midikeys(1)                                                        midikeys(1)


NAME
     midikeys - 3D graphical MIDI keyboard controller

SYNOPSIS
     midikeys [Options] <filename>

     [ -help ] [ -nofork ] [ -channel n ]


DESCRIPTION
     midikeys provides a 3D graphical MIDI keyboard controller interface used
     to transmit events to an external MIDI device or the internal software
     MIDI synthesizer.  The MIDI Controllers panel is used to transmit a
     plethora of MIDI controllers and monitor incoming data.

     MIDI note data is transmitted by clicking the mouse on the music keyboard
     or pressing the computer keyboard keys.  See the OnLine book for the
     computer keyboard to note mapping scheme.  The position of the mouse
     button click controls the note on velocity, with larger values generated
     toward the front tip of the key.  Key wipes occur when the mouse button
     is pressed and dragged over the 3D keyboard.  The Sustain switch (also
     the Space Bar) will hold synthesizer notes but will not hold down the 3D
     keys. This behavior is consistent with that of a piano.


     midikeys can also operate as a player piano to visualize incoming MIDI
     events sent from an external MIDI controller or from another application
     such as soundplayer(1).

     The sound may be changed by dragging a synthesizer preset or sound file
     icon into the drop pocket.


OPTIONS
     -help
          Print usage statement.

     -nofork
          Do not go into the background.  By default, midikeys forks itself to
          give control back to the shell.

     -channel n
          MIDI transmit and receive channel [1..16]


     filename is a synthesizer preset or sound file.


HARDWARE
     midikeys works only on Iris Indigo R4000, Indigo2, Indy, O2, Octane, and
     Onyx/Challenge machines fitted with the SGI Audio Option (ASO) Board.


BUGS
     There may be some rapid note retriggering if the mouse is clicked and
     dragged in proximity to key boundaries.  It is not possible to enter
     specific pitch bend values in the front panel window because the typing
     events are confused with input for the 3D keyboard.  You can "stick"
     synthesizer notes if you press the mouse rapidly on the keyboard, sustain
     keys with computer keyboard and use menu to change octave, keyboard
     length or MIDI channel, or if you hold down notes with computer keyboard
     and lose application focus by moving mouse out of application window.

     When MIDI Input Animation on for player piano simulation, systems without
     graphics acceleration hardware will be burdened with CPU intensive
     graphics operations.


SEE ALSO
     midisynth(1), synthpanel(1), soundplayer(1), synthpreset(4)


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