Task #232
open
14%
Description
The Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard (VMPK) application is available since Squeeze. This is an alternative software to Vkeybd that relies on Qt instead of Tcl/Tk. It provides more functionalities and should solve the remaining issue of Vkeybd: the keyboard layout. As Vkeybd is the only application requiring Tcl/Tk, we could reduce disk space too.
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
- Target version changed from 2011-08 to Squeeze
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
Words from the developer:
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1. Currently, the VMPK user interface is available in Czech, German, Spanish, French, English, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, and Simplified Chinese. The documentation (help file) is available in German, Spanish, French, English, Dutch and Russian. Please find attached a screenshot using the Russian language, where the "show note names" option has been enabled. The translation process is comfortable, using the Qt localization tools:
http://doc.qt.nokia.com/latest/linguist-manual.html
2. VMPK can be configured one among two keyboard modes: traditional and raw keyboard. The traditional mode requires a different mapping file for each language layout, just like vkeybd. The raw keyboard mapping is independent of the language, and has the advantage that every mapped key can be played, including the so called "dead keys" (i.e. accents). There is a keyboard layout editor integrated in the program.
You can dowload VMPK sources from SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/vmpk/files/
There is a Debian Sid package: http://packages.qa.debian.org/v/vmpk.html
Ubuntu repositories: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vmpk
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Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
More words from the developer:
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The MIDI connections can't be changed in the command line, but it is possible to set the input and output ports in a configuration file, that is stored in the user home (it contains also the user preferences). The file path and name is "$HOME/.config/vmpk.sourceforge.net/Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard.conf"
The syntax is:
[Connections]
InEnabled=false
ThruEnabled=false
InPort=
OutPort=MidiSport 2x2:0
The program has also (since the release 0.3.2) a D-Bus interface, which can be used for scripting.
About MIDI synthesizers, I personally prefer FluidSynth over TiMidity. TiMidity latest release was in 2004, and looks like the project is dead. FluidSynth on the other hand is actively maintained and has better design and features. And it has a nice UI called QSynth...
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Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
- Status changed from New to In Progress
- Assignee set to Jean-Michel Philippe
- % Done changed from 0 to 50
Vmpk seems to work like a charm, successfully:
- tested the MIDI output to Timidity
- changed keyboard settings to the raw arrangement of keys
- changed the number of keys displayed
We may need to widen the keys and to reduce the number of keys.
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
- Status changed from In Progress to Ready for test
- % Done changed from 50 to 70
The configuration file of Vmpk is now activated for the activity Whole DoudouLinux. We still need to check for the other advanced activities. Note also that there is an unused octave at keyboard start, we should contact the upstream author to have a tip to remove it!
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 13 years ago
- Status changed from Ready for test to In Progress
- Target version changed from Squeeze to 2011-11
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe about 13 years ago
- Target version changed from 2011-11 to 2012-02
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe almost 13 years ago
- Target version changed from 2012-02 to 2012-05
Updated by Jean-Michel Philippe over 12 years ago
- Target version changed from 2012-05 to 2012-08