliveira [EMAIL PROTECTED] Newsgroups: alt.comp.blind-users Greetings,
I am a MCP, and long time ago I developed a simple program with the objective of allow the user to play music using the computer keyboard. It is not apropriated for professional uses, of course, but is very simple to use, it is free and doesn't require any kind of configuration. The software was not created especifically for handicapped people (by the way, I'm not blind), but several blind users were able to use it without any problem. Once the program is started, it is ready to play. Some settings like Volume, Instrument and Chords can be defined using the keys from F1 to F12 (the keys are already programmed to perform theese actions). If you are able to see a little, or have some friend that can describe an image for you, ask him to access this : http://pianoeletronico.tripod.com/images/piano_tela.gif . It is a screenshot of the main screen of the program, it shows how simple and easy to use the program is. One of the most interesting things in the program is the fact that you can play using any one of the 128 Instrument Set (from Gerenal MIDI Standard), and even press more than one key at the same time to play poliphonically. Play music using the computer keyboard may seen pointless if you have a real piano or eletronic keyboard, but consider the possibility to play anytime, anywere (perhaps in your lunch break, and I presume that you don't have a piano in you office!). You can download the program using this link : http://pianoeletronico.tripod.com/files/Setup_Piano_Eletronico.zip The program is absolutelly free, and it never expires. I created a Home-Page with all the information about the program, but unfortunelly the site is in Portuguese only by now. The link is http://pianoeletronico.tripod.com . If you have experience with Visual Basic, you can download an Open-Source (but simpler) version of the program at http://pianoeletronico.tripod.com/minipiano.html You can see an English version of the site (performed by Google translation engine) here : http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpianoeletronico.t ripod.com%2F&langpair=pt%7Cen&hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&oe=UT F-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools However, the translated version has some "flaws", so I decided to perform my own translation of the most important information about the program. Here it comes : "Electronic Piano 2.0 is a Freeware program (gratuitous) with the objective to allow the user to play musical notes and chords through the computer keyboard. Even making use of the MIDI resources of the sound card (like the avaibility of 128 musical instruments), the program doesn't require knowledge or configuration of Drivers or any device connected to the system. Basically, Electronic Piano 2.0 is a program indicated for people who simply wants to play music in the computer at any time, without have to purchase and install a professional music edition software (usually expensive). Characteristics of the Program : - 128 musical instruments available - 47 different sounds of drums and percussion - Poliphony (possibility to play more than one note at the same time) - Control of Main Volume and "Pan" - Combine up to 3 different musical instruments (any one of the 128) - Graphical panel with the keys - Note lenght is determined by the amount of time that the key is pressed - Execution of Major, Minor and "7" Chords by pressing only one key - 7 octaves can be selected Information about the programmer : Mauricio Antunes Oliveira is a Programmer/Analyst and a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in Visual Basic since 1999. Currently, works as a consulter in São Paulo with Analysis and Programming." If you want any aditional information about the program before download it, you can contact me here, or e-mail me : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks for your interest ! Mauricio Oliveira Microsoft Certified Professional PS : Sorry for my poor English :-( ... Regards Steve, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: steve1963 MSN Messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
