Screen shot of Reference Note Keyboard
Have you ever wanted a musical keyboard on your desktop or laptop computer?
This nifty light-weight polyphonic keyboard allows you to play notes and chords ranging over almost five octaves.
To play, either mouse-click-and-hold a piano key graphic, or use your computer keyboard like piano keys: the number row is used for the black keys, the Q-W-E-R row is used for white keys. The leftmost key (TAB) is a C, and the rightmost key ("]") is an A.
Reference Note Keyboard with corresponding computer keys shown
ADDITIONAL CONTROLS
You can choose one of two synthesized timbre choices from the left-most dropdown: an Organ or a StringSynth.
The OCTAVE dropdown allows you to transpose the keyboard either up an octave or down one or two octaves. When the app starts, the leftmost C is middle C. When the dropdown is -2, the lowest note matches the low C of a Cello, two octaves below middle C. The highest note is two octaves above the tuning A.
The SPACE key and the HOLD dropdown both affect the sustain mode. You can use it to either hold notes like a piano sustain pedal, or put it in TOGGLE mode to selectively hold and release individial notes. Up to eight notes can be played at the same time. When a ninth note is pressed, the first note is dropped.
The TUNING A slider works in real time, and allows you to set the tuning A anywhere from 380 Hz to 480 Hz. All pitches are calculated using equal temperament.
The VOLUME control works in real time and effects all playing notes.
The LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys will move between the different controls. The UP and DOWN arrow keys will change the value on the current control.
Suggestion: run two copies at once. Set up one to hold drone notes, and play a melody with the other.
REQUIREMENT: Desktop or Laptop computer with either 64-bit Windows or Mac OSX.
The program can be installed free of charge from the Indie friendly software source, itch.io, at the following URL: https://philfrei.itch.io/reference-note-keyboard
[Once it is available, a promo will go here, linking to the more advanced intonation training tool: Tone Circle Drone.]